2002 Acura Rsx

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. HOWEVER, THEY WERE WRONG. ACURA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE TELL ME ITS JUST A NORMAL BY-PRODUCT OF THE ENGINE AND THAT THERE'S NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NLM

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.

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.

WHEN LOOKING THROUGH THE FRONT TWO TIRES/WHEELS YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THROUGH TO THE ENGINE. I'VE CHECKED ALL OTHER CARS AND THEY ALL HAVE SOME SORT OF COVERING THAT PREVENTS WATER, DIRT OR OBJECTS FROM GETTING INTO THE ENGINE. I AM DISAPPOINTED TO FIND THAT A BRAND NEW CAR SUCH AS THE ACURA RSX DOESN'T HAVE THAT COVERING. THIS MAY LEAD TO ENGINE PROBLEMS IF SOMETHING GETS IN THERE. DURING THE RAINY SEASON, WATER CAN SIP THROUGH AND RUIN THE ENGINE ALSO. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IF THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PUT A COVER THEN IT WOULD ASSUME TO BE SAFE. I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT SAFE OR DURABLE, AFTERALL MAYBE IT'S THE DESIGN OF THE CAR. NEVERTHELESS, I BELIEVE THAT HAVING A COVER WOULD HELP PROTECT THE ENGINE BETTER.*AK

VEHICLE IS LEAKING TOXIC HYDROGEN SULFIDE AND INSIDIOUS POISON GASES THROUGH VENTILATION. THIS CAUSES HEADACHE IRRITATION WHILE IN VEHICLE. DEALER HAS NO WAY TO DETECT THE LEVEL. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. 27-NOV-2001 [XXX].*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE DRIVING AND TRYING TO SHIFT TO ANOTHER GEAR VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO TO INTO THAT GEAR. IT WILL GO INTO ANOTHER GEAR, EITHER HIGHER OR LOWER ,BUT IT WON'T GO INTO GEAR THAT WAS INDICATED. THIS SUDDEN CHANGE IN ENGINE CAUSED ACCELERATION CHANGE. ON HIGHWAY IT MISSHIFTED, AND THEN ENGINE DIED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A BUSY ROAD THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK