VehicleVerdict

2013 Acura TSX problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Among the better years

The 2013 Acura TSX is among the quieter years of the TSX on NHTSA's books: 40 complaints (37% below the model's median year), 4 recalls, and no open investigations.

The trouble concentrates in one system: steering issues account for 48% of all reports (19 of 40), far ahead of airbags at 5.

40

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

1

Investigations

2

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2013 compare to other TSX years?

TSX NHTSA complaints by model year, 2013 highlighted195 complaints2004: 195 complaints2005: 64 complaints2006: 68 complaints2007: 29 complaints2008: 42 complaints2009: 113 complaints2010: 86 complaints2011: 52 complaints2012: 157 complaints2013: 40 complaints2014: 8 complaints
TSX NHTSA complaints by model year, 2013 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all TSX years to avoid →

What are the most common 2013 Acura TSX problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Steering1948%
Airbags513%
Electrical System410%
Brakes38%
Tires & Wheels25%
Body & Structure13%
Transmission13%
Visibility & Wipers13%
Engine13%
Lighting13%
Other13%
Speed Control13%

Does the 2013 Acura TSX have recalls?

4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

19V502000AirbagsJune 27, 2019 · 9,555 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F5F and Q5E.

19V378000AirbagsMay 16, 2019 · 19,138 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.

Consequence

An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.

18V661000AirbagsSeptember 27, 2018 · 1,355,406 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M2J and S2K.

18V042000AirbagsJanuary 9, 2018 · 691,726 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX, ZDX, Honda Accord Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot vehicles, 2011-13 Acura TSX Sportswagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord,, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles and 2013 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Accord Crosstour, Fit and Pilot, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V, and 2010 Acura ZDX and Honda Insight vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Unless included in Zones A or B above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid, CR-V, Fit, and Pilot vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are B0K and L0J.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

OUR NON-MOVING VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HARD REAR-END COLLISION AT A IN CITY TRAFFIC WAITING TO MAKE A LEGAL TURN. A WEEK LATER VEHICLE LOST STEERING MOBILITY. WE HAD BATON ROUGE, LA ACURA DEALERSHIP RUN A DIAGNOSTIC. THEY FAILED TO DETERMINE IF THE FAILURE WAS DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH REAR-END…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · April 20, 2019 · crash

The contact owns a 2013 Acura TSX. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the passenger’s side air bag sensor warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · July 1, 2021

I purchased my 2013 Acura TSX new. Since the date of purchase I have had the battery replaced 4 times including yesterday. On each occasion, the battery was drained due to the Bluetooth Module being defective. The dealer has confirmed the problem. This poses a substantial safety risk

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · June 15, 2023

ABS / VSA module failed at 90k miles causing spongy brakes. Acura quoted me $3500 for a new module which is more than the value of the car.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · April 16, 2025

The contact owns a 2013 Acura TSX equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: Pure Contact, Tire Size: 225/50/R17, DOT Number: VY40WD4A2320. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver's side tire exploded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer;…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · July 4, 2023

2013 Acura TSX — common questions

Is the 2013 Acura TSX reliable?

Its record is better than the model's norm: 40 NHTSA complaints, below the typical TSX year, with 4 recalls and no open investigations.

What are the most common 2013 TSX problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are steering (19 complaints), airbags (5 complaints), electrical system (4 complaints).

Does the 2013 Acura TSX have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 2013 Acura TSX. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2013 Acura TSX under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Acura TSX years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the TSX years to avoid are 2004, 2012, 2009. The cleanest record among TSX years belongs to 2014.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.