VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Acura NSX20172022

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

TOP PICK
2021
Buyer Score 95/100
6
Years Analyzed
9
Total Recalls
7
Total Complaints
0
Reported Injuries

Best Years to Buy a Acura NSX

Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.

#1 PICK5yr old
2021
Strong Buy · 95/100
Reliability99/100
Value window88/100
Recalls0
Complaints1
Top issue: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
#2 PICK4yr old
2022
Strong Buy · 94/100
Reliability100/100
Value window82/100
Recalls0
Complaints0
#3 PICK6yr old
2020
Strong Buy · 91/100
Reliability95/100
Value window84/100
Recalls1
Complaints0

Acura NSX Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2017

3 recalls · 6 complaints

Top issue: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

#2 WORST
2018

3 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

#3 WORST
2019

2 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Acura NSX — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
202200
100
82
94
Excellent
202101
99
88
95
Excellent
202010
95
84
91
Good
201920
90
74
84
Caution
201830
85
62
77
Caution
201736
79
50
69
Avoid

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Known Acura NSX Problems

Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1
AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
SERVICE BRAKES
1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES
1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1

Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the NSX compares — best year within each era shown.

2018–Present

Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2021 (Buyer Score 95).

Best: 2021

2013–2017

Mid-decade models in the depreciation sweet spot — typically 35–55% below original MSRP. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and recall completion. Best: 2017 (Buyer Score 69).

Best: 2017

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year NSX to buy?+

The 2021 Acura NSX scores highest on our Buyer Score (95/100) — combining a reliability score of 99/100 with a value score of 88/100. It has 0 recalls and 1 NHTSA complaint on record.

Which NSX years have the most problems?+

The 2017, 2018, 2019 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2017 NSX leads with 3 recalls and 6 owner complaints.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common NSX problems?+

The most frequently reported Acura NSX issues involve: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.

Deep-Dive Research

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A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

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