Research · complaint index

Acura RSX years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say

We compared 5 model years of the Acura RSX by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 2002 stands out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.

01 —Complaint index

Complaints per year on the road

1.0 = typical year for this model
View as table
Model yearComplaints per year since release
20024
20031
20041
20051
20061
YearComplaintsPer year on roadIndexRecallsCrashesSignal
20062410.924Typical
20053211.123Typical
20041710.646Typical
20033111.045Typical
20029342.9410Most complaints
  • 200624 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
  • 200532 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
  • 200417 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
  • 200331 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
  • 200293 complaints · 4 recallsMost complaints
Data from NHTSA Complaints & Recalls APIs · synced Oct 28, 2026
02 —FAQ

About this comparison

What Acura RSX years have the most complaints?

Adjusted for years on the road, 2002 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 5 model years compared.

Is this a reliability rating?

No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.