2002 Acura RSX: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000058 at NHTSA ↗

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!

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000375 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001513 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004934 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007262 at NHTSA ↗

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 …

Owner-reported narrative. 12,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007739 at NHTSA ↗

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. HOWEV…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014452 at NHTSA ↗

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 DR…

Owner-reported narrative. 17,176 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016388 at NHTSA ↗