NSX

The Acura NSX — a two-seater explained

The Acura NSX is a two-seater built from 1987 to 2022 across 2 generations. Most were assembled in Japan (50% of the cars in our records), though 1 other country builds it too. Over that time it grew 6 cm longer and put on 360 kg.

Data · NHTSA & EPA · 1987–2022 · 26 model years · Updated Sep 10, 2026 · 4.0 ★★★★★★★★★★ ForCar Score
Quick answer

The Acura NSX is a two-seater built from 1987 to 2022 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in Japan — 50% of those on record. Between 1991 and 2023 it grew 6 cm longer and gained 360 kg. Engines offered: Hybrid, V6. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).

1987–2022
Years
14
Recalls
21
Top MPG
—★
NHTSA
16
Complaints

What the NSX is

The Acura NSX is a two-seater that Acura built from 1987 to 2022 — 36 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2016. It has been offered with Hybrid, V6 power. Its closest siblings in the Acura range: TLX, MDX, Integra.

Where the NSX is built

A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 10 NSXs on record.

FIG.02·Where the Acura NSX is built
Assembled inShareVIN starts withYears seen
Japan50%JH41991-1994
the United States50%19U2017-2021
ROWS 2·SOURCE NHTSA records, grouped by VIN manufacturer code

Check your own: the first three characters of a Acura VIN decide which of these 2 lines your NSX belongs to. What every character in a NSX VIN means →

Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Acura NSX adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.

NSX generations, and what changed

These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the NSX's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the NSX that gives 2 distinct generations below.

FIG.03·Acura NSX by generation
GenerationLengthWheelbaseWeightvs previousWeight change
1991-2005441 cm253 cm1365 kg--
2016-2023447 cm263 cm1725 kg+6 cm+360 kg
ROWS 2·SOURCE Transport Canada vehicle specifications, 1971 onward

Between 1991 and 2023 the NSX gained 6 cm in length (+1.4%) and 360 kg in weight (+26.4%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the NSX that is 360 kg against 6 cm. Full dimensions by year →

Acura NSX tire size, oil type & owner specs

The fitment NSX owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.

Wheels & tires
Wheel sizeby VIN
Tire sizeby VIN
Bolt patternby trim
Tire pressure32–36 PSI
Engine oil
Oil typeFull synthetic
Gradeon oil cap
Capacityby engine
Battery
Main battery12V · group by trim
Key-fob cellCR2032
Wiper blades
Front bladesby generation
Rear bladeif equipped
Fuses
Fuse boxeshood + dash
Diagramon box lid
Light bulbs
Headlightby trim
Tail / brakeby trim
Fogif equipped

Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.

What engines does the Acura NSX have? Power & range

The Acura NSX is offered with 2 powertrains — 3L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl Hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Acura NSX, against one or two on most rivals.

FIG.06·Acura NSX Powertrains
EngineDisplacementTransmissionDriveFuel
V63.0L · 6-cylAutomatic (S4)RWDPremium
Hybrid3.5L · 6-cylAutomatic (AM-S9)AWDPremium
ROWS 2·SOURCE EPA + NHTSA vPIC

Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.

The NSX by the numbers

What the federal and market records say about the Acura NSX. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.

FIG.05·Acura NSX by the numbers
TopicNSXDetail
Recalls14 campaignsNHTSA, all years
Owner complaints16 filedWhat breaks and when
Reliability4.0 / 5Best and worst years
Insurance$4,937/yrEstimated full coverage
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA, EPA, HLDI and market listings

Frequently asked questions

What kind of car is the Acura NSX?

The NSX is a two-seater, built from 1987 to 2022 across 2 generations. Engines offered: Hybrid, V6.

Where is the Acura NSX made?

Across 10 cars in our records the split is: Japan (50%), the United States (50%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.

How many generations does the NSX have?

2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2016. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the NSX grew 6 cm longer and gained 360 kg.

What is the Acura NSX warranty?

New models carry 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 6 years / 70,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.

Is the NSX reliable?

It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.

How do I check a specific NSX?

This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.

More in Acura

More Acura models
ModelYearsRecallsBest MPGForCar score
Acura TLX2015–20264128 mpg4.5/5
Acura MDX2001–202613527 mpg4.5/5
Acura Integra1985–20269233 mpg4.0/5
Acura RDX2007–20265224 mpg4.5/5
Acura TL1987–20147823 mpg4.0/5
Acura TSX2004–20145125 mpg3.5/5
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA + EPA
Data sourced from NHTSA (recalls, complaints, safety ratings) and EPA fueleconomy.gov (MPG). Best/worst-year analysis is ForCar's own aggregation of complaint volume. Last updated Sep 2026. — ForCar Editorial Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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