Model year record

2002 Acura RSX recalls & problems

The 2002 Acura RSX has 4 safety recalls and 76 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (21 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints76filed by owners

Crashes · fires10 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths11 · 0reported in complaints

2002 Acura RSX in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingApr 7, 2009

Exterior lighting

Recall 09E01200016,270 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Exterior lightingJul 17, 2006

Exterior lighting

Recall 06E0640004,029 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.

Exterior lightingMay 8, 2006

Exterior lighting

Recall 06E038000724 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: CERTAIN ALFAOTTO COMBINATION HEADLAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: ALFAOTTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ALFAOTTO AT 626-656-2992 OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.ALFAOTTO.COM.

Exterior lightingMar 13, 2006

Headlights

Recall 06E023000292,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2002 Acura RSX 2-DR. w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2002 Acura RSX NHTSA side crash test — NHTSA side barrier crash test

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

RSX

26mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 30 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel

RSX

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,400/year to fuel

RSX

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 30 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S5) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Power trainManual transmission; Automatic transmission	21	1	0	0	48,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingExhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor; Exhaust system	17	0	1	0	13,492 mi
Air bagsSide/window; Frontal	14	6	0	10	50,000 mi
StructureBody › Bumpers; Body	5	0	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	4	0	0	0	14,000 mi
Electrical systemInstrument panel › Speedometer/odometer	4	0	0	0	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights; Fog lights	4	0	0	0	—
Seat beltsFront; Front › Buckle assembly	3	1	0	1	78,000 mi
SteeringHydraulic power assist system	3	0	0	0	—
Fuel/propulsion system	3	0	0	0	140,000 mi
Seats	2	0	0	0	—
VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system; Power window devices and controls	2	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system › Instrument panel › Speedometer/odometer
Odometer Fraud. The contact owned a 2002 Acura SRX. The contact stated that the vehicle was sold to a friend in a private sale. The new owner then attempted to sell the vehicle to another person, and upon obtaining the Carfax report, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was approximately 115,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 213,288.
Jul 14, 2026 · 213,288 miles
Electrical system
Duralast 12volt battery post are smaller than they should be. It cause the battery terminal to came loose after a hard bump on the road. It resulted in my car losing power steering.
Jul 19, 2026
Seats
The contact owns a 2022 Acura RSX. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that there were holes underneath the front driverâs and passengerâs side seats. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 261,000.Â
Mar 15, 2018 · 261,000 miles
Power train
The car stopped at an traffic intersection when making a left turn. Fortunately, the traffic was light. Later, a broken driver side cv axel was identified, which had sever corrosion inside the damper. the narrowest diameter is only 16mm vs 25mm of the axel.
Jun 11, 2023
Air bags
THE LIGHT FOR MY AIR BAG IS ON AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT FLICKERS ON TOO. THE CRUSE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK.
Apr 1, 2020 · 227,000 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
MY CAR HAD A STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE VEHICLE WHENEVER I DROVE IT. I LOOKED AND FOUND THAT THE GAS PUMP PLASTIC HOUSING WAS CRACKED IN MULTIPLE PLACES AND A LARGE AMOUNT OF GAS HAD LEAKED INTO THE COMPARTMENT UNDER THE SEAT AND DOWN BELOW MY VEHICLE.
Jun 4, 2019 · 140,000 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
WHILE DRIVING I STARTED TO SMELL FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE FUEL PUMP, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PLASTIC ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP HAD CRACKED FILLING UP THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK COVER WITH RAW FUEL. SOME OF THE FUEL HAD MADE ITS WAY INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHILE THE REST LEAKED UNDER THE CAR ON TO THE GROUND. MY FEAR IS IF THIS GOES UNDETECTED, THE LEAKING FUEL COULD MAKE CONTACT WITH EXHAUST COMPONENTS AND CAUSE A FIRE. WHILE THE FUEL WAS LEAKING, THERE WERE NO DRIVABILITY ISSUES OTHER THAN THE SMELL OF FUEL.
Jul 3, 2019 · 306,000 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IT HAS HAD A SMELL OF GAS. I THOUGHT IT WOULD GO AWAY AFTER A CERTAIN TIME BUT IT DIDN'T SO I GOT THE CAR CHECKED OUT. I COME TO FIND OUT IT HAS A GAS LEAK. THIS IS SOMETHING VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT PUTS MY LIFE AT RISK AND IF ANYTHING HAPPENS THE CAR COULD BLOW UP. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN JUNE 2016 AND IM JUST A YOUNG 20 YEAR MAN THAT IS TRYING TO MAKE IT THROUGH COLLEGE.
Jun 17, 2016 · 124,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.