2002 Acura RSX complaints

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

TRANSMISSION MISTAKENLY DOWNSHIFTED TO 2ND RATHER THAN UPSHIFTED TO 4TH AFTER AN UPHILL CLIMB. AT THE START OF THE DESCEND WHEN CAR GAINED SPEED I INTENDED TO UPSHIFT FROM 3RD TO 4TH BUT SHIFTED TO 2ND INSTEAD. I SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND FOUND THE CAR FACING WHERE I CAME FROM. THE ENGINE DIED AND WILL NOT RE-START. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND CLAIMED ENGINE WAS OVER REVVED AND BEYOND REPAIR. ACURA REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE SHIFTING MECHANISM AS IT IS VERY EASY TO MISTAKENLY SHIFT TO 2ND GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING OR DRIVING DOWNHILL. LUCKY NOBODY HURT. *JB

SINCE AUGUST 10, 2002, I'VE LEASED AN ACURA RSX. IN OCTOBER OF 2002, A ROTTEN EGG OR SULFUR SMELL HAS BEEN COMING FROM MY VEHICLE BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF IT. IT OCCURS AT NO CERTAIN TIME OR CIRCUMSTANCE, JUST EVERYDAY AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. THE SMELL GIVES ME HEADACHES AND FORCES ME TO ROLL MY WINDOW DOWN WHETHER ITS COLD, HOT, OR RAINY OUTSIDE JUST TO PROVIDE ME WITH SOME RELIEF. THE DEALERSHIP, HENDRICK ACURA IN CHARLOTTE, NC HAS REPLACED MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER TWICE. BOTH TIMES THEY ASSURED ME I WOULDN'T SMELL ANYTHING AGAIN. HOWEVER, THEY WERE WRONG. ACURA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE TELL ME ITS JUST A NORMAL BY-PRODUCT OF THE ENGINE AND THAT THERE'S NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NLM

A FAILED PARKING BRAKE CAUSED VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE/LOSE CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. *AK *JB

THE BRAKE CALIPERS ON MY 2002 ACURA RSX (BASE MODEL) INTERMITTENTLY "SEIZE" AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE AND STEERING COLUMN TO VIBRATE WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND APPARENTLY CAUSING ROTOR DAMAGE. SINCE BRAKE PROBLEMS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE, THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPLACED BOTH THE CALIPERS AND ROTORS FREE OF CHARGE UNDER THE WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT. SINCE THE EQUIPMENT WAS REPLACED, THE SAME PROBLEM HAS RECURRED.

WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, VEHICLE WILL EMIT A ROTTEN EGG (SULPHUR) SMELL INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ONLY HAPPENS WHEN AIR FLOW IS SET TO 'FRESH AIR' AND NOT TO 'RECIRCULATE.' I FTHE 'RECIRCULATE' OPTION IS TRUNED ON, THE SMELL WILL DISSAPATE. I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO HAVE EXHAUST GASES ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I HAVE HEARD OTHERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS MATTER.

WHILE IN MOTION, CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED AND BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING 100 MPH. THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER FEELS HAD THEY GONE OFF IT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE CLAVICLE BONE FRACTURE THE DRIVER SUSTAINED. *JG *JB *NLM

TRANSMISSION IS HORRIBLE IN THE CAR THIS IS THE 2ND ONE THAT WENT ON ME. THE FIRST TIME IT WENT IT POPPED OUT OF 2ND GEAR AND GRINDED INTO 3RD. THE SECOND TIME IT STARTED THE SAME WAY AS THE FIRST ONE WENT, BUT IT ONLY GOT WORSE BECAUSE IT GOT STUCK IN 3RD GEAR AND THAT WAS THE ONLY GEAR THAT WOULD WORK, NOT EVEN REVERSE!

MY 2002 ACURA RSX EMITS A TERRIBLE ROTTEN EGG ODOR AFTER I DRIVE IT FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND STOP FOR A STOP SIGN. THE SMELL COMES BACK INTERMITENTLY WHILE DRIVING SOMETIMES BECOMING QUITE OVERPOWERING IN THE CAR. THE DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION. HYDROGEN SULFIDE IS A POISONOUS GAS. THE SITUATION IS ON GOING AND HAVE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES.

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 30MPH THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY JUMPED OUT OF 3RD GEAR. TS

WHEN SHIFTING GEARS FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR THE SECOND GEAR ALLWAYS GRINDS. I HAVE TALK TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME TYPE OF CAR AND ALL OF THEM SAY THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DT

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

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY, WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND HITTING ANY MINOR BUMPS IN THE ROAD THE ABS SYSTEM WILL ACTIVATE. *NLM *NLM

REAR BUMPER COVER FALLING OFF. THE REAR OF THE CAR HAS A LARGE PLASTIC COVER THAT EXTENDS THE WIDTH OF THE CAR AND COVERS THE BUMPER FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TAILLIGHTS. THE TOP OF THIS COVER IS HELD IN PLACE BY A SERIES OF CLIPS THAT ARE PART OF TWO METAL STRIPS BOLTED TO THE CAR. THESE CLIPS ENGAGE SET POINTS ALONG THE BUMPER COVER. THE CLIPS, PARTICULARLY THOSE DIRECTLY BELOW THE TAILLIGHTS, DO NOT PROPERLY HOLD THE BUMPER COVER. IT DISCONNECTS FROM THESE CLIPS, SAGS BACKWARD AND DOWN FROM THE CAR AND CAUSES THE TOP OF THE BUMPER COVER TO VIBRATE AGAINST THE TAILLIGHTS, REMOVING PAINT AND PLASTIC FROM THIS AREA. THOUGH UPON FAILURE THE BUMPER COVER IT STILL ATTACHED TO THE CAR ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE COVER, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE THAT IF ENOUGH TIME PASSES AND SAG IS CREATED, THE BUMPER COULD FALL AWAY FROM THE CAR SINCE IT WOULD NOT BE ATTACHED ALONG THE TOP. THIS COULD CREATE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE CARS FOLLOWING AN RSX IN SUCH A FAILURE. WE PURCHASED OUR RSX IN JULY OF 2001. SINCE THEN BUMPER ISSUES HAVE BEEN ON GOING, HAVING REPEATEDLY DISENGAGED IN THE METHOD DESCRIBED. IT HAS BEEN RETURNED TO AN ACURA DEALER (WIER CANYON ACURA) EACH TIME. IN JULY WE CONTACTED ACURA CLIENT SERVICES. I WROTE ABOUT THIS INFORMATION TO JASON COX VIA FAX, DISCUSSED IT VIA PHONE AND ON JULY 12, 2002 SENT A LETTER TO MR. KOICHI AMENIWA, PRESIDENT AMERICAN HONDA MOTORS COMPANY. I ALSO SET UP A WEB SITE WITH PICTURES OF THE CAR AND ITS FAILURES AT HTTP://RSX.OBRIENS.NET SO

BUMPER NOT FLUSHED NOR ALIGNED, UNLIKE THE LEFT REAR END. BUMPER PAINT FAILING DUE TO IMPROPER MOUNTING OF THE REAR BUMPER. AS A RESULT, BUMPER RUBS AGAINST THE REAR SIGNAL LIGHTS CAUSING THE PAINT TO FALL/CHIP.*AK

USING HEADLIGHTS DURING DAYTIME CONDITIONS RESULTS IN ODOMETER, AND GEAR SELECTION INDICATIORS BECOMING UNREADABLE

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

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AS IT SHOULD HAVE. THE SRS WARNING LIGHT DID COME ON. THE BODY SHOP HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SRS SYSTEM CONTROL WHICH CAUSED THE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THEM. *JG

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE AND FRONTAL IMPACT, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

WHEN LOOKING THROUGH THE FRONT TWO TIRES/WHEELS YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THROUGH TO THE ENGINE. I'VE CHECKED ALL OTHER CARS AND THEY ALL HAVE SOME SORT OF COVERING THAT PREVENTS WATER, DIRT OR OBJECTS FROM GETTING INTO THE ENGINE. I AM DISAPPOINTED TO FIND THAT A BRAND NEW CAR SUCH AS THE ACURA RSX DOESN'T HAVE THAT COVERING. THIS MAY LEAD TO ENGINE PROBLEMS IF SOMETHING GETS IN THERE. DURING THE RAINY SEASON, WATER CAN SIP THROUGH AND RUIN THE ENGINE ALSO. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IF THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PUT A COVER THEN IT WOULD ASSUME TO BE SAFE. I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT SAFE OR DURABLE, AFTERALL MAYBE IT'S THE DESIGN OF THE CAR. NEVERTHELESS, I BELIEVE THAT HAVING A COVER WOULD HELP PROTECT THE ENGINE BETTER.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ON CONTINUOUSLY AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN TURNED. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 7 TIMES FOR PROBLEM, THAT WAS NOT REPAIRABLE.*AK

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

WHEN SHIFTING GEARS IT SHIFTS ROUGH . MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ON 12/11/01 MY 3 1/2 MONTH OLD RSX-S WAS TOTALLED. A 1990 CHEVY TRUCK SMASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR AND CRUSHED IT. THE DRIVER SIDE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE REAR FENDER (JUST BEHIND THE DRIVER'S DOOR) ALL THE WAY UP TO THE FRONT BUMPER WAS HIT AND CRUSHED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG DID NOT OPEN. THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT OPEN. THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS NOT HIT AT ALL HOWERVER, IT'S FRONT AIRBAG DID DEPLOY. BECAUSE OF MY AIRBAGS NOT OPENING MY HEAD SMASHED THE DRIVER'S DOOR WINDOW AND MY LEFT HIP AND KNEE WERE PRETTY BRUISED. THE PAIN IS JUST NOW STARTING TO GO AWAY, 3 WEEKS LATER. PICTURES CAN BE SEEN AT: <HTTP://PHOTOS.YAHOO.COM/REDHEIFER8 I CALLED ACURA AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE AIRBAGS NOT WORKING ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR THAT GOT HIT, BUT POPPING OUT ON THE SIDE THAT DIDN'T. THEY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR OUT AND HE TOOK PICTURES OF IT AND WROTE STUFF DOWN FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 HOURS. HIS CONCLUSION WAS THAT "THE IMPACT WAS TO FAR TO THE FRONT TO SET OFF THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG AND TOO FAR TO THE REAR TO SET OFF THE FRONT IMPACT AIRBAG." THIS SEEMS TOTALLY ILLOGICAL. THE CAR WAS CRUSHED FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE REAR FENDER ALL THE WAY TO THE FRONT BUMPER. IF THAT'S NOT FAR ENOUGHT BACK TO SET OFF THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG, THEN WHERE ARE THE SENSORS FOR IT??? IN THE TRUNK???? WHY DID THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT IMPACT AIRBAG DEPLOY SO EASILY WHEN THAT SIDE WASN'T EVEN HIT??? OBVIOSLY IT'S SESOR WAS NEVER TOUCHED AND IT DEPLOYED. SO WHAT'S UP WITH THE SENSORS ON THE DRIVE

WHILE DRIVING AND TRYING TO SHIFT TO ANOTHER GEAR VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO TO INTO THAT GEAR. IT WILL GO INTO ANOTHER GEAR, EITHER HIGHER OR LOWER ,BUT IT WON'T GO INTO GEAR THAT WAS INDICATED. THIS SUDDEN CHANGE IN ENGINE CAUSED ACCELERATION CHANGE. ON HIGHWAY IT MISSHIFTED, AND THEN ENGINE DIED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A BUSY ROAD THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE RSX IS A BRAND NEW CAR THAT HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE MARKET FOR ABOUT SIX WEEKS. THE CAR HAS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN DRIVEN BY SMALLER ADULTS. BASICALLY, SMALLER ADULTS CAN NOT SEE EFFECTIVELY OUT OF THE CAR. I WILL FAX A LETTER THAT I HAVE WRITTEN TO THE PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN HONDA MOTORS WITH THIS FORM. I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOME DRIVERS OF THE CAR ARE INVOLVED IN CRASHES BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY CAN NOT SEE OUT.*AK CONSUMER STATES BECAUSE THE SEAT IS SO WIDE AND TALL, ALL SHE CAN SEE IS THE SUPPORT BEAM BETWEEN THT WO WINDOWS WHEN LOOKING LEFT, THE ONLY WAY SHE CAN SEE OUT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR IS TO POSITION THE PASSENGER SEAT IN THE FULL FORWARD POSITION AND THEN TILT THE SEAT BACK FORWARD SLIGHTLY. *SLC *TR