FaultScore

Worst years for a Acura RSX

Owners have filed 214 complaints about the Acura RSX with NHTSA across model years 2001 to 2008. More of them are about the transmission & drivetrain than anything else.

Avoid

2002 Acura RSX

94 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly transmission & drivetrain.

Cleanest on record

2003 Acura RSX

30 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Acura RSX year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2008 1 0 0 Other & Unspecified
2007 1 0 0 Body & Structure
2006 D 28 5 0 40,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
2005 C 38 3 0 5,900 Suspension
2004 C 19 8 0 30,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
2003 C 30 3 0 60,250 Transmission & Drivetrain
2002 F 94 10 1 46,500 Transmission & Drivetrain
2001 3 0 0 Transmission & Drivetrain

What breaks on a Acura RSX

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Worst in 2002

Airbags 33 15.4%

Worst in 2002

Engine & Cooling 26 12.1%

Worst in 2002

Suspension 21 9.8%

Worst in 2005

Brakes 13 6.1%

Worst in 2002

Lights 11 5.1%

Worst in 2006

Body & Structure 10 4.7%

Worst in 2002

Electrical System 9 4.2%

Worst in 2002

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 7 3.3%

Worst in 2005

Tires 7 3.3%

Worst in 2004

Other & Unspecified 7 3.3%

Worst in 2005

Steering 6 2.8%

Worst in 2002

Fuel & Propulsion 5 2.3%

Worst in 2002

Acceleration & Cruise Control 3 1.4%

Worst in 2003

Exactly what failed on a Acura RSX

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Manual Transmission 32 40.5%
Front 10 12.7%
Frontal 6 7.6%
Engine 5 6.3%
Macpherson Strut 5 6.3%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 5 6.3%
Automatic Transmission 5 6.3%
Side/Window 4 5.1%
Catalytic Convertor 4 5.1%
Body 3 3.8%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Acura RSX, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Sep 2001 peak 11 Aug 2026

Compare the Acura RSX

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.