Acura RSX Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy

Q: What year RSX should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, the 2002 Acura RSX has the most documented problems with a problem score of 63 — driven by 1 recall, 50 complaints.

Q: What is the best year RSX to buy?

The 2006 Acura RSX is the best-scoring year in our analysis with a problem score of only 16, meaning 1 recall and 13 complaints on record.

Q: Which RSX has the fewest problems?

The 2006, 2004 model years have the fewest reported problems in the NHTSA database. Always verify a specific vehicle's history with a VIN report before purchasing.

Every Acura RSX model year (2002–2006) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

Years Tracked

Total Recalls

110

Total Complaints

Reported Injuries

Reported Deaths

Acura RSX Years to Avoid

#1 WORST

2002

1 recall · 50 complaints

5 reported injuries

Top issue: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

Problem score: 63

#2 WORST

2005

0 recalls · 21 complaints

Top issue: SUSPENSION:FRONT

Problem score: 21

#3 WORST

2003

1 recall · 17 complaints

Top issue: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

Problem score: 20

Best Acura RSX Years to Buy

#1 BEST

2006

1 recall · 13 complaints

Main area: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

Problem score: 16

#2 BEST

2004

1 recall · 9 complaints

Main area: TIRES

Problem score: 20

Found the right year? Verify that specific RSX with a free VIN report.

Acura RSX — Year-by-Year Problem Report

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Injuries	Deaths	Problem Score	Verdict
2006	1	13	—	—	16	Good
2005	0	21	—	—	21	Good
2004	1	9	4	—	20	Good
2003	1	17	—	—	20	Good
2002	1	50	5	—	63	Avoid

All 5 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.

Acura RSX Shopping Guide by Era

Pre-2013

Proceed with Caution

Older RSX models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year RSX should I avoid?+

Avoid the 2002 Acura RSX if possible. It has 1 recall, 50 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 63 — the highest in our dataset.

What is the best year RSX to buy?+

The 2006 Acura RSX is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 16. It has only 1 recall and 13 complaints on record with NHTSA.

Which RSX has the fewest problems?+

The 2006, 2004 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.

More Acura RSX Research

Reliability Score

Overall reliability rating and score breakdown for the Acura RSX.

Common Problems

Full breakdown of every reported defect for the Acura RSX.

Check a Specific Acura RSX VIN

Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.

Run a Free VIN Report →