I'm down to an Altima se-r and a TSX now. We currently own an MDX and I'm leaning toward the TSX. Looking for a 6speed and my limit is 15k. Wanted to know about the problems with the TSX. Looks like AC is big. Anything else. I commute about 40 miles a day so gas milage is also big. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

No AC problems here. What have you heard and what model years?

 

04 is the only year with any A/C problems.
it has lots more than just A/C problems too.
opt for an 05 or newer.
but having only 15k... you're possibly going to be forced into an 04.

if you decide that you want an 04, make sure you don't
get one that has a green light around the ignition key.
get one that has a blue light there.

 

Out of curiosity, what's the difference between a TSX with a green light and a TSX with a blue light?

 

green light were the first production models.
the ones with the most problems.
you're almost guaranteed to have about 90%+ of the
known 04 issues if you have the green light ring.
the ones made later in the model year, after a bit of re-working
was done have the blue light around the key area.
and there's some 04 people with blue lights that have had little
to no major problems. but also some blue lights with problems.
any 04 is riskier than an 05 or newer.

or so I've read.
I own an 08, so I don't really know first hand.
I've just read god knows how many posts on the topic.
so take everything I say as just an opinion.

 

You want to know the common problems with the TSX:
There really are none, thats why its such a good car. There are issues however, like other have just said, with the '04 models. I have an 06, and there are no issues I've had yet after a year of owning it (but that's only one year). I'm not guaranteeing anything, but you're likely to be safe with a later than '04 model. I personally wouldn't get an '05 either, which is why I went for the '06, but that's just me. Take the advice from the above posts. I would also read some consumer reviews.

You're concerned about gas mileage:
The TSX doesn't get the greatest gas mileage, and it takes premium. There are other threads on AZ about this. You're likely going to get 22/34 at best. The one thing I realized real fast after getting the TSX was that I personally thought it was a gas guzzler- after driving a Corolla though. I remember saying 'damn.' My overall average is 20.2 mostly city driving.

 

I have a 04 TSX with 58k miles with the green light around the ignition key. Not sure if the green light means anything but the fact is my TSX is a mess. I bought it in 2003 so i know it was one of the first that were manufactured. Currently I'm having a/c problems. About 2 months ago the a/c starting crashing on me. Some days it would work and other days it wouldn't. At some point it just stopped working completely. One day I pulled out the fuse and relay to inspect and when I put them back, to my surprise the a/c started working again to only stop working completely again a couple weeks later. So I decided to take it to acura and this is when the games began. When I dropped it off I just told him that my a/c is not working. They called me later in the day to tell me that I need freon which sounds ridiculous for a car with 58k. I then told him what I did with the fuses and relay and that it would work occasionally and that how is that possible if it's just out of freon. I of course got a stupid response cause i think he just realized he go busted. Anyway I picked up my car and my receipt mentioned that I declined any work but the funny thing was that my a/c was working again, until yesterday that is. It seems, now, if I have my a/c on for a long period of time (45 + minutes) it just shuts of and blows just air (fan). This morning I realized that when i shut the just the a/c on/off switch that sometimes it will turn on and sometimes it doesn't. And when it doesn't work you don't hear the compressor come on and when the a/c is on, of course I hear the compressor come on. It seems to me that it might be an electrical problem cause it appears that the compressor is shutting off on it's own. Anyway going to bring it to another acura dealer and see what they say. Good Luck with the 04 TSX

FYI (other problems I've had with my 04 TSX)
-lights around radio went out with @ 14k miles
-ticking sound from front axle when turning and driving in reverse since about 25k miles. Been checked by dealership about 5 times and they say they don't hear it.
-rear speakers went out @39Kmiles. dealership said it had to do with the built in amp?
-rear trunk wouldn't shut @ 40k miles. not sure what they fixed.
-lights in the middle consoles (below radio) and passenger heated seat switch doesn't light up.

I honestly luv the car but if I'm experiencing these problems @ 58k miles, what do I have to look forward to?

 

unfortunately you're looking forward to many more troubles.
your entire A/C system is going to crash and if not under warranty it will
cost problaby $4k to $5k to have it fixed.

there's a host of other small problems that you will encounter too.
like the LED lights burning out on the VSA off switch area, the heated
seat switches, and the ones by the stereo already went out on you.

I'm surprised your seat is not squeaking or sliding forward when you come
to a stop, you might expect that some time soon too.

there's several other small problems you look to be facing.

I would sell the car right now if I were you. or trade it for a different
TSX as soon as possible.

 

I have an 04 with no problems get a tsx

 

I got an extended warranty and hoping to get the a/c fixed without anything coming out of my pocket. I just don't want the headache of going back to the dealers numerous times before the problem gets finally done right. But after that, i'm geting rid of it.

 

Thing is i just cant justify paying any more for this vehicle. With the market being what it is if I'm going to pay more than 15k I would rather have a nice 05 06 G35, SE-R, or even TL. Had no idea this car gets the same millage as my old 2000 GS400. I also had no idea it had so many problems. AC is big for me especially here in GA. Sucks cause I really liked the look of the TSX but I'll be going with something else now. Thanks for your help.

 

np.

if you can afford a bit more for an 05 or better yet an 06-08, you'll
have a car that cannot be beat for the money.

but it's not just TSX's, all cars in their first model year suffer more problems
than those in the later model years, just how it goes.

good luck in whatever you buy.

 

That's just the danger of buying a first model year car. I had a first model year Neon, and it was the biggest POS I've ever owned. Blew a half a dozen head gaskets. The redesigned them after 2 model years because they had them coming into the dealer with less than 10k miles and blown head gaskets. Snapped 3 timing belts. No reason found for the first one, second one was kind of my fault, but the third one we had no idea. It had a nasty transmission leak that we could never track down. It wasn't dripping. Nothing under the car even after sitting for over a week. I think it burned more oil than gas. It was just a nightmare. But it was very early in the production cycle. The general concensus seems to be that if you stick with an 05+ you'll be getting a decently reliable vehicle. 06+ and you get a good vehicle with a few extras over the 05. As long as you stay away from the 04, I think you'll be pleased. And that's not to say that the 04s junk (for all you 04 owners out there) they just carry a certain amount of risk with them.

Edit: Forgot to mention, if you can find and afford it, I'd highly recommend getting an Acura Certified Pre Owned TSX. I don't buy into the CPO hype, but you do get a fantastic extended warranty. 5 yr/62k bumper to bumper, 7yr/100k powertrain.