Warning light to "check power steering "unexpectedly appears. Loss of turning power suddenly occurs. No prior warnings exhibited. Dangerous situation could lead to fatal results.
2012 Acura TSX steering problems
moderate 99 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
99
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 99 steering complaints filed for the 2012 Acura TSX, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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.
How fast does it fail?
Cumulative share of the 11 mileage-bearing steering complaints filed against the 2012 Acura TSX by each odometer reading. Median failure: 80,000 mi.
10% have failed by66,000 mi
Half the fleet by80,000 mi
90% have failed by155,000 mi
Curve based on owner-reported odometer mileage at the time of complaint. Reflects when owners filed, not when symptoms first appeared. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve.
What stands out
Of the 9 model years of Acura TSX we track for steering problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 99.
Steering accounts for 75% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 7 categories tracked.
What owners are reporting 14 most recent
While driving, in motion, the electronic power steering (eps) failed. Dash indicator light displayed "check power steering system". Steering wheel was incredibly difficult to maneuver. I have driven cars equipped with traditional belt & pump-driven power steering systems that failed before with not much issue except reasonably extra effort to maneuver, but the higher level of strength required…
"takata recall" Acura needs to be aware of what happened to me yesterday. Yesterday I was driving home from work when all of a sudden the eps system light turned on. This is the power steering light. My steering wheel locked where I was having difficulty steering my wheel. Luckily I only had 2 make 2 turns but it was hard doing so. An inexperienced driver would have crashed and it could possibly…
Was driving down the road right after coming off the highway and suddenly the power steering light came on and started blinking and beeping. I tried to turn into a side street as soon as possible and the power steering was definitely malfunctioning, making it very hard to turn. Good thing I wasnt still on the highway at the time or it could have been pretty dangerous.
I was driving all of sudden power steering system light comes on and cant steer the car have to get it towed home.verry dangerous for whoever makes this steering wheel like this.for this car.with only 100k miles.
Eps (electric power steering) light come on while driving and lock steering. Error code: 32-09. Eps light will turn off after restart engine but will come on again and lock steering again while the vehicle is moving. I brought my car to local shop to run diagnostic and they suggest that this is bad manufacture issue and suggest to contact Acura to fix it under its warranty. I have call…
The contact owns a 2012 Acura TSX. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the "power steering failure" message was displayed, and the steering wheel was very difficult to turn in either direction. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The…
My tsx is close to 80k miles. I have had no significant issues with this car until now. I started my car one morning and saw a "check power steering" notification and the power steering icon illuminated on the dash. One shop attempted to reset the eps (electric power steering) system and make sure the voltages looked ok. This worked for 3 days before I had the same "check power steering"…
I was driving my 2012 Acura tsx when my steering became very difficult to turn and almost caused me to get into an accident. A warning sign came up on my dashboard saying "check power steering". I only have 79,000 miles on my vehicle and have seen tons of other complaints regarding this issue. Additionally, Acura/Honda provided a warranty extension on earlier models.
My name is [xxx] and I would like to file a complaint with Acura located at the following takata recall Acura corporate office headquarters american Honda motor co., inc. 1919 torrance blvd. Torrance, ca 90501-2746 usa corporate phone number: 1-800-999-1009 fax number: 1-310-783-3023 customer service number: 1-800-382-2238 my complaint/concern: why has there not been a recall on a…
Had steering trouble with your 2012 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 steering problem on the 2012 Acura TSX?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 99 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 81 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 67,000 and 90,000 miles, with the median around 75,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 67,000; a quarter make it past 90,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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/2012/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.