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Acura RSXModel year report

2002 Acura RSX Problems

Complaints
76filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
46,500miles, 44 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
24 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 21 city / 28 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 Acura RSX (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe manual-transmission shifting trouble, with 2nd and 3rd gear grinding or the shifter popping out of gear, alongside a cluster of engine issues including a sulfur-like exhaust odor entering the cabin, oil consumption and timing chain noise. Airbag complaints center on warning lights staying on and, in some reports, airbags not deploying in a collision. Many of the transmission and airbag complaints were filed at relatively low mileage.

  1. Transmission and drivetrain

    Manual transmission grinds or pops out of 2nd/3rd gear

    • 18 complaints (24%)
    • median 48,000 mi at 4.3 yrs old (15 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2002–2013

    Complaints describe grinding when shifting into 2nd or 3rd gear, difficulty engaging those gears, and the shifter slipping back into neutral on its own. Several owners say the transmission was replaced or rebuilt after the grinding worsened, and some report the work was declined under warranty. A few note the problem was worse in cold weather or appeared shortly after buying the car used. Reported from roughly 14,000 to 120,000 miles, with several cases under 30,000 miles and some appearing in cold temperatures.

    5 related service bulletins

    What to check: Drive the car from cold and shift deliberately through 2nd and 3rd; grinding or a shifter that refuses to stay in gear is a reason to walk away or budget for transmission work. Ask for service records showing whether the third-gear synchronizer or shift sleeve was serviced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Transmission mistakenly downshifted to 2nd rather than upshifted to 4th after an uphill climb. At the start of the descend when car gained speed I intended to upshift from 3rd to 4th but shifted to 2nd instead. I spun out of control and found the car facing where I came from. The engine died and will not re-start. Car was towed to dealer and claimed engine was over revved and beyond repair. Acura refused to repair under warranty. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10016388, filed 2003-04, 17,176 miles

    “I recently purchased 2002 Acura RSX with 21,200 miles, 5sp manual transmission. The vehicle passed 150- point inspection that was performed at white bear lakes Acura subaru, mn dealership. The vehicle was Acura-certified, but I decided not to purchase $1,600 certification program because of money constraints. Now, when temperatures around here dropped to 0 degrees f, the vehicle developed 1-2 shifting problem. Shifting to 2nd gear is really hard to do. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10149461, filed 2006-02, 21,500 miles
  2. Air bags

    Airbag warning light on and airbags not deploying

    • 14 complaints (18%)
    • median 50,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2002–2021

    Complaints describe the SRS or airbag light staying on after startup or coming on while driving, which owners interpret as the airbags being inactive. Several reports concern frontal or side airbags that did not deploy in a collision; in some, only the passenger airbag inflated. Dealers in some cases replaced sensors or restraint parts, while other owners were told the vehicle was outside a related campaign or warranty. Reported from very low mileage up to about 140,000 miles, including cars only months old.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Turn the key and confirm the SRS light goes out after the bulb check; a light that stays on points to a diagnosis you should get priced before buying. Ask whether any airbag-related campaign work was completed for the vehicle's VIN.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “While driving at 55 MPH, the consumers son was cut off by another motorist. Her son lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a metal divider head on. The vehicle then flipped over and rolled three times, landing on it's roof. None of the frontal air bags, or the side air bags deployed upon impact. The driver and passenger suffered injuries.”

    NHTSA complaint #10074211, filed 2004-10, 27,000 miles

    “While in motion, consumer was rear ended and by a vehicle traveling 100 MPH. The side impact air bags did not deploy. Consumer feels had they gone off it would have prevented the clavicle bone fracture the driver sustained.”

    NHTSA complaint #10001513, filed 2003-01, 3,200 miles
  3. Engine cooling

    Sulfur or rotten-egg exhaust smell in the cabin

    • 5 complaints (7%)
    • median 825 mi at 0.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2002–2003

    Owners describe a strong rotten-egg or sulfur odor entering the passenger compartment, often after a few minutes of driving and when stopped at a light, and sometimes more noticeable with outside air selected. Some reports say the catalytic converter was replaced, in one case more than once, without the smell stopping. A few owners link it to headaches or irritation and say the dealer had no further remedy. Reported from very low mileage, in some cases under 2,000 miles, and across the first several years of ownership.

    What to check: Ask whether the catalytic converter has been replaced and note any exhaust smell on a test drive, especially after the engine is warm and the car is idling at a stop.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My 2002 Acura RSX emits a terrible rotten egg odor after I drive it for about five minutes and stop for a stop sign. The smell comes back intermitently while driving sometimes becoming quite overpowering in the car. The dealer has no solution. Hydrogen sulfide is a poisonous gas. The situation is on going and have been back to the dealer many times.”

    NHTSA complaint #10000058, filed 2002-12, 150 miles

    “Since august 10, 2002, I've leased an Acura RSX. In october of 2002, a rotten egg or sulfur smell has been coming from my vehicle both inside and outside of it. It occurs at no certain time or circumstance, just everyday at one time or another. The smell gives me headaches and forces me to roll my window down whether its cold, hot, or rainy outside just to provide me with some relief. The dealership, hendrick Acura in charlotte, nc has replaced my catalytic converter twice. Both times they assured me I wouldn't smell anything again. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10014452, filed 2003-04
  4. Brakes

    ABS activates on bumps during ordinary braking

    Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners describe the anti-lock brakes pulsing or engaging while braking gently on dry pavement, particularly over small bumps or potholes. Some also report noise and a hard or uneven brake pedal, and in one case seized calipers and damaged rotors were replaced under warranty. Dealers reportedly told at least one owner the behavior was normal and that no fault codes were stored. Reported mostly under 30,000 miles, including cars with only a few thousand miles.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Test the brakes over a rough or patched stretch of road and see whether the pedal pulses unexpectedly; also check for uneven rotor wear or sticking calipers.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Anti-lock brakes activate when stopping on dry pavement with any kind of bumps or potholes. This occurs at least 2-3 times per month. The brakes do not feel safe when this happens, and could be a serious safety hazard. I have contacted the dealership, had them look at the car, they told me this is normal and no error codes showed up on the diagnostics.”

    NHTSA complaint #10020889, filed 2003-06, 13,000 miles

    “I decided to take the car to esserman international dealer for an inspection. On march 11, 2003 after I explained the noises and wait a whole morning, I was given my car back and informed that there was nothing wrong with the brakes. April 14 I returned to the same dealer and explained that I still heard the cracking noise and that it was hard to brake. Once again my car was returned to me and informed that there was nothing wrong with the car. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10064141, filed 2004-03, 24,500 miles
  5. Engine cooling

    Oil consumption and timing chain noise

    • 11 complaints (14%)
    • median 50,000 mi at 4.1 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2002–2013

    Some owners report the engine using a noticeable amount of oil between changes and, in one case, enough to damage the engine. Others describe the car running rough and noisy at highway speed, traced by a mechanic to a loose timing chain and a worn automatic tensioner. Complaints also describe dealers collecting oil-use data over several visits rather than resolving the issue directly. Reported from about 39,000 to 140,000 miles.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Check the oil level and condition before and after a test drive, and listen for rattling from the front of the engine at startup or under light throttle; a service bulletin on the timing chain tensioner exists for this symptom.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I bought a used 2002 Acura RSX type-s from fiesta dodge in san antonio, tx on october 3, 2005. They said they did a full 101 point inspection on the vehicle. The vehicle had only approximately 48,000 miles. I had the vehicle for 38 days and had put less than 3,000 miles on it when I noted power loss in the upper RPM band. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10144385, filed 2005-12, 52,333 miles

    “In the 12 months I have had my car, it has been in the shop 7+ times for the air conditioning, the air cycles cold-hot-cold-hot-etc, then over time blows out hot air. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10036796, filed 2003-08

Buying note. The manual gearbox is the item to scrutinize most: a thorough test drive through every gear, plus service records for synchronizer or clutch work, tells you more than the odometer. Also confirm the airbag warning light behaves normally and ask about any open airbag campaign for the VIN before committing.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 76 consumer complaints for the 2002 Acura RSX. 44 of the complaints include a mileage, and 52% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 46,500 miles. Of all complaints, 10 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 11 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 30 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Other or unknown (2), Seats (2), Suspension (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Engine (1), Forward collision avoidance (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “I was driving and shifted from 2nd to third and I let out the clutch at 30 MPH and the transmission came apart with gears on the ground. Acura never called the warranty company so it was never fixed and they reposed it.”

NHTSA complaint #10227767, filed 2008-05, 98,000 miles

Engine cooling: “I bought a certified pre-own 2002 Acura RSX - s on 9/17/2004 from ocean Acura, ocean nj. I even bought the extended warranty. The dealer said they have done over 100 points check and have done all necessary maintenance. Within two and half week, I am experincing transmission problem shifting from second to third and sometime a grinding sound. I have made an appointment with the dealer to bring in the car on 10/13/04. That appointment never took place because the car broke down on 10/09/04. …”

NHTSA complaint #10096154, filed 2004-10, 39,535 miles

Air bags: “On 12/11/01 my 3 1/2 month old RSX-s was totalled. A 1990 chevy truck smashed into the driver side of the car and crushed it. The driver side from the beginning of the rear fender (just behind the driver's door) all the way up to the front bumper was hit and crushed. The driver's side impact airbag did not open. The driver's front airbag did not open. The passenger side was not hit at all howerver, it's front airbag did deploy. Because of my airbags not opening my head smashed the driver's door window and my left hip and knee were pretty bruised. …”

NHTSA complaint #756379, filed 2002-01

Brakes: “The brake calipers on my 2002 Acura RSX (base model) intermittently seize and cause the vehicle and steering column to vibrate while the car is in motion, making it difficult to control and apparently causing rotor damage. Since brake problems are a safety issue, the dealership's service department replaced both the calipers and rotors free of charge under the warranty. I was told by the service technician that the manufacturer is aware of the problem but does not know what is causing it. Since the equipment was replaced, the same problem has recurred.”

NHTSA complaint #10007739, filed 2003-02, 12,800 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

52% of the 44 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 21,280 and 91,136 miles.

11%0–1023%10–2518%25–5011%50–7514%75–10014%100–1509%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (44 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 46,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

’0217’05’08’11’15’21’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 Acura RSX. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
RSX · coupe not rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2002 Acura RSX version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
RSX FWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed manual233026$2,600
RSX FWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed manual212824$3,400
RSX FWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed automatic213024$2,800

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2002 Acura RSX in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 30 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 30 bulletins →

Other model years of the Acura RSX

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20062428,7602—25—Stable
2005321,5000—25Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20041724,5000—25—Falling
20032550,2500—25Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20027646,5000—24Not compared (before 2008)Rising

All Acura RSX model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Acura RSX?

Owners of this model year most often describe manual-transmission shifting trouble, with 2nd and 3rd gear grinding or the shifter popping out of gear, alongside a cluster of engine issues including a sulfur-like exhaust odor entering the cabin, oil consumption and timing chain noise. The issues reported most often: Manual transmission grinds or pops out of 2nd/3rd gear; Airbag warning light on and airbags not deploying; Sulfur or rotten-egg exhaust smell in the cabin.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 Acura RSX have?

NHTSA recorded 76 consumer complaints for the 2002 Acura RSX as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 Acura RSX is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 20 complaints (26% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 16.

Has the 2002 Acura RSX been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2002 Acura RSX get?

The EPA rates the 2002 Acura RSX (RSX, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 21 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,400 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2002 Acura RSX reported?

Among the 44 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 46,500 miles and the middle half falls between 21,280 and 91,136 miles; 52% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.