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2012 Acura Tsx

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Tsx years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Acura Tsx are substantially higher than the model-year median of 50.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

106 reports with mileage · 27 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 100 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

133 reports
73,000 miles · Jun 28, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

LAST WEEK DRIVING MY ACURA TSX 2012 CAR HOME FROM WORK, SUDDENLY THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED. I WAS DRIVING ON A WINDING ROAD AND MID SHARP TURN THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND CAME CLOSE TO CRASHING INTO THE TREE LINE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD STOP SINCE MY HEART WAS PALPITATING SO HARD. …

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LAST WEEK DRIVING MY ACURA TSX 2012 CAR HOME FROM WORK, SUDDENLY THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED. I WAS DRIVING ON A WINDING ROAD AND MID SHARP TURN THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND CAME CLOSE TO CRASHING INTO THE TREE LINE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD STOP SINCE MY HEART WAS PALPITATING SO HARD. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE TREE LINE AND WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE. LUCKILY MY INSTINCTS KICKED IN AND I WAS ABLE TO WITH ALL MY MIGHT SLOW DOWN THE CAR AND TURN THE WHEEL AS HARD AS I COULD TO AVOID CRASHING. THIS IS REALLY DANGEROUS AND I AM LUCKY THAT I CAME AWAY UNSCATHED. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ELECTRONIC MODULE WHICH WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $1200 TO FIX/REPLACE. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ODI #11002006

66,000 miles · Apr 19, 2017
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA TSX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT DEALER SOLD THE VEHICLE WITHOUT DISCLOSING THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IN THE PAST, WHICH CAUSED THE SRS INDICATOR TO ILLUMINATE ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SELLER WHO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA TSX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT DEALER SOLD THE VEHICLE WITHOUT DISCLOSING THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IN THE PAST, WHICH CAUSED THE SRS INDICATOR TO ILLUMINATE ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SELLER WHO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE AIR BAG FAILURE INVOLVED THE ENTIRE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND NOT JUST THE SRS INDICATOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SELLER DID NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000.

NHTSA ODI #10979298

10 miles · Apr 1, 2017
Steering

I WORK FOR BER NOW, AND I GIVE RIDES TO PEOPLE. SO I HAD JUST PICKED UP A SECOND PASSENGER AT A PARKING LOT AND WAS DRIVING AT AROUND 20-25 MPH AND I HAD TO TURN TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. AS I TRIED TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ON ME AND GOT A MESSAGE ON MY DASH TO CHECK POWER STEERING. SO I HAD TO BRAKE IMMEDIATELY AN…

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I WORK FOR BER NOW, AND I GIVE RIDES TO PEOPLE. SO I HAD JUST PICKED UP A SECOND PASSENGER AT A PARKING LOT AND WAS DRIVING AT AROUND 20-25 MPH AND I HAD TO TURN TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. AS I TRIED TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ON ME AND GOT A MESSAGE ON MY DASH TO CHECK POWER STEERING. SO I HAD TO BRAKE IMMEDIATELY AND LET THE PASSENGERS KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. I WAS BLOCKING TRAFFIC INTO THE PARKING LOT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND FORCING THE STEERING WHEEL, I WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE WHEEL BUT I WAS STILL VERY HAD TO TURN. TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEM ON THE CAR WHICH WAS OVER $1400 OUT OF POCKET. LUCKY I WASN'T DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS IN THE FREEWAY OTHER WISE I DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD OF HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI #10969914

53,000 miles · Mar 8, 2017
Steering

LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY

NHTSA ODI #10959643

60,000 miles · Mar 6, 2017
Steering

WHILE DRIVING, ALL OF A SUDDEN (ELECTRIC POWER) STEERING COMPLETELY LOOKED, COULD NOT MOVE RIGHT OR LEFT, VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, LUCKILY PULL OVER AND TOWED TO MY AUTO SHOP, ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED COST ME $1,200.

NHTSA ODI #10958805

76,000 miles · Jan 14, 2017
Electrical SystemSteeringCrash

I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THE SNOW AND SLID INTO THE GUARDRAIL WHILE TURNING. NOT MUCH BODY DAMAGE, BUT THE STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED. WAS STUCK IN THE ROAD FOR 2 HOURS WITH THE POLICE HAVING TO BLOCK OFF AROUND ME. HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING WITH IT BECAUSE HE SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL AND COULD NOT CLEAR …

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I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THE SNOW AND SLID INTO THE GUARDRAIL WHILE TURNING. NOT MUCH BODY DAMAGE, BUT THE STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED. WAS STUCK IN THE ROAD FOR 2 HOURS WITH THE POLICE HAVING TO BLOCK OFF AROUND ME. HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING WITH IT BECAUSE HE SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL AND COULD NOT CLEAR THE CODE THAT WAS COMING UP AND NEEDED TO GO THE DEALERSHIP.HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ARE REPLACING THE STEERING.

NHTSA ODI #10945236

52,078 miles · Jan 13, 2017
Steering

I HAD JUST FINISHED RIGHT TURN AND WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD, THE WARNING LIGHT FOR EPS CAME ON AND ALL ASSIST LOST. DROVE 3 MILES HOME, TURNED CAR OFF IN DRIVEWAY WHILE CALLING DEALER AND WHEN IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED, ASSIST RETURNED. DRIVE ABOUT ONE MILE AND LOST ASSIST AGAIN. ON WAY TO DEALER, STRAIGHT HIGHWAY DRIVING, SOME A…

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I HAD JUST FINISHED RIGHT TURN AND WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD, THE WARNING LIGHT FOR EPS CAME ON AND ALL ASSIST LOST. DROVE 3 MILES HOME, TURNED CAR OFF IN DRIVEWAY WHILE CALLING DEALER AND WHEN IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED, ASSIST RETURNED. DRIVE ABOUT ONE MILE AND LOST ASSIST AGAIN. ON WAY TO DEALER, STRAIGHT HIGHWAY DRIVING, SOME ASSIST RETURNED BUT WHEEL WOULD NOT CENTER STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED OUT OF THE BLUE WITH NO INDICATION BEFORE HAND. MY TSX HAS 52,078 MILES ON IT. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THE EPS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED @ ~$1200. WITHOUT SIGNIFICENT STRENGTH, DRIVER'S SAFETY AT SIGNIFICANT RISK.

NHTSA ODI #10945198

58,770 miles · Dec 19, 2016
Steering

WHILE DRIVING, IN MOTION, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING (EPS) FAILED. DASH INDICATOR LIGHT DISPLAYED "CHECK POWER STEERING SYSTEM". STEERING WHEEL WAS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. I HAVE DRIVEN CARS EQUIPPED WITH TRADITIONAL BELT & PUMP-DRIVEN POWER STEERING SYSTEMS THAT FAILED BEFORE WITH NOT MUCH ISSUE EXCEPT REASONABL…

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WHILE DRIVING, IN MOTION, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING (EPS) FAILED. DASH INDICATOR LIGHT DISPLAYED "CHECK POWER STEERING SYSTEM". STEERING WHEEL WAS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. I HAVE DRIVEN CARS EQUIPPED WITH TRADITIONAL BELT & PUMP-DRIVEN POWER STEERING SYSTEMS THAT FAILED BEFORE WITH NOT MUCH ISSUE EXCEPT REASONABLY EXTRA EFFORT TO MANEUVER, BUT THE HIGHER LEVEL OF STRENGTH REQUIRED AFTER THE TSX'S ESP FAILED WAS SHOCKINGLY GREATER. THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AT AN ACURA DEALERSHIP THAT CONFIRMED THE EPS MODULE HAD FAILED. THIS MODULE IS BASICALLY A COMPUTER, SO IT CANNOT BE GIVEN REGULAR MAINTENANCE OR MONITORED. THE CONSUMER WILL NEVER HAVE ANY SIGNS OF FAILURE UNTIL IT ACTUALLY FAILS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10936367

10 miles · Nov 16, 2016
Steering

EPS (ELECTRIC POWER STEERING) LIGHT COME ON WHILE DRIVING AND LOCK STEERING. ERROR CODE: 32-09. EPS LIGHT WILL TURN OFF AFTER RESTART ENGINE BUT WILL COME ON AGAIN AND LOCK STEERING AGAIN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO LOCAL SHOP TO RUN DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY SUGGEST THAT THIS IS BAD MANUFACTURE ISSUE AND SUG…

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EPS (ELECTRIC POWER STEERING) LIGHT COME ON WHILE DRIVING AND LOCK STEERING. ERROR CODE: 32-09. EPS LIGHT WILL TURN OFF AFTER RESTART ENGINE BUT WILL COME ON AGAIN AND LOCK STEERING AGAIN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO LOCAL SHOP TO RUN DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY SUGGEST THAT THIS IS BAD MANUFACTURE ISSUE AND SUGGEST TO CONTACT ACURA TO FIX IT UNDER ITS WARRANTY. I HAVE CALL ACURA DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY ARE NOT COVER IT AND I HAVE TO PAID TO GET IT FIX. IT IS A REALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND CAN CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENT IF IT WAS TURNING AND EPS LIGHT ON AND LOCK MY STEERING WHEEL. I ATTACHED RECEIPT REPORT FROM AUTO SHOP. THANKS

NHTSA ODI #10926502

80,000 miles · Oct 20, 2016
Steering

MY 14 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, WHO'S LEARNING TO DRIVE WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL WHEN THE CAR STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T ALLOW HER TO TURN THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY WE HADN'T APPROACHED THE HIGHWAY YET OR WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WE WERE BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY AND SHE SAID THE WHEEL FELT…

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MY 14 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, WHO'S LEARNING TO DRIVE WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL WHEN THE CAR STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T ALLOW HER TO TURN THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY WE HADN'T APPROACHED THE HIGHWAY YET OR WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WE WERE BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY AND SHE SAID THE WHEEL FELT FUNNY. WE WERE A MILE FROM OUR HOME ENTERING A ROUND AND HEADING ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHEN SHE SAID THE WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN AND SHE PANICKED. I GRABBED THE WHEEL AND IT WOULDN'T BUDGE. WE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE ROUND ABOUT AND THANK GOD NO ONE WAS ENTERING OR EXITING IT. I HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AFTER SHE STOPPED THE CAR THAT WAS SIDEWAYS IN THE STREET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10917470

Official recalls

6

19V502000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jun 27, 2019

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 & remedy

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.

19V378000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

May 16, 2019

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 & remedy

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.

18V661000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Sep 27, 2018

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 & remedy

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.

18V042000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jan 9, 2018

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 & remedy

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.

17V545000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Aug 31, 2017

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 Accord, 2010-2012 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2012 Fit and Pilot, 2010-2012 Insight, and 2009-2012 Acura TSX vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal air bag inflators. One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are O07, Y0A, N06, G05, M04, Y01, and O09.

17V030000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jan 10, 2017

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 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid, Civic NGV vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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, if not included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Fit and Pilot, 2008-2009 Honda Accord, 2006-2009 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, and 2007-2009 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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." Additionally, if not included in "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling certain 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV and 2007-2008 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, 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 inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: 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 when parts are available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KE1 and KE2.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA19001 · Electrical Overstress

Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU.  In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment.  FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle.  Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW.  These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes.  An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time.   In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU.  This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners.  Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation.  The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage.  There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation.  The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU.  If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC.  Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC.  All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled.  In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024.  With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.