During the past several months I have noted water accumulation in both tail lights on my 2006 Acura rsx. There is currently 1-inch of standing water in one of the taillights and approximately a inch in the other. The vehicle is approximately 3-1/2 years old and just pasted the 50,000 mile Acura standard warranty. According to Acura client services, they have no obligation to correct or cover…
2006 Acura RSX lighting problems
moderate 5 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
When does it fail?
Of the 5 lighting complaints filed for the 2006 Acura RSX, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Lighting accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 3 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA lighting complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 16 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
1. Hazardous night driving loss of low beam headlight due to poor light socket design and construction. This defect appears to be a burnout light halogen light bulb. 2.the bulb burns out due vibration, or arching caused by the light bulb locking mechanism assembly failure leaving the bulb loose, and held in place only by the protective rubber boot. The lamp socket is held in place by a high…
Acura rsx 2002 to 2006 owners have experienced a flood in their rear tire well, causing tail lights, in some to rust out. This could cause a safety issue, particularly when driving at night and your tail lights have gone out. There is no recall on this issue, yet the blogs on Acura rsx web site are huge! It's an expensive fix and not always covered by warranties. My car jack is rusted out and the…
Water leaks in to the trunk (where the spare tire is kept).it puddles and causes rust and mold. It causes asthma exacerbation and respitory illness. Due to the water, the tail lights get fogged up and it makes it difficult to see the brake lights. It also fogs up the inside of the car and makes it difficult to see out of the car . This car has never been in a rear end collision. *tr
Had lighting trouble with your 2006 Acura RSX?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2006 Acura RSX?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 5 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Based on the 5 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 47,104 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Acura/RSX.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.