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
2020
Buyer Score 94/100
6
Years Analyzed
9
Total Recalls
5
Total Complaints
0
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Best Years to Buy a Acura NSX

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

#1 PICK6yr old
2020
Strong Buy · 94/100
Reliability98/100
Value window87/100
Recalls1
Complaints0

Acura NSX Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2017

3 recalls · 5 complaints

Top issue: AIR BAGS

#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.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
202200
100
85
95
Excellent
202100
100
88
96
Excellent
202010
98
87
94
Good
201920
95
83
91
Caution
201830
93
77
87
Caution
201735
90
70
83
Avoid

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Known Acura NSX Problems

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

AIR BAGS
1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1
SERVICE BRAKES
1
STRUCTURE:BODY
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 96).

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 83).

Best: 2017

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year NSX to buy?+

The 2020 Acura NSX scores highest on our Buyer Score (94/100) — combining a reliability score of 98/100 with a value score of 87/100. It has 1 recall and 0 NHTSA complaints 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 5 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: AIR BAGS, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, STRUCTURE:BODY. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.

Deep-Dive Research

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

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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