TRANSMISSION GRINDS WHEN SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR, POPS OUT OF 3RD GEAR, OR IS HARD TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. THESE SYMPTOMS CAN BE INTERMITTENT ANDSOMETIMES MORE NOTICEABLE IN COLDER CLIMATES. *TR
2005 Acura Rsx
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Acura Rsx do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Rsx years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
23 reports with mileage · 9 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Suspension. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
32 reportsTHE ISSUE I AM HAVING IS NOT A ONE TIME PROBLEM BUT SEEMS TO BE ONGOING IN THE WINTER MONTHS. WHEN IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE, THE WINDOWS OF MY CAR, INCLUDING FRONT AND BACK WINDSHIELDS, FOG AND ICE UP SIGNIFICANTLY. I HAVE THE DEFROSTER GOING AT FULL BLAST ON HIGHEST HEAT, BUT I STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE. THE SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS I…
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THE ISSUE I AM HAVING IS NOT A ONE TIME PROBLEM BUT SEEMS TO BE ONGOING IN THE WINTER MONTHS. WHEN IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE, THE WINDOWS OF MY CAR, INCLUDING FRONT AND BACK WINDSHIELDS, FOG AND ICE UP SIGNIFICANTLY. I HAVE THE DEFROSTER GOING AT FULL BLAST ON HIGHEST HEAT, BUT I STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE. THE SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS IS THAT I CANNOT SEE OUT OF MY WINDOWS WHEN I NEED TO CHANGE LANES OR LOOK FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN MAKING A RIGHT/LEFT TURN. I NEED TO ROLL DOWN MY WINDOWS TO ENSURE THAT TRAFFIC IS CLEAR. I WASN'T SURE IF THIS IS THE TYPE OF COMPLAINT THAT SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS BETTER TO SUBMIT, THAN NOT. THANK YOU. *TR
MY 05 ACURA RSX TYPE S WITH A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS A PROBLEM WHERE DURING SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR (WITH THE CLUTCH FULLY ENGAGED DURING THE SHIFT) IT POPS OUT OF 3RD GEAR WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DISENGAGED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ABOUT ONCE EVERY 7 HOURS OF DRIVING FOR ME. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAR SHIFTS EASILY INTO TH…
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MY 05 ACURA RSX TYPE S WITH A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS A PROBLEM WHERE DURING SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR (WITH THE CLUTCH FULLY ENGAGED DURING THE SHIFT) IT POPS OUT OF 3RD GEAR WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DISENGAGED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ABOUT ONCE EVERY 7 HOURS OF DRIVING FOR ME. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAR SHIFTS EASILY INTO THIRD, LIKE IT NORMALLY WOULD, THEN POPS OUT WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DISENGAGED. OCCASIONALLY THERE IS A POP SOUND WHEN THIS HAPPENS BUT SOMETIMES IT CANNOT BE HEARD. THIS HAS LEAD TO SOME FRIGHTENING INSTANCES WHERE THE CAR HAS BEEN IN NEUTRAL, WHEN I THOUGH THE SHIFT WAS SUCCESSFUL. ON MY COMMUTE THIS OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN TURNING LEFT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND WHEN MERGING ON TO THE FREEWAY. I HAD ONE INSTANCE WHERE I MERGED ONTO THE FREEWAY IN SECOND GEAR ON A SNOWY DAY, ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT TO THIRD, AND HAD THE CAR POP OUT OF GEAR TWICE, SLOWING ME DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF BRAKE LIGHTS. LUCKILY THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO MOVE INTO THE OTHER LANE TO AVOID BRAKING HARD IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN 12 TIMES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED AND IT STILL IS NOT FIXED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A GROWING ISSUE WITH HONDA 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2005 ACURA RSX TYPE-S ABOUT A YEAR AND HALF AGO AROUND 4/20/05. I DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AND I STARTED HEARING A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM MY SUSPENSION, I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INSTALLED A NEW STRUT. THE NEXT MONTH THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE S…
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I PURCHASED A 2005 ACURA RSX TYPE-S ABOUT A YEAR AND HALF AGO AROUND 4/20/05. I DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AND I STARTED HEARING A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM MY SUSPENSION, I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INSTALLED A NEW STRUT. THE NEXT MONTH THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STRUT. THAT SAME WEEK MY CAR STARTED DRIFTING TO ONE SIDE AND MY STEERING WHEELING WASN'T ALIGNED, I BOUGHT IT BACK AND EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. THE NEXT MONTH I STILL HEARD THE SAME CLICKING NOISE BUT I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GO TO THE DEALER. THAT SAME WEEK, I HEARD A TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM MY ENGINE, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS SO I KEPT DRIVING. NEXT DAY, IT GOT WORSE AND I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG, I CHECKED MY OIL LEVEL ON A SLOPED HILL BUT DIDN'T REALIZE IT, AND IT DIDN'T READ PROPERLY. SO, I ADDED TWO QUARTS OF OIL TO THE ENGINE, BUT IT STILL HAD THAT SAME TAPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD DESTROYED MY ENGINE(CONNECTING RODS ARE BENT, PISTON #4 WAS DAMAGED) AND I WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE WARRANTY WASN'T GOING TO COVER IT BECAUSE I ADDED EXTRA OIL. SO, I IMMEDIATELY GOT A LAWYER, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE IN A YEAR IM STILL IN THE SAME BOAT AND I'M MONEY. I HAVE SPOKE TO SEVERAL MECHANICS FROM VARIOUS DEALERS AND SHOPS AND THEY TOLD ME THERE'S NO WAY ADDING OIL COULD DAMAGE A ENGINE IN JUST A MATTER OF ONE DAY. IM RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS AND MY LIFE IS AT A STAND STILL IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU CAN DO PLEASE HELP. *JB
TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND A CRASH. THE CRASH CAUSED MAJOR FRONT BUMPER DAMAGE AND DAMAGED THE WHEEL OF THE BLOWN OUT TIRE TO THE POINT WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FURTHERMORE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP A…
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TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND A CRASH. THE CRASH CAUSED MAJOR FRONT BUMPER DAMAGE AND DAMAGED THE WHEEL OF THE BLOWN OUT TIRE TO THE POINT WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FURTHERMORE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AS AN OVER REV CODE, PRESUMABLY AT THE POINT AFTER WHICH THE TIRE BLEW OUT. *NM
I BOUGHT AN 05' RSX AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE CAR SOUNDS LIKE A RATTLING CAB, HAS A TERRIBLE SUSPENSION AND MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX SINCE I GOT THE CAR ALMOST A YEAR AGO. THEY HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT RUDE AND CONDESCENDING, AND ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT CAPABLE OF SELLING A CAR THAT I…
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I BOUGHT AN 05' RSX AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE CAR SOUNDS LIKE A RATTLING CAB, HAS A TERRIBLE SUSPENSION AND MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX SINCE I GOT THE CAR ALMOST A YEAR AGO. THEY HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT RUDE AND CONDESCENDING, AND ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT CAPABLE OF SELLING A CAR THAT IS FUNCTIONAL, NOR FIXING IT CORRECTLY. I WISH I NEVER BOUGHT IT. *JB
LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE. POSSIBLY STRUTS. SOUNDS HAPPEN AT SLOW SPEEDS, I.E. PARKING LOTS, BACKING UP. *NM
THE NEW BRIGHT BLUE HEADLIGHTS ARE AN OUTSTANDING INOVATION WHEN THEY ARE PROPERLY AIMED, HOWEVER THE AIM OF THE HEADLIGHT IS AFFECTED BY VEHICLE LOADING AND MANUFACTURE AND BODYSHOP/DEALER MISALLIGMNMENT. THIS ALLIGNMENT IS CRITICAL. WHEN TOO MUCH WEIGHT IS PLACE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE PORTION OF THE HEADLIGHT THAT IS …
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THE NEW BRIGHT BLUE HEADLIGHTS ARE AN OUTSTANDING INOVATION WHEN THEY ARE PROPERLY AIMED, HOWEVER THE AIM OF THE HEADLIGHT IS AFFECTED BY VEHICLE LOADING AND MANUFACTURE AND BODYSHOP/DEALER MISALLIGMNMENT. THIS ALLIGNMENT IS CRITICAL. WHEN TOO MUCH WEIGHT IS PLACE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE PORTION OF THE HEADLIGHT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE POINTING DOWN ON THE ROADWAY IS NOW DIRECTED AT ONCOMMING TRAFFIC. IF MANUFACTURERS CANNOT CONTROL THIS PROBLEM BY AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING THE HORIZONTAL TILT OF THIS LIGHTING SYSTEM, THEY SHOULD BE BANNED! *NM
I PURCHASED MY RSX TYPE-S IN JULY 2005, AFTER APPROX. 1000 MILES IT BEGAN MAKING A LOUD POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. AFTER 2000 MILES IT CONTINUED TO GET LOUDER SO I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE. THE SERVICE WRITER CLAIMED IT WAS NORMAL NOISE, THEY GREASED SOME BUSHINGS AND HE TOLD ME THAT IF I RETURNED…
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I PURCHASED MY RSX TYPE-S IN JULY 2005, AFTER APPROX. 1000 MILES IT BEGAN MAKING A LOUD POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. AFTER 2000 MILES IT CONTINUED TO GET LOUDER SO I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE. THE SERVICE WRITER CLAIMED IT WAS NORMAL NOISE, THEY GREASED SOME BUSHINGS AND HE TOLD ME THAT IF I RETURNED THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME. IT'S ODD, WHY DIDN'T MY CAR MAKE THIS NOISE WHEN I PURCHASED IT, AND IF IT IS NORMAL, WHY WASN'T IT MAKING IT DURING THE TEST DRIVE? *JB
FRONT SUSPENSION SAFETY DEFECTS. NEW 2005 ACURA RSX REQUIRED FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENTS DUE TO CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. STRUT ASSEMBLIES BOTH ON BACK ORDER, TAKING THREE (3) WEEKS FOR REPAIRS. AMERICAN HONDA MOTORS CO., INC., ORIGINALLY CLAIMED THAT "THE FIX" FOR THE PROBLEM, ("NOT A SAFETY ISSUE")…
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FRONT SUSPENSION SAFETY DEFECTS. NEW 2005 ACURA RSX REQUIRED FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENTS DUE TO CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. STRUT ASSEMBLIES BOTH ON BACK ORDER, TAKING THREE (3) WEEKS FOR REPAIRS. AMERICAN HONDA MOTORS CO., INC., ORIGINALLY CLAIMED THAT "THE FIX" FOR THE PROBLEM, ("NOT A SAFETY ISSUE") WAS TO APPLY A "SPECIAL LUBRICANT" COMING FROM JAPAN, AS DETERMINED BY "OUR ENGINEERS." TEN (10) DAYS LATER, HONDA SAYS THAT THE "SPECIAL LUBRICANT" WAS NOT "THE FIX" BUT THAT "SHAVING DOWN THE LOWER SPRINGS WAS "THE FIX." WITHIN AN HOUR, AMERICAN HONDA MOTORS CO., INC., BY ITS LEGAL TEAM, CLAIMED THAT "SHAVING DOWN" THE SPRINGS WAS "NOT ENTIRELY ACCURATE" FOR THE CURRENT FIX, BUT RATHER THEY WOULD "TWEAK" THE SUSPENSION. NO FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF THIS "TWEAKING" WAS PROVIDED. FINALLY, AFTER DECIDING NOT TO REPURCHASE THE CAR WITH DEFECTIVE STRUT ASSEMBLIES, HONDA CLAIMS THAT ITS ENGINEERS HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE STRUTS WERE BENT IN SHIPPING. THE CURRENT "FIX" IS TO BEND THE STRUT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, I.E., AWAY FROM THE SPRING, AND THAT ALL WILL BE WELL. NO CONSIDERATION WAS GIVEN TO ANY METALLURGICAL DEFECTS FROM BENDING THE STEEL IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION, NOR ON ANY OTHER PART OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AS A RESULT OF THIS "TWEAKING." THE IDENTICAL SUSPENSION DEFECTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THIS WEBSITE AS EARLY AS APRIL 6, 2005, AND TO VARIOUS ACURA DEALERS IN THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA. A SINGLE DEALER REPLACED STRUTS ON FOUR (4) 2005 RSX CARS. MOREOVER, HONDA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE DEFECT AT LEAST SINCE MID-JULY, 2005, IF NOT BEFORE, YET REFUSES TO REPLACE THE CAR OR TO DEFINITIVELY DETERMINE THE PRECISE PROBLEM AND A UNIFORM AND PROPER CORRECTION SINCE THE REPLACEMENT STRUTS HAVE THE SAME DEFECT AS THOSE INSTALLED ORIGINALLY. INDEED, HONDA ADMITS THAT ALL 2005 RSX BASE MODEL CARS HAVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE A NEW STRUT SUPPLIER HAS BEEN PROVIDING THE STRUTS AND SPRINGS THAN HAS DONE SO PREVIOUSLY. *JB
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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