Acura NSX Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Acura NSX options? We analyzed 10 model years (2003–2022) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Acura NSX has 14 owner complaints and 9 safety recalls across model years 2003–2022. The most reported issue area is UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
- Make
- Acura
- Model
- NSX
- Model years analyzed
- 2003–2022 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 14
- Safety recall campaigns
- 9
- Crash-related complaints
- 3
- Fire-related complaints
- 0
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2018 (0 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Reliability signal
- Good
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
GoodThe ACURA NSX has 14 NHTSA complaints and 9 recalls on record. 3 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 14 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 9 federal recall campaigns
- 3 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
9 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2003–2022. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 14 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
14 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
UNKNOWN
On my 2017 Acura NSX, Fuel Pump Module have failed on July 12, 2025, while driving on a highway, and the engine stalled coming to a stop in the middle of the freeway. The service dealer at Greensboro Acura confirmed the failed Fuel Pump Module part number is 17708-T6N-A02-M1 and it is clearly listed under NHTSA Recall 23V-858 report on page 11 Component Name 31. I have reported this incident and explained to Honda/Acura Client Relations Recall division, but was told that there's NO recall on my VIN. I believe Honda/Acura has failed to include this vehicle's VIN as part of the NHTSA Recall 23V-858 clearly includes recall information of the part listed on page 11 of NHTSA Recall 23V-858 report - Component Name 31. I have included a picture of the part 17708-T6N-A02-M1. I believe Acura/Honda has failed to add my VIN as part of the recall. Now that it has failed and require replacement, I hope you attend to this urgent matter at your earliest convenient time possible.
My vehicle is 2017 Acura NSX with VIN 19UNC1B08HY000777. My vehicle experienced a fuel pump module failure identical to the known defect under Recall 23V-858, but my VIN is not currently included in the recall. I believe it should be. This is a significant safety matter, as I faced such fuel pump module failure that caused failure of the overall vehicle that came to a stop while I was driving on a freeway. I've never experienced such unsafe events. The car is not drivable and failed in hazardous conditions and is a safety risk. It was towed to the Acura dealer and diagnosed with Fuel Pump Malfunction with DTC P0087 and P2636 identical to known defect under Recall 23V-858. Please review and consider adding my VIN to Recall 23V-858.
0
THE CAR HAS LOST POWER A COUPLE OF TIMES. WHEN THE CAR'S BATTERY GOES DEAD, YOU CANNOT CLOSE EITHER DOOR ON THIS CAR. IF YOU HAVE BAD WEATHER THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THE INTERIOR OF THIS CAR WILL GET DAMAGED. THERE IS AN ONE INCH GAP BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE BODY OF THE CAR. THE DOORS WILL LOCK UP AND YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL POWER IS RESTORED. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY YOU CANNOT LOCK YOURSELF IN THE CAR AND THERE AGAIN YOU CANNOT SECURE THE VECHICLE IF NEEDING TO GO FOR HELP. THERE IS ALSO A RATTLE IN BOTH DOORS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE CAR FOR OVER 40 DAYS IN THE FIRST YEAR.
CARBON FIBER BRAKE ROTORS ARE CRACKING AND ACURA S DOING NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM
Read 8 more owner reports
EVERY TIME YOU ACCELERATE IT MAKES A LOAD RATTLING NOISE & THE A.C. WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO ..
WE WERE TRAVELING WEST ON ROUTE 76 IN MY 2003 ACURA MDX JUST OUTSIDE DENVER COLORADO. DEBRIS CAME ACROSS THE ROAD. THE DRIVER SWERVED TO AVOID THE DEBRIS. WE THEN SWERVED BACK TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. THE BACK END OF THE CAR BROKE LOOSE ONTO THE MEDIAN. THE CAR THEN ROLLED ONCE, FLIPPED UP INTO THE AIR AND REVOLVED THREE TIMES AND LANDED UPRIGHT. THE BACK SEAT PASSENGER WAS EJECTED AND MIRACULOUSLY JUST BRUISED. THE DRIVER WAS ONLY BRUISED AS WELL. THE PASSENGER HOWEVER WAS TAKEN TO TWO LOCAL HOSPITALS AND HAS A BROKEN NECK AND MANY LACERATIONS ON HIS HEAD. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF AND THE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET CONTROL OF AND TO STEER DURING THIS ACCIDENT. DID ALL THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT IN THIS CAR FUNCTION THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED TO? *JB
VEHICLE SKIDDED-HIT DIVIDER-PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED-DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT. *AK
WE HAVE AN '03 MDX WITH JUST ABOUT 6K MILES ON IT. AROUND 4.2K WE STARTED NOTICING THE THUD. MOSTLY JUST WHEN WE'RE BREAKING. SO TODAY MY WIFE GOES IN AND THEY ARE NICE ABOUT IT, BUT SAY IT'S "JUST THE WAY THE MDX IS..." THEY GIVE HER SOME "SERVICE NEWS" BULLETIN THAT SAYS: "SOME BRAKE CLICK IS NORMAL - ON ANY ACURA VEHICLE, CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE CALIPER BRACKETS AND THE ENDS OF THE BRAKE PAD BACKING PLATES CAN CAUSE THE PADS TO HIT THE CALIPER BRACKETS WHEN YOU FIRST APPLY THE BRAKES IN A NEW DIRECTION OF TRAVEL (FOR EXAMPLE: BACKING UP, APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEN DRIVING FORWARD AND APPLYING THE BRAKES). THE CLICKING YOU HEAR IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM; THE CLEARANCE IS THERE TO ALLOW FOR HEAT EXPANSION AN / OR CORROSION OF THE PADS." THIS HAS GOT TO BE BS IN THE CASE OF THE CLUNK / THUD NOISE. I'VE GOT TWO FRIENDS WITH MDX'S AND NO [XXX] NOISE... ANYONE CARE TO COMMENT? I'M CONSIDERING TAKING OURS IN MYSELF AND SEE IF I GET THE SAME RUN AROUND. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THERE SHOULD BE A BAN ON THE HID FRONT BRIGHT BEAMS ON CARS FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY. I HAVE MANY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO HAVE ALL STATED THEIR DISGUST WITH THE LIGHTS AS BEING A ROAD HAZARD. MANY TIMES ON TWO-LANE HIGHWAYS YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU BECAUSE THE CAR APPROACHING HAS THOSE LIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE BANNED FROM SELLING THE CARS WITH THE LIGHTS AND REPLACE, AT THEIR COST, FOR ANY VEHICLES THAT HAVE THEM ON CURRENTLY. *AK
THE VEHICLE SKIDDED, WHEN THE CONSUMER CHANGED LANES. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK THE VEHICLE SKIDDED AND TURNED 180 DEGREES. *SCC *JB
WHILE PARKING THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HIT A SECTION OF CURBING THAT WAS EXTENDED FROM THE NEXT SECTION OF CURBING, THERE WAS A HISSING SOUND AND CONSUMER THEN DISCOVERED THE TIRE WAS FLAT, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE SIDEWALL WAS BROKEN.*YH
I AM A SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY TECHNOLOGIST AND I DESIGNED A TIRE THAT WILL ALWAYS GRAB ON ANY SURFACE, WON'T BLOW OUT AND CAN MAKE ANY VEHICLE CLIMB QUITE ADEQUATELY. TIRES, THE WAY THEY ARE MADE ARE ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN AND DON'T KEEP THE VEHICLE STABLE IN ALL CONDITIONS. IT IS A COMPANY'S RESPOSIBILITY TO TAKE THE BEST CARE OF THE CONSUMERS NEEDS CONCERNING THEIR PRODUCT. CHECK MY WEB SITE FOR RESUME AND MORE ... *TR
Showing 14 of 14 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Acura NSX
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Acura NSX, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Acura NSX has 14 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Acura NSX has 9 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 3 of the Acura NSX's 14 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Good) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Acura NSX vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Acura NSX vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Acura NSX has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
Check a Acura NSX by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Acura NSX.
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Acura NSX reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Acura NSX reliable?
Good. The Acura NSX has 14 NHTSA owner complaints and 9 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is UNKNOWN OR OTHER. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Acura NSX years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2018 (0 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Acura NSX problems?
Top reported issues: UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3 complaints); AIR BAGS (3 complaints); SERVICE BRAKES (3 complaints).
Does the Acura NSX have recalls?
Yes — 9 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Acura NSX. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.