2005 Acura TSX review from North America

Disc brake vibration the first month of ownership.

Driver side air conditioner not cooling properly within first year.

Interior of car flooded due to poor drainage from air conditioning ten months into ownership.

Ten months into ownership car emits metallic odors and howling sounds from air conditioning vents.

Leaking exhaust manifold replaced in August, 2006, (car purchased September, 2005)

Informed howling sound is due to transmission

issue.

This car would be very nice to own if it weren't for the recurring, major failures in performance systems (air conditioner, transmission, exhaust manifold) that have occurred in under a year of ownership. What's galling though, is not the statistical misfortune of having a lemon, it's the lack of responsiveness in servicing, the mechanical mistakes that caused the car to flood, and Honda/Acura's miscommunications and hostility at addressing this problem. My loyalty to this brand was fairly strong prior to this experience and a basic effort by Acura to make it right would have assured my future loyalty in spite of my dealership issues. But no, there is more investment in distrusting the customer, in not giving a direct answer, in so-called mediations that go nowhere, and in creating additional mechanical difficulties with the car that leave a customer no choice, but to seek administrative and legal remedies. Do yourself a favor, reader, and think closely about any Acura purchase. I can't say that there is any reason to expect better from the competition, but my Acura experience suggests your patience, integrity, and sanity will be sacrificed and demeaned. It's also your twenty-eight thousand dollar purchase price that will be at stake.