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Acura RSX 2003

The 2003 Acura RSX has a 2.0 L engine. It gets 26 MPG combined (24 city, 30 highway), per the EPA. 4 recall campaigns and 31 owner complaints are on record.

Subcompact Cars Front-wheel (FWD)
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Acura RSX
Representative photo of the RSX. It may show a different year or version. Photo: IFCAR · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Specs

Engine
2,000 cc
4
Cylinders4
TransmissionManual · 5 speeds
DrivetrainFront-wheel (FWD)
Dimensions (L × W × H)4,380 × 1,730 × 1,400 mm (172.4 × 68.1 × 55.1 in)
Wheelbase2,570 mm (101.2 in)
Curb weight1,225 kg (2,701 lb)
Body styleSubcompact Cars

Dimensions and weight: median of the 3 versions in Canada's official specifications (NHTSA vPIC). Each version differs slightly.

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Safety

Crash-test results across markets. They can vary by version and equipment.

NHTSA NCAP
Results · 2003 Acura RSX 2-DR. w/SAB
🇺🇸 Local data

Fuel economy (MPG)

🇺🇸 Local data
City
24 MPG
Highway
30 MPG
Combined
26 MPG
Emissions
212 g/km
COâ‚‚

Recalls

4 campaigns🇺🇸 Local dataNHTSA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09E012000 · 2009-04-07 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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 06E064000 · 2006-07-17 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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 06E038000 · 2006-05-08 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

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 06E023000 · 2006-03-13 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

Common problems

31 reports🇺🇸 Local data

Reported by owners to the source below. It is not a verdict on this car: it is what people wrote.

AIR BAGS 2018-08-22 · NHTSA

THE SRS LIGHT JUST TURNED ON IN MY VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM SOMETIME IN 2012 OR 2013.

AIR BAGS 2018-04-18 · NHTSA

2003 ACURA RSX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. *LD *JS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2014-02-05 · NHTSA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 ACURA RSX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ONLY WAY THE CONTACT COULD STOP THE FAILURE WAS BY SHIFTING INTO PARK AND BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MA…

POWER TRAIN 2014-01-07 · NHTSA

WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR IT GRINDS AND POPS OUT. IT IS SO BAD THAT NOW IT WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO PUT IT IN 2ND AT ALL. SYNCHROS ARE BAD...COMMON PROBLEM WITH RSX. ACURA SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX THIS ISSUE SINCE IT IS SO COMMON IN THESE VEHICLES. *TR

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN 2011-05-25 · NHTSA

THE MECHANICS AT ACURA FOUND GALLING ON ONE OR MORE CAM SHAFT LOBES IN MY ENGINE. THE SYMPTOMS OF THIS PROBLEM ARE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND A NOTICEABLE, LOUDER THAN NORMAL, CLICKING/TAPPING NOISE FROM THE VALVE COVER AREA. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE THAT HAS CAUSED ME GREAT CONCERN. GALLING IS A CONDITION WHEREBY EX…

AIR BAGS Crash 4 injured 2010-03-06 · NHTSA

MY TEENAGE SON WAS DRIVING HIS 2003 ACURA RSX-S ON HIGHWAY I60 IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. HIS CAR WAS HIT IN THE LEFT REAR WHICH PUSHED HIM IN THE TAIL OF A BIG RIG. HIS CAR THEN FLEW OFF THE FREEWAY AND OFF A CLIFF, APPROX 80-90 FEET DOWN. CAR ROLLED OVER ESTIMATED A 7-8 TIMES. NEITHER OF THE TWO FRONT OR TWO SIDE AI…

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2010-03-01 · NHTSA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA RSX WITH A 4-CYLINDER, 2.0 LITER ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH, THERE WAS A TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND SHORTLY AFTER, HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCEL…

AIR BAGS 2009-08-06 · NHTSA

SRS LIGHT ON MY 2003 ACURA RSX, CAR ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES. DEALER (ST LOUIS ACURA) SAYS THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE NHTSA # BECAUSE IT IS A DIFFERENT PART. ALTHOUGH THIS PART (SRS UNIT) WORKS WITH THE OPDS THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED. AS OF RIGHT NOW THEY DO NOT WISH TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON THIS AND IF I WISH TO NOT…

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2007-10-17 · NHTSA

2003 ACURA RSX. ACCELERATES FOR NO REASON, WITHOUT PUSHING ON THE THROTTLE PEDAL. THIS USUALLY OCCURS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS FIRST STARTED, AND ABOUT 30-60 SECONDS AFTER STARTING. THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM FOR THE PAST 10 MONTHS. *JB

AIR BAGS 2007-06-04 · NHTSA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA RSX. SHE STATED THAT THE AIRBAG SRS LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. THE SRS LIGHT WAS INSPECTED AND RESET HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE OPDS UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80…

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC Crash 2007-03-14 · NHTSA

FOR SOME TIME NOW I HAVE FELT MY BRAKES DO NOT PERFORM UP TO PAR. RECENTLY, IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, I WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON TIME WHEN A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES. I BUMPED THE OTHER DRIVER IN THE REAR OF THEIR CAR AND NOW IT IS COSTING ME A SURCHARGE ON MY INSURANCE. I FEEL MY BRAKES ARE FUNCTI…

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 2007-02-28 · NHTSA

I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM A DEALER IN AUGUST 2006, IN JANUARY OF 07 I NOTICED MY 2003 ACURA RSX ENGINE MAKING A TICKING SOUND AND THE ENGINE REVVING REALLY HIGH. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID THE VALVES NEEDED REPLACING AS DO THE CAMSHAFTS. AFTER MANY SEARCHES ONLINE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, AND FINDING SEVERAL OTHER OW…

All 31 reports, grouped by component

Questions

What engine does the 2003 Acura RSX have?
The 2003 Acura RSX has a 2.0 L engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2003 Acura RSX?
It gets 26 MPG combined (24 city, 30 highway), per the EPA.
Does the 2003 Acura RSX have recalls?
4 recall campaigns are on record. The latest concerns Exterior Lighting (2009-04-07).
What are the common problems of the 2003 Acura RSX?
31 owners have filed complaints, most often about Air Bags.

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