2011 Acura TSX

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

67/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Acura TSX, and it carries 7 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Steering	14	31%
Air bags	10	22%
Service brakes	6	13%
Engine	3	7%
Steering	2	4%
Structure	1	2%
Power train	1	2%
Electrical system	1	2%
Steering	1	2%
Steering	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

The contact owns a 2011 Acura TSX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V661000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufactur
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Power steering system malfunction. Warning light went on with no other warning and rendered vehicle undrivable due to no steering function
NHTSA complaint: Steering

VSA MODULATOR failed, breaks suddenly goes all the way down will not stop, this is suddenly happened while on the road.
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

While driving on highway driver side windshield trim panel flew off into traffic causing a car to swerve at highway speed. Included with the genuine Acura replacement part (# 73162-tl2-305zd) was service bulletin # 09-03
NHTSA complaint: Structure

While driving my 2011 Acura TSX wagon on 10 July 2021, the power steering failure indicator light came on while crossing a bridge and my power steering immediately failed. After the vehicle was towed home, I searched the
NHTSA complaint: Steering

ABS/VSA WARNING LIGHT IN INSTRUMENT PANEL COMES ON AT START-UP, OTHER TIMES WHEN DRIVING, THEN DISAPPEARS ONLY TO COME BACK ON AGAIN AND LATER RE-APPEAR, DISAPPEARS, INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS QUOTED $2,900 FOR ABS/VSA
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

7 F, CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE ALL NIGHT, STARTED CAR, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, BACKED OUT, BRAKES NORMAL, DRIVING FORWARD SLOWLY, BRAKES NORMAL, WAS GOING 30 APPROACHING STOP SIGN, WENT TO BRAKE, PEDAL WAS SOLID...NOTHING WAS
NHTSA complaint: Power train

NO BRAKES OR VERY STIFF BRAKE PEDAL WHEN BELOW FREEZING UNTIL CAR WARMS UP. HAVE HAD BRAKE FLUID REPLACED AND BLED MULTIPLE TIMES AND PROBLEM NOT FIXED. HAPPENS EVERY TIME BELOW 25 DEGREES AND IS WORSE THE COLDER IT IS.
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2011 Acura TSX. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module 18V661000

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, Mississipp

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

Fix: 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 1-888-234-21

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module 19V502000

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, 2010-201

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

Fix: 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 1-888-234-21

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module 19V378000

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

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module 17V030000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight, 2009-2012 Honda Fit, 2009-2012 Pilot, 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2012 Honda FCX Clarity and 2006-2011 Hond

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification

The seven scores

Reliability raw	64	average
Longevity est.	74	good
Maintenance	88	excellent
Depreciation	62	average
Performance	49	below average
Efficiency	42	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 11% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 27% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 77% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 58% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 64: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 74: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2011 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 88: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2011 Acura TSX?

Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and steering is the most reported area with 14 of them (31%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2011 Acura TSX reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 64/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2011 Acura TSX last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2011 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2011 Acura TSX?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.