RoadVitals

1991 Acura NSX

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
4
Latest Mar 15, 2019
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest May 24, 1995
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Acura NSX, most frequently naming the brakes, powertrain (other) and tires & wheels categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 16 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes250.0%
  • Powertrain (other)125.0%
  • Tires & wheels125.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
95V103001

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

May 24, 1995
3,700,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
The risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES. CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. CHECK THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUG ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, THEN PRESS THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS ANY SIGN OF BREAKAGE OR CRACKING, OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, PROMPTLY CONTACT YOUR AUTHORIZED HONDA/ACURA DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE94007ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

PREMATURE REAR TIRE WEAR

Opened Jan 28, 1994
Closed Sep 29, 1994

There is no summary currently available

SUSPENSION

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 15, 2019

DEAR NHTSA: WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL ACCELERATION I NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I SUBSEQUENTLY DISCOVERED THAT A TRANSMISSION PART FAILED. SEE ATTACHED PHOTO. I LEARNED BY FURTHER INVESTIGATION THAT ACURA OF AMERICA IS AWARE OF THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND HAS ISSUED MULTIPLE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN THE UNITED STATES SEE ATTACHED. IN JAPAN HONDA ISSUED AN OFFICIAL SAFETY RECALL IS ACTIVE FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. THERE ARE NO DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE JAPANESE PARTS AND THE AMERICAN PARTS. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT HONDA OF JAPAN ADOPTED A MORE STRINGENT AND ETHICALLY SOUND STANCE WHEN REGARDING THE LIVES OF THEIR CUSTOMER AND OTHERS ON THEIR ROADWAYS. I THEN CONTACTED ACURA OF AMERICA FOR GOODWILL ASSISTANCE. ON 3/15/19 DURING A RECORDED PHONE CALL [XXX], SELF-IDENTIFIED AS REGIONAL MANGER OF CUSTOMER RELATIONS AMERICAN HONDA, NOTIFIED ME THAT ACURA HAS DENIED THIS CLAIM, ACURA CASE NO. 09421151 . FURTHER, ACURA HAS NO SAFETY RECALLS OPEN ON THIS VEHICLE, AND SHE DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS EVIDENCED BY THE PHOTO ATTACHED SHOWING PIECES OF HARDENED METAL FROM A BROKEN SNAP RING INSIDE MY TRANSMISSION. THIS BROKEN METAL WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION CASE CAN CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND LOCKING OF THE TRANS-AXEL AT SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE ALSO ATTACHED GRAPHS OF A YEARS LONG - LIVE SURVEY BY AN ONLINE ACURA NSX OWNERS GROUP WHICH ILLUSTRATES THAT THIS SAFETY DEFECT IS STILL AFFECTING NUMEROUS OWNERS TO THIS DATE. HTTP://WWW.NSXPRIME.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/208278-SNAP-RING-FAILURES-DATA-NEEDED?FBCLID=IWAR1IFYNHKJ0XNW4IA1ATGQ7I-QSAMILMNWOZ4YW6M8POFSRQZPORKLBU2RM THERE ARE LIVES AT STAKE HERE, WHICH IS WHY I AM FILING A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. I HAVE COPIED ACURA OF AMERICA SINCERELY, [XXX] - 3/15/19 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR

NHTSA ID
11187059
Incident
Mar 9, 2019
Mileage
98,100 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 29, 1999

ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED DUE TO MODULATOR LEAKING PUMP METAL FILINGS INTO RESERVOIR.

NHTSA ID
544683
Incident
Mar 3, 1999
Brakes
Filed Mar 24, 1999

ABS MODULATOR IS LEAKING PUMP METAL INTO THE RESERVIOR CAUSING ABS FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
544562
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 4, 1995
Crash reported

PREMATURE WEAR/BALDNESS OF TIRES, RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *SKD

NHTSA ID
466544
Incident
Mar 4, 1995

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SB-0708

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

ACURA: THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR VARIOUS SITUATIONS AND PROCEDURES INCLUDING: TIRE PRESSURE VALVE STEM INSTALLATION, TRAILER STABILITY MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON, ENGINE OIL APPLICATION GUIDE, NEW SOFTWARE, NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID, NOTCHY STEERING FEELING. *RM

07012005

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SPEEDOMETER SHOPS CAN TRANSFER ODOMETER MILEAGE. ACURA. SERVICENEWS. *TT

05012004

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES

AUDIO UNIT AND NAVI ANTI-THEFT CODES AVAILABLE ON IN. ACURA SERVICENEWS. MAY 2004. *TT

93010

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF GEAR, OR YOU HEAR A GRINDING/GROWLING NOISE ON DECELERATION OR ACCELERATION. *JD THIS BULLETIN SUPERSEDES 93-010, DATED APRIL 22, 1997. *TT

903

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

HARD TO ENGAGE 1ST GEAR, GRINDS INTO REVERSE. TECH LINE SUMMARY. *TT

090103

TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

SPARE TIRE INSPECTION. ACURA SERVICENEWS. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Acura NSX by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2021101—
2020011—
2019021—
2018031—
2017631—
2005100—
2004000—
2003000—
2002000—
2001100—
2000000—
1999000—
1998000—
1997000—
1996000—
1995000—
1994100—
1993001—
1992201—
1991Viewing411—
1990001—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.