2002 Acura RSX Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA RSX. WHEN SWITCHING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR, THE SHIFTER WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR AND MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 76,500.

I'VE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE NEW RSX IN 02... THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED ON THE INTERNET... HOWEVER ACURA HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE... THE PROBLEM ONLY GOT WORSE OVER TIME AND FINALLY THE ENGINE BLEW OUT COMPLETELY AND STARTING SMOKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY... WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT NO CRASH OCCURRED BUT INJURIES/FATALITIES COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED. ACURA HAS FAILED TO OWN-UP TO THIS ENGINE/TRANSMISSION FAILURE ISSUE, EVEN IN CASES WHERE THE WARRANTY IS STILL VALID... I FEEL VERY MUCH MISLEAD AS I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MY DEALER SINCE PURCHASE AND THEY ALWAYS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM... I THINK THE FACT THAT ACURA HAS STOPPED MAKING THE RSX IS AN INDICATION OF THE SEVERITY OF THESE "HIDDEN" ISSUES. *TR

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 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 [XXX] 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 LIGHT FOR MY AIR BAG IS ON AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT FLICKERS ON TOO. THE CRUSE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA RSX. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE SRS SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT FUNCTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE SRS SERVICE LIGHT FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,136 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,862.

I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO ESSERMAN INTERNATIONAL DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. ON MARCH 11, 2003 AFTER I EXPLAINED THE NOISES AND WAIT A WHOLE MORNING, I WAS GIVEN MY CAR BACK AND INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. *AK APRIL 14 I RETURNED TO THE SAME DEALER AND EXPLAINED THAT I STILL HEARD THE CRACKING NOISE AND THAT IT WAS HARD TO BRAKE. ONCE AGAIN MY CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME AND INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. FEBRUARY 20, 2004 I TOOK MY CAR TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER WHERE I PURCHASE MY VEHICLE, EXPLAINED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AND IN ADDITION THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THIS TIME FOR MY SURPRISE THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TO RESURFACE FRONT BRAKES ROTORS AND THAT THERE WAS NO NOISE INSIDE THE CAR. THE NEXT DAY AFTER THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED THE CAR, THE D-4 LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THE NOISE ON THE BRAKE WAS WORSE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER SINCE I WAS SHIPPING MY CAR TO CA. THE VERY NEXT DAY. WHEN I RECEIVED MY CAR IN CA I TOOK THE CAR TO THE ACURA DEALER IN ELK GROVE FOR AN INSPECTION & ALSO EXPLAINED AGAIN THE WHOLE SITUATION. THIS TIME THOUGH I ALSO EXPLAINED THE EXPERIENCE I HAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR FROM OAKLAND TO SACRAMENTO (1 HOUR ): THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE ITSELF AND I HAD TO TAP ON THE GAS-PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR IT TO CHANGE GEARS. THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM MADE ME STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY THREE TIMES. ONCE AGAIN I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK AND TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR EXCEPT THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES PADS AN MY OWN COST. CUSTOMER RELATIONS WAS CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES (MR. IAHWAN) BUT THIS MANAGER WILL NOT ANSWER MY LETTER, FAX OR VOICE MESSAGE. I INFORMED THE DEALER THAT D4-LIGHT WAS FLASHING, WHICH IN THE MANUAL STATES THAT IT CAN BE A PROBLEM W/TRANSMISSION, UNFORTUNATELY THE DEALER DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. THE D4 LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK. PLEASE HELP!

WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS AND POTHOLES ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*AK

MY CAR HAD A STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE VEHICLE WHENEVER I DROVE IT. I LOOKED AND FOUND THAT THE GAS PUMP PLASTIC HOUSING WAS CRACKED IN MULTIPLE PLACES AND A LARGE AMOUNT OF GAS HAD LEAKED INTO THE COMPARTMENT UNDER THE SEAT AND DOWN BELOW MY VEHICLE.

WHILE DRIVING I STARTED TO SMELL FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE FUEL PUMP, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PLASTIC ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP HAD CRACKED FILLING UP THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK COVER WITH RAW FUEL. SOME OF THE FUEL HAD MADE ITS WAY INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHILE THE REST LEAKED UNDER THE CAR ON TO THE GROUND. MY FEAR IS IF THIS GOES UNDETECTED, THE LEAKING FUEL COULD MAKE CONTACT WITH EXHAUST COMPONENTS AND CAUSE A FIRE. WHILE THE FUEL WAS LEAKING, THERE WERE NO DRIVABILITY ISSUES OTHER THAN THE SMELL OF FUEL.

*OPEN BODY SEAM AT DRIVERS A-PILLAR. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TWICE AS SUSPENSION NOISE WHICH I THOUGH WAS THE PROBLEM; DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE SUSPENSION. A FEW MONTHS WENT BY AND I REALIZED THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE SPECIALLY WHEN TURNING WHEELS ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT. DEALER KEPT THE CAR FROM 2/12/04 UNTIL 2/28/04... BODY SEAM WAS REWELDED BY AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP. NOW I GET METAL CLICKING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR AFTER ALL AND I GET FRUSTRATE EVERYTIME I HEAR NOISES IN THE FRON END.*AK

ACURA RSX: RADIATOR AND CONDENSER HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PROTECTION (GRILL) IN THIS MODEL. THE RSX IS VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO ROAD DEBRIS DAMAGING THE CONDENSER AND RADIATOR RENDERING THE CAR INOPERATIVE, DUE TO OVERHEATING AND RAPID LOSS OF RADIATOR FLUID. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ACURA CONSIDERS THIS AN "ACT OF GOD" AND DOES NOT COVER THIS DAMAGE. MY SENSE IS THAT THIS IS VERY FAULTY MANUFACTURING. THE SERVICE MANAGERS RELATED TO ME THAT THERE HAS BEEN A "NUMBER" OF REPAIRS IN RECENT PAST, AND NOT JUST WITH THIS MODEL. THE NHTSA IS REQUESTED TO FULLY EXPLORE THIS PROBLEM WITH ACURA. *NLM

HEADLAMPS ARE VERY DULL MAKING VISIBILITY AT NIGHT VERY DIFFICULT. THERE IS CURRENTLY AN AFTERMARKET RECALL FOR EXTERIOR LIGHTING FROM (4) MFG'S. I BELIEVE I HAVE ORIGINALS FROM THE MANUFACTURER.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA RSX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHT BULBS IN THE HEADLIGHTS FAIL EVERY MONTH AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THAT A RECALL DOES NOT EXIST. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 77,000.

Odometer Fraud. The contact owned a 2002 Acura SRX. The contact stated that the vehicle was sold to a friend in a private sale. The new owner then attempted to sell the vehicle to another person, and upon obtaining the Carfax report, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was approximately 115,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 213,288.

Duralast 12volt battery post are smaller than they should be. It cause the battery terminal to came loose after a hard bump on the road. It resulted in my car losing power steering.

The car stopped at an traffic intersection when making a left turn. Fortunately, the traffic was light. Later, a broken driver side cv axel was identified, which had sever corrosion inside the damper. the narrowest diameter is only 16mm vs 25mm of the axel.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA RSX TYPE S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-60 MPH, THE THIRD GEAR SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA RSX. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE SRS SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT FUNCTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE SRS SERVICE LIGHT FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,136 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,862.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA RSX. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE RESTRAINT ASSEMBLY WAS INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V166002 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY). THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY AT THE COST OF $500. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED ITS WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATE 09/10/08 *CW UPDATED 09/15/08. *JB

The contact owns a 2022 Acura RSX. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that there were holes underneath the front driver’s and passenger’s side seats. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 261,000.

DT: PROBLEM WAS NOTICED ABOUT A WEEK AGO. THE HOOD LATCH IS BOLTED TO A PIECE OF METAL, AND THERE IS A BROKEN PLACE IN THE METAL. THE METAL PIECE BROKE AWAY FROM THE BODY ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AND THEN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HOOD, THE METAL SHOWS FATIGUE, AND IS ALMOST BROKEN, AND IS READY TO BREAK AWAY SOON. METAL FATIGUE IS EVIDENT ON BOTH SIDES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THE CAR WILL BE TAKEN TO DEALER TODAY. THE CASE NUMBER WITH ACURA IS 120050617300086. *AK

Duralast 12volt battery post are smaller than they should be. It cause the battery terminal to came loose after a hard bump on the road. It resulted in my car losing power steering.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA RSX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT 100 MPH REAR ENDED CONSUMER AND BROKE AXLE. VEHICLE WENT INTO A SPEND RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

DEALER SAID THAT RIGHT REAR STRUT WAS SHOT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SIGNIFICANT RATTLE WAS COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE ONLY HAD LESS THAN 200 MILES WHEN FAILURE OCCURED. THEY ARE ORDERING NEW PART AND WILL INSTALL UNDER WARRANTY. WAS TOLD THEY HAVE SEEN A COUPLE OF OTHER NEW VEHICLES WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED. *AK

I PURCHASED MY ACURA RSX, TYPE S ON 10-14-02. ON 02-14-03 I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY NOT WORKING WHEN IT WAS COLD OUT. THE PROBLEM OCCURED FOUR TIMES. I WOULD HAVE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH MY KEY AND I WAS UNABLE TO MANUALLY LOCK THE CAR. IT WOULD ONLY LAST UNTIL IT WARMED UP. I HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT ON 02-14-03, THEY SAID THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE CORRECTED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ACTING UP AT THAT TIME. ALSO ON 02-14-03 THE CHECK ENGINE CODE WAS PULLED. IT WAS P1163, SLOW RESPONSE OF THE PRIMARY OXYGEN SENSOR. THEY STATED THAT THEY KNEW THE O2 SENSORS WERE SENSITIVE AND SUGGESTED TO RESET THE CODES AND WATCH FOR FURTHER PROBLEMS. ON 09-12-03 THE CHECK ENGINE COSE WAS PULLED AGAIN. IT WAS P1163, O2 SENSOR & P0219 ENGINE OVER SPEED FOR CONDITION. ON 09-23-03 THE O2 SENSOR WAS REPLACED. ON 10-13-03 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I COULD NOT GET IN UNTIL 10-16-03. ON 10-15-03 THE LIGHT WENT OFF. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT WANT TO PULL THE CODES SINCE THE LIGHT WENT OFF. I INSISTED THAT THE CODES BE PULLED, BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO BE FOUND NEGLIGENT IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN DOWN THE ROAD. THE CODES PULLED WERE P1163 & P0219. THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT AT. THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE O2 SENSOR AGAIN, BECAUSE THEY HAD JUST REPLACED IT. THEY FELT THERE WAS AN UNDERLYING CONDITION BESIDES THE O2 SENSOR. ON 11-03-03 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. MY APPOINTMENT IS 11-06-03. I HAVE SENT MY INFO TO AUTOMOBILE LEMON LAW ATTORNEYS IN ELMHURST IL. I ALSO CONTACTED ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE IN TORRENCE CA. I WANT OTHERS TO BE AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS. THE ONLY REASON I BOUGHT AN ACURA IS BECAUSE OF IT'S REPUTATION OF BEING A WELL BUILT CAR.

VEHICLE IS LEAKING TOXIC HYDROGEN SULFIDE AND INSIDIOUS POISON GASES THROUGH VENTILATION. THIS CAUSES HEADACHE IRRITATION WHILE IN VEHICLE. DEALER HAS NO WAY TO DETECT THE LEVEL. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. 27-NOV-2001 [XXX].*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE LIGHT FOR MY AIR BAG IS ON AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT FLICKERS ON TOO. THE CRUSE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK.

I PURCHASED 4 SIGMA REGENT TOURING 205/55TR16, 7E55 FROM TIRE KINGDOM IN MAY 2006 WHEN MY CARD HAD ~77K NOW IN JANUARY 07 WITH TIRES BEING ROTATED PROPERLY AND CAR HAVING 91K TWO OF THE TIRES HAVE SPLIT ON THE INSIDE AROUND THE RIM. BOTH TIRES APPEAR AS THOUGH THE HAVE BEEN SLICED WITH A RAZOR AROUND THE INSIDE SEAM, THIS WAS POINTED OUT TO ME BY MY ACURA DEALER MECHANIC. I HAVE PICTURES WHICH CAN BE PROVIDED. I AM HAVING A TIME GETTING TIRE KINGDOM TO MAKE RIGHT. *JB