2002 ACURA NSX

Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Transmission pops out of gear under load, especially 2nd gear, Grinding or difficulty engaging gears, Complete loss of gear engagement if snap ring fails catastrophically

Fix: Transmission must come out (8-10 hours labor). The snap ring that retains the countershaft breaks, allowing gears to walk. Requires complete teardown, upgraded snap ring kit, and often new synchros while you're in there. Many owners opt for a full rebuild at this point. This is THE known issue on 1991-early 1992 gearboxes, but later transmissions including 2002 can exhibit wear-related failures.

Estimated cost: $3,500-6,500

Symptoms: Temperature gauge climbing past halfway on track or mountain drives, Loss of coolant from overflow tank after hard use, Steam from engine bay after shutdown, Head gasket failure if overheating goes unchecked

Fix: The factory cooling system is marginal for sustained high-RPM use. Original radiator, hoses (some are 20+ years old now), water pump, and thermostat all need inspection. Common preventive upgrade is aftermarket radiator, uprated fans, and complete coolant system refresh (6-8 hours). If head gaskets blow from overheating, you're looking at full top-end rebuild with head machining.

Estimated cost: $2,000-3,500 for preventive refresh, $8,000-12,000 for head gasket repair with machining

Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: Power windows drop or move slowly, Window falls into door panel, Clicking or grinding noise from door when operating window, Window won't seal properly at top

Fix: The plastic gears and sliders in the regulators become brittle with age. Door panels must come off (2-3 hours per side). OEM parts are NLA for some components, so you're rebuilding with aftermarket kits or sourcing used units. Both sides typically fail within similar timeframes.

Estimated cost: $800-1,400 per side

Typical onset: 100,000-180,000 mi

Symptoms: Blue smoke puff on startup after sitting overnight, Gradual oil consumption between changes (1 qt per 1,000-2,000 mi), Smoke on deceleration, Spark plugs oil-fouled on regular inspection

Fix: The C-series V6 valve stem seals harden with heat cycles and age. Requires cylinder head removal to replace seals properly (16-20 hours labor for both banks). While heads are off, smart to do timing belt, water pump, and inspect valvetrain. Some shops attempt in-chassis seal replacement tools, but results are hit-or-miss on this engine.

Estimated cost: $4,500-7,000

Symptoms: Climate control display blank or flickering, A/C and heat functions dead despite blower working, Intermittent operation that worsens in hot weather, Display shows garbled characters

Fix: The electrolytic capacitors on the main climate control board leak and fail after 20+ years. Unit must be removed from dash (2 hours), sent out for capacitor replacement and board refurbishment, or swapped with known-good used unit. This is an age issue, not mileage. DIY-capable for those who can solder SMD components.

Estimated cost: $400-800 for professional recap service, $150-300 DIY parts

Symptoms: Red fluid dripping from front undertray area, Low transmission fluid level on dipstick, Transmission slipping or delayed engagement if fluid drops significantly, Visible corrosion on hard lines running to front-mounted cooler

Fix: The steel hard lines that run from transmission to the front-mounted oil cooler corrode from road salt and age, especially in the bends near the subframe. Lines need replacement (4-5 hours labor) and system must be flushed and refilled with Honda MTF. Leak often starts small and worsens quickly. Aluminum transmission case can be damaged if run low on fluid.

Estimated cost: $900-1,500

Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Check engine light for evap system leak codes (P1457, P1456), Fuel smell in cabin or near rear of car, Difficulty fueling / pump clicking off repeatedly, Hard starting when hot or after sitting

Fix: The in-tank fuel pump (20-year-old assembly by now) and evap system hoses degrade. Tank must be dropped (5-7 hours labor) for pump replacement and to inspect/replace evap lines and canister. Fuel filter is also in-tank and non-serviceable separately in 2002, so pump assembly replacement is the fix. Parts availability from Honda is spotty; aftermarket quality varies.

Estimated cost: $1,200-2,200