Most common 2004 Acura RSX problems
Share of the 17 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Acura RSX complaints by model year
Best RSX years: 2004. Years to avoid: 2002. Compare all years →
What 2004 Acura RSX owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
My problem is with the transmission. I have a 2004 RSX-s. It has a six speed transmission. When shifting from first to second, gear grinds, and sometimes locks out. When shifting from second to third, gear grinds and sometimes pops out. Dealership gives me the run-a-round said they couldn't fix since my car is past warranty. Why was I not contacted by American Honda about this failure on an obviously important safety malfunction? I almost got into an accident caused by not being able to get the car into gear. Dealer said I had to fork over the $$$ for the repair myself which is unheard of. I bought this car for it impeccable record, now to find out I and countless of hundreds maybe thousands, have purchased a lemon when American Honda knew they had a problem with the transmission. …
Tl contact owns a 2004 Acura RSX. While driving between 65-70 MPH, the transmission began to slip out of gear followed by a loud grinding noise when the accelerator pedal was depressed. When the contact would downshift to a lower gear, there was a low power response and a grinding noise was heard. The failures occurred intermittently. Over an extended period of time, the failures increased while the vehicle was in operation. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection, but they could not duplicate the failures. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on two separate occasions, but there were no resolutions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the transmission was replaced. Approximately four months later, the transmission failed without warning. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 30,000 and current mileage was 60,000.
Air bags
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Acura RSX. While driving at 25 MPH, a drunk driver went through a stop sign and crashed into the front driver side of vehicle. The air bags did not deploy causing the contacts head to hit the windshield. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact sustained injuries to the head and medical attention was provided. The vehicle was towed to an independent lot where deemed a total loss by the insurance company. A police report was filed. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure milage was 128,628. The VIN provided was invalid.
Dt: the contact stated after rear ending another vehicle at 45 MPH he lost control of the vehicle and stroke a fence and a neighbor's residence. The vehicle was extensively damaged on the front and the sides. Upon impact, the front and side airbags did not deploy. The contact was wearing a seat belt but sustained minor injuries. The vehicle was totaled by the insurance agency.
Wheels & tires
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 50 MPH on the interstate, the driver's side front tire blew out. The condition of the road was dry. When the driver tried to turn back towards the road, the wheel would not respond resulting in the vehicle hitting the center divider. The underneath of the vehicle suffered extensive damage. A police report was taken and no injuries were sustained. There was an eight inch long slit through the tire. The brand of the tire was nexen; model # n3000. The dot # is 8efx. The size was: 245/45/zr16. Updated 10/25/2006 -
The Acura RSX 2004 has very poor traction on icy surfaces, even with good winter tires. First noticed last year when we put extra sand bags in the trunk. This year my daughter lost control on the ice and hit a wall. She was injured. The airbags also did not deploy.
2004 Acura RSX engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 30 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 31 / 25 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 28 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Acura RSX a good car?
Based on 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 RSX rates average: 29% fewer complaints than a typical year of the RSX at the same age. It is one of the best RSX years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Acura RSX?
The transmission & drivetrain — 6 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year, most often about manual transmission. Next are the air bags (5) and wheels & tires (4).
How many recalls does the 2004 Acura RSX have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2004 Acura RSX. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Acura RSX?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2002. See the full Acura RSX years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Acura RSX problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 30,000 miles; 67% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.