Most common 2006 Acura RSX problems
Share of the 24 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 →
2006 Acura RSX recalls (2)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2006 Acura RSX vehicles manufactured January 18, 2006, through August 12, 2006; and model year 2006-2007 Honda S2000 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2006, through November 13, 2006.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake booster assembly. If necessary, the dealers will replace the booster assembly free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during July 2013.
Equipment › Other › Owners/service/other manual
On certain passenger vehicles and motorcycles, the owner's manuals contain incorrect contact information for the national highway traffic safety administration's (NHTSA) vehicle safety hotline.
Remedy: Honda will send a postcard to dealers and owners with the correct NHTSA vehicle safety hotline information and with instructions to insert the card into the "reporting safety defects" section of the owner's manual.
What 2006 Acura RSX owners say
Suspension
I bought the car brand new, 2006 Acura RSX(sept.16,2005), at about between 300 to 500 miles I started to hear popping noise or some type of noise sounding like a bad axle would make when I make slow turns or fast turns sometimes. Acura fixed the problem and told me it was some cushion problem with the springs. At about between 10K to 15K miles I started to hear it again(between dec. And beginning of jan) I took it back to Acura they fixed it again ...now at about 30K miles I started to having the same problem, but I don't take it into Acura until about 36K because I don't have time and I want the noise to be louder and worst and so it did at about 36K...im schedule for a service at Acura on sept.6 . This car is starting to become a lemon in my views. I also know im not the only one with this problem with the 2006 Acura RSX.
Purchased the car in October 2005. Began to notice a popping sound from the right front of the car in low speed turns. Took in to be checked November 9 2005 with 901 miles on the car. Dealer replaced right front strut assembly, shock absorber/damper popping sound from the right front of the car in low speed turns returned it now also occurred when accelerating and stopping, and was much louder. Took in to be checked March 6 2006 with 2300 miles on the car. Dealer installed damper mounting base and/or bearing and/or spring seat. Dealer also installed "silencer tubes" on the suspension. Installation of the silencer tubes is an unacceptable "fix." this clearly indicates that the dealer knows the problem will return and wants only to cover up the symptom.
Transmission & drivetrain
Acura 2006 RSX s vehicle was bought new. We had drive train problems with this vehicle shifting into gears and popping out of third gear. Repair work was done numerous times while under warranty, but the problem was never fixed. Acura corporation, and the Acura dealer kept claiming there was no problem with the vehicle. While operating the vehicle the transmission locked up causing a near rear end collision. There are currently 2 TSB listed for problems related to this. Acura claims they will not do anything because the vehicle is out of warranty now. Despite the fact that I have stated our position in regard to what we are requesting from Acura corporation. Our RSX had, before, during and after the new transmission was put in, a grinding, shifting and popping out of gear problems. …
When shifting from 1st to 2nd the transmission grinds. When going from 3rd to 2nd it's more of a klunk with a lesser grind. The colder the temp. Is the worse the grinding. The transmission has popped out of 3rd to neutral a few times (very seldom).
Lights
During the past several months I have noted water accumulation in both tail lights on my 2006 Acura RSX. There is currently 1-inch of standing water in one of the taillights and approximately a inch in the other. The vehicle is approximately 3-1/2 years old and just pasted the 50,000 mile Acura standard warranty. According to Acura client services, they have no obligation to correct or cover the cost of repairs because the vehicle is out of warranty! Our local Acura dealer has not provided much help. This in my opinion is a major safety issue. The water that sloshes back and forth will eventually cause lamp failure and/or lamp socket corrosion and failure. The freeze and thaw cycle of the northeast will eventually crack the lenses. This problem is not an isolated instance. …
Acura RSX 2002 to 2006 owners have experienced a flood in their rear tire well, causing tail lights, in some to rust out. This could cause a safety issue, particularly when driving at night and your tail lights have gone out. There is no recall on this issue, yet the blogs on Acura RSX web site are huge! It's an expensive fix and not always covered by warranties. My car jack is rusted out and the spare tire won't come out due to excessive rust.
2006 Acura RSX engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 31 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 31 / 25 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Acura RSX a good car?
Based on 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 RSX rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the RSX at the same age. 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 2006 Acura RSX?
The suspension — 5 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front › macpherson strut. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (5) and lights (5).
How many recalls does the 2006 Acura RSX have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2006 Acura RSX, the most recent from June 13, 2013 (vacuum). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the 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 2006 Acura RSX problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 35,000 miles; 63% 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.