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Acura RSXModel year report

2004 Acura RSX Problems

Complaints
17filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
24,500miles, 12 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
25 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 22 city / 31 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2004 Acura RSX (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2004 Acura RSX. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 6 complaints (35% of the total), followed by air bags (5) and tires (4). 12 of the complaints include a mileage, and 67% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 24,500 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 30 technical service bulletins for this model year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 9 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Air bags complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

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.

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “I have a 2004 RSX-s a-spec . It has a six speed transmission. When shifting from first to second, gear sometimes grinds, when shifting from second gear to third, gear grinds and sometimes pops out. Dealership gave me the run-a-round saying they could not duplicate problem . I hear of other people having the same problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10159105, filed 2006-06, 13,000 miles

Air bags: “Dt: the contact stated after rear ending another vehicle at 45 MPH he lost control of the vehicle and stroke a fence and a neighbor's residence. The vehicle was extensively damaged on the front and the sides. Upon impact, the front and side airbags did not deploy. The contact was wearing a seat belt but sustained minor injuries. The vehicle was totaled by the insurance agency.”

NHTSA complaint #10146146, filed 2005-12, 43,100 miles

Tires: “The Acura RSX 2004 has very poor traction on icy surfaces, even with good winter tires. First noticed last year when we put extra sand bags in the trunk. This year my daughter lost control on the ice and hit a wall. She was injured. The airbags also did not deploy.”

NHTSA complaint #10143240, filed 2005-11

Exterior lighting: “The contact owns a 2004 Acura RSX. The contact was driving at night various speeds with the activation of the headlights. The illumination of the headlights was extremely dim and obstructed the vision. The manufacturer was notified and they advised the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 06e023000 (exterior lighting:headlights). The contact planned to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnosis. The failure mileage was approximately 50,294.”

NHTSA complaint #10401301, filed 2011-05, 50,294 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

67% of the 12 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 11,800 and 50,294 miles.

17%0–1033%10–2517%25–5017%50–758%75–1008%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (12 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 24,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

20042005620062008200920112020
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 2004 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 2004 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 manual243026$2,600
RSX FWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed automatic223125$2,700
RSX FWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed manual212824$3,400

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 2004 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

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004 Acura RSX have?

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2004 Acura RSX as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2004 Acura RSX is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 6 complaints (35% of the total), followed by air bags with 5.

Has the 2004 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 2004 Acura RSX get?

The EPA rates the 2004 Acura RSX (RSX, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 22 city and 31 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2004 Acura RSX reported?

Among the 12 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 24,500 miles and the middle half falls between 11,800 and 50,294 miles; 67% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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.