ACURA RSX · model year

2005 ACURA RSX

38 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005ACURARSX carries 38 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 RSX is suspension:front with 8 filings, followed by suspension:front:macpherson strut (3) and unknown or other (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2005 RSX, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

38
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

38 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SUSPENSION:FRONT8
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
AIR BAGS3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE2
TIRES2
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION2
SUSPENSION:REAR1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS1
SUSPENSION1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR1
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER1

Recalls (2)

06E06400017/07/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED

06E02300013/03/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPME

Recent Complaints

20210531ENGINE

The transmission it’s going bad

20210531STEERING

The transmission it’s going bad

20210531ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The transmission it’s going bad

20201010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I BOUGHT A VEHICLE LAST YEAR AND NEVER RAN THE CARFAX BUT NOW I HAVE IT AND IT APPEARS THE MILEAGE HAS BEEN TAMPERED WITH

20181214CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

ON SAT DEC 10 2018 I WAS BULLING IN TO A PARKING SPACE AT WALMART AFTER 7AM. I WAS GOING SLOWLY AND STARTED A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE. AS I TURNED I WAS LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE, SUDDENLY THE ENGINE REVVED TO A HIGH SPEED AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. I PUSHED HARD ON THE BRAKES BUT IT STILL KEPT GOING AT A LOWER RATE BUT I COULD NOT STOP, IT WAS MAKING STRAINING CREAKING SOUNDS. I HAD TURNED LEFT TO AVOID THE SUV FACING ME IN THE OTHER SPACE FACING ME WHEN IT SURGED FORWARD. THERE WAS A CART CORRAL THERE THAT I HIT AND PUSHED IT AND IT SWUNG AROUND AND MOVED INTO THE DRIVING LANE STILL MOVING. I PUSHED THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND THE REVVES DROPPED IMMEDIATELY AND THE CAR STOPPED THEN. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE ENGINE TO SPEED UP, I WAS BRAKING LIGHTLY AS I APPROACHED THE PARKING SPACE AND I CONTINUED TRYING TO BRAKE UNTIL IT FINALLY STOPPED. I WAS AT NO TIME ON THE GAS PEDDLE, THERE WAS NOT CARPET OR OTHER OBJECT TO INTERFERE WITH THE GAS PEDDLE. WHEN I MOVED THE SHIF

Mileage: 51,200

20161003SERVICE BRAKES

THE CAR FAILED TO STOP FOR AN INTERSECTION. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CROSS TRAFFIC, SO WE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM: POWER BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED TO KEEP VACUUM, MAKING BRAKES WEAK. I SEE THAT THIS EXACT FAILURE WAS RECALLED FOR THE NEXT MODEL YEAR (2006). BOTH MODEL YEAR CARS USE THE SAME BOOSTER, SO IT IS LIKELY THE SAME CAUSE AND SAME RISK TO ALL 2005 ACURA RSX MODELS. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED TO MAKE SURE NO-ONE HAS AN ACCIDENT DUE TO WEAK BRAKES, ESPECIALLY WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED FOR THE SAME MODEL CAR ONE YEAR LATER, THAT USES THE SAME PART.

Mileage: 109,000

20160123AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL MY AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS ON COMING ON FOR MANY YEARS. THE ACURA DEALER DOES NOT KNOW THE ISSUE AND WILL NOT REPAIR THE AIRBAGS UNTIL THERE IS A RECALL OF THE AIRBAGS. THE LIGHT HAS COME ON PROBABLY ONCE PER YEAR (I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR 7 YEARS).

Mileage: 99,999

20141210UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT APPEARS TO BE LOOSE AT A RIVITED JOINT.

Mileage: 91,000

20141208AIR BAGS

MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON - I HAD A MECHANIC RESET IT BUT IT CAME BACK ON FEW DAYS LATER. I READ ON THE INTERNET THAT HONDA IS RECALLING HONDAS & ACURAS FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM , IS THIS ONE OF THEM ? AM I EXPECTING A RECALL LETTER FROM HONDA IN THE MAIL SOON ? REGARDS *TR

Mileage: 151,000

20130502CrashTIRES

ON 11/20/12, I DROVE MY 2005 ACURA RSX TO ACURA OF MANHATTAN (AOM) IN NY, NY. THE SERVICE INCLUDED 4 NEW TIRES -- MICHELIN 215/45/17. ON 12/01/12, AFTER 40-50 MILES WITH NEW TIRES, THE VEHICLE STARTS VIBRATING. I STOP AND NOTICE A BLOWN-OUT FRONT RIGHT TIRE. EMERGENCY ROAD ASSISTANCE PUTS ON THE SPARE TIRE, NOTICES THE OTHER 3 TIRES ARE UNDER-INFLATED AND ADDS AIR. I RETURN TO AOM ON 12/03/12, MENTIONING THE VIBRATIONS, BLOWN-OUT TIRE, AND 3 UNDER-INFLATED TIRES. AOM GUARANTEES THAT ALL REMAINING TIRES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND REPLACES THE BLOWN-OUT TIRE. ON 12/14/12, ON A DIVIDED PARKWAY THE CAR AGAIN STARTS VIBRATING. I SLOW DOWN TO STOP, BUT THE REAR OF THE CAR YANKS TO THE RIGHT, THE CAR SPINS WILDLY, I SMASH HEAD-ON INTO THE MEDIAN DIVIDER, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY, THE CAR SPINS AROUND, THE REAR HITS THE MEDIAN, I COME TO A STANDSTILL. NO OTHER CAR IS INVOLVED. I AM UNHURT. I LEAVE THE CAR; I NOTICE ONE REAR TIRE OFF THE RIM AND THE OTHER ONE FLAT. THE POLICE WRITE UP

Mileage: 63,019

20100618AIR BAGS

I HAVE 2005 RSX TYPE S, AND WITHIN PAST 2.5 YEARS I HAD CIRCUITRY RELATED TO THE AIRBAGS PASSENGER AND DRIVER FAILED. AT 64,000 MILES PASSENGER DETECTION SENSOR IN THE SEAT FAILED AND WAS REPLACED WHEN SRS LIGHT CAME ON, AT 87,584 MILES AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT FAILED AND AIRBAG NOT FUNCTIONING LIGHT CAME ON. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS JUST MY CAR HAPPEN TO HAVE BAD AIRBAG CIRCUITRY OR IT IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT ACURA DOES NOT WANT TO ADDRESS. I CHECKED MULTIPLE BOARDS OF RSX OWNERS LIKE WWW.CLUBRSX.COM AND SEE MANY OF THEM HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 87,584

20100618ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE 2005 RSX TYPE S, AND WITHIN PAST 2.5 YEARS I HAD CIRCUITRY RELATED TO THE AIRBAGS PASSENGER AND DRIVER FAILED. AT 64,000 MILES PASSENGER DETECTION SENSOR IN THE SEAT FAILED AND WAS REPLACED WHEN SRS LIGHT CAME ON, AT 87,584 MILES AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT FAILED AND AIRBAG NOT FUNCTIONING LIGHT CAME ON. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS JUST MY CAR HAPPEN TO HAVE BAD AIRBAG CIRCUITRY OR IT IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT ACURA DOES NOT WANT TO ADDRESS. I CHECKED MULTIPLE BOARDS OF RSX OWNERS LIKE WWW.CLUBRSX.COM AND SEE MANY OF THEM HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 87,584

20100512WHEELS

ALL THE ALUMINUM WHEELS ON MY 2005 ACURA RSX-S ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF EARLY CORROSION DUE TO BUBBLING & EROSION OF THE PAINTED SURFACE. ONE IS PARTICULARLY BAD AND IS LOSING PRESSURE AT A RATE OF ~3LBS/SQIN PER WEEK. THIS WAS FIRST DISCOVERED ON NORMAL MONTHLY PRESSURE CHECK WHEN THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS 12LBS/SQIN BELOW SPECIFICATION. ON INSPECTION NO PUNCTURE OF THE TIRE WAS FOUND AND THE LEAK WAS TRACED TO CORROSION AT THE RIM AND VALVE SEAT. ON COMPLAINING TO THE ACURA DEALER UNDER WARRANTY, I WAS TOLD THAT WHEEL DAMAGE IS NOT COVERED BUT THIS IS NOT "DAMAGE" - IT'S CORROSION DUE TO POOR MATERIALS AND ESPECIALLY PAINT FINISH. THE WHEELS ARE ALL COMPLETELY FREE OF ACCIDENTAL DENTS OR NICKS AND THE LEAK IS ENTIRELY DUE TO CORROSION AND I NOW FEAR THAT IT WILL SHOW UP IN ALL THE OTHER WHEELS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND I NOW HAVE TO CHECK ALL TIRE PRESSURES WEEKLY AND RE-INFLATE THE CURRENTLY AFFECTED SINGLE WHEEL. MY ONLY REMEDY HERE IS TO HAVE ALL FOUR WHEELS REFINISH

Mileage: 32,000

20100227POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION GRINDS WHEN SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR, POPS OUT OF 3RD GEAR, OR IS HARD TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. THESE SYMPTOMS CAN BE INTERMITTENT ANDSOMETIMES MORE NOTICEABLE IN COLDER CLIMATES. *TR

Mileage: 47,000

20100104VISIBILITY

THE ISSUE I AM HAVING IS NOT A ONE TIME PROBLEM BUT SEEMS TO BE ONGOING IN THE WINTER MONTHS. WHEN IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE, THE WINDOWS OF MY CAR, INCLUDING FRONT AND BACK WINDSHIELDS, FOG AND ICE UP SIGNIFICANTLY. I HAVE THE DEFROSTER GOING AT FULL BLAST ON HIGHEST HEAT, BUT I STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE. THE SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS IS THAT I CANNOT SEE OUT OF MY WINDOWS WHEN I NEED TO CHANGE LANES OR LOOK FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN MAKING A RIGHT/LEFT TURN. I NEED TO ROLL DOWN MY WINDOWS TO ENSURE THAT TRAFFIC IS CLEAR. I WASN'T SURE IF THIS IS THE TYPE OF COMPLAINT THAT SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS BETTER TO SUBMIT, THAN NOT. THANK YOU. *TR

20080315POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

MY 05 ACURA RSX TYPE S WITH A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS A PROBLEM WHERE DURING SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR (WITH THE CLUTCH FULLY ENGAGED DURING THE SHIFT) IT POPS OUT OF 3RD GEAR WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DISENGAGED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ABOUT ONCE EVERY 7 HOURS OF DRIVING FOR ME. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAR SHIFTS EASILY INTO THIRD, LIKE IT NORMALLY WOULD, THEN POPS OUT WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DISENGAGED. OCCASIONALLY THERE IS A POP SOUND WHEN THIS HAPPENS BUT SOMETIMES IT CANNOT BE HEARD. THIS HAS LEAD TO SOME FRIGHTENING INSTANCES WHERE THE CAR HAS BEEN IN NEUTRAL, WHEN I THOUGH THE SHIFT WAS SUCCESSFUL. ON MY COMMUTE THIS OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN TURNING LEFT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND WHEN MERGING ON TO THE FREEWAY. I HAD ONE INSTANCE WHERE I MERGED ONTO THE FREEWAY IN SECOND GEAR ON A SNOWY DAY, ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT TO THIRD, AND HAD THE CAR POP OUT OF GEAR TWICE, SLOWING ME DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF BRAKE LIGHTS. LUCKILY THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO MOVE INT

Mileage: 1,000

20070201ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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 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(

Mileage: 5,900

20070201SUSPENSION:FRONT

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 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(

Mileage: 5,900

20070201STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

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 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(

Mileage: 5,900

20070201EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

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 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(

Mileage: 5,900

Compare 2005ACURARSX to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 ACURA RSX have?
The 2005 ACURA RSX has 38 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2005 ACURA RSX?
Yes, the 2005 ACURA RSX has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 ACURA RSX?
The most-complained component for the 2005 ACURA RSX is SUSPENSION:FRONT with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2005 ACURA RSX safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.