Acura · RSX · 2005
2
Recalls
32
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2005 Acura RSX has 2 recalls and 32 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: suspension (12 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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."
Remedy Status
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.
The transmission it’s going bad
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
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 SHIFT LEVER TO NEUTRAL THE ENGINE DROPPED TO A IDLE IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS SCRATCHES ON THE HOOD, BUMPER AND HEADLIGHT COVER AND SMALL DENT IN DRIVER DOOR. NO INJURIES AND I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CORRAL BACK IN PLACE BY HAND. I RESEARCHED UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION FOR ACURA AND HONDA AND FOUND ACCOUNTS OF HONDA INCIDENTS VERY SIMILAR TO MINE WITH MUCH WORSE .OUTCOMES. I FILED AN INSURANCE CLAIM AND NOW I AM GOING TO CONTACT ACURA. I TOOK PICTURES WITH MY PHONE BUT HAVEN'T GOTTEN THEM TO THE COMPUTER
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.
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).
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT APPEARS TO BE LOOSE AT A RIVITED JOINT.
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
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 AN ACCIDENT REPORT. THE CAR IS TOWED TO A GARAGE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY RAPIDLY DETERMINES IT IS A TOTAL LOSS. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME EVER THAT A CAR OF MINE VIBRATED -- NOT ONCE BUT TWICE IN TWO WEEKS. THE FIRST TIME, ONE TIRE BLEW OUT; THE SECOND TIME, BOTH REAR TIRES WERE EITHER OFF THE RIM OR FLAT. AND THIS IMMEDIATELY AFTER AOM HAD REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES. I SENT A CERTIFIED MAIL LETTER TO [XXX], PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF AOM, ASKING FOR AN EXPLANATION. I GOT 3 NON-EXPLANATORY E-MAILS FROM A [XXX]; NONE ADDRESSED THE QUESTIONS RAISED IN MY LETTER. I REPORT THIS TO NHTSA TO PREVENT FURTHER ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY IMPROPER SERVICE BY AOM. WERE THE TIRES DEFECTIVE? DID THE LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR PROVIDE OLD TIRES WITH REDUCED ELASTICITY? DID THE TIRES PROPERLY FIT MY CAR'S RIMS? DID AOM CORRECTLY INSTALL, CALIBRATE AND BALANCE THE TIRES? AS OF THIS WRITING, NO RESPONSE HAS BEEN GIVEN BY AOM WHICH IS AVOIDING THE ISSUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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
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
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 REFINISHED AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE. *TR
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 INTO THE OTHER LANE TO AVOID BRAKING HARD IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN 12 TIMES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED AND IT STILL IS NOT FIXED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A GROWING ISSUE WITH HONDA 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION. *TR
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
TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND A CRASH. THE CRASH CAUSED MAJOR FRONT BUMPER DAMAGE AND DAMAGED THE WHEEL OF THE BLOWN OUT TIRE TO THE POINT WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FURTHERMORE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AS AN OVER REV CODE, PRESUMABLY AT THE POINT AFTER WHICH THE TIRE BLEW OUT. *NM
I BOUGHT AN 05' RSX AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE CAR SOUNDS LIKE A RATTLING CAB, HAS A TERRIBLE SUSPENSION AND MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX SINCE I GOT THE CAR ALMOST A YEAR AGO. THEY HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT RUDE AND CONDESCENDING, AND ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT CAPABLE OF SELLING A CAR THAT IS FUNCTIONAL, NOR FIXING IT CORRECTLY. I WISH I NEVER BOUGHT IT. *JB
LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE. POSSIBLY STRUTS. SOUNDS HAPPEN AT SLOW SPEEDS, I.E. PARKING LOTS, BACKING UP. *NM
THE NEW BRIGHT BLUE HEADLIGHTS ARE AN OUTSTANDING INOVATION WHEN THEY ARE PROPERLY AIMED, HOWEVER THE AIM OF THE HEADLIGHT IS AFFECTED BY VEHICLE LOADING AND MANUFACTURE AND BODYSHOP/DEALER MISALLIGMNMENT. THIS ALLIGNMENT IS CRITICAL. WHEN TOO MUCH WEIGHT IS PLACE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE PORTION OF THE HEADLIGHT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE POINTING DOWN ON THE ROADWAY IS NOW DIRECTED AT ONCOMMING TRAFFIC. IF MANUFACTURERS CANNOT CONTROL THIS PROBLEM BY AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING THE HORIZONTAL TILT OF THIS LIGHTING SYSTEM, THEY SHOULD BE BANNED! *NM
I PURCHASED MY RSX TYPE-S IN JULY 2005, AFTER APPROX. 1000 MILES IT BEGAN MAKING A LOUD POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. AFTER 2000 MILES IT CONTINUED TO GET LOUDER SO I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE. THE SERVICE WRITER CLAIMED IT WAS NORMAL NOISE, THEY GREASED SOME BUSHINGS AND HE TOLD ME THAT IF I RETURNED THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME. IT'S ODD, WHY DIDN'T MY CAR MAKE THIS NOISE WHEN I PURCHASED IT, AND IF IT IS NORMAL, WHY WASN'T IT MAKING IT DURING THE TEST DRIVE? *JB
WHEN TURNING LEFT AT SLOW SPEEDS (15-25 MPH) I HEAR A CLICKING/CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT OF THE CAR. I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR 2006 RSX AND WILL BE TAKING IN TOMORROW TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIX IT. ALTHOUGH I HAVE READ THAT MANY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH NO FIX. *JB
PLEASE MOVE ODI 10132694 AND 10132696 TO THE HONDA RSX AREA AS I WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE HONDA RSX AREA WHEN FIRST SUBMITTING THE COMPLAINT. THANK YOU. *JB
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2005 Acura RSX has 2 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 32 owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Acura RSX.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2005 Acura RSX.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2005 Acura RSX are suspension (12 reports), visibility (3 reports), unknown or other (3 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 2 recalls on record for the 2005 Acura RSX. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.