While driving the vehicle, the vehicle suddenly shutoff and powered on again. After do some diagnostics we determined is was the ECU/ECM. The ECM has corrosion on the top which caused salty water to eat through the lid. Doing some research this vehicle make and model has recall but doesn’t show up under my vin. I’ve contacted the manufacturer which was willing to help but the dealership seems to not want to help since no recall was under the vin so the manufacturer “HONDA” has closed the case but hasn’t given me any answer to why. I’m in contact again with the manufacturer waiting for a call back hopefully today 4-21-26
The worst 2004 Acura TSX problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags29
- Electrical29
- Engine24
- Seats22
- Transmission16
- Steering14
- Lights12
- Brakes8
- Seat belts7
- Suspension7
- Driver assistance4
- Fuel system4
- Tires4
- Acceleration3
- Locks1
- Visibility1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2004 Acura TSX
Stalling 9Airbag light 5No deployment 5Check engine light 5Headlights 5
Recalls 3
Electrical system
- What is wrong
- Honda is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Acura TSX vehicles originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In states that use corrosive materials for deicing, driver's footwear may bring in materials that saturate the vehicle's carpeting, which is in contact with the vehicle's engine Electronic Control Unit (ECU). As a result, the ECU case may experience rust or corrosion. This damage may potentially cause the engine to stall.
- Risk
- A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners and Acura dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any damaged ECU, free of charge. All vehicles will have a waterproof cover installed onto the ECU, free of charge. The recall began during April 2013. Owners may contact Acura Client Relations at 1‑800‑382‑2238 and select option 4 or go to www.recalls.acura.com.
Recall number 13V093000 · Recall details
Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections
- What is wrong
- Honda is recalling certain model year 2004 through 2008 acura tsx passenger vehicles manufactured between september 25, 2002 and february 13, 2008. Prolonged high under hood temperatures may cause the power steering hose to deteriorate prematurely and may cause the hose to crack and leak power steering oil.
- Risk
- Oil leaking onto a hot exhaust pipe will generate smoke and a burning smell, and could potentially result in an under hood fire.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began may 28, 2010. Owners may contact acura client services at 1‑800‑382‑2238.
Recall number 10V174000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: tail lights
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger cars, the wire harness located in the trunk hinge area is not adequately protected and over time could be damaged when the trunk is opened and closed.
- Risk
- A damaged harness can cause a blown fuse, a short circuit and it can result in a loss of license plate lights, back-up lights and tail light function. Loss of a tail light could reduce visibility and increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the harness and if any damage is found, the harness will be replaced. If no damage is found, dealers will install corrugated plastic tubing over the harness to prevent future damage. The recall began on september 15, 2004. Owners should contact honda at 1‑800‑999‑1009.
Recall number 04V429000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2004 Acura TSX 69
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This SKU is a Front Upper Ball Joint
- There are specific leak dye kits for the R-134a and R-1234yf A/C systems; make sure you use the correct...
- Tech line summary article
- Sending vehicle data to tech line.
- The rear wire harness near the left side trunk hinge is not adequately protected and could be damaged when...
- Navigation system information.
- Special Tool Loan Program: Under TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR LOAN, the list has been updated.
- Dealer message
- Dealer message
- Acura: the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) is on, with DTC P2138 (accelerator pedal position sensor a/b...
2004 Acura TSX fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4‑cyl | FWD | 19-20 | 27-29 | 22-23 |
What 2004 Acura TSX owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2004 Acura TSX. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal clicking sound that was coming from the instrument cluster. The contact stated that upon decelerating to come to a stop, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that while the vehicle was rolling, the contact shifted to neutral(N), restarted the vehicle and continued driving. The contact stated that the failure had been a recurring failure. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in HTSA Campaign Number: 13V093000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System), which the contact related to the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall repair was performed; however, the vehicle failed to start after the repair. The dealer informed the contact that he needed to pay a fee for diagnostic test and the repair out-of-pocket. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 335,000.
They power steering is leaking badly onto exhaust pipe and not holding any fluid in the Reservoir I do not know when problem began the car had one owner prior to me , I would like to just get the recall situated and fixed if possible
215 t5r 17 Goodyear I found a large bulge in the side wall drivers front tire. Need to find out who sold the tire and its distributor / shipper. Purchased these new but I am unable to locate the receipt.
The contact owns a 2004 Acura TSX. The contact stated while the vehicle was at a standstill, the vehicle would accelerate independently and he was unable to control the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer but they were unable to duplicate the failure. The contact stated on 7/29/2022 while depressing the accelerator pedal, he lost control of the vehicle again. The contact knocked down a slim pole before depressing the brake pedal and shifting gears into Park to stop the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact did not notify the police. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. The contact was able to continue driving to his destination. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. The VIN was not available.
Rack in pinion leaking
was leaving my and steering wheel locked up.
I have a 2004 acura tsx I purchased from the original owner back on may of 2018 with 55000 original miles. The car runs like new it was well taken care of with the original owner all services and inspections were up to date as/ carfax report. The car since I've owned I put 19000 miles with all service and inspections up to date so the vehicle has now 74000 miles. 3 weeks ago the automatic transmission started to shift rough. The fluids and filter were replaced at 60000 miles so its not the fluid thats dirty. I took it to 3 different mechanics including my state inspection mechanic and they told me the transmission needs to be replaced because it's starting to go bad. I was also told these transmissions came faulty in a lot of honda cars and honda was to replace them at no cost. My question is if my car falls into this warranty issue because I know the year of car is old but the car looks and runs like new. Please let me know what can be done to solve this matter maybe there is a recall that I'm not aware of and maybe it can be repaired thru the manufacturer since this is a very expensive and costly issue to take care of on my own. I can be reached at [xxx] if you need further information thank you. [xxx] (owner) information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
This vehicle was taken in for a recall for a corrosive ECM. 1 hour prior to taking this vehicle in my assigned service writer gave me a call, your vehicle is ready for pick up. I was advised due to their visual inspection of the ECM( Electronic control module)(electrical computer) not having corrosion, they will not change the unit but they have decided to replace the cover on the unit. I've filed a concerning complaint to Acura headquarters due to my knowledge of cars to have it on file what was told to me before receiving the vehicle. Due to my knowledge a faulty ECM can trigger numerous faults within the vehicles performance.Prior to bringing the vehicle to the dealership, I've been experiencing heavy misfires, poor radio connection, no interior lights and triggered headlights. I've replaced the necessary mechanics that would normal be the cause of these issues and the problem was still existing. The last option was the ECM,which fueled my search of a recall on these models for a faulty ECM. A few weeks later I've contacted another dealership in hopes they would take care of the problem, the representative was polite and reassured me the recall was suppose to be replaced with a new unit under manufacturer policy. However this could not be done because the previous dealer has marked the vehicle as a completed task. So I filed another complaint and have not received any further notice regarding my concern. A few weeks later I had the vehicle diagnosed and realized the ECM was never replaced nor removed out of the vehicle for inspection. Pictures and video where taken of this unit,as you can see the build up of dirt and dust from its original installment back in 2004. Later reading the review of that specific dealership, I've learned their has been numerous complaints regarding poor service at that locations service department.
Power Steering Hose Leak. I took my vehicle in to have the oil changed and mechanics noticed a power steering leak. The mechanic looked up any recalls on my vehicle and noted this was a previous recall. Upon searching, 2010 there was a bulletin that went out, and the car was taken in 2010 and inspected and released. Upon further searching the other day there was a 2018 release and update of the same bulletin, which I never received. Regardless of it being inspected in 2010 and being cleared to drive, it seems this issue ultimately ended up happening, just now, instead of 2010. When I contacted Acura they said there are no current vin associated recalls on my vehicle. My issue is, just because it was 10 years ago w/no issue doesn’t mean the issue doesn’t exist today, which it does. I’ve gotten no help from Acura on this. Any information you can provide would be appreciated. Thank you.
Compare the 2004 Acura TSX
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Questions about the 2004 Acura TSX
Is the 2004 Acura TSX reliable?
Owners have filed 142 complaints about the 2004 Acura TSX, 2.8 times a typical TSX model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2004 Acura TSX year score?
The 2004 Acura TSX scores 36 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Acura TSX: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Acura TSX?
Airbags, with 29 complaints, typically around 62,500 miles. Next is electrical (29).
How many recalls does the 2004 Acura TSX have?
3 recalls, covering electrical system, steering and exterior lighting.
What year does the Acura TSX have bad airbags?
The Acura TSX model years with the most airbags complaints are 2004 (29 complaints), 2009 (27 complaints) and 2010 (20 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2004 Acura TSX get?
Official estimates for the 2004 Acura TSX range from 22 to 23 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.4L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 19-20 city and 27-29 highway.
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