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2012 acura TSX vs 2012 buick Enclave

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-04-29 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2012 Acura TSX and 2012 Buick Enclave are nearly tied on reliability data

2012 acura TSX

3.8/5
Reliability score
132 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$10,200 repair exposure
vs

2012 buick Enclave

3.8/5
Reliability score
131 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$10,550 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

Look, these two are running close enough that you'd be fine either way. Reliability scores are within rounding distance (3.8 for the 2012 acura TSX, 3.8 for the 2012 buick Enclave), and they've each got their own laundry list of weak spots. There's no clean winner here on the data alone.

If you're leaning 2012 acura TSX, know what you're getting into on steering and brakes. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than what the 2012 buick Enclave sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2012 buick Enclave? Watch the airbags and body. The 2012 acura TSX has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2012 acura TSX
2012 buick Enclave
steering
99 reports
moderate · ~$700
17 reports
moderate · ~$700
airbags
6 reports
critical · ~$1,100
20 reports
severe · ~$1,100
body
3 reports
moderate · ~$1,500
21 reports
severe · ~$1,500
electrical
4 reports
moderate · ~$850
17 reports
severe · ~$850
powertrain
5 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
11 reports
severe · ~$2,500
engine
3 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
12 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
brakes
7 reports
moderate · ~$450
3 reports
moderate · ~$450
visibility
No reports
4 reports
severe · ~$350

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2012 Acura TSX or the 2012 Buick Enclave?

It's close to a tie. Both vehicles score within 0.2 points on our reliability index (3.8 vs 3.8). At this margin, either choice is defensible — base your decision on the specific failure modes that matter to you.

What goes wrong more often on the 2012 Acura TSX?

Compared to the 2012 Buick Enclave, the 2012 Acura TSX sees more reported issues in steering and brakes. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2012 Buick Enclave?

Compared to the 2012 Acura TSX, the 2012 Buick Enclave has more complaints in airbags and body. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.

Which has more recalls?

Both vehicles have 0 active recalls. Total recall count alone isn't a great signal — what matters is severity. See the recall counts by severity in the comparison table.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $10,550 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary auto-generated from the data and reviewed by ASE-certified contributors. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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