Model year guide

2002 Acura RSX

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2002 Acura RSX is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 28 on record.

2002 Acura RSX — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2002 Acura RSX at a glance

Safety recalls4
Owner complaints93
Combined24–26 mpg
Typical price$3,539

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2002 Acura RSX recalls 4

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #09E012000 · 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #06E064000 · 17/07/2006

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 EQUIPMENT.

Fix: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #06E038000 · 08/05/2006

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

Fix: ALFAOTTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ALFAOTTO AT 626-656-2992 OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.ALFAOTTO.COM.

Exterior Lighting:headlights NHTSA Campaign #06E023000 · 13/03/2006

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 EQUIPMENT."

Fix: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2002 Acura RSX common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 93 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

2002 Acura RSX MPG & running costs

Combined24–26 mpg
City22 mpg
Highway29 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,933
EPA size classSubcompact Cars
Transmission3 options
Passenger volume81 cu ft
Cargo volume16 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$2,667 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 3 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 2002 Acura RSX worth?

Low
$1,600
Typical price
$3,539
High
$5,995

From 24 comparable 2002 Acura RSX listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2002 Acura RSX costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,665
Fuel only$14,665
Per mile$0.20

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
172.4 in
Width
68.1 in
Height
55.1 in
Wheelbase
101.2 in
Curb weight
2,639–2,771 lb
Front track
58.3 in
Rear track
58.3 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2002 Acura RSX — ranges cover the 3 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 115

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 115.

Sending vehicle data to tech line.

Bulletin BJA46167 · Equipment · Jan 2017

Dealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, Acura announced three recalls for various 2002-06 Acura models. As of August 4, 2014, affected VINs have been identified, and VIN status inquiry has been updated.

Bulletin DLR MSG - Acura · Air Bags · Aug 2014

Dealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, Acura announced three recalls for various 2002-06 Acura models. As of July 23, 2014, affected VINs have been identified, and service bulletins 14-023, Safety Recall: Front Passenger?s Airbag Inflator Can Be Over-Press…

Bulletin DLR MSG - Stop S · Air Bags · Jul 2014

SEARCHING ISIS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE INFORMATION. 1996 - 2003 MODELS. *TT UPDATED 12/12/11. *PE

Bulletin 1202 · Dec 2011

ACURA: WHILE THE VALVE TIMING CONTROL (VTC) PHASE GAP IS SET, THE MIL IS ON AND THE CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE IS CONTAMINATED OR STUCK. *PE

Bulletin SB-02-035 · Electrical System · Oct 2011

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

Bulletin SB-0708 · Tires · Nov 2010

ACURA: 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION GRINDS WHEN SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR, POPS OUT OF 3RD GEAR, OR IS HARD TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. TRANSMISSION HAS A FAULTY 3RD GEAR SYNCHRONIZER OR 3-4 SHIFT SLEEVE. *PE

Bulletin 08-018 · Power Train · Jul 2008

LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY REDUCED LABEL FOR ALL ACURA VEHICLES. *PE

Bulletin 08-026 · Equipment · May 2008

WARRANTY EXTENSION: VEHICLE WARRANTY MILEAGE. *KB AFFECTS 2002 THROUGH 2006 ACURA MODELS. UPDATED 8/15/08. *PE

Bulletin 06050 · May 2008

ACURA: WARRANTY EXTENSION: VEHICLE WARRANTY MILEAGE. A FEDERAL COURT PROVIDED FINAL APPROVAL OF THE SETTLEMENT OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ALLEGING THAT THE ODOMETERS ON CERTAIN MODELS WERE OVERSTATING MILEAGE. VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS SETTLEMENT INCLUDE CERTAI…

Bulletin SB-06-050 · Electrical System, Equipment · May 2008

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the RSX. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Acura RSX

The Acura RSX is an automobile nameplate used by Honda for its upmarket brand Acura. The nameplate has been used for two different car models:A rebadged Japanese market Honda Integra sold between 2001 and 2006. A cancelled battery electric coupe SUV that was slated for production in 2026.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2002 Acura RSX trims & engines on record

Trims
Base · Type-S
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl 160 hp · 2.0L 4-cyl 200 hp

2002 Acura RSX vehicles on record

2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX BaseJH4DC53862C036895 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX Type-SJH4DC53082C034771 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX Type-SJH4DC53052C028068 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX BaseJH4DC54892C024478 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX Type-SJH4DC53092C010494 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX Type-SJH4DC53092C039414 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX BaseJH4DC54832C005862 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX BaseJH4DC53862C017568 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX BaseJH4DC54832C015016 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX Type-SJH4DC53072C015936 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX Type-SJH4DC530X2C016725 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX BaseJH4DC53822C026624 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX Type-SJH4DC53032C011317 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX BaseJH4DC53812C032947 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX BaseJH4DC53862C019160 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX BaseJH4DC54872C034880 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX BaseJH4DC53872C009303 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX Type-SJH4DC53092C034326 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX Type-SJH4DC53072C019064 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX Type-SJH4DC53042C032225 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX Type-SJH4DC53092C038280 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX BaseJH4DC53812C039106 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSX BaseJH4DC54802C014454 2002 Acura RSX 2002 Acura RSXJH4DC54862C024129

Other Acura RSX model years

2006 2005 2004 2003

2002 Acura RSX — frequently asked questions

Does the 2002 Acura RSX have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2002 Acura RSX. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Acura RSX?

Across all 93 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are power train, engine and engine cooling, air bags.

What gas mileage does the 2002 Acura RSX get?

The 2002 Acura RSX has U.S. EPA estimates of 24–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (3 versions).

How much is a 2002 Acura RSX worth?

Comparable 2002 Acura RSX listings run roughly $1,600–$5,995, typically around $3,539 (from 24 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.