2002 Acura Rsx Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Acura Rsx.

20012003
Complaints
91
Crashes
10
Fires
1
Injuries
11
Fatalities
Recalls
0

Worst 2002 Acura Rsx Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#112 complaints

Manual Transmission

Avg mileage:55,846 mi
Crash-related:1
#29 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:97,856 mi
Crash-related:2
#35 complaints

Automatic Transmission

Avg mileage:36,250 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Acura Rsx.

Manual Transmission
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
55,846
Airbags
9
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
97,856
Automatic Transmission
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
36,250
Engine & Cooling
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Side/Window
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Body:Bumpers
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Fog Lights
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System, Other
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Parking-Brake Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belts:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Acura Rsx. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Acura Rsx Years

2002 Acura Rsx — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2002 Acura Rsx reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2002 Acura Rsx has 91 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Manual Transmission with 12 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Acura Rsx?
Top reported problems: Manual Transmission (12 complaints, avg 55,846 mi); Airbags (9 complaints, avg 97,856 mi); Automatic Transmission (5 complaints, avg 36,250 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Acura Rsx?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 66,619 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Acura Rsx?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Acura Rsx include 10 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 11 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 Acura Rsx have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 Acura Rsx as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2002 Acura Rsx?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2002 Acura Rsx shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Acura Rsx reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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