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 ↗2011 Acura TSX airbags problems
moderate 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
When does it fail?
Of the 11 airbags complaints filed for the 2011 Acura TSX, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Airbags accounts for 24% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 4 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 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 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 - 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 ↗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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2011 Acura TSX models received official NHTSA recall notices for Takata airbags (primarily Campaign 16V346000, some 18V661000) between July 2016 and early 2018. The central complaint across 10 of 11 narratives is that replacement parts for the recall repair were unavailable from the manufacturer for extended periods — six months or longer in several cases.
Owners repeatedly called dealers and Acura and were told parts would arrive "at the end of summer" or were given no timeline at all. Some encountered an Acura automated system that claimed no recall existed on file. No owner was offered a rental car, and several were instructed not to allow passengers in the front seat pending repair — a restriction that went unresolved for months.
One dealer (Jay Wolfe Acura) assigned a case number but failed to follow up. VIN verification tools confirmed parts were not available or the remedy had not yet been released. No owner reported an actual airbag failure; the issue is purely delay in fulfilling recall obligations. One unrelated report of engine hesitation after stop-and-go traffic, resolved by computer reset, appears incidental to the airbag cluster.
Same Acura TSX airbags reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Takata Airbag Recall — Extended Unavailability of Parts
Multiple owners received NHTSA recall notifications (primarily Campaign 16V346000, some referencing 18V661000) for defective Takata airbags but were unable to schedule repairs because replacement parts were unavailable from the manufacturer for extended periods — in some cases six months or longer after the recall notice arrived.
When: Recall notices issued mid-2016 through 2018; owners reporting no progress months later
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received, parts not available when owner contacted dealer; Multiple calls to dealer and Acura over weeks or months yielded no parts availability or timeline; Automated Acura system reported no recall on file despite official notification; Owner instructed not to use front passenger seat pending repair
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 16V346000, NHTSA Campaign 18V661000
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed; parts unavailable. VIN tool confirmed parts not available or remedy not yet available.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura/Honda told owners parts would arrive 'end of summer' or similar vague timeline; parts distribution disconnect confirmed. No rental cars offered despite safety restriction.
Engine Hesitation (Possible Unrelated/Incidental Report)
One owner reported stop-and-go traffic hesitation when pressing the gas pedal, resolved temporarily by computer reset. No clear nexus to airbag system, but included in complaint cluster; may be coincidental.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation when accelerating in stop-and-go traffic; Issue resolves after computer reset for a couple of weeks, then returns
Repairs/costs cited: Owner performed computer reset; no further details on repair or cause
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Acura tsx. The contact stated that the recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 16v346000 (air bags) was received in may. After contacting the dealer and the manufacturer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the parts needed for the recall remedy were still not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could be provided. The…
Takata recall. After a stop and go in traffic there is a hesitation when pressing on the gas pedal. After the computer is reset it's fine for a couple weeks.
I received a recall notice in july 2016.NHTSA recall16v-346. The recall letter recommended no one should sit in the passenger seat. I called the dealer and Honda and was told that the part will be available at the end of the summer. 5 month later still no news from the dealer.we are unable to use the car fully until it is fixed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Acura tsx. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v346000 (air bags) however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced any failures. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. VIN tool confirms remedy not…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Acura tsx. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 16v346000 (air bags). The contact stated that the parts needed for the recall remedy were not available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 12/23/16*lj updated 01/05/17.*jb
Takata recall - called several dealers, no parts available to order, no time line given, no rental car provided, was instructed not to drive with passengers. Absolutely ridiculous!
Had airbags trouble with your 2011 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 2011 Acura TSX?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 40,000 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/2011/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.