Used Acura RSX Buying Guide (2002-2006): Mods, Recalls, Title

The best used Acura RSX is a stock or lightly modified car with a clean title, no theft or salvage record, and, on 2006 models, proof that Honda's brake booster recall 13V246000 was checked. NHTSA's record, which I pulled on Nov. 5, 2026, says that recall covers 2006 RSX cars built Jan. 18 to Aug. 12, 2006, where the booster may not hold vacuum and pedal effort goes up. The bigger risk on an RSX is the car's second life as a tuner project.

What the RSX is

Acura sold the RSX coupe for the 2002 through 2006 model years as the replacement for the Integra. It uses Honda's K-series 2.0L four-cylinder, with the base car and the higher-output Type-S, which came with a six-speed manual. Honda refreshed it for 2005. That combination of a revvy engine, a manual gearbox and Honda reliability made it a favorite with young enthusiasts, and that is the problem. A lot of RSX coupes have been lowered, tuned, swapped, raced, stolen, recovered and put back together. A stock one with records is worth noticeably more than a modified one with a story.

Recalls that show up, and why aftermarket ones matter here

When I queried 2002 through 2005 model years, most entries were equipment recalls for aftermarket combination headlamps sold by companies such as Anzo, Tradesonic, AlfaOtto and Sabersport. Those lamps were recalled for failing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, in some cases because they lacked amber side reflectors. They only apply if those lamps are on the car, but on an RSX there is a real chance they are. The 2006 model year returned the brake booster recall and an owner's manual campaign (06V270000) for an incorrect NHTSA hotline number.

Run the VIN for factory recalls through NHTSA and check our Acura recall check by VIN walkthrough. If the headlamps are aftermarket, look up the brand and part number against the equipment recall, since a VIN search will not catch a part someone bolted on later. Our TSB vs recall post explains why a dealer bulletin is not the same as a recall.

Spotting a car that has been modified hard

Look for an aftermarket intake, a header, a tuning device plugged into the diagnostic port, coilovers, aftermarket wheels and a loud exhaust. None of that is automatically bad, but each one changes what the car went through. Ask for receipts and who did the work. Check the clutch engagement, listen for synchro grind in second and third gear on the six-speed, and look for oil leaks around the valve cover. A compression or leak-down test at a pre-purchase inspection is worth the money on any Type-S.

Look at panel gaps and paint too. A tuner car that was in a crash and repaired cheaply often shows mismatched paint, overspray on rubber trim, or a hood that does not sit flush.

Theft and title history

Popular Hondas of this era were common theft targets, and recovered thefts sometimes come back with a salvage title or with parts from other cars. On the report, look for theft records, insurance total loss events, salvage or rebuilt brands, and auctions. Cross-check brands with NMVTIS, and use the NHTSA vPIC decoder to confirm the VIN matches the trim being sold. A "Type-S" whose VIN decodes as a base car is a red flag, and so is an engine swap without paperwork. Our guide on total loss records on CARFAX covers what a total loss entry means if you see one.

Honestly, the riskiest RSX deal is the one where the seller hands you a printed report. Fake PDFs of popular cars are easy to make. Run it yourself.

Picking between two cars

If you are choosing between a clean base model and a modified Type-S at the same price, the base car is usually the smarter buy unless the Type-S has records for every modification. Insurance also tends to cost more on modified cars, and some insurers ask about performance parts. Get a quote with the VIN before you commit. Then pick the one whose report and inspection agree with what the seller told you. If neither does, keep looking; RSX listings turn over steadily, and a stock car with a single long-term owner does come up if you are patient.

What the report costs

An RSX with a hidden theft recovery or salvage brand can lose thousands in value, so a few dollars for a report is easy math. A single CARFAX bought direct has usually listed around $44.99 this fall, with AutoCheck in a similar range. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian; guest pricing here has run about $5.50 a report, members about $4.50, with bundles priced per pack. Those numbers change, so confirm the price at checkout before you pay.

Sources

• NHTSA campaign 13V246000 and equipment recalls 06E023000, 06E038000, 06E064000, 09E012000 via recallsByVehicle for Acura RSX 2002-2006, queried Nov. 5, 2026; NHTSA vPIC
• NMVTIS
• IIHS