The transmission it's going bad
Engine & cooling
Acura RSX Engine problems by year
29 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Acura RSX's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.
Engine complaints by model year
Latest RSX engine complaints
While driving approx 60 mph freeway, my car suddenly and without warning started running very rough and noisily and shuddered, a very frightening experience. My vehicle has been perfectly maintained since purchase and had only a few weeks earlier undergone a 75,000 mile tune-up. My mechanic diagnosed and confirmed the problem is a damaged/loosened timing chain due to a defective auto tensioner. This is my only means of transportation. Nhtsa records discloses service bulletin #090105 clearly identifying a "defective...
Read the full complaint
auto tensioner". These repairs will cost nearly $2,000! Why is this not a recall instead of a simple service bulletin when your records indicate numerous cars are affected? This is a safety issue in addition to being a factory defect as the tensioner can seize the engine upon failure and cause the car to lose control, endangering not only myself and my passengers but other drivers who may be around me. Acura of lynnwood service manager [[redacted]] has been hostile and uncooperative and refused to meet with me after I scheduled an appointment with him, and will not authorize the repairs and the manufacturer has not authorized repairs. I was victimized once before by lynnwood acura when the car engine on my first rsx blew up (at 5000 miles!) Due to error of mechanics (double-gasketed oil filter) and now the replacement vehicle is defective. I've been trying to get this resolved since september 2013. Please help! *Tr
2002 Acura rsx. Consumer states problem with valve assembly *tgw the consumer stated the vehicle was diagnosed with a drc code of 91077. The dealer followed the repair step in order to correct the problem. They installed 17120-ppa-a01 valve assembly. However, when she went to pick the vehicle up, the light came back on and the dealer ordered another valve assembly. The consumer was informed that the light may still come on and they would have to follow certain diagnostic steps in order to get the engine light to go out. *Jb
The mechanics at acura found galling on one or more cam shaft lobes in my engine. The symptoms of this problem are loss of engine power and a noticeable, louder than normal, clicking/tapping noise from the valve cover area. This is a significant issue that has caused me great concern. Galling is a condition whereby excessive friction between high spots results in localized welding with subsequent splitting and a further roughening of rubbing surfaces of one or both of two mating parts. With respect to my camshaft,...
Read the full complaint
it should have a mirror-like surface to prevent friction during normal operation, but instead it appears pitted and is subsequently affecting my car's performance and safety. Additionally, due to the location of this problem and its subtle symptoms, it is difficult to diagnose/find without physically removing the engine's valve cover and inspecting the camshaft lobes; it could very well exist for tens of thousands of miles undetected. In my communications through several honda dedicated enthusiast websites, I have found that many other people worldwide have experienced the same problem with the early k-series engines. I have heard/read rumors that this is a result of poor casting and improper heat treating in the manufacturing process. The mechanic at acura even stated could be due to improper heat treatment, which leads me to believe they are aware of this problem, yet it goes undetected and unannounced at our expense. Obviously, I am concerned for my safety as well as the safety of my passengers. I take great pride in my car as well as the honda/acura name written upon it and I would not be very helpful if I did not bring this issue to your immediate attention. *Tr
Fans wont start while in a stop and go traffic with a/c in the off position. *Tr
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 acura rsx with a 4-cylinder, 2.0 Liter engine. While driving at speeds of 65 mph, there was a tapping noise coming from under the hood. The vehicle then stalled without warning and shortly after, he was able to restart the vehicle. Once the vehicle was restarted, the vehicle abnormally accelerated and increased in engine rpms of 9,000. He was able to put the vehicle into neutral and maneuver off the highway. The engine then blew itself and made a loud popping noise. He was unable to...
Read the full complaint
restart the vehicle at that point. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they performed a diagnostic and determined the failure to be driver error. The engine was replaced at the owner's expense. The failure and current mileages were approximately 86,000.
My 2002 mdx has 75,000 miles and needs the engine mounts replaced. It was reported by lots of people that acura's design flaws on the motor mounts for 2001, 2002 mdx. Lots of discussions may be found athttp://www.Topix.Net/forum/autos/acura-mdx/t54qbspdkrmccnv0a it is a disaster for consumers to pay for the design defects! *Tr
Multiple engine mount failures on 2002 acura mdx. First failure occurred at 40,000 miles. Second failure occurred at 79,000 miles. Both failures were identified by an acura dealer as important mechanical and safety concerns. Both failures were remedied by an acura dealer. The first failure was covered under warranty. The second failure was not covered under warranty. *Ak
I bought my car from a dealer in august 2006, in january of 07 I noticed my 2003 acura rsx engine making a ticking sound and the engine revving really high. I took it to my mechanic who said the valves needed replacing as do the camshafts. After many searches online regarding this problem, and finding several other owners experiencing the exact same issue I am shocked acura has not issued a recall for this. *Jb
I purchased a 2005 acura rsx type-s about a year and half ago around 4/20/05. I drove it for about 4 months and I started hearing a clicking noise coming from my suspension, I brought it back to the dealership and they installed a new strut. The next month the same problem occurred and they had to replace the other side of the strut. That same week my car started drifting to one side and my steering wheeling wasn't aligned, I bought it back and everything was okay. The next month I still heard the same clicking...
Read the full complaint
noise but I didn't have time to go to the dealer. That same week, I heard a tapping noise coming from my engine, I didn't know what it was so I kept driving. Next day, it got worse and I knew there was something wrong, I checked my oil level on a sloped hill but didn't realize it, and it didn't read properly. So, I added two quarts of oil to the engine, but it still had that same tapping noise from the engine. I went to the dealership, and they told me I had destroyed my engine(connecting rods are bent, piston #4 was damaged) and I will need a new engine. The warranty wasn't going to cover it because I added extra oil. So, I immediately got a lawyer, but nothing has been done in a year im still in the same boat and I'm money. I have spoke to several mechanics from various dealers and shops and they told me there's no way adding oil could damage a engine in just a matter of one day. Im running out of ideas and my life is at a stand still if there's anything you can do please help. *Jb
This is for a 2002 acura rsx; oil consumption issue. Since I've owned the car, it has been using about 1 1/2 quarts of oil each 3,000 miles. I've contacted the local dealership, who is working with me to collect usage data with each oil change and the acura consumer help line. The acura consumer help line is very rude, not very helpful and seems to not want to give me statistically correct information with this problem. I've had 2 high performance honda crxs for upwards of 150,000 miles and neither had the usage...
Read the full complaint
issue as this rsx. Without resolving the issue, it is likely that the engine could wear out or cause other related problems. I am looking for acura to look further into the problem, do further testing, give me an explanation to my satisfaction and change the engine, as this is not a usual problem, from what I understand. At this point, because acura doesn't appear to want to deal with this issue, I am verbally warning other possible buyers away because of the oil consumption and the lack of consumer respect and courtesy from the acura consumer help phone line. I think acura knows there is an issue and wants me to foot the bill when the car fails before its time. *Nm
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. I immediately took it to another dealer to get inspected, where I found out that the vehicle was burning oil badly and had done enough damage to ruin the motor, thankfully I had purchased an extended warranty and it was seen as a manufacturer's defect, but still I am without a car for the next month while the new motor is installed. *Jb
Problems shifting from 3rd into 4th gear. Car shifts into second and redlines engine. Computor fails to shut engine down and engine blows. This has happened twice in the past 6 months. Acura blames it on driver error. Mechanic told me gear pattern is very tight and this has occured to an acura technician.*Ak
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. I got in touch with...
Read the full complaint
roadside assistance and they have towed the car to the nearest acura dealer (ryan's open road) east brunswick n.J. I have spoken to ocean acura, acura america and ryan's several time. Ryan has determine that the engine is damage and I will need a new engine. The dealer (ocean) is trying to put the blame on me saying that I have abused the engine and I am responsible for fixing it. Ocean acura said, he is not responsible to talk to acura america. Today is 10/21/2004 and I have not got a definite resolution. Acura america has not call me back, ocean acura said they are not responsible. The car is at ryan's. I paid $21,000.00 For the car. They said it will cost $7000.00 To put in a new engine. I have done some research on the acura rsx s and I have found over 14,000 complains about transmission problems. Acura does not have a recall on these models. Help!. I don't know what to do. If I take a lawyer will have to another $500 - $1000 lawyer fees. I would appreciate if some could lead me to solve this problem. Thank you.
Fog light cracked they blamed it on me replaced it and it cracked again 1 week later and they fixed it again blaming it on road vibration. It took acura 3 times to fix my sticking map lights. My car was at acura for 1 1/2 weeks for a buzzing sound from the engine they found a buzzing wire after all that time. Transmission was also grinding and they never fixed it. My car's oil has been disappearing since I bought it. My low oil light comes on after 800 miles after topping off. At 13949 they started an oil test...
Read the full complaint
"they were tiring to tell me it was normal to loose 1qt every 500 miles. They also blamed it on my oil mobile 1. So I paid $75.00 For acura to change it. They insisted that to do any work on my car they need me to come back to acura every 500 miles for "acura" oil which I did for 3 times until I noticed oil coming from the back of my engine 23396 miles they replaced head gasket. Brought car home and it was leaking even more. Brought back and they said now that the timing cover was distorted at the rate of the leak there was no way to drive the car so it was left at the dealer for a week till the parts came in. They replaced timing cover. Car is still loosing oil and my transmission is now grinding worse than it ever has. Which is a common problem among rsx model cars now they say the oil is burning? Still not fixed. *Jb
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data