Used Acura TSX Buying Guide (2004-2014): Recalls and Real Checks

A used Acura TSX is a smart buy when the air bag recalls are closed, the engine is not burning oil, and the title history lines up with the car in front of you. Acura sold the TSX in the U.S. from the 2004 through 2014 model years in two generations, plus a Sport Wagon late in the run, then replaced it with the TLX. That long run means plenty of cheap examples, and plenty of tired ones hiding behind a clean wash.

Which TSX you are looking at

First-generation cars (2004-2008) use a 2.4L four with a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic, and people still hunt the manuals. The second generation (2009-2014) is bigger and softer, with a 2.4L four, an optional 3.5L V6 from 2010 on in the sedan, and the 2011-2014 Sport Wagon. Decode the VIN with NHTSA vPIC so the year, body and engine match the ad. A "V6 manual" listing deserves a hard second look, since the V6 came with an automatic.

Recalls NHTSA lists for the TSX

When I queried NHTSA on Nov. 5, 2026, results split clearly by generation:

• 2009-2014 cars: a stack of passenger frontal air bag inflator campaigns, including 16V346000, 17V030000, 18V042000, 19V378000 and 19V502000, plus 18V661000 for 2014 cars. These are the Takata-era items that matter most.
• 17V545000: some cars that already got a replacement inflator may have had it installed incorrectly at one dealer, so a "done" recall is not always done.
• 2004-2008 cars: 13V093000, where deicing salt tracked in on shoes can soak the carpet and corrode the engine ECU case, which can stall the engine. It covers cars sold or registered in listed salt states.
• 10V174000: 2004-2008 power steering hoses that can crack from under-hood heat and leak fluid.
• 04V429000 on early cars: a trunk-hinge wire harness that can wear through.

Run the exact VIN through our Acura recall check by VIN and Acura's owner site. Then read NHTSA recall vs CARFAX so you know why a history report and NHTSA can disagree on what is open.

Mechanical checks

Ask for oil-change records and check the dipstick level. Some 2.4L cars use oil between changes, and an owner who never checked will not tell you. Listen for a rattle at cold start, feel for a soft second-to-third shift on automatics, and check that the A/C blows cold, since compressor work is common on older Hondas. On a first-gen car from the salt belt, pull the driver floor mat and look for wet carpet near the ECU area that the recall describes. That is a five-second check most buyers skip.

Look under the car for rocker and rear wheel-arch rust, and make sure the power steering reservoir is not low or weeping. A pre-purchase inspection is cheap against a sedan this old and finds the stuff photos never show.

Reading the history report

Look for salvage or flood brands, odometer rollbacks, and a long run of auction sales in a short stretch. Cross-check brands with NMVTIS. A seller-supplied PDF is a starting point, not proof; our guide to spotting a fake report shows what to look for, and title washing explains how a brand can vanish after a move.

When to walk

Walk from an open air bag inflator recall the seller will not get fixed, a branded title priced as clean, oil consumption the seller waves off, or any seller who will not let a shop look at it. Clean TSX sedans are common enough that you do not have to rescue a bad one.

Questions to ask the seller

• Can I see the dealer invoices for the recall work, with the VIN printed on them?
• How often did you check the oil, and how much did it need between changes?
• Has the A/C compressor or power steering hose ever been replaced?
• For a first-gen car, was it ever registered in a salt state, and was the ECU recall done?
• Is the title in your name, and does the VIN on it match the dash plate and the door jamb label?

A good seller answers these in a text before you drive over. A seller who gets vague about paperwork on a TSX is telling you something, so listen to it.

Pricing it fairly

Six-speed sedans and clean Sport Wagons hold value better than tired automatics, so mileage and records swing the price more than trim does. Pull asking prices for the same year and trim within a few hundred miles, then knock the price down by the cost of anything your inspection finds. Tires, brakes, fluids and any open recall that needs a dealer appointment all count. If you are financing, the lender will set its own value, and our guide to loan-to-value explains why a high price can leave you upside down.

On the day you buy

Bring your own copy of the history report and compare the VIN on it to the title and the car one last time. Get a bill of sale with the date, price, mileage and both names. Check that the title is not marked salvage, rebuilt, flood or lien unless you already agreed to that. Take photos of the odometer and the VIN plate. If the seller still owes money on the TSX, pay the lender directly so the lien release goes where it should, then confirm the new title is coming. Your state DMV can tell you how long that usually takes.

What the report costs

As of early November 2026 a CARFAX bought direct usually costs around $44.99, and AutoCheck sits a little lower. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Our guest price has been about $5.50 a report, about $4.50 for members, and about $6.75 for a CARFAX and AutoCheck bundle. Confirm the price at checkout, since it can change.

Sources

• NHTSA recallsByVehicle results for Acura TSX 2004-2014, queried Nov. 5, 2026; NHTSA recalls
• NHTSA vPIC VIN decoder
• NMVTIS
• IIHS