2012 Acura TSX: steering wheel locks up

Filed Mar 16, 2023 · Steering · PA

The Electronic Power Steering Component failed in the vehicle. No previous warning lights or problems with steering. Had just parked car returned an hour later and warning light comes on. Fortunately, I was pulling out of a parking place when the steering locked up. Vehicle was towed to Acura dealer and the service advisor stated it would be covered under 15 year extended warranty then called parts to locate part to be replaced. I was called the next morning and told vehicle would be ready by end of day, but a few hours later surprisingly, I was informed the part (Power steering rack) was not covered and the cost would be $3,400. To add insult to injury was offered to have sales appraise my car so they could fix and resell!!! I only have 38,500 miles on my 2012 vehicle and now my vehicle is just sitting. This is a real issue there definitely should be a recall for this. I see numerous complaints regarding this, please investigate this safety issue.

Filed Sep 20, 2020 · Steering · 98,500 miles · MD

Eps failure warning shows up on the cluster panel... The steering wheel locked almost making me crash my vehicle. The vehicle is not drivable right now. This incident it's been reported for many acura tsx owners before. Are the manufacturers waiting for a fatal accident to happened?!?

Filed Feb 16, 2019 · Steering · 67,000 miles · WA

I was driving on a state hwy coming home from work in the dark & rain when all of a sudden my steering wheel locked up. I thankfully was able to take control. I veered off the highway when I noticed I couldn't turn my wheel. After getting it home & looking what it could be I read the power steering. After reading several forums regarding this issue it's a known problem with this vehicle & year. This has happened to numerous people while driving which is behind dangerous & I couldn't imagine if I couldn't take control. Why hasn't this been recalled? It's a whole forum on this where people could have lost their lives. This vehicle does not just take power steering fluid so it would not be an easy fix. Now it's impossible to turn my wheel. I reached out to acura but got no response.

Filed Dec 15, 2018 · Steering · 142,000 miles · CA

"takata recall" acura needs to be aware of what happened to me yesterday. Yesterday I was driving home from work when all of a sudden the eps system light turned on. This is the power steering light. My steering wheel locked where I was having difficulty steering my wheel. Luckily I only had 2 make 2 turns but it was hard doing so. An inexperienced driver would have crashed and it could possibly lead to a fatality being that a car is not supposed to lock on you when you are driving on the freeway. Now, I can't drive my car to work or at all. I need to tow it to a dealer and I probably have to pay thousands to fix it. I've had my car only 6 years. Please be aware there are many complaints online with the same make year and model with the same issue. I don't think it is fair I have to pay to fix it. I have a 2001 honda accord and it runs way better with no issues like this car. The car was in motion when this happened to me, which makes this even more dangerous. I was frightened for my life and that is why I am taking it to this forum. If nothing is done about this I am seeking legal advice.

Filed Jul 24, 2018 · Electrical, Steering · 100,000 miles · SC

I have a 2012 acura tsx that has had no prior issues before this one. While driving on the highway my steering wheel locked up and the message check power steering came across the dash. The electronic power steering module failed causing my steering wheel to lock up. This was very dangerous as I no longer had control of the car and was unable to turn the wheel. I have seen at least 100 complaints of this issue happening to other owners while on the highway, in busy intersections, and while driving. I live in the upstate of south carolina and there is major road construction going on. This mean no emergencies lanes, only two lane and concrete dividers so there is no way to pull off the road. Therefore this is a fatal accident waiting to happen. This definitely needs to be checked out for a recall so that no one loses there life because acura would rather keep charging people $1,500.00 to fix it instead of reporting a recall for a faulty part.

Filed Jul 23, 2018 · Steering · 85,000 miles · GA

Steering wheel locked up. Could not drive as a result of being unable to move the wheel. The powering steering warning indicator came on.

Filed Jul 17, 2018 · Electrical, Steering · 77,000 miles · MA

I was driving on a side street, roughly 25mph when my power steering light came on and the vehicle's steering locked up. I pulled over and quickly read the manual, which said to restart the car and if the light goes off, the car is ok. After doing so, the car was steering as expected and I was able to return home safely. The car was fine for 2 days. The third morning, I am leaving for work and driving on a side street and the same thing happened - the light came on and the vehicle's steering seized, except this time restarting did not help. I tried several times before succumbing to the fact that it was not going to help. I had to leave my car in the street and uber to work, work with aaa and the local acura dealership to get my car in for repair. It was the esp that had failed. With parts and labor the bill was $1,600. The car has 77k miles on it. This part should last at least to 100k, if not the life time of the vehicle. Luckily for me I was not on the highway, operating a vehicle with no steering is very scary and very dangerous. This is a serious issue that needs to be recalled by acura before someone is killed. I bought an acura because I trust them, their cars and their brand and I am incredibly disappointed in their lack of care and safety of their customers.

Filed Jul 10, 2018 · Steering · CT

While driving steering wheel locked and then again when I turned it on to go to work which I was unable to move the car. The steering wheel would not move right nor left

Filed Feb 16, 2018 · Electrical, Steering · 75,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 acura tsx. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted after one attempt. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering module wiring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. It was unknown if a dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to call the federal safety agency. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Feb 15, 2018 · Steering · 99,000 miles · WA

The other day I was driving on the free way and my steering wheel locked up on me while I was driving which could've caused an accident or something more worse. A lot of complaints were already made on arfc so I'm surprised this hasn't become an issue for the dealership to make this a recall. It's a safety hazard and can cause someone's life. I really hope this gets escalated so we can save someone's life and get a refund for replacing this computer chip module that's cost 1500 dollars. I spoke to the acura complaint center and the rep said if they get more complaints like this it will lead into a recall and we would get a refund. It's ridiculous that this hasn't already become a recall due to it being a safety hazard.

Filed Jul 28, 2017 · Steering · 61,000 miles · CA

Power steering froze up and almost caused an accident for my wife and son . Found out acura has a lot of power steering module issue. Not reliable since its not very old vehicle. I believe acura should reimburse me for my cost of replacement of power steering module.

Filed Apr 1, 2017 · Steering · 10 miles · CA

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.