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Buying guide · 1991 to 2005Updated

Acura NSX (first generation) buying guide

The first-generation NSX is mechanically tough, but a 1991-1992 manual gearbox, deferred maintenance and hidden accident repairs decide whether you buy a good one.

The first-generation NSX as a used buy

A first-generation NSX lives or dies on three things: timing belt invoices, the gearbox number if it is a 1991-1992 manual, and any sign of accident repair. Hemmings calls the gearbox snap rings the one real Achilles heel of an otherwise ordinary Honda drivetrain.

The car was introduced in August 1990 as a 1991 model and built until November 2005 on the same basic chassis. Goexoticar counts more than 18,000 built. It was the first car with an all-aluminum monocoque, and the suspension is aluminum too. The 3.0-liter C30A is a transverse, mid-mounted 24-valve VTEC V6.

It suits a buyer who will pay for a specialist inspection and keep a service history. Body repair is the other bill to think about: Hagerty and Classic Car Passion both note that many shops won't touch the aluminum body. Browse used Acura NSX listings or see every NSX for sale while you decide which version you want. Our list of the best used sports cars puts the car in context, and used Acura models shows what else the brand offers.

first-generation NSX years and versions

The split that matters is 1997. Early NA1 cars have the C30A and a five-speed manual, with 270 hp. Later NA2 cars have the 3.2-liter C32B, rated at 290 hp and 224 lb-ft, paired with a six-speed manual whose gears sit closer together. Automatic cars used different camshafts and made 252 hp, and they kept the 3.0-liter to the end. An optional SportShift for manual selection arrived on the automatic in 1995.

The NSX-T with a Targa top arrived in March 1995 and largely replaced the fixed-roof coupe, apart from a limited number of special-order base cars built between 1997 and 2002. Hemmings says preferences tend toward the earlier fixed-roof cars, which have a stiffer suspension and a more rigid, lighter chassis. A 2002 facelift swapped the pop-up lights for fixed xenon headlamps and updated the bumpers and interiors.

The 1999 Zanardi Edition had a fixed roof, a special spoiler, BBS wheels and interior, and no automatic option. It weighed about 150 pounds less, and only 51 were built. The NSX-R was built for Japan only, so you will not find one new in the US.

Read the engine and gearbox in a listing, not just the year. Goexoticar points out that a listing for a 1999 car could describe either a 3.2 with six speeds or a 3.0 automatic. Automatics tend to trade for slightly less than manuals, with a wider gap on 1997-and-later cars. The Acura NSX price guide breaks cars out by model year, and the second-generation NSX buying guide covers the successor.

first-generation NSX versions for sale now

Every version in our latest scan, most listed first. Each links to its own page with deal analysis and market history.

Version Model years For sale Median price
Acura NSX 1991-2004 14 $121,335

Common first-generation NSX problems

Gearbox snap ring

On 1991 and 1992 manual cars the countershaft snap ring can shatter because its groove was cut too wide, which can lock the transmission or let it slip out of gear. Affected gearboxes are numbered J4A4-1003542 through J4A4-1005978 and are covered by Technical Service Bulletin 93-010. The warning is a shift lever that rocks back and forth under load in first or second, often with a crunch.

Timing belt neglect

Both engines are interference designs, so a belt that is overdue can wreck the engine. The belt also drives the water pump, so the two are done together, every 90,000 miles or 72 months.

Valve clearance

The solid lifters need periodic valve clearance adjustment, and what-breaks.com says tight clearance can burn exhaust valves.

Crank pulley damper

The rubber in the crankshaft pulley can harden and the outer ring can separate. Rattle, wobble or belt squeal points to it.

ABS pump

The pump can deteriorate when the car sits for a long period. Later cars with updated ABS have less trouble, and some early cars have been fitted with the later systems.

Relay box and electronics

A main relay box behind a seat can develop brittle solder joints, leaving an engine that cranks but will not start, and Hemmings says replacing the box is a cheap fix. Leaking capacitors can also damage aging circuit boards, and overhauling the boards before they fail is the recommended cure.

Trim and window faults

Bose stereos, the automatic climate control interface and power antennas can be problematic. Slow windows are a classic complaint, traced to hardened track grease, misalignment and worn regulator motors. Early cars also had some coolant reservoir leaks.

What to check on a used first-generation NSX

Work through these at the viewing, then have a specialist repeat the mechanical ones.

  • Check the gearbox number on any 1991-1992 manual and insist on proof that the snap-ring fix was done.
  • Ask for timing belt and water pump invoices, and confirm the belt is within 90,000 miles or 72 months.
  • Find out when the valves were last adjusted and who did it.
  • View the car in good light from every angle, because a magnet will not find filler on aluminum.
  • Look closely at panel gaps, since the Tochigi plant had a reputation for precise ones and uneven gaps can point to earlier repairs.
  • Look for broken factory paint seams and unpainted panel fasteners, which suggest bodywork or a repaint.
  • On the test drive, listen for a synchro grind going into second and third, and note how the clutch engages.
  • Work the windows, climate display and gauge cluster to catch electrical faults.
  • At idle, listen for rattle, wobble or belt squeal from the crank pulley.
  • Ask whether the car has stood for long periods, and see how the ABS behaves.
  • Inspect the coolant reservoir for leaks or staining, particularly on an early car.
  • Book a pre-purchase inspection at a reputable NSX specialist, and read through the paperwork for past work.

first-generation NSX running costs

Servicing is dominated by the timing belt. Hemmings puts a full service with belt, water pump, gaskets and coolant hoses at about $4,000. Goexoticar quotes $1,800 to $3,500 for the belt, pump, tensioners and seals, and the same range for a clutch job.

OEM parts and body repair are pricey, according to Hagerty and Classic Car Passion, and that bites hardest after an accident, when you need one of the few shops willing to work on aluminum.

first-generation NSX recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists one recall campaign for 1991 to 2005 cars. It covers front seat belt buckle release buttons on the 1991 NSX, which can break and let pieces fall into the buckle so it works improperly. Check a car's VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup.

Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA, most about the power train (11), then tires (7) and engine and engine cooling (6). Four mention crashes and four injuries, with no fires or deaths. They are reports, not proven faults.

NHTSA recalls for the first-generation NSX

Every recall campaign the carmaker filed with NHTSA for the 1991 to 2005 model years, newest first, as of Oct 31, 2026. Not every car of a listed year was affected: check a car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Campaign Reported Model years Component What can happen
95V103001 May 24, 1995 1991 Seat belts THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Owner complaints to NHTSA about the first-generation NSX

Owners filed 33 complaints with NHTSA for the 1991 to 2005 model years (4 crashes reported). A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. A complaint can name more than one component.

Component Complaints
Power train 11
Tires 7
Engine and engine cooling 6
Hydraulic 4
Service brakes 4
Air bags 2
Equipment 2
Structure 2

first-generation NSX prices by model year

Median asking price for each model year in our latest scan, with the number of cars listed and their price range.

NSX price guide
  1. 2004 $298,799 1 for sale · median 15,764 mi
  2. 2003 $170,080 1 for sale · median 53,158 mi
  3. 2002 $210,689 1 for sale · median 21,920 mi
  4. 2000 $200,075 1 for sale · median 60,234 mi
  5. 1998 $104,750 1 for sale · median 95,544 mi
  6. 1997 $105,754 1 for sale · median 65,000 mi
  7. 1996 $130,069 1 for sale · median 56,389 mi
  8. 1995 $122,675 1 for sale · median 58,242 mi
  9. 1993 $109,442 2 for sale · $98,888 to $119,995 · median 67,573 mi
  10. 1992 $100,339 1 for sale · median 104,840 mi
  11. 1991 $106,236 3 for sale · $99,991 to $135,500 · median 76,555 mi

first-generation NSX fair values by trim and year

Our fair value is what comparable cars, same trim and model year with typical miles, are listed at in our latest market data. A car well under it is worth a close look; a car well over it needs a reason.

Trim Model year Fair value Typical miles
NSX 2005 $175,804 38,100
NSX 2003 $175,535 36,000
NSX 1993 $120,186 42,400
NSX 1991 $107,324 59,300
NSX-T 1998 $156,315 38,700
NSX-T 1997 $154,777 37,200
NSX-T 1996 $131,684 44,500
NSX-T 1995 $123,728 56,700
Coupe 1991 $97,334 73,200

first-generation NSX for sale now

Every used NSX

Our verdict

Look for a 1997-or-later six-speed manual: it has the 290 hp 3.2-liter and closer gear ratios, and it falls outside the 1991-1992 snap-ring range. If the lighter, stiffer fixed-roof cars appeal more, take a 1991-1992 manual only with proof the snap ring was replaced. Treat an automatic as a different car, since it kept the 3.0-liter and 252 hp.

Whichever you pick, the engine is the least of your worries. Goexoticar says trouble usually comes from deferred maintenance, so the best car is the one with the thickest folder of belt invoices and no uneven gaps.

Sources

We read these pages and checked every fact in this guide against them. The words are ours. Researched Oct 31, 2026.

  1. NSX Buyer's Guide 2026: Acura/Honda NA1 & NA2 Prices, Problems, and What to Inspect Goexoticar
  2. What to Look for When Buying a 1991-2005 Acura NSX Hemmings
  3. Buyers Guide 1991-96 Acura NSX Hagerty
  4. Acura NSX NA1 — All Engines, Problems & Buying Guide (1991–2005) what-breaks.com
  5. Honda NSX Buying Guide: Daily-driver Sportscar Classic Car Passion
  6. Honda NSX NA1 (1990–2005) Buyer's Guide JDMBUYSELL
  7. Recalls and owner complaints for the first-generation NSX NHTSA

first-generation NSX: common questions

What is the best first-generation NSX to buy?

A 1997-or-later six-speed manual is the version to look for, since it has the 290 hp 3.2-liter and closer gear ratios. Some buyers prefer the earlier fixed-roof cars for stiffer handling and lower weight. A 1991-1992 manual needs proof that the snap-ring fix was done.

What goes wrong with the first-generation NSX?

The best-known fault is the countershaft snap ring on 1991 and 1992 manual gearboxes, which can shatter. Other items include the ABS pump, a brittle-soldered relay box, leaking capacitors on circuit boards, a hardening crank pulley damper and slow windows.

Is the first-generation NSX reliable?

Mostly yes, provided the timing belt has been replaced on schedule and a 1991-1992 manual has been fixed for the snap-ring fault. Hemmings describes the engines as typical Honda units needing only routine maintenance, and Goexoticar says trouble usually comes from deferred maintenance plus that gearbox fault.

How much does it cost to run a first-generation NSX?

Budget most for the timing belt. Hemmings puts a full service with belt and water pump at about $4,000, and Goexoticar quotes $1,800 to $3,500 for the belt job and the same range for a clutch. Parts and body repair are pricey, and many shops will not touch the aluminum body.

How much is a used first-generation NSX?

Asking prices for the 14 cars we track for sale right now run from $98,888 to $298,799, with a median of $121,335. Model year, version, mileage and history move the price most; the prices by model year and fair values on this page show where a car should sit.

Has the first-generation NSX been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign filed for the 1991 to 2005 model years as of Oct 31, 2026, the latest for seat belts. Not every car was affected, so check the VIN of any car you're considering at nhtsa.gov/recalls.