Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passenger's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Acura TSX airbags problems
critical 26 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
26
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
5crashes
6injuries
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 26 airbags complaints filed for the 2009 Acura TSX, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Of the 6 model years of Acura TSX we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 26.
Owners have filed 26 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags 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.
Service Bulletin - American Honda is conducting an inspection of certain vehicles that have previously had the passenger's airbag inflator replaced as part of the Takata Passsenger's Airbag Inflator recall. If you completed the repair described by this service bulletin on or before May 10, 2019, make sure to use the Warranty Claim Information provided below.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - American Honda is conducting an inspection of certain vehicles that have previously had the passenger's airbag inflator replaced as part of the Takata Passsenger's Airbag Inflator recall.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passengers airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passengers airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
2009 TSX owners report two alarming categories of airbag failure tied to Takata defects. First, airbags have deployed without any impact or crash—side curtain, torso, and front bags firing during normal driving or at rest. One deployment at 35 mph caused the driver to lose control and hit a tree, resulting in a fractured sternum, fractured ribs, concussion, and foot injuries to both occupants.
Second, airbags failed to deploy in actual collisions: a rear-end impact at 25-30 mph and a high-speed passenger-side crash both saw little to no deployment, yet the same airbags deploy spontaneously on normal roads. Owners also report intermittent airbag warning lights flashing on and off during operation, sometimes reappearing just 1-2 weeks after a dealership recalls repair.
The core grievance across 26 complaints is parts availability. Takata recall campaigns 16V346000 and 17V030000 were issued but replacement inflators remained out of stock for 6-8+ months with no delivery estimate. Dealers rescheduled appointments repeatedly; one European owner waited six months with no remedy. Acura's temporary fix: don't carry passengers. Owners found this unacceptable guidance for an extended period.
Same Acura TSX airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Spontaneous airbag deployment without impact
Airbags deployed during normal driving or parking with no crash or collision. Side curtain, torso, and dual front airbags fired without warning. In at least one case, deployment occurred at 35 mph while driving, causing the vehicle to crash into a tree and inflicting serious injuries on occupants.
When: 485 miles; 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: SRS warning light illuminated before deployment; Side curtain airbag deployed; Torso airbag deployed; Driver and passenger front airbags deployed without warning at 35 mph; Airbags deployed aggressively
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle had to be towed to dealer; one vehicle deemed destroyed after crash caused by deployment
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V346000 (Airbags)
Intermittent SRS warning light illumination
Airbag warning lamp illuminated intermittently on the dash. In some cases, owners reported the light would flash on and off frequently during driving.
When: Not specified in narratives
Symptoms owners cite: Front passenger side airbag warning light illuminated intermittently; Airbag warning light flashes on and off repeatedly; Warning light appears on dash periodically
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired in at least one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V346000 (Airbags)
Airbag non-deployment during impacts
Airbags failed to deploy during crashes and collisions. In one rear-end collision at 25-30 mph with a totaled vehicle, no airbags deployed. In another high-speed impact, the driver-side airbag did not deploy while other airbags fired. In a collision with a bear, only the front passenger airbag deployed; driver airbag did not.
When: At time of crash events; 25-30 mph rear-end impact; high-speed passenger-side impact
Symptoms owners cite: Driver airbag did not deploy during high-speed passenger-side impact; No airbags deployed in rear-end collision at 25-30 mph; Driver airbag did not deploy when hitting animal at highway speed
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was totaled after collision with no airbag deployment
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle was subject to completed Takata recall before the non-deployment incident
Airbag warning light returns after recall repair
Following Takata recall repair performed by dealership, the airbag warning light illuminated again on the dash within 1-2 weeks of the repair being completed.
When: 1-2 weeks after recall repair completion
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag dash warning light came back on after recall repair; Warning light returned shortly after repair completion
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken back to dealership for evaluation after light reappeared
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V346000 (Airbags); recall repair performed but warning light reappeared
Unavailable recall replacement parts
Owners received Takata recall notifications (NHTSA Campaigns 16V346000 and 17V030000) but could not complete repairs because replacement parts were not available from dealers or distributors. Delays extended many months with no estimated delivery dates provided. Manufacturers offered temporary safety mitigation of not allowing passengers in the vehicle.
When: May 2016 onward through 2017; some cases 6-8 months without remedy
Symptoms owners cite: Recall parts unavailable at dealership; No estimated time for parts arrival provided; Parts out of stock at distributor in Europe; Dealership rescheduled appointment repeatedly due to parts unavailability; Temporary safety guidance advised against carrying passengers
Repairs/costs cited: No repair work completed; owners advised not to carry passengers as temporary measure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V346000 and Campaign 17V030000; parts distribution delays; temporary guidance to avoid passengers
Counterfeit airbag purchase concern
Owner received notification that an airbag purchased from an eBay seller may be counterfeit.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Notification of potentially counterfeit airbag purchased online
Repairs/costs cited: Counterfeit airbag sourced from third-party eBay seller
Synthesized from 26 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
"takata recall" it's been almost seven months since the recall was initiated on may 23, 2016. The manufacturer's temporary solution was to not have a passenger in my car until the parts/remedy is available.
Recieved a email about an air bag that was recently purchase, that the air bag may be a counterfeit from a seller on ebay. *tr
Air Bag light shows on dash but when driving the air bad light flashes off and on. It happens often
No notifications
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Acura tsx. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v346000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms…
I made an appointment to fix the recall and showed up to the dealership in august and they said that they would reschedule my appointment when the part became available. I have not heard from them and I called to ask and they said that it is still not available.
2009 Acura tsx. Consumer writes in regards to replacement parts not available to repair passenger front airbag inflator recall notice. *smd
"takata recall" the airbag dash lights came back on in the vehicle again shortly (approximately 1-2 weeks) after the Acura dealership performed the recall repair to the airbags. The vehicle was immediately taken back to the dealership for evaluation.
Had airbags trouble with your 2009 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 airbags problem on the 2009 Acura TSX?
It's a serious issue. 26 complaints have been filed, including 5 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 26 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 66,958 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 $1,100 for airbags 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 airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags 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/2009/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.