The 2008 TSX with the K24A2 engine is generally solid, but suffers from a well-documented second-gear grind issue in the manual transmission and premature engine failures tied to piston ring land cracking—a problem severe enough to warrant short-block replacements on affected units.
Second Gear Grind/Synchro Failure (Manual Transmission)
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Grinding or crunching when shifting into second gear, especially during spirited driving, Difficulty engaging second gear from first or third, Complete lockout of second gear in worst cases
Fix: Requires transmission removal and rebuild with updated synchro hub and sleeve assembly. Budget 8-10 hours labor plus parts. Some shops replace entire transmission with updated TSB version or low-mile used unit.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200
Piston Ring Land Cracking / Excessive Oil Consumption
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Blue smoke on startup or hard acceleration, Burning 1+ quart of oil every 1,000 miles, Fouled spark plugs on cylinders 2 and 3 most commonly, Check engine light for misfire codes P0302/P0303
Fix: K24A2 engines in this generation can crack piston ring lands, allowing oil into the combustion chamber. Only real fix is short-block replacement or full engine rebuild with updated pistons. 18-24 hours labor for short-block swap.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500
Power Steering Hose Failure
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 100,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Power steering fluid leak visible on inner fender or subframe, Whining noise from pump when turning, Heavy steering feel at low speeds, Burning smell from fluid dripping on hot exhaust components
Fix: High-pressure hose from pump to rack develops cracks and seeps fluid. Subject to recall but many units aged out before addressing. Replace hose and flush system, 1.5-2 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Rear Transmission Mount Collapse
Common · low severityTypical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk when shifting from reverse to drive or vice versa, Excessive driveline vibration under acceleration, Visible tearing or separation in rubber mount bushings
Fix: Rear motor mount (actually supports transmission tail) tears from age and torque stress. Replacement takes 1-1.5 hours with proper lift access. Use OEM Honda part—aftermarket mounts fail quickly.
Estimated cost: $180-320
VTC Actuator (Variable Timing Control) Rattle
Occasional · low severityTypical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Loud rattle from engine on cold start for 2-5 seconds, Noise disappears once oil pressure builds, No performance loss but annoying and sounds expensive
Fix: VTC actuator on intake cam loses oil control and rattles until pressure stabilizes. Replace actuator and timing chain tensioner as preventive measure. 4-5 hours labor including valve cover removal and timing cover access.
Estimated cost: $600-950
Fuel Filter Clogging (High-Pressure In-Tank)
Occasional · medium severitySymptoms: Hesitation or stumble under hard acceleration, Rough idle or stalling when fuel tank below 1/4 tank, P0171/P0174 lean codes in severe cases
Fix: In-tank high-pressure fuel filter isn't serviceable separately—requires entire fuel pump module replacement. 2-3 hours labor to drop tank and swap assembly. More common on neglected vehicles with contaminated fuel history.
Estimated cost: $450-750
Buy one if the transmission shifts cleanly and oil consumption is normal—avoid high-mileage examples with deferred maintenance or unknown oil-change history.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.