ACURA: THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) IS ON, WITH DTC P2138 (ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR A/B INCORRECT VOLTAGE CORRELATION), AND HAVE POOR PERFORMANCE IN ENGINE. MODEL 2004-2008 TL, TSX.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Acura TSX engine problems
moderate 5 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 5 engine complaints filed for the 2005 Acura TSX, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 5 model years of Acura TSX in our records for engine problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 19 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2004-2008 TLs & TSXs with a complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) on with the DTC P2138 (Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor A/B Incorrect Voltage Correlation) stored and poor engine performance. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting any further repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗HONDA: SOME VEHICLES MAY DISPLAY A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP WITH THE STORED DTC P2138 (ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR A/B INCORRECT VOLTAGE CORRELATION). THERE MAY ALSO BE POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE. AHM IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT SPECIFIC PARTS FROM THE VEHICLE BEFORE ANY FURTHER EFFORT TOWARD REPAIRS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ACURA: SOME VEHICLES ARE BEING INVESTIGATED DUE TO HESITATION OF THE ENGINE AND WOULD NEED TO BE INSPECTED AS TO THE CAUSE OF THIS CONDITION. MODEL 2004-2008 TSX.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ACURA: DUE TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR A/B INCORRECT VOLTAGE CORRELATION, ENGINE POOR PERFORMANCE AND MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) IS ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) 02138, AN INVESTIGATION WILL CHECK CAUSE OF CONDITION. MODEL 2004-2008 TX, TSX.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
2005 Acura tsx multiple failures experienced under warranty of air conditioning, transmission, exhaust manifold. Transmission not properly repaired, as result of repair errors and defects interior cabin of vehicle repeatedly flooded with several gallons of water. *jb
In june of 2012, I was traveling at approximately 60mph on a state highway when a loud grinding noise began coming from the engine. After a few moments the sound stopped and hot air began coming through my vents. I turned off my ac and pulled off the highway. This happened on a weekend and I took my car into the Acura dealership on monday. I was told that my ac compressor had disintegrated on the…
The a/c system (mainly the a/c compressor, clutch, and stator) in my 2005 Acura tsx suddenly stopped working at 71,000 miles without any warning. I've researched this issue online and discovered that many 2004 and above model-year Acura tsx vehicles have this problem. Www.acurazine.com has many stories of owner dissatisfaction over the Acura tsx a/c system. My car was diagnosed by a professional…
Had engine trouble with your 2005 Acura TSX?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2005 Acura TSX?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 5 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 5 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 54,633 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Acura/TSX.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.