The 2007 TSX with the K24A2 engine is generally solid but has a catastrophic third-gear lockup problem that can destroy transmissions, plus a notorious engine block defect causing premature wear and oil consumption requiring full rebuilds.
Third-Gear Clutch Pack Failure (Automatic Transmission)
Common · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Harsh 2-3 or 3-4 shift with flare or slipping, Check engine light with P0730, P0753, or P0758 codes, Transmission suddenly stuck in limp mode or no third gear, Metal shavings visible in drained ATF
Fix: Requires transmission removal and rebuild or replacement. Third-gear clutch drum and pressure control solenoid commonly fail together, contaminating the entire unit. 12-16 hours labor for R&R plus rebuild.
Estimated cost: $2,800-4,200
Cylinder Bore/Piston Ring Wear (Engine Block Defect)
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 100,000-180,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1 qt per 1,000 mi or worse), Blue smoke on startup or acceleration, Fouled spark plugs repeatedly in one or more cylinders, Low compression or cylinder leakdown test failures
Fix: Factory cylinder bore finish causes premature ring wear. Only real fix is engine rebuild with new pistons, rings, and bore honing or sleeving. Some owners band-aid with heavier oil. 25-35 hours labor for full rebuild.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,000
Power Steering Hose Leaks
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Power steering fluid puddles under engine bay, Whining or groaning noise when turning at low speeds, Stiff steering when fluid level drops, Visible seepage at high-pressure hose crimps near pump or rack
Fix: High-pressure hose between pump and rack develops pinhole leaks or splits at crimp connections due to heat cycling. NHTSA recall addressed some, but not all fail. Replace entire hose assembly. 1.5-2.5 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Front Engine Mount (Transmission Side) Collapse
Common · low severityTypical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Loud clunk when shifting into drive or reverse, Vibration at idle that worsens with AC on, Visible engine movement when revving in park, Torn rubber visible on front lower mount during inspection
Fix: Hydraulic front mount (A/T side) ruptures internally and loses damping. Common wear item. Must support engine properly for replacement. 1.5-2 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $180-320
Valve Clearance Drift (K24 Characteristic)
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Valve train ticking or clatter on cold start, Rough idle or slight misfire feel, Loss of power or poor fuel economy, Clearances out of spec during 100k service check
Fix: K24 engines use solid lifters requiring periodic valve adjustment. Many owners skip this service. Out-of-spec clearances cause noise and wear. Check/adjust every 30k-40k miles. 2-3 hours labor for full adjustment.
Estimated cost: $180-350
Fuel Filter Clogging (In-Tank Unit)
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 120,000-180,000 mi
Symptoms: Hesitation or stumble under acceleration, Hard starting after sitting or when tank is below 1/4, Check engine light with lean fuel codes (P0171, P0174), Fuel pressure drops under load
Fix: In-tank fuel filter (part of pump assembly) clogs if maintenance is neglected. Requires dropping tank and replacing entire pump/sender assembly or filter alone if available. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $350-650
Buy one if the transmission shifts cleanly and oil consumption is under control, but budget $3k-5k for eventual trans or engine work—these are otherwise excellent driving cars that can become money pits if the major issues hit.
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.