The most-reported RSX run is JH4DC54855S (2005 builds) with 6 complaints, 3.5× the typical run. Power train problems make up 24% of reports; 2002 is the worst model year at 2 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for RSX model years 2002–2006.
Which build runs owners report most
A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Acura RSX has 82 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 17% of every RSX complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JH4DC54855S•••••• | 2005 | — | — | |
| JH4DC53082C•••••• | 2002 | — | — | |
| JH4DC530X5S•••••• | 2005 | — | — | |
| JH4DC54852C•••••• | 2002 | 1 | — | |
| JH4DC53022C•••••• | 2002 | — | — | |
| JH4DC548X6S•••••• | 2006 | — | — | |
| JH4DC54862C•••••• | 2002 | — | — | |
| JH4DC54872C•••••• | 2002 | — | — | |
| JH4DC53052C•••••• | 2002 | 1 | — | |
| JH4DC53062C•••••• | 2002 | 2 | — | |
| JH4DC53012C•••••• | 2002 | — | — | |
| JH4DC53064S•••••• | 2004 | 1 | — |
Each of the other 70 RSX runs has 3 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 19 RSX VINs so far, most often 2006, 2002, 2004 builds; 3 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.
Which model years to check twice
Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Acura RSX the gap between build years is 1.7×: a 2002 car draws 2 complaints per run, a 2004 one 1.2.
| Year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 18 | 12 | 4 | |
| 2005 | 25 | 15 | 2 | |
| 2004 | 13 | 11 | 5 | |
| 2003 | 22 | 16 | 3 | |
| 2002 | 59 | 29 | 10 |
Heaviest year here is 2002 at 2 complaints per run; lightest is 2004 at 1.2.
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 24% of everything Acura RSX owners report: Power Train, 30 of 137 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 1 | — | |
| Air Bags | 13 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | — | 1 | |
| Suspension | 1 | — | |
| Structure | — | — | |
| Electrical System | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting | — | — | |
| Service Brakes | 2 | — |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 6 recall campaigns on the Acura RSX; the 6 below cover build years 2002 to 2006. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.
| Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 06E064000 | Exterior Lighting | 2002–2005 |
| 06E023000 | Exterior Lighting:headlights | 2002–2005 |
| 09E012000 | Exterior Lighting | 2002–2004 |
| 06E038000 | Exterior Lighting | 2002–2004 |
| 06V270000 | Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual | 2006 |
| 13V246000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum | 2006 |
The RSX against its rivals
The RSX draws 1.7 complaints per production run; the Toyota Celica 1.5. That is the highest rate of the 2.
| Model | Complaints | Runs | Per run | Involved a crash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acura RSX | 137 | 82 | 17.5% | |
| Toyota Celica | 291 | 200 | 21% |
How serious were they
Of the 137 reports on the Acura RSX, 17.5% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.
| Outcome | Acura RSX | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 137 | 1,115,966 |
| Involved a crash | 24 (17.5%) | 64,194 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 1 (0.7%) | 26,974 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 19 | 58,013 |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 2,728 |
Crash-related reports run 202% above the all-vehicle rate.
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How this check works
The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Acura RSX share of that is 137 complaints over 82 runs, 0.01% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Acura RSX VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 137 NHTSA complaints from 82 RSX runs and 6 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which RSX production run has the most complaints?
JH4DC54855S, a 2005 build, with 6 complaints. The typical RSX run has 1.7.
Which RSX years have the most complaints?
Per production run, 2002 is heaviest at 2 complaints per run and 2004 lightest at 1.2.
Does the RSX get more complaints than the Toyota Celica?
Yes: 1.7 complaints per production run for the RSX against 1.5 for the Toyota Celica.
How many RSX complaints involve a crash?
17.5% of 137 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 1 involved a fire.
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