Acura NSX 2017 Owner's Manual

California Proposition 65 Warning

WARNING: This product contains or emits

chemicals known to the state of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other reproductive
harm.

NOTICE

00X31-T6N-6000 2017 NSX Owner's Manual BOM02875

To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is required,
and access to the vehicle or the EDR is needed. In addition to the
vehicle manufacturer, other parties, such as law enforcement, that
have the special equipment, can read the information if they have
access to the vehicle or the EDR.

Event Data Recorders

This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder (EDR).

The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near
crash-like situations, such as an air bag deployment or hitting a
road obstacle, data that will assist in understanding how a vehicle’s
systems performed. The EDR is designed to record data related

to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of
time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle is
designed to record such data as:

• How various systems in your vehicle were operating;

• Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were

buckled/fastened;

• How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator
and/or brake pedal; and,

• How fast the vehicle was traveling.

These data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur. NOTE: EDR data
are recorded by your vehicle only if a non-trivial crash situation
occurs; no data are recorded by the EDR under normal driving
conditions and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and
crash location) are recorded. However, other parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type of
personally identifying data routinely acquired during a crash
investigation.

The data belongs to the vehicle owner and may not be accessed by
anyone else except as legally required or with the permission of the
vehicle owner.

Service Diagnostic Recorders

This vehicle is equipped with service-related devices that record
information about powertrain performance. The data can be used
to verify emissions law requirements and/or help technicians
diagnose and solve service problems. It may also be combined with
data from other sources for research purposes, but it remains
confidential.

California Perchlorate Contamination Prevention Act

The airbags, seat belt tensioners, and CR type batteries in this
vehicle may contain perchlorate materials - special handling may
apply. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate/

As you read this manual, you will find information that is preceded
by a symbol. This information is intended to help you avoid
damage to your vehicle, other property, or the environment.

A Few Words About Safety

3DANGER

3WARNING

3CAUTION

You will find this important safety information in a variety of forms,
including:

Your safety, and the safety of others, is very important. And
operating this vehicle safely is an important responsibility.

To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have
provided operating procedures and other information on labels and
in this manual. This information alerts you to potential hazards that
could hurt you or others.

Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the
hazards associated with operating or maintaining your vehicle. You
must use your own good judgment.

● Safety Labels - on the vehicle.

● Safety Messages - preceded by a safety alert symbol

one of three signal words: DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION.
These signal words mean:

You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if
you don’t follow instructions.

You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if
you don’t follow instructions.

You CAN be HURT if you don’t follow
instructions.

● Safety Headings - such as Important Safety Precautions.

● Safety Section - such as Safe Driving.

● Instructions - how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.

This entire book is filled with important safety information - please
read it carefully.

3 and

Contents

This owner’s manual should be considered a permanent part of the
vehicle and should remain with the vehicle when it is sold.

This owner’s manual covers all models of your vehicle. You may find
descriptions of equipment and features that are not on your
particular model.

Images throughout this owner’s manual (including the front cover)
represent features and equipment that are available on some, but
not all, models. Your particular model may not have some of these
features.

This owner’s manual is for vehicles sold in the United States and
Canada.

The information and specifications included in this publication were
in effect at the time of approval for printing. Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
reserves the right, however, to discontinue or change specifications
or design at any time without notice and without incurring any
obligation.

2 Safe Driving P. 31

For Safe Driving P. 32 Seat Belts P. 36 Airbags P. 43

2 Instrument Panel P. 69

Indicators P. 70 Gauges and Displays P. 95

2 Controls P. 103

Clock P. 104 Locking and Unlocking the Doors P. 105
Operating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel P. 127
Interior Lights/Interior Convenience Items P. 149

2 Features P. 161

Audio System P. 162 Audio System Basic Operation P. 166
Customized Features P. 232 HomeLink® Universal Transceiver P. 255

2 Driving P. 297

Before Driving P. 298 Towing a Trailer P. 308
Multi-View Rear Camera P. 356

2 Maintenance P. 361

Before Performing Maintenance P. 362 Maintenance MinderTM P. 365
Checking and Maintaining Wiper Blades P. 390
Climate Control System Maintenance P. 405

2 Handling the Unexpected P. 417

Tools P. 418 If a Tire Goes Flat P. 419
Overheating P. 436 Indicator, Coming On/Blinking P. 438
When You Cannot Open the Hatch P. 450

2 Information P. 453

Specifications P. 454 Identification Numbers P. 456
Emissions Testing P. 459 Warranty Coverages P. 461

Contents

Child Safety P. 58 Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 67 Safety Labels P. 68

Opening and Closing the Hatch P. 119 Security System P. 122 Opening and Closing the Windows P. 125
Adjusting the Mirrors P. 141 Adjusting the Seats P. 144
Climate Control System P. 156

Audio Error Messages P. 223 General Information on the Audio System P. 226
Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® P. 258 AcuraLink®

When Driving P. 309 Braking P. 344 Parking Your Vehicle P. 351
Refueling P. 357 Fuel Economy and CO

Maintenance Under the Hood and Hatch P. 371 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 387
Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 393 12-Volt Battery P. 403 Remote Transmitter Care P. 404
Cleaning P. 406 Accessories and Modifications P. 412 Storage P. 414

Power System Won’t Start P. 431 Jump Starting P. 434
Fuses P. 443 Emergency Towing P. 448 When You Cannot Unlock the Fuel Fill Door P. 449
Refueling P. 451

*

P. 292

Emissions P. 359

2

Quick Reference Guide

Safe Driving

Instrument Panel

Controls

Features

Driving

Maintenance

Handling the Unexpected

Information

P. 4

P. 31

P. 69

P. 103

P. 161

P. 297

P. 361

P. 417

P. 453

Devices that Emit Radio Waves P. 457 Reporting Safety Defects P. 458
Authorized Manuals P. 463 Client Service Information P. 464

Index

P. 465

Quick Reference Guide

Quick Reference Guide

❙ Steering Wheel Adjustments (P 140)

❙ ENGINE START/STOP Button (P 127)

❙ (Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®)

System OFF) Button

(P 334)

❙ System Indicators (P 70)
❙ Gauges (P 95)
❙ Driver Information Interface (P 98)

❙ Rear Window Defogger/

Heated Mirror Button

(P 137)

❙ Parking Sensor System Button

*

(P 353)

❙ Hazard Warning Button

❙ Seat Heater Buttons

*

(P 155)

❙ Audio System (P 162)

❙ Climate Control System (P 156)

❙ MID Vents (P 20, 156)

❙ Navigation System

*

() See the Navigation System Manual

❙ IDS Mode Switch (P 323)

Visual Index

4

Quick Reference Guide

❙ Wipers/Washers (P 135)

❙ Headlights/Turn Signals (P 130, 131)

❙ Paddle Shifter (Shift down) (P 322)
❙ Paddle Shifter (Shift up) (P 322)

❙ Horn (Press an area around .)

❙ Voice Control Buttons (P 184)
❙ Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® System

Voice Control Buttons

(P 258)

❙ TRIP Button (P 99, 100)

❙ Right Selector Wheel (P 98)

❙ Audio Remote Controls (P 165)

❙ Brightness Control (P 136)
❙ Mph/Km/h Change Button (P 95)

❙ Cruise Control Buttons (P 330)

* Not available on all models

5

Visual Index

Quick Reference Guide

❙ Power Window Switches (P 125)

❙ Driver’s Front Airbag (P 46)

❙ Hatch Release Button (P 119)

❙ Hood Release Handle (P 374)

❙ Passenger’s Front Airbag

(P 46)

❙ Glove Box (P 151)

❙ Driver’s Knee Airbag (P 50)

❙ Door Mirror Controls (P 142)

❙ Power Door Lock Master Switch (P 117)

❙ Fuel Fill Door Release Button (P 358)

❙ USB Port (P 163)

❙ Memory Buttons

*

(P 139)

❙ SET Button

*

(P 139)

❙ Rearview Mirror (P 141)

❙ Driver’s Side Interior Fuse

Boxes

(P 445)

❙ Passenger’s Side Interior Fuse

Box

(P 446)

❙ USB Port (P 163)
❙ Accessory Power Socket

(P 154)

❙ Electric Parking Brake Switch

(P 344)

❙ Automatic Brake Hold Button

(P 347)

❙ Shift Button

Electronic Gear Selector

(P 314)

6

Quick Reference Guide

❙ Side Airbags (P 52)

❙ Side Curtain Airbags (P 54)

❙ Seat Belts (P 36)

❙ Seat (P 144)

❙ Sun Visors

❙ Map Lights (P 150)

❙ Seat Belt (Installing a Child Seat) (P 63)

* Not available on all models

7

Visual Index

Quick Reference Guide

❙ Maintenance Under the Hood (P 371)
❙ Windshield Wipers (P 135, 390)
❙ Power Door Mirrors (P 142)

❙ Headlights (P 131, 387)

❙ How to Refuel (P 358)
❙ High-Mount Brake Light (P 389)

❙ Opening/Closing the Hatch (P 119)

❙ Brake/Taillights (P 388)

❙ Front Turn Signal/Parking Lights (P 130, 131, 387)

❙ Back-Up Lights (P 388)

❙ Rear License Plate Lights (P 389)

❙ Hatch Release Button (P 119)

❙ Door Lock/Unlock Control (P 107)

❙ Front Side Marker Lights (P 131, 387)
❙ Daytime Running Lights (P 134, 387)

❙ Tires (P 393, 419)

❙ Taillights (P 388)

❙ Rear Turn Signal Lights (P 388)

❙ Rear Side Marker Lights (P 388)

❙ Multi-View Rear Camera (P 356)

8

Quick Reference Guide

SPORT HYBRID Super Handling-All Wheel Drive

TM

(SPORT HYBRID SH-AWD®)

Your SPORT HYBRID SH-AWD® vehicle uses a Twin Motor Unit, Direct Drive Motor, and a gasoline engine as propulsion sources, with electric
motors receiving electricity from an internal High Voltage battery.

9

Quick Reference Guide

Operating

mode

EV Launch

*

Engine Drive EV Cruising

*

Power Acceleration

Vehicle

Speed

Twin Motor

Unit

Direct Drive

Motor

Gasoline

Engine

Launch Acceleration:

●

Front Motor Drive

Drive - Drive Drive

Stopped Generate / - Stopped Generate / Drive

Stopped Running Stopped Running

Gentle Acceleration:

●

Engine Drive

Battery Discharges Charges/Discharges Discharges Discharges

*: When IDS is in SPORT+ mode or TRACK mode, EV Launch and EV Cruising cannot be operated.
*: Operating paddle shifters when the gear position is in

(D cancels EV Launch and EV Cruising.

Low Speed Cruise:

●

Front Motor Drive

Aggressive Acceleration:

●

Engine Drive

●

Motor Assist

10

Quick Reference Guide

Operating

mode

Engine Cruising Regeneration AWD Mode

Vehicle

Speed

Twin Motor

Unit

Direct Drive

Motor

Gasoline

Engine

High Speed Cruise:

●

Engine Drive

- Regenerate Drive

Generate/Drive Stopped Generate/Drive

Running Running/Stopped Running

Deceleration:

●

Front & Rear Regeneration

Slippery Condition:

●

Engine Drive

●

Front Motor Drive

Battery Charges/Discharges Charges Charges/Discharges

11

Quick Reference Guide

Energy Efficiency

As with a gasoline-powered vehicle, hybrid vehicle fuel efficiency and driving range is most impacted by your driving style. Aggressive
acceleration and high-speed driving can easily trigger the system to switch the propulsion source to the gasoline-powered engine.
In addition, heavy climate control system use negatively affects vehicle range and efficiency. Either of these use patterns will more quickly
reduce the High Voltage battery's state of charge.

Battery Types

There are two types of batteries used in this vehicle; a standard 12-volt battery that powers the airbags, the interior and exterior lights, and
other standard 12-volt systems; and a High Voltage battery that is used to power the propulsion motors and recharge the 12-volt battery.

Regenerative Energy and Regenerative Braking

When decelerating without the accelerator being depressed or the brake pedal being applied, or while driving downhill, the electric motors
act as generators that a portion of the electrical energy that was used to accelerate the vehicle. This regenerative braking slows the vehicle
in a manner similar to engine braking in a gasoline-powered vehicle.

12

Quick Reference Guide

Auto Engine Stop/Start

Your vehicle’s gasoline engine will automatically stop and start during vehicle operation as needed to meet driving and battery conditions.
These are some examples that could cause the gasoline engine to automatically start.

In the following cases, however, Auto Engine Stop may not activate.

● When the Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) is in SPORT+ mode or TRACK mode.

● The vehicle momentarily needs additional power for aggressive acceleration, or driving uphill or at high speed.

● The climate control system is in heavy use.

● The High Voltage battery temperature is high or low.

● The High Voltage battery state of charge is low.

● The engine coolant temperature is low.

● When the door is opened after releasing seatbelt.

● When the shift position is in

(M (Manual) mode.

About Your Vehicle’s Limited Operating Temperature

If the outside temperature is about -4°F (-20°C), some operation might be limited.
The limited operation is listed below:

2 High Voltage Battery (P90)
2 Dual Clutch Transmission (P313)
2 Shifting (P314)

Sounds Unique to the SPORT HYBRID SH-AWD® System

When you first start driving this vehicle, you likely will hear some unfamiliar sounds, particularly when you first turn on the power system,
while driving, and just after parking. Some of these sounds are unique to this vehicle‘s powertrain, fuel, and climate control systems; others
are similar to sounds generated by conventional automobiles that typically are masked by louder noises absent from a vehicle of this design.
These sounds are not a cause for concern, and you will soon recognize them as normal and thus be able to detect any new or unusual noise
should one develop.

About a system to cool the High Voltage battery using the climate control system.

● The system will not be activated when the defroster is ON.

● When the outside temperature is in extreme hot or cold condition, the system may not provide sufficient cooling performance to the

High Voltage battery due to the protection of the electric A/C compressor.

● When the system is active, the climate control system may not work sufficiently.

13

Quick Reference Guide

Safety Precautions

Do not touch the High Voltage system

Attempting to take a High Voltage system component apart or disconnect one of its wires
can cause severe electrical shock. If the High Voltage system needs maintenance or repair, it
should be performed at an authorized Acura NSX dealer.

If a crash occurs

●Be careful of electric shock hazard.

uIf a severe crash damages your vehicle’s High Voltage system, there is a possibility of electrical shock

due to exposed High Voltage components or wires. If this happens, do not touch any of the High
Voltage system components or any of its orange wires.

●Avoid contact with High Voltage battery fluid.

uThe High Voltage battery contains a flammable electrolyte that could leak as a result of a severe

crash. Avoid any skin or eye contact with the electrolyte as it is corrosive. If you accidentally touch it,
flush your eyes or skin with a large quantity of water for at least five minutes, and seek medical
attention immediately.

●Use a fire extinguisher for an electrical fire.

uAttempting to extinguish an electrical fire with a small quantity of water, from a garden hose for

instance, can be dangerous.

●Anytime the vehicle is damaged in an accident, have it repaired by an authorized Acura
NSX dealer.

Emergency Shutdown System for the High Voltage System

The emergency shutdown system may activate when the vehicle is impacted by some
incident such as a crash. When this system activates, the High Voltage system automatically
shuts down, and your vehicle no longer will move under its own power. To return the High
Voltage system back to normal operation, consult an authorized Acura NSX dealer.

14

Acura collects and recycles High Voltage batteries used in its vehicles – consult an
authorized Acura NSX dealer for more information.

Quick Reference Guide

Safe Driving (P 31)

Airbags (P 43)

● Your vehicle is fitted with airbags to help protect you and
your passenger during a moderate-to-severe collision.

Child Safety (P 58)

● Your vehicle is not recommended for child passengers. If you decide to
disregard our recommendations and transport a child passenger, the child
should be properly restrained.
Never put a rear-facing child seat in the passenger’s seat.

Exhaust Gas Hazard (P 67)

● Your vehicle emits dangerous exhaust gases that contain carbon
monoxide. Do not run the engine in confined spaces where carbon
monoxide gas can accumulate.

Before Driving Checklist (P 35)

● Before driving, check that the seats, steering wheel,
and mirrors have been properly adjusted.

Seat Belts (P 36)

● Fasten your seat belt and sit upright well
back in the seat.

● Check that your passenger is wearing their
seat belt correctly.

Fasten your lap belt as
low as possible.

15

Quick Reference Guide

Instrument Panel (P 69)

System Indicators

Malfunction Indicator
Lamp

Low Oil Pressure
Indicator

12-Volt Battery Charging
System Indicator

Anti-lock Brake System
(ABS) Indicator

Vehicle Stability Assist
(VSA®) System
Indicator

VSA® OFF Indicator

Electric Power Steering
(EPS) System Indicator

Lights Indicators

Lights On Indicator

High Beam Indicator

Immobilizer System
Indicator

Seat Belt Reminder
Indicator

System Indicators

System Message
Indicator

Brake System
Indicator (Red)

Supplemental
Restraint System
Indicator

Low Fuel Indicator

Gauges (P 95)/Driver Information Interface (P 98)/System Indicators (P 70)

Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS Indicator

Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators

Keyless Access System
Indicator

High Voltage Battery
Charge Level Gauge

Security System
Alarm Indicator

Fuel Gauge

Tachometer

Driver Information Interface

Speedometer

Gear Position Indicator Gear Selection Indicator

Electric Parking Brake
System Indicator

Electric Parking Brake
Indicator

Automatic Brake Hold
System Indicator

Brake System
Indicator (Amber)

System Indicators

Automatic Brake Hold
Indicator

U.S.

Canada

U.S.

Canada

U.S.

Canada

U.S.

Canada

READY Indicator

POWER SYSTEM

Indicator

Temperature Gauge

ASSIST/CHARGE Gauge

U.S.

Canada

Active Damper System
Indicator

Brake Wear Indicator

CRUISE MAIN
Indicator

CRUISE CONTROL
Indicator

Engine Oil Temperature
Gauge

IDS Mode

SH-AWD® Temperature Gauge

16

Quick Reference Guide

Controls (P 103)

Models with navigation system

3

4

Turn Signal Control Lever

Right

Left

Light Control Switches

Low Beam

High Beam

Flashing

Clock (P 104)

The navigation system receives signals from
GPS satellites, updating the clock
automatically.

You can also adjust the time manually.

a Select the (HOME) icon, then select

Settings.

b Select Clock/Info, then Clock

Adjustment.

c Touch the / icon to adjust the

numbers up or down.

d Select OK.

ENGINE START/STOP
Button

Press the button to changes the vehicle’s
power mode.

(P 127)

Turn Signals (P 130)

Lights (P 131)

17

Quick Reference Guide

Wipers and Washers

Wiper/Washer Control Lever

Adjustment Ring

: Lower speed, fewer sweeps

: Higher speed, more sweeps

MIST
OFF
INT: Low speed with intermittent
LO: Low speed wipe
HI: High speed wipe

Pull
toward
you to
spray
washer
fluid.

Hatch Release Button

(P 135)

18

Steering Wheel (P 140)

● To adjust, push the adjustment lever
down, adjust to the desired position, then
lock the lever back in place.

Unlocking the Doors
from the Inside

● Pull either inner door handle to unlock
and open it in one motion.

● Unlocking and opening the driver’s door
from the inner handle unlocks the
passenger’s door.

(P 115)

Hatch (P 119)

● To unlock and open the hatch:

• Press the hatch release button on the
driver’s door.

• Press the hatch release button on the
keyless access remote.

• Press the hatch release button on the
hatch.

Quick Reference Guide

Selector Switch

Adjustment Switch

Power Window Lock Button

Window Switch

Indicator

Power Door Mirrors

(P 142)

● With the power mode in ON, move the
selector switch to L or R.

● Push the appropriate edge of the
adjustment switch to adjust the mirror.

Power Windows (P 125)

● With the power mode in ON, open and
close the power windows.

● If the power window lock button is in the
off position, the passenger’s window can
be opened and closed with its own
switch.

● If the power window lock button is in the
on position (indicator on), the passenger’s
window switch is disabled.

19

Quick Reference Guide

Climate Control System (P 156)

Passenger side Temperature Control
Buttons

(Windshield Defroster) Button

Driver side
Temperature Control
Buttons

(Recirculation) Button

(CLIMATE) Button

(ON/OFF) Button

AUTO Button

Audio/Information Touch Screen

SYNC (Synchronized) Button

Air flows from floor and
windshield defroster vents.

Air flows from floor vents.
Air flows from floor and

dashboard vents.
Air flows from dashboard vents.
MID vents provide supplemental

air to the lower body of the
occupant(s). MID vents can be
used together with any other
vent mode.

● Press the AUTO button to activate the climate control system.

● Press the button to turn the system on or off.

● Press the button to defrost the windshield.

20

Quick Reference Guide

Features (P 161)

Audio/Information Screen

(Power/Audio) Icon

VOL (Volume) Icons

(Day/Night) Icon

For navigation system operation () See the Navigation System Manual

(Home) Icon

(Menu) Icon

(Back) Icon

(App List) Icon

**

* Not available on all models

Audio system (P 166)

21

Quick Reference Guide

Audio Remote Controls

Left Selector Wheel

SOURCE Button

(P 165)

● SOURCE Button
Press to change the audio mode: FM/
SiriusXM®
Bluetooth® Audio/Audio Apps

● Left Selector Wheel
Roll to adjust the volume up/down.
Radio:Move right or left to change the

USB device:

*

/USB/iPod/Pandora®*/Apps*/

preset station.
Move and hold to select the next
or previous strong station.

Move right or left to skip to the
beginning of the next song or
return to the beginning of the
current song.
Move and hold to change a folder.

*

.

22

Quick Reference Guide

Driving (P 297)

Electronic Gear Selector (P 314)

● Select

(P and depress the brake pedal when turning on the power.

Park

Press the

(P button.

Used when parking or before turning the power on or off.
Transmission is locked.

Reverse

Press back the

(R button.

Used when reversing.

Neutral

Press the

(N button.

Used to keep the transmission disengaged from the engine and motor.

Drive/Manual

Each time you press the button, the mode switches between D (drive) and M (manual) mode.

●

Normal driving (gears change between 1st and 9th automatically)

●

Temporarily driving in the sequential mode

●

Driving in the sequential mode

D/M

D (Drive)

M (Manual)

Gear Position Indicator/Gear
Selection Indicator

The gear position indicator, the
gear selection indicator and the
shift button indicator indicate
the current gear selection.

Gear Position Indicator

Shift Button
Indicator

● Gear selection

Gear Selection Indicator

* Not available on all models

23

Quick Reference Guide

Paddle Shifters (P322)

Paddle shifters allow you to shift gears much like a manual transmission (1st through 9th). This is useful for regenerative braking.
You cannot shift up or down while in EV mode.

When the transmission is in (D (D-paddle shift mode)

The vehicle will go into the sequential mode momentarily, and the gear selection
indicator becomes more prominent.
The sequential mode is automatically canceled and the gear selection indicator
returns to ordinary display under the following conditions.

• Hold the (+ paddle shifter for a few seconds.

• Once you start traveling at a constant speed.

• The vehicle comes to a complete stop.

• When you change to another IDS mode.

The sequential mode automatically shifts under following condition

• Accelerator pedal depressed beyond the click.

• Engine speed reaches near the tachometer’s red zone.

• Engine speed reaches idle speed while deceleration.

When the transmission is in M (Manual) mode

The vehicle will go into the sequential mode, and the gear position indicator goes
off and only the gear selection indicator is displayed.
You can cancel this mode by pressing the button, pulling the

(+ paddle

shifter for a few seconds or changing IDS mode to QUIET. When the sequential
mode is canceled, the display is changed from only the gear selection indicator to
both of the gear position indicator and the gear selection indicator.
The transmission automatically shifts up from 1st to 2nd and does not
automatically shift up between 2nd and 9th gear.

D/M

Gear Position Indicator

Shift Down

(-

Paddle Shifter

Shift Up (+
Paddle Shifter

Gear Selection Indicator

Gear Selection Indicator

Gear Selection Indicator

Gear Position Indicator

D (Drive)

D-Paddle

M (Manual)

24

Quick Reference Guide

Wait for five seconds

VSA® OFF Button (P 334)

● The Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®) system
helps stabilize the vehicle during
cornering, and helps maintain traction
while accelerating on loose or slippery
road surfaces.

● VSA® comes on automatically every time
you turn on the power system.

Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)

● The TPMS monitors tire pressure.

● The TPMS is turned on automatically

every time you turn on the power system.

(P 339)

Refueling (P 357)

Fuel requirement: Unleaded premium gasoline with a pump octane

number 91 or higher

Fuel tank capacity: 15.6 US gal (59.0 liters)

a Press the fuel fill

door release button.

b After refueling,

wait for about five
seconds before
removing the filler
nozzle.

25

Quick Reference Guide

Maintenance (P 361)

Press the hatch release button on the
driver’s door.

Lights (P387)

● Inspect all lights regularly.

Under the Hatch (P372)

● Check engine oil and engine coolant.
Add when necessary.

Tires (P393)

● Inspect tires and wheels regularly.

● Check tire pressures regularly.

● Install winter tires for winter driving.

Handling Summer Only tires and Ultra High Performance
(UHP) tires in low ambient temperatures.

2 Cold Weather Driving (P402)

26

Quick Reference Guide

Under the Hood (P371)

● Check inverter coolant.

● Check brake fluid.

● Check the 12-volt battery condition monthly.

Lights (P387)

● Inspect all lights regularly.

Wiper Blades (P390)

● Replace blades if they leave
streaks across the windshield.

a Pull the hood release handle under the corner of the

dashboard.

b Locate the hood latch lever, push the lever and lift

the hood.

c When finished, close the hood and make sure both

right and left latches are firmly locked in place.

27

Quick Reference Guide

Handling the Unexpected (P 417)

Flat Tire (P 419)

● Park in a safe location and repair the flat
tire using the temporary tire repair kit.

Indicators Come On

(P 438)

● Identify the indicator and consult the
owner’s manual.

Power System Won’t Start

(P 431)

● If the 12-volt battery is dead, jump start
using a booster battery.

Blown Fuse

(P 443)

● Check for a blown fuse if an electrical
device does not operate.

Overheating (P 436)

● Park in a safe location. If you do not see
steam under the hatch, open the hatch,
and let the power system and the engine
cool down.

Emergency Towing

(P 448)

● Call a professional towing service if you
need to tow your vehicle.

28

Quick Reference Guide

What to Do If

Models with iron brake discs

Why do the doors lock
after I unlocked the doors?

Why does the beeper
sound when I open the
driver’s door?

Why does the beeper
sound when I start driving?

Why do I hear a screeching
sound when I apply the
brake pedal?

Pressing the electric
parking brake switch does
not release the parking
brake. Why?

If you do not open the doors within 30 seconds, the doors are
relocked automatically for security.

The beeper sounds when:

●

The power mode is in ACCESSORY.

●

The exterior lights are left on.

The beeper sounds when the driver and/or passenger are not
wearing their seat belts.

The brake pads may need to be replaced. Have your vehicle
inspected by an authorized Acura NSX dealer.

Press the electric parking brake switch with the brake pedal
depressed.

29

Quick Reference Guide

Depressing the accelerator
pedal does not release the
parking brake
automatically. Why?

●

Fasten the driver’s seat belt.

●

Check if the transmission is in (P or (N. If so, select any other
position.

Why does the gear position
automatically change to

(P

when I open the driver's
door to check for parking
space lines when
reversing?

●

Fasten the driver’s seat belt.

●

Close the driver's door and manually change the gear
position.

u

When opening the driver’s door (P 317)

30

Safe Driving

You can find many safety recommendations throughout this chapter, and throughout this manual.

For Safe Driving

Important Safety Precautions.............. 32

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features............ 34

Safety Checklist ................................. 35

Seat Belts

About Your Seat Belts........................ 36

Fastening a Seat Belt.......................... 39

Seat Belt Inspection............................ 42

Airbags

Airbag System Components............... 43

Types of Airbags ................................ 46

Front Airbags (SRS) ............................ 46

Driver’s Knee Airbag .......................... 50

Side Airbags....................................... 52

Side Curtain Airbags .......................... 54

Airbag System Indicators.................... 55

Airbag Care ....................................... 57

Child Safety

Protecting Child Passengers ............... 58

Safety of Infants and Small Children... 60

Safety of Larger Children ................... 65

Exhaust Gas Hazard

Carbon Monoxide Gas....................... 67

Safety Labels

Label Locations .................................. 68

31

Safe Driving

For Safe Driving

1Important Safety Precautions

Some states, provinces and territories prohibit the use
of cell phones other than hands-free devices by the
driver while driving.

Never carry an infant in a rear-facing child seat in this
vehicle.
If an older child must ride in this vehicle, follow all
child safety instructions and warnings in this manual.

2 Child Safety P. 58

The following pages explain your vehicle’s safety features and how to use them
properly. The safety precautions below are ones that we consider to be among the
most important.

Important Safety Precautions

■ Always wear your seat belt

A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags are designed to
supplement seat belts, not replace them. So even though your vehicle is equipped
with airbags, make sure you and your passenger always wear your seat belts, and
wear them properly.

■ Your vehicle is not recommended for child passengers

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada
recommend that all children ages 12 and under be properly restrained in a back
seat. Since this vehicle does not have a back seat, we strongly recommend that you
do not carry any child who is not large enough and mature enough to ride in front.

■ Be aware of airbag hazards

While airbags can save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to occupants
who sit too close to them, or are not properly restrained. Infants, young children,
and short adults are at the greatest risk. Be sure to follow all instructions and
warnings in this manual.

■ Don’t drink and drive

Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to respond to
changing conditions, and your reaction time gets worse with every additional drink.
So don’t drink and drive, and don’t let your friends drink and drive, either.

32

Safe Driving

■ Pay appropriate attention to the task of driving safely

Engaging in cell phone conversation or other activities that keep you from paying
close attention to the road, other vehicles, and pedestrians could lead to a crash.
Remember, situations can change quickly, and only you can decide when it is safe to
divert some attention away from driving.

■ Control your speed

Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher
the speed, the greater the risk, but serious injuries can also occur at lower speeds.
Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the maximum
speed posted.

■ Keep your vehicle in safe condition

Having a tire blowout or a mechanical failure can be extremely hazardous.
To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire pressures and condition
frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled maintenance.

uuFor Safe DrivinguImportant Safety Precautions

33

uuFor Safe Driving uYour Vehicle’s Safety Features

Safe Driving

1Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

Your vehicle is equipped with many features that
work together to help protect you and your
passenger during a crash.

Some features do not require any action on your part.
These include a strong framework that forms a safety
cage around the passenger compartment, front and
rear crush zones, a collapsible steering column, and
tensioners that tighten the seat belts in a sufficient
crash.

However, you and your passenger cannot take full
advantage of these features unless you remain seated
in the correct position and always wear your seat
belts. In fact, some safety features can contribute to
injuries if they are not used properly.

Safety Cage
Crush Zones
Seats and Seat-Backs
Head Restraints
Collapsible Steering Column
Seat Belts
Front Airbags

Side Curtain Airbags
Door Locks

Side Airbags

Seat Belt Tensioners

10

1099

11

6

8

Knee Airbag

8

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

7

7

The following checklist will help you take an active role in protecting yourself and
your passenger.

34

12

11

6

7

9

10

11

12

Safe Driving

Safety Checklist

1Safety Checklist

If the Door Open or Door And Trunk Open
message appears on the driver information interface,
a door and/or the trunk (hatch) is not completely
closed. Close both doors and the trunk (hatch) tightly
until the message disappears.

2 Driver Information Interface Warning and

Information Messages P. 88

For the safety of you and your passenger make a habit of checking these items each
time before you drive.

• After everyone has entered the vehicle, be sure both doors are closed and locked.
Locking the doors helps prevent an occupant from being ejected and an outsider
from unexpectedly opening a door.

2 Locking/Unlocking the Doors from the Inside P. 115

• Adjust your seat to a position suitable for driving. Be sure the seats are adjusted
as far to the rear as possible while allowing the driver to control the vehicle.
Sitting too close to a front airbag can result in serious or fatal injury in a crash.

2 Adjusting the Seats P. 144

• Always wear your seat belt, and make sure you wear it properly. Confirm that any
passenger is properly belted as well.

2 Fastening a Seat Belt P. 39

• If you choose to ignore our warnings and carry a child in this vehicle, make every
effort to protect them by properly using a seat belt or a child seat according to the
child’s age, height, and weight.

2 Child Safety P. 58

uuFor Safe DrivinguSafety Checklist

35

Safe Driving

Seat Belts

1About Your Seat Belts

Seat belts cannot completely protect you in every
crash. But in most cases, seat belts can reduce your
risk of serious injury.

Most states and all Canadian provinces and territories
require you to wear seat belts.

The emergency locking retractor may lock if you lean
forward too quickly. Slower movements will allow
the belt to extend fully without locking.

3

WARNING

Not wearing a seat belt properly increases
the chance of serious injury or death in a
crash, even though your vehicle has
airbags.

Be sure you and your passenger always
wear seat belts and wear them properly.

About Your Seat Belts

Seat belts are the single most effective safety device because they keep you
connected to the vehicle so that you can take advantage of many built-in safety
features. They also help keep you from being thrown against the inside of the
vehicle, against any passenger, or out of the vehicle. When worn properly, seat belts
also keep your body properly positioned in a crash so that you can take full
advantage of the additional protection provided by the airbags.

In addition, seat belts help protect you in almost every type of crash, including:

- frontal impacts

- side impacts

- rear impacts

- rollovers

■ Lap/shoulder seat belts

Both seating positions are equipped with lap/shoulder seat belts with emergency
locking retractors. In normal driving the retractor lets you move freely while keeping
some tension on the belt. During a collision or sudden stop the retractor locks to
restrain your body. The passenger’s seat belt has a lockable retractor that must be
properly activated when using a forward-facing child seat, should you choose to
disregard our recommendations and install one.

2 Installing a Child Seat P. 63

36

Safe Driving

■ Proper use of seat belts

1About Your Seat Belts

If your passenger moves around and extends the seat
belt, the lockable retractor may activate. If this
happens, release the retractor by unfastening the
seat belt and allow the belt to retract completely.
Then refasten the belt.

1Seat Belt Reminder

The indicator will also come on if a passenger does
not fasten their seat belt within six seconds after the
power mode is set to ON.
When no one is sitting in the passenger’s seat, or a
child is riding there, the indicator will not come on
and the beeper will not sound.

Follow these guidelines for proper use:

• All occupants should sit upright, well back in the seat, and remain in that position

• Never place the shoulder part of a lap/shoulder seat belt under your arm or

• Two people should never use the same seat belt. If they do, they could be very

• Do not put any accessories on the seat belts. Devices intended to improve comfort

■

uuSeat BeltsuAbout Your Seat Belts

for the duration of the trip. Slouching and leaning reduce the effectiveness of the
belt and can increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.

behind your back. This could cause very serious injuries in a crash.

seriously injured in a crash.

or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can reduce the protective capability
and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.

Seat Belt Reminder

Your vehicle monitors seat belt use. If the
power mode is set to ON before the driver’s
seat belt is fastened, the beeper will sound
and the indicator will blink. If the driver does
not fasten the belt before the beeper stops,
the indicator will remain on.

The beeper will periodically sound and the
indicator will blink while driving until the
driver’s and/or the passenger’s seat belt is
fastened.

Continued

37

uuSeat BeltsuAbout Your Seat Belts

Safe Driving

1Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners

The seat belt tensioners can only operate once.
If a tensioner is activated, the SRS indicator will come
on. Have an authorized Acura NSX dealer replace the
tensioner and thoroughly inspect the seat belt system
as it may not offer protection in a subsequent crash.

During a moderate-to-severe side impact, the
tensioner on that side of the vehicle also activates.

Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners

■

The driver’s and passenger’s seats are
equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners
to enhance safety.

The tensioners automatically tighten the seat
belts during a moderate-to-severe frontal
collision, sometimes even if the collision is not
severe enough to inflate the front airbags or
the driver’s knee airbag.

38

Safe Driving

Fastening a Seat Belt

1Fastening a Seat Belt

No one should sit in a seat with an inoperative seat
belt or one that does not appear to be working
correctly. Using a seat belt that is not working
properly may not protect the occupant in a crash.
Have an authorized Acura NSX dealer check the belt
as soon as possible.

Never insert any foreign objects into the buckle or
retractor mechanism.

Pull out slowly.

Correct
Seated
Posture.

Latch
Plate

Buckle

After adjusting your seat to the proper position, and while sitting upright and well
back in the seat:

2 Adjusting the Seats P. 144

1. Pull the seat belt out slowly.

2. Insert the latch plate into the buckle, then

tug on the belt to make sure the buckle is
secure.

u Make sure that the belt is not twisted or

caught on anything.

Continued

uuSeat BeltsuFastening a Seat Belt

39

uuSeat BeltsuFastening a Seat Belt

Safe Driving

1Fastening a Seat Belt

To release the belt, push the red PRESS button then
guide the belt by hand until it has retracted
completely.
When exiting the vehicle, be sure the belt is out of
the way and will not get caught by closing the door.

3

WARNING

Improperly positioning the seat belts can
cause serious injury or death in a crash.

Make sure all seat belts are properly
positioned before driving.

Lap belt
as low as
possible

3. Position the lap part of the belt as low as
possible across your hips, then pull up on
the shoulder part of the belt so the lap part
fits snugly. This lets your strong pelvic
bones take the force of a crash and reduces
the chance of internal injuries.

4. If necessary, pull up on the belt again to
remove any slack, then check that the belt
rests across the center of your chest and
over your shoulder. This spreads the forces
of a crash over the strongest bones in your
upper body.

40

Safe Driving

Advice for Pregnant Women

1Advice for Pregnant Women

Each time you have a checkup, ask your doctor if it is
okay for you to drive.

To reduce the risk of injuries to both you and your
unborn child that can be caused by an inflating front
airbag:

• When driving, sit upright and adjust the seat as far

back as possible while allowing full control of the
vehicle.

• When sitting in the passenger’s seat, adjust the

seat as far back as possible.

Wear the shoulder belt
across the chest avoiding
the abdomen.

Wear the lap part of the
belt as low as possible
across the hips.

■

If you are pregnant, the best way to protect yourself and your unborn child when
driving or riding in a vehicle is to always wear a seat belt and keep the lap part of the
belt as low as possible across the hips.

uuSeat BeltsuFastening a Seat Belt

41

uuSeat BeltsuSeat Belt Inspection

Safe Driving

1Seat Belt Inspection

3

WARNING

Not checking or maintaining seat belts can
result in serious injury or death if the seat
belts do not work properly when needed.

Check your seat belts regularly and have
any problem corrected as soon as possible.

Seat Belt Inspection

Regularly check the condition of your seat belts as follows:

• Pull each belt out fully, and look for frays, cuts, burns, and wear.

• Check that the latches work smoothly and the belts retract easily.

u If a belt does not retract easily, cleaning the belt may correct the problem. Only

Any belt that is not in good condition or working properly will not provide proper
protection and should be replaced as soon as possible.
A belt that has been worn during a crash may not provide the same level of
protection in a subsequent crash. Have your seat belts inspected by an authorized
Acura NSX dealer after any collision.

use a mild soap and warm water. Do not use bleach or cleaning solvents. Make
sure the belt is completely dry before allowing it to retract.

42

Safe Driving

Airbags

8

810987

6

6

Airbag System Components

8

11

8

8

Continued

43

uuAirbagsu Airbag System Components

Safe Driving

The front, driver’s knee, side, and side
curtain airbags are deployed according to
the direction and severity of impact. Both
side curtain airbags are deployed in a
rollover. The airbag system includes:

a Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)

front airbags. The driver’s airbag is stored
in the center of the steering wheel; the
passenger’s airbag is stored in the
dashboard. Both are marked SRS
AIRBAG.

b Driver’s knee airbag. The knee airbag is

stored under the steering column. It is
marked SRS AIRBAG.

c Two side airbags, one for the driver and

one for a passenger. The airbags are
stored in the outer edges of the seat­backs. Both are marked SIDE AIRBAG.

d Two side curtain airbags, one for each

side of the vehicle. The airbags are stored
in the ceiling, above the side windows.
The front and rear pillars are marked
SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG.

e An electronic control unit that, when the

power system is on, continually monitors
information about the various impact
sensors, seat and buckle sensors, rollover
sensor, airbag activators, seat belt
tensioners, and other vehicle
information. During a crash event the
unit records such information.

f Automatic seat belt tensioners. In

addition, the driver’s and passenger’s
seat belt buckles incorporate sensors that
detect whether or not the belts are
fastened.

g Weight sensors in the passenger’s seat.

The passenger’s airbag will be turned off
if the weight on the seat is 65 lbs (29 kg)
or less (the weight of an infant or small
child).

h Impact sensors that can detect a

moderate-to-severe front or side impact.

i An indicator on the dashboard that alerts

you that the passenger’s front airbag has
been turned off.

j An indicator on the instrument panel that

alerts you to a possible problem with your
airbag system or seat belt tensioners.

k A rollover sensor that can detect if your

vehicle is about to roll over and signal the
control unit to deploy both side curtain
airbag.

44

Safe Driving

Important Facts About Your Airbags

1Important Facts About Your Airbags

Do not attempt to deactivate your airbags. Together,
airbags and seat belts provide the best protection.

When driving, keep hands and arms out of the
deployment path of the front airbag by holding each
side of the steering wheel. Do not cross an arm over
the airbag cover.

■

Airbags can pose serious hazards. To do their job, airbags must inflate with
tremendous force. So, while airbags help to save lives, they can cause burns, bruises,
and other minor injuries, sometimes even fatal ones if occupants are not wearing
their seat belts properly and sitting correctly.

What you should do: Always wear your seat belt properly, and sit upright and as
far back from the steering wheel as possible while allowing full control of the
vehicle. A passenger should move their seat as far back from the dashboard as
possible.

Remember, however, that no safety system can prevent all injuries or deaths that
can occur in a severe crash, even when seat belts are properly worn and the airbags
deploy.

Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and a front airbag.
Carrying hard or sharp objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp
object in your mouth, can result in injuries if your front airbag inflates.

Do not attach or place objects on the front and driver’s knee airbag covers.
Objects on the covers marked SRS AIRBAG could interfere with the proper
operation of the airbags or be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone if the
airbags inflate.

uuAirbags uAirbag System Components

45

uuAirbagsu Types of Airbags

Safe Driving

1Types of Airbags

The airbags can inflate whenever the power mode is
in ON.

After an airbag inflates in a crash, you may see a
small amount of smoke. This is from the combustion
process of the inflator material and is not harmful.
People with respiratory problems may experience
some temporary discomfort. If this occurs, get out of
the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

1Front Airbags (SRS)

During a frontal crash severe enough to cause one or
both front airbags to deploy, the airbags can inflate
at different rates, depending on the severity of the
crash, whether or not the seat belts are latched, and/
or other factors. Frontal airbags are designed to
supplement the seat belts to help to reduce the
likelihood of head and chest injuries in frontal
crashes.

Types of Airbags

Your vehicle is equipped with four types of airbags:

• Front airbags: Airbags in front of the driver’s and passenger’s seats.

• Driver’s knee airbag: Airbag under the steering column.

• Side airbags: Airbags in the driver’s and passenger’s seat-backs.

• Side curtain airbags: Airbags above the side windows.

Each is discussed in the following pages.

Front Airbags (SRS)

The front SRS airbags inflate in a moderate-to-severe frontal collision to help protect
the head and chest of the driver and/or passenger.

SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indicates that the airbags are designed to
supplement seat belts, not replace them. Seat belts are the occupant’s primary
restraint system.

Housing Locations

■

The front airbags are housed in the center of the steering wheel for the driver, and
in the dashboard for the passenger. Both airbags are marked SRS AIRBAG.

46

Safe Driving

■

1How the Front Airbags Work

Although the driver’s and passenger’s airbags
normally inflate within a split second of each other, it
is possible for only one airbag to deploy. This can
happen if the severity of a collision is at the margin,
or threshold that determines whether or not the
airbags will deploy. In such cases, the seat belt will
provide sufficient protection, and the supplemental
protection offered by the airbag would be minimal.

Front airbags are designed to inflate during moderate-to-severe frontal collisions.
When the vehicle decelerates suddenly, the sensors send information to the control
unit which signals one or both front airbags to inflate.

A frontal collision can be either head-on or angled between two vehicles, or when a
vehicle crashes into a stationary object, such as a concrete wall.

■

uuAirbags u Front Airbags (SRS)

Operation

How the Front Airbags Work

While your seat belt restrains your torso, the
front airbag provides supplemental protection
for your head and chest.

The front airbags deflate immediately so that
they won’t interfere with the driver’s visibility
or the ability to steer or operate other
controls.

aware that the airbags deployed until they see them lying in front of them.

The total time for inflation and deflation is so fast that most occupants are not

Continued

47

uuAirbagsu Front Airbags (SRS)

Safe Driving

■ When front airbags should not deploy

Minor frontal crashes: Front airbags were designed to supplement seat belts and
help save lives, not to prevent minor scrapes, or even broken bones that might occur
during a less than moderate-to-severe frontal crash.
Side impacts: Front airbags can provide protection when a sudden deceleration
causes a driver or passenger to move toward the front of the vehicle. Side airbags
and side curtain airbags have been specifically designed to help reduce the severity
of injuries that can occur during a moderate-to-severe side impact which can cause
the driver or passenger to move toward the side of the vehicle.
Rear impacts: Head restraints and seat belts are your best protection during a rear
impact. Front airbags cannot provide any significant protection and are not designed
to deploy in such collisions.
Rollovers: Seat belts, and in vehicles equipped with a rollover sensor, side curtain
airbags offer the best protection in a rollover. Because front airbags could provide
little if any protection, they are not designed to deploy during a rollover.

■ When front airbags deploy with little or no visible damage

Because the airbag system senses sudden deceleration, a strong impact to the
vehicle framework or suspension might cause one or more of the airbags to deploy.
Examples include running into a curb, the edge of a hole, or other low fixed object
that causes a sudden deceleration in the vehicle chassis. Since the impact is
underneath the vehicle, damage may not be readily apparent.

■ When front airbags may not deploy, even though exterior damage

appears severe

Since crushable body parts absorb crash energy during an impact, the amount of
visible damage does not always indicate proper airbag operation. In fact, some
collisions can result in severe damage but no airbag deployment because the airbags
would not have been needed or would not have provided protection even if they
had deployed.

48

Safe Driving

Advanced Airbags

1Advanced Airbags

For the passenger’s advanced front airbag to work
properly:

• Do not spill any liquid on or under the seat.

• Do not put any object under the passenger’s seat.

• Make sure any objects are positioned properly on

the floor. Improperly positioned objects can
interfere with the advanced airbag sensors.

• An occupant should sit upright and wear their seat

belts properly.

• Do not place any cover over the passenger side

dashboard.

2 Passenger Airbag Off Indicator P. 56

Passenger’s
Seat
Weight
Sensors

■

The passenger’s airbag have advanced features to help reduce the likelihood of
airbag related injuries to a smaller occupant.

uuAirbags u Front Airbags (SRS)

The passenger’s advanced front airbag system
has weight sensors.

Although we recommend against carrying an
infant or small child in the passenger seat, if
the sensors detect the weight of a child (up to
about 65 lbs or 29 kg), the system will
automatically turn off the passenger’s front
airbag.

49

uuAirbagsu Driver’s Knee Airbag

Safe Driving

1Driver’s Knee Airbag

Do not attach accessories on or near the driver’s knee
airbag. They can interfere with the proper operation
of the airbag, or hurt someone if an airbag inflates.

Housing
Location

When
inflated

Knee
Airbag

Driver’s Knee Airbag

The driver’s knee SRS airbag inflates in a moderate to severe frontal collision to help
keep the driver in the proper position and to help to maximize the benefit provided
by the vehicle’s other safety features.

SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indicates that the airbag is designed to
supplement seat belts, not replace them. Seat belts are the occupant’s primary
restraint system.

Housing Locations

■

The driver’s knee airbag is housed under the
steering column.

The airbag is marked SRS AIRBAG.

Operation

■

When the driver’s front airbag inflates, the
driver’s knee airbag also inflates.

50

Even if the collision is not severe enough to
deploy the front airbag, the knee airbag may
inflate alone.

Safe Driving

■ When driver’s knee airbag deploys with little or no visible damage

Because the airbag system senses sudden deceleration, a strong impact to the
vehicle framework or suspension might cause one or more of the airbags to deploy.
Examples include running into a curb, the edge of a hole, or other low fixed object
that causes a sudden deceleration in the vehicle chassis. Since the impact is
underneath the vehicle, damage may not be readily apparent.

■ When driver’s knee airbag may not deploy, even though exterior damage

Since crushable body parts absorb crash energy during an impact, the amount of
visible damage does not always indicate proper airbag operation. In fact, some
collisions can result in severe damage but no airbag deployment because the airbags
would not have been needed or would not have provided protection even if they
had deployed.

uuAirbagsu Driver’s Knee Airbag

appears severe

51

uuAirbagsu Side Airbags

Safe Driving

1Side Airbags

Make sure you and your passenger always sit upright.
Leaning into the path of a side airbag can prevent the
airbag from deploying properly and increases your
risk of serious injury.

Do not attach accessories on or near the side airbags.
They can interfere with the proper operation of the
airbags, or hurt someone if an airbag inflates.

Do not cover or replace the seat-back covers without
consulting an authorized Acura NSX dealer.
Improperly replacing or covering seat-back covers can
prevent your side airbags from properly deploying
during a side impact.

Housing
Location

When
inflated

Side
Airbag

Side Airbags

The side airbags help protect the torso and pelvis of the driver or a passenger during
a moderate-to-severe side impact.

52

Housing Locations

■

Operation

■

The side airbags are housed in the outside
edge of the driver’s and passenger’s seat­backs.

Both are marked SIDE AIRBAG.

When the sensors detect a moderate-to­severe side impact, the control unit signals the
side airbag on the impact side to immediately
inflate.

Safe Driving

■ When a side airbag deploys with little or no visible damage

Because the airbag system senses sudden acceleration, a strong impact to the side
of the vehicle’s framework can cause a side airbag to deploy. In such cases, there
may be little or no damage, but the side impact sensors detected a severe enough
impact to deploy the airbag.

■ When a side airbag may not deploy, even though visible damage appears

It is possible for a side airbag to not deploy during an impact that results in
apparently severe damage. This can occur when the point of impact was toward the
far front or rear of the vehicle, or when the vehicle’s crushable body parts absorbed
most of the crash energy. In either case, the side airbag would not have been
needed nor provided protection even if it had deployed.

uuAirbags u Side Airbags

severe

53

uuAirbagsu Side Curtain Airbags

Safe Driving

1Side Curtain Airbags

If the SRS control unit senses that your vehicle is
about to rollover, it immediately deploys both side
curtain airbags and activates both seat belt
tensioners.

If the impact is on the passenger’s side, the
passenger’s side curtain airbag will inflate even if
there is no occupant on that side of the vehicle.

To get the best protection from the side curtain
airbags, occupants should wear their seat belts
properly and sit upright and well back in their seats.

Do not attach any objects to the side windows or roof
pillars as they can interfere with the proper operation
of the side curtain airbags.

Side Curtain Airbag Storage

Deployed Side Curtain Airbag

Side Curtain Airbags

The side curtain airbags help protect the heads of the driver and any passengers
during a moderate-to-severe side impact. The side curtain airbags equipped in this
vehicle are also designed to help reduce the likelihood of partial and complete
ejection of vehicle occupants through side windows in crashes, particularly rollover
crashes.

Housing Locations

■

Operation

■

The side curtain airbags are located in the
ceiling above the side windows on both sides
of the vehicle.

The side curtain airbag is designed to deploy
in a rollover or a moderate-to-severe side
impact.

54

Safe Driving

■ When side curtain airbags deploy in a frontal collision

1Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Indicator

3

WARNING

Ignoring the SRS indicator can result in
serious injury or death if the airbag systems
or tensioners do not work properly.

Have your vehicle checked by an
authorized Acura NSX dealer as soon as
possible if the SRS indicator alerts you to a
possible problem.

One or both side curtain airbags may also inflate in a moderate-to-severe angled
frontal collision.

Airbag System Indicators

If a problem occurs in the airbag system, the SRS indicator will come on and a
message appears on the multi-information display.

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Indicator

■

If the indicator comes on at any other time, or does not come on at all, have the
system checked by an authorized Acura NSX dealer as soon as possible. If you don’t,
your airbags and seat belt tensioners may not work properly when they are needed.

uuAirbagsu Airbag System Indicators

■ When the power mode is set to ON

The indicator comes on for a few seconds,
then goes off. This tells you the system is
working properly.

Continued

55

uuAirbagsu Airbag System Indicators

Safe Driving

1Passenger Airbag Off Indicator

To ensure the passenger is detected properly,
confirm that:

• There is no object pressing against the rear of the

seat-back.

• The passenger’s seat or seat-back is not forced

back against the rear wall of the vehicle.

• There is no object placed under or beside the

passenger’s seat.

• The occupant is sitting in an upright position and

the seat back is not excessively reclined.

• The occupant is not leaning against the door or

center console.

• The occupant’s feet are placed on the floor in front

of them.

• There are no objects hanging from the passenger’s

seat.

The passenger airbag off indicator may come on and
go off periodically if the total weight on the seat is
near the airbag cutoff threshold.

Have your vehicle checked by an authorized Acura
NSX dealer as soon as possible if:

• All of the above conditions are met, and the

indicator comes on with an adult riding there.

• All of the above conditions are met, and the

indicator goes off with a small child riding there.

(See Child Safety.)

• If the seat is empty and the indicator is on.

Do not allow an adult passenger to ride in the seat
when the indicator is on.

U.S. Canada

Passenger Airbag Off Indicator

■

Your vehicle is not recommended for child passengers. Never put a rear-facing child
seat in this vehicle.
If you decided to disregard our recommendations and transport a small child, they
should be properly restrained.

2 Child Safety P. 58

Objects placed on the seat can also cause the indicator to come on.

If the passenger seat is empty, the passenger’s front airbag will not deploy and the
indicator will not come on.

■ When the passenger airbag off

indicator comes on

The indicator comes on to alert you that the
passenger’s front airbag has been turned off.
This occurs when the weight sensors detect
about 65 lbs (29 kg) or less, the weight of an
infant or small child, on the seat.

56

Safe Driving

Airbag Care

1Airbag Care

We recommend against the use of salvaged airbag
system components, including the airbag, tensioners,
sensors, and control unit.

You do not need to, and should not, perform any maintenance on or replace any
airbag system components yourself. However, you should have your vehicle
inspected by an authorized Acura NSX dealer in the following situations:

■ When the airbags have deployed

If an airbag has inflated, the control unit and other related parts must be replaced.
Similarly, once an automatic seat belt tensioner has been activated, it must be
replaced.

■ When the vehicle has been in a moderate-to-severe collision

Even if the airbags did not inflate, have an authorized Acura NSX dealer inspect the
following: the weight sensors in the passenger’s seat, seat belt tensioners, and each
seat belt that was worn during the crash.

■ Do not remove or modify a seat without consulting an authorized Acura

This would likely disable or affect the proper operation of the weight sensors in the
passenger’s seat. If it is necessary to remove or modify a seat to accommodate a
person with disabilities, contact an authorized Acura NSX dealer, or for U.S. vehicles,
Acura Client Service at 1-800-382-2238 and for Canadian vehicles, Acura Client
Service at 1-888-9-ACURA-9.

uuAirbags u Airbag Care

NSX dealer

57

Safe Driving

Child Safety

1Protecting Child Passengers

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
and Transport Canada recommend that all children
ages 12 and under be properly restrained in a rear
seat. Some states or provinces/territories have laws
restricting where children may ride.

Never put a rear-facing child seat in this vehicle.

3

WARNING

Children who are unrestrained or
improperly restrained can be seriously
injured or killed in a crash.

Any child too small for a seat belt should be
properly restrained in a child seat. A larger
child should be properly restrained with a
seat belt, using a booster seat if necessary.

Protecting Child Passengers

Each year, many children are injured or killed in vehicle crashes because they are
either unrestrained or not properly restrained. In fact, vehicle crashes are the
number one cause of death of children ages 12 and under.

To reduce the number of child deaths and injuries, every state, Canadian province
and territory requires that children be properly restrained when they ride in a vehicle.

Since this vehicle does not have a back seat, we recommend that you do not
carry a child, age 12 or under, as a passenger. This is because:

• An inflating front or side airbag can injure or kill a child sitting in the passenger’s
seat.

• A child in the passenger’s seat is more likely to interfere with the driver’s ability to
safely control the vehicle.

• Statistics show that children of all sizes and ages are safer when they are properly
restrained in a rear seat. Because this vehicle does not have a rear seat, we
recommend that you do not carry a child age 12 or under in this vehicle.

58

Safe Driving

• Any child who is too small to wear a seat belt correctly must be restrained in an

1Protecting Child Passengers

To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.

To remind you of the passenger’s front airbag
hazards and child safety, your vehicle has warning
labels on the dashboard (U.S. models) and on the
front visors. Please read and follow the instructions
on these labels.

2 Safety Labels P. 68

3

WARNING

Allowing a child to play with a seat belt or
wrap one around their neck can result in
serious injury or death.

Instruct children not to play with any seat
belt.

approved child seat that is properly secured to the vehicle using the lap belt
portion of the lap/shoulder belt.

• Never hold a child on your lap because it is impossible to protect them in the
event of a collision.

• Never put a seat belt over yourself and a child. During a crash, the belt would
likely press deep into the child and cause serious or fatal injuries.

• Never let two children use the same seat belt. Both children could be very
seriously injured in a crash.

• Do not allow children to operate the doors, windows or seat adjustments.

• Do not leave children in the vehicle unattended, especially in hot weather when

the inside of the vehicle can get hot enough to kill them. They could also activate
vehicle controls causing it to move unexpectedly.

uuChild SafetyuProtecting Child Passengers

59

uuChild Safety u Safety of Infants and Small Children

Safe Driving

1Protecting Infants

Rear-facing child seats should never be installed in a
forward facing position.

3

WARNING

Placing a rear-facing child seat in the
passenger’s seat can result in serious injury
or death during a crash.

Never install a rear-facing child seat in this
vehicle.

Safety of Infants and Small Children

Protecting Infants

■

An infant must be properly restrained in a rear-facing, reclining child seat until the
infant reaches the seat manufacturer’s weight or height limit for the seat, and the
infant is at least one year old. Because rear-facing child seats should not be

used in this vehicle, you should never carry an infant in this vehicle.

60

Safe Driving

Protecting Smaller Children

1Protecting Smaller Children

Educate yourself about the laws and regulations
regarding child seat use where you are driving, and
follow the child seat manufacturer’s instructions.

A child seat must be secured to the vehicle with the
lap part of a lap/shoulder belt. A child whose seat is
not properly secured to the vehicle can be
endangered in a crash.

3

WARNING

Placing a forward-facing child seat in the
passenger’s seat can result in serious injury
or death if the front airbag inflates.

If you must place a forward-facing child
seat in passenger’s seat, move the vehicle
seat as far back as possible, and properly
restrain the child.

■

Since this vehicle does not have a back seat, we recommend that you do not carry a
child, age 12 or under, as a passenger.

This is because placing a forward-facing child seat in the passenger’s seat can be
hazardous, even with advanced front airbags that automatically turn the
passenger’s front airbag off.

If you choose to ignore our warnings and transport a small child in this vehicle, be
sure to move the passenger seat as far to the rear as possible, and follow the
instructions and guidelines in the following pages.

uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children

Continued

61

uuChild Safety u Safety of Infants and Small Children

Safe Driving

Selecting a Forward-facing Child Seat

■

■ Important consideration when selecting a child seat

Make sure the child seat meets the following three requirements:

• The child seat is the correct type and size for the child.

• The child seat is the correct type for the seating position.

• The child seat is compliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 or

Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.

62

Safe Driving

Installing a Child Seat

1Installing a Child Seat

A child seat must be secured to the vehicle with the
lap part of a lap/shoulder belt.

For your child’s safety, when using a child seat
installed using the vehicle’s seat belt system, check
that the seat is properly secured to the vehicle.

■

1. Move the passenger seat to the rearmost
position.

2. Place the child seat on the passenger seat.

3. Route the seat belt through the child seat

according to the seat manufacturer’s
instructions, and insert the latch plate into
the buckle.

u Insert the latch plate fully until it clicks.

4. Slowly pull the shoulder part of the belt all
the way out until it stops. This activates the
lockable retractor.

5. Let the seat belt completely wind up into
the retractor, then try to pull it out to make
sure the retractor is locked.

u If you are able to pull the shoulder belt

out, the lockable retractor is not
activated. Pull the seat belt all the way
out, and repeat steps 3 – 5.

6. Grab the shoulder part of the seat belt near
the buckle, and pull up to remove any slack
from the lap part of the belt.

u When doing this, place your weight on

the child seat and push it into the vehicle
seat.

Continued

uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children

63

uuChild Safety u Safety of Infants and Small Children

Safe Driving

1Installing a Child Seat

A child seat that is not properly secured will not
adequately protect a child in a crash and may cause
injury to the child or another vehicle occupant.

To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.

1Adding Security with a Tether

Since a tether can provide additional security to the
lap/shoulder seat belt installation, we recommend
using a tether whenever one is available.

Tether
Anchorage
Point

Tether Strap Hook

Anchor

Adding Security with a Tether

■

64

7. Make sure the child seat is firmly secured by
rocking it forward and back and side to
side; little movement should be felt.

A tether anchorage point is provided behind
the passenger seat. A child seat with a tether
can be installed, so long as the base of the
child seat is secured using a seat belt.

1. Move the seat forward.

2 Adjusting the Seat Positions P. 144

2. Route the tether strap through the hole

between head restraint and seat-back.
Make sure the strap is not twisted.

3. Secure the tether strap hook to the anchor.

4. Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the

child seat manufacturer.

5. Move the seat to the rearmost position.

Safe Driving

Safety of Larger Children

1Safety of Larger Children

3

WARNING

Allowing a child age 12 or under to sit in
the vehicle can result in injury or death if
the passenger’s front airbag inflates.

If a larger child must ride in the vehicle,
move the vehicle seat as far to the rear as
possible, have the child sit up properly and
wear the seat belt properly, using a booster
seat if needed.

Protecting Larger Children

■

Since this vehicle does not have a back seat, we recommend that you do not
carry a child age 12 or under as a passenger. This is because children who
have outgrown child seats are also at risk of being injured or killed by an
inflating passenger’s front airbag. If a larger child must ride in this vehicle, the

information in the following pages provides guidelines to help you decide when a
given child may ride in this vehicle, and how to properly protect the child.

Checking Seat Belt Fit

■

When a child is too big for a child seat, secure the child in the passenger’s seat using
the lap/shoulder seat belt. Have the child sit upright and all the way back, then
answer the following questions.

If you answer yes to all these questions, the child is ready to wear the lap/shoulder
seat belt correctly. If you answer no to any question, the child needs to ride on a
booster seat until the seat belt fits properly without a booster seat.

uuChild SafetyuSafety of Larger Children

■ Checklist

• Do the child’s knees bend comfortably over
the edge of the seat?

• Does the shoulder belt cross between the
child’s neck and arm?

• Is the lap part of the seat belt as low as
possible, touching the child’s thighs?

• Will the child be able to stay seated like this
for the whole trip?

Continued

65

uuChild Safety u Safety of Larger Children

Safe Driving

1Booster Seats

When installing a booster seat, make sure to read the
instructions that came with it, and install the seat
accordingly.
There are high- and low-type booster seats. Choose a
booster seat that allows the child to wear the seat
belt correctly.

Some U.S. states, and Canadian provinces and
territories require children to use a booster seat until
they reach a given age or weight (e.g. six years or 60
lbs). Be sure to check current laws in the state or
province, or territory where you intend to drive.

Booster Seats

■

Protecting Larger Children-Final Checks

■

If you decide that a child can safely ride in this vehicle:

• Make sure you read and fully understand the instructions and safety information
in this manual.

• Move the passenger seat as far back as possible.

• Have the child sit upright and well back in the seat.

• Check that the seat belt is properly positioned so that the child is secure in the

seat.

■ Monitoring a child passenger

We strongly recommend that you keep an eye on a child passenger. Even older,
more mature children sometimes need to be reminded to fasten their seat belts and
sit up properly.

66

If a lap/shoulder seat belt cannot be used
properly, position the child in a booster seat in
the passenger’s seating position. For the
child’s safety, check that the child meets the
booster seat manufacturer’s
recommendations.

Safe Driving

Exhaust Gas Hazard

1Carbon Monoxide Gas

An enclosed area such as a garage can quickly fill up
with carbon monoxide gas.
Do not turn the power system on with the garage
door closed. Even when the garage door is open,
drive out of the garage immediately after turning the
power system on.

3

WARNING

Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.

Breathing it can cause unconsciousness and
even kill you.

Avoid any enclosed areas or activities that
expose you to carbon monoxide.

Carbon Monoxide Gas

The engine exhaust from this vehicle contains carbon monoxide, a colorless,
odorless, and highly toxic gas. As long as you properly maintain your vehicle, carbon
monoxide gas will not get into the interior.

■ Have the exhaust system inspected for leaks whenever

• The exhaust system is making an unusual noise.

• The exhaust system may have been damaged.

• The vehicle is raised for an oil change.

67

Safe Driving

Safety Labels

Inverter Coolant Filler
Tank Cap

Sun Visors

U.S. models

Canadian models

Engine Coolant Reserve Tank Cap

High Voltage System Components

U.S. models Canadian models

Dashboard

U.S. models only

Label Locations

These labels are in the locations shown. They warn you of potential hazards that can cause serious injury or death. Read these labels
carefully.

If a label comes off or becomes hard to read (except for the U.S. dashboard label which may be removed by the owner), contact an
authorized Acura NSX dealer for a replacement.

68

Instrument Panel

This chapter describes the buttons, indicators, and gauges that are used while driving.

Indicators ............................................ 70

Driver Information Interface Warning and

Information Messages...................... 83

Gauges and Displays .......................... 95

Gauges.............................................. 95

Driver Information Interface ............... 98

69

Instrument Panel

U.S.

Canada

(Red)

Indicators

Indicator Name On/Blinking Explanation Message

Brake System
Indicator (Red)

Low Oil Pressure
Indicator

●

Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.

●

Comes on when the brake fluid
level is low.

●

Comes on if there is a problem with
the brake system.

●

Comes on when you set the power
mode to ON, and goes off when the
power system starts.

●

Comes on when the engine oil
pressure is low.

●

Comes on if there is a problem with
the engine oil pressure system.

●

Comes on while driving - Check the
brake fluid level.

2 What to do when the indicator comes

●

on while driving P. 439

Comes on along with the brake system
indicator (amber) - Immediately stop in a

safe place. Contact an authorized Acura
NSX dealer for repair. The brake pedal
becomes harder to operate. Depress the
pedal further than you normally do.

●

Comes on along with the ABS
indicator - Have your vehicle checked by

an authorized Acura NSX dealer.

2 If the Brake System Indicator (Red)

Comes On P. 439

●

Comes on while driving - Immediately
stop in a safe place and set the power
mode to VEHICLE OFF (LOCK), then
contact an authorized Acura NSX dealer.

70

Instrument Panel

U.S.

Canada

uuIndicatorsu

Indicator Name On/Blinking Explanation Message

●

Comes on when the parking brake
is applied, and goes off when it is
released.

●

Comes on for about 15 seconds
then goes off when you pull the

●

Blinks and the electric parking brake
system indicator comes on at the same
time - There is a problem with the electric

parking brake system. The parking brake
may not be set.

electric parking brake switch with

Electric Parking
Brake Indicator

the power mode in OFF.

●

Comes on for about 15 seconds
then goes off when you set the
power mode to OFF with the
parking brake applied.

●

Comes on when you press the
electric parking brake switch
without depressing the brake pedal.

●

Depress the brake pedal to release the
parking brake.

2 Parking Brake P. 344

Electric Parking
Brake System
Indicator

●

Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.

●

Comes on if there is a problem with
the electric parking brake system.

●

Comes on while driving - Avoid using
the parking brake and have your vehicle
checked by an authorized Acura NSX
dealer immediately.

2 If the Electric Parking Brake System

Indicator Comes On P. 440

Continued

71

uuIndicatorsu

Instrument Panel

U.S.

Canada

Indicator Name On/Blinking Explanation Message

●

Automatic Brake
Hold System

Comes on when the automatic
brake hold system is on.

2 Automatic Brake Hold P. 347

Indicator

72

Automatic Brake
Hold Indicator

●

Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.

●

Comes on when the automatic
brake hold is activated.

2 Automatic Brake Hold P. 347

—

Instrument Panel

U.S.

Canada

(Amber)

U.S.

Canada

uuIndicatorsu

Indicator Name On/Blinking Explanation Message

●

Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.

●

Comes on if there is a problem with
a system related to braking other
than the conventional brake system.

●

Comes on if there is a problem with
the cooperative control with

●

Comes on while driving - Have your
vehicle checked by an authorized Acura
NSX dealer.

●

Stays on constantly - Avoid high speeds
and sudden braking. Take the vehicle to an
authorized Acura NSX dealer immediately.

●

With this indicator on, your vehicle still has
normal braking ability.

regenerative braking, the electric

Brake System
Indicator

servo brake system, or the hill start
assist system.

(Amber)

Continued

73

uuIndicatorsu

Instrument Panel

U.S.

Canada

U.S.

Canada

* Not available on all models

Indicator Name On/Blinking Explanation Message

POWER SYSTEM
Indicator

READY Indicator

●

Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.

●

Comes on if there is a problem with
the electric vehicle system.

●

Comes on when the vehicle is ready
to drive.

●

Comes on while driving - Have your
vehicle checked by an authorized Acura
NSX dealer immediately.

2 Turning on the Power P. 309

Active Damper
System Indicator

Brake Wear
Indicator

74

●

Comes on for a few seconds when
you change the power mode to ON,
then goes off.

●

Comes on if there is a problem with
the Active Damper System. The
speed of the vehicle will be limited.

●

Comes on for a few seconds when
you change the power mode to ON,
then goes off.

●

Comes on if a worn brake pad is

*

detected.

●

Stays on constantly - Have the vehicle
checked by an authorized Acura NSX
dealer. With this indicator on, your vehicle
has normal damping ability without the
active damper feature.

2 Integrated Dynamics System (IDS)

P. 323

●

Comes on while driving - The brake
pads may need to be replaced. Have your
vehicle inspected by an authorized Acura
NSX dealer.

Instrument Panel

uuIndicatorsu

Indicator Name On/Blinking Explanation Message

Malfunction
Indicator Lamp

●

Comes on when you set the power
mode to ON, and goes off either
when the power system is on or
after several seconds if the power
system did not turn on. If
“readiness codes” have not been
set, it blinks five times before it
goes off.

●

Comes on if there is a problem with
the emissions control system.

●

Blinks when a misfire in the
engine’s cylinders is detected.

●

Readiness codes are part of the on board
diagnostics for the emissions control
systems.

2 Testing of Readiness Codes P. 459

●

Comes on while driving - Have your
vehicle checked by an authorized Acura
NSX dealer.

●

Blinks while driving - Stop in a safe place
where there are no flammable objects.
Stop the power system for 10 minutes or
more, and wait for it to cool down. Then,
take the vehicle to an authorized Acura
NSX dealer.

2 If the Malfunction Indicator Lamp

Comes On or Blinks P. 438

●

Comes on if there is a problem with
the gear shift mechanism.

●

Comes on and gear position indicator
blinks at the same time - Have your

vehicle checked by an authorized Acura
NSX dealer.

12-Volt Battery
Charging System
Indicator

●

Comes on when you set the power
mode to ON, and goes off when
the power system is on.

●

Comes on when the 12-volt battery
is not charging.

●

Comes on while driving - Turn off the
climate control system and rear defogger
in order to reduce electricity consumption.

2 If the 12-Volt Battery Charging

System Indicator Comes On P. 438

Continued

75

uuIndicatorsu

Instrument Panel

Indicator Name On/Blinking Explanation Message

●

Gear Position
Indicator

Indicates the current gear selection.

2 Shifting P. 314

—

76

Transmission
System Indicator

●

The indicated current gear selection
blinks if there is a problem with the
transmission system.

●

All the gear positions may light for
several seconds, and go off.

●

The indicated current gear selection
or all the gear positions blink if there
is a problem with the transmission
system.

●

The indicated current gear selection
or all the gear positions blink if you
cannot select

(P due to the

transmission system failure.

●

Avoid sudden start and acceleration, and
stop in a safe place immediately.
Have your vehicle checked by an
authorized Acura NSX dealer.

●

When all the gear positions light,
immediately stop your vehicle in a safe
place.

●

Indicators go off if there is no problem.
However, even if they go off, take your
vehicle to an authorized Acura NSX dealer
for inspection.

●

Immediately stop in a safe place.

2 Emergency Towing P. 448

●

Have your vehicle checked by an
authorized Acura NSX dealer.

●

The power system can be activated as a
temporary measure.

2 If the Transmission System Indicator

Blinks along with the Warning
Message P. 442

●

Set the parking brake when parking.

●

Have your vehicle checked by an
authorized Acura NSX dealer immediately.

—

Instrument Panel

uuIndicatorsu

Indicator Name On/Blinking Explanation Message

Seat Belt
Reminder
Indicator

●

Comes on and the beeper sounds if
you are not wearing a seat belt
when you set the power mode to
ON.

●

If the passenger is not wearing a
seat belt, the indicator comes on a
few seconds later.

●

Blinks while driving if either you or
the passenger has not fastened a

●

The beeper stops and the indicator goes off
when you and the passenger fasten their
seat belts.

●

Stays on after you or the passenger has
fastened the seat belt - A detection error

may have occurred in the sensor. Have your
vehicle checked by an authorized Acura
NSX dealer.

2 Seat Belt Reminder P. 37

seat belt. The beeper sounds and
the indicator blinks at regular
intervals.

Low Fuel Indicator

●

Comes on when the fuel reserve is
running low (approximately 2.4
U.S. gal/8.9 Liter left).

●

Blinks if there is a problem with the
fuel gauge.

●

Comes on - Refuel your vehicle as soon as
possible.

●

Blinks - Have your vehicle checked by an
authorized Acura NSX dealer.

Continued

77

uuIndicatorsu

Instrument Panel

Indicator Name On/Blinking Explanation Message

Anti-lock Brake
System (ABS)
Indicator

Supplemental
Restraint System
Indicator

●

Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.

●

If it comes on at any other time,
there is a problem with the ABS.

●

Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.

●

Comes on if a problem with any of
the following is detected:

- Supplemental restraint system

- Side airbag system

●

Stays on constantly - Have your vehicle
checked by an authorized Acura NSX
dealer. With this indicator on, your vehicle
still has normal braking ability but no
anti-lock function.

2 Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) P. 349

●

Stays on constantly or does not come
on at all - Have your vehicle checked by

an authorized Acura NSX dealer.

- Side curtain airbag system

- Knee airbag system

- Seat belt tensioner

Electric Power
Steering (EPS)
System Indicator

●

Comes on when you set the power
mode to ON, and goes off when the
power system is on.

●

Comes on if there is a problem with
the EPS system.

●

Stays on constantly or does not come
on at all - Have your vehicle checked by

an authorized Acura NSX dealer.

2 If the Electric Power Steering (EPS)

System Indicator Comes On P. 439

78

Instrument Panel

uuIndicatorsu

Indicator Name On/Blinking Explanation Message

Vehicle Stability
Assist (VSA®)
System Indicator

●

Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.

●

Blinks when VSA® is active.

●

Comes on if there is a problem
with the VSA® system.

●

Comes on for a few seconds when

●

Stays on constantly - Have your vehicle
checked by an authorized Acura NSX
dealer.

2 Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®), aka

Electronic Stability Control (ESC),
System P. 333

you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.

●

Comes on when you press the

Vehicle Stability
Assist (VSA®) OFF
Indicator

VSA® OFF button to change VSA®
mode.

●

Comes on when you select TRACK

2 VSA® OFF Button P. 334
2 Integrated Dynamics System (IDS)

P. 323

mode by the IDS Mode switch.

Continued

79

uuIndicatorsu

Instrument Panel

Indicator Name On/Blinking Explanation Message

Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS Indicator

●

Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.

●

Comes on if the tire pressure of any
of the tires becomes significantly
low.

●

Blinks for about one minute, and

●

Comes on while driving - Stop in a safe
place, check tire pressures, and inflate the
tire(s) if necessary.

●

Blinks and remains on - Have your
vehicle checked by an authorized Acura
NSX dealer.

then stays on if there is a problem
with the TPMS.

System Message
Indicator

●

Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.

●

Comes on along with a beep when
a problem is detected. A system
message on the driver information
interface appears at the same time.

●

While the indicator is on, roll the right
selector wheel to see the message again.

●

Refer to the Indicators information in this
chapter when a system message appears
on the driver information interface. Take
the appropriate action for the message.

●

The driver information interface does not
return to the normal screen unless the
warning is canceled, or the right selector
wheel is rolled.

—

80

Instrument Panel

uuIndicatorsu

Indicator Name On/Blinking Explanation Message

Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators

High Beam
Indicator

●

Blinks when you operate the turn
signal lever.

●

Blink if you press the hazard
warning button.

●

Comes on when the high beam
headlights are on.

●

Does not blink or blinks rapidly - Have
your vehicle checked by an authorized
Acura NSX dealer.

2 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 387, 388

— —

—

Lights On Indicator

Immobilizer
System Indicator

●

Comes on whenever the light
switch is on, or in AUTO when the
exterior lights are on.

●

Comes on briefly when you set
the power mode to ON, then goes
off.

●

Comes on if the immobilizer
system cannot recognize the key
information.

●

If you set the power mode to VEHICLE OFF
(LOCK) while the exterior lights are on, a
chime sounds when the driver’s door is
opened.

●

Blinks - You cannot start the power system.
Set the power mode to VEHICLE OFF
(LOCK), then select the ON mode again.

●

Repeatedly blinks - The system may be
malfunctioning. Have your vehicle checked
by an authorized Acura NSX dealer.

●

Do not attempt to alter this system or add
other devices to it. Electrical problems can
occur.

—

—

Continued

81

uuIndicatorsu

Instrument Panel

Indicator

Indicator Name On/Blinking Explanation Message

●

Blinks when the security system

Security System
Alarm Indicator

alarm has been set.

●

Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,

2 Security System Alarm P. 122

●

Have your vehicle checked by an
authorized Acura NSX dealer.

then goes off.

Keyless Access
System Indicator

●

Comes on as soon as a problem is
detected in the keyless access
system or keyless starting system.

●

CRUISE MAIN
Indicator

Comes on when you press the
CRUISE button.

2 Cruise Control P. 330

—

—

82

CRUISE
CONTROL

Indicator

●

Comes on if you have set a speed
for cruise control.

2 Cruise Control P. 330

—

Instrument Panel

uuIndicators uDriver Information Interface Warning and Information Messages

Driver Information Interface Warning and Information Messages

The following messages appear only on the driver information interface. Roll the right selector wheel to see the message again with the
system message indicator on.

Message Condition Explanation

●

Appears when the washer fluid is low.

●

Appears when the scheduled maintenance is due soon.

●

Consequently, Service Due Now and Service Past
Due follow.

●

Refill the washer fluid.

2 Refilling Window Washer Fluid P. 386

2 Maintenance Minder Messages on the Driver

Information Interface P. 367

●

Appears when the temperature of the transmission is
starting to get too hot.

●

The performance of the vehicle may be reduced.

●

Appears when the transmission system temperature is
too high. The vehicle does not operate properly.

●

It may not be possible to use the paddle shifters.

●

Until the message disappears, reduce your speed and
allow the system to cool down.

●

You may find it difficult to accelerate, or to start the
vehicle on uphill.

●

Immediately stop in a safe place in (P .

●

Let the engine idle until the message disappears.

Continued

83

uuIndicatorsuDriver Information Interface Warning and Information Messages

Instrument Panel

U.S.

Canada

Message Condition Explanation

●

Appears when there is a problem with the sensor on the
12-volt battery.

●

Have your vehicle checked by an authorized Acura NSX
dealer.

2 Checking the 12-Volt Battery P. 403

84

●

Appears when the starter system has a problem.

●

Appears after the driver’s door is opened when the
power mode is in ACCESSORY.

●

Appears when the power mode is in ACCESSORY.

●

As a temporary measure, press and hold the ENGINE
START/STOP button for up to 15 seconds while

depressing the brake pedal and manually turn on the
power system.
Have your vehicle checked by an authorized Acura NSX
dealer.

●

Press the ENGINE START/STOP button twice with your
foot off the brake pedal to change the power mode to
VEHICLE OFF (LOCK).

—

uuIndicators uDriver Information Interface Warning and Information Messages

Instrument Panel

Message Condition Explanation

●

Appears when you close the door with the power mode
in ON without the keyless access remote inside the
vehicle.

●

Disappears when you bring the keyless access remote
back inside the vehicle and close the door.

2 Keyless Access Remote Reminder P. 129

●

Appears when the keyless access remote battery
becomes weak.

●

Appears if the keyless access remote battery is too weak
to turn on the power system or the key is not within
operating range to turn on the power system.
A beeper sounds six times.

●

Appears three seconds after you bring the keyless
access remote in front of the ENGINE START/STOP
button when To Start, Hold Remote Near Start
Button appears. To Start Engine: Brake + Push
appears sequentially.

●

Appears when you set the power mode to ACCESSORY
or ON.

●

Appears if you press the ENGINE START/STOP button
while the vehicle is moving.

●

Replace the battery as soon as possible.

2 Replacing the Button Battery P. 404

●

Bring the keyless access remote in front of the ENGINE
START/STOP button to be touched with.

2 If the Keyless Access Remote Battery is Weak P. 432

●

Unless you bring the keyless access remote in front of
the ENGINE START/STOP button, this message does
not appear.

2 If the Keyless Access Remote Battery is Weak P. 432

2 Turning on the Power P. 309

●

The message will disappear after six seconds or when
the power mode is set to VEHICLE OFF (LOCK).

Continued

85

uuIndicatorsuDriver Information Interface Warning and Information Messages

Instrument Panel

Message Condition Explanation

●

Appears when you turn the power system on with the

●

Press the (P button.

transmission not in (P .

86

●

Appears when you try to change the gear position after
the position has automatically been changed to

(P with

the driver’s door open and the driver’s seat belt
unfastened.

●

Appears when you set the power mode to ON without
fastening the driver’s seat belt.

●

Appears when you change the gear position after (P
has been automatically selected with the driver’s door
open, the driver’s seat belt unfastened, then the brake
pedal is released.

●

Appears when you try to change the gear position
without depressing the brake pedal.

●

Appears when you try to change the gear position
without releasing your foot off the accelerator pedal.

●

Press the (P button if you leave the vehicle.

●

Fasten the seat belt properly before you start to drive.

2 Shift Operation P. 316

●

Depress the brake pedal, then select a shift button.

●

Release your foot from the accelerator pedal, depress
the brake pedal, then select a gear.

Instrument Panel

uuIndicators uDriver Information Interface Warning and Information Messages

Message Condition Explanation

●

Appears when the park button is pressed while the
vehicle is moving.

●

Appears if you change the gear position to (R while the

●

Make sure that the vehicle comes to a stop before
operating the select button.

vehicle is moving forward, or to D or M while the vehicle
is reversing.

●

Appears if there is a problem with the electric system.

●

Appears when you set the power mode to OFF while
driving.

●

Immediately stop in a safe place and set the parking
brake.

●

Continue driving if the message goes off soon after.

●

If there is a problem with the transmission system, the
transmission system indicator comes on.

2 Transmission System Indicator P. 76

●

Appears when you change to (N, and press the
ENGINE START/STOP button within five seconds.

●

Appears when the vehicle is stopped with the driver’s
seat belt unfastened and there is a chance that the
vehicle may roll unintentionally.

●

The gear position remains in (N for 15 minutes, then
automatically switches to

(P.

2 If you want to keep the transmission in (N

position (car wash mode) P. 317

●

Press the (P button before release the brake pedal
when idling, parking or exiting the vehicle.

2 Shift Operation P. 316

Continued

87

uuIndicatorsuDriver Information Interface Warning and Information Messages

Instrument Panel

Models with
parking sensor
system

Message Condition Explanation

●

Appears if any door or the trunk (hatch) is not
completely closed.

●

Appears if any door or the trunk (hatch) is opened while
driving. The beeper sounds.

●

Appears if there is a problem with the radiator system.●Drive slowly to prevent overheating and have your

●

Goes off when all doors and the trunk (hatch) are
closed.

vehicle checked by an authorized Acura NSX dealer as
soon as possible.

88

●

Appears when there is a problem with the headlights.

●

Appears if there is a problem with the parking sensor
system.

●

Appears while driving - The low beam headlights
may not be on. When conditions allow you to drive
safely, have your vehicle checked by an authorized
Acura NSX dealer as soon as possible.

●

Check if the area around the sensor(s) is covered with
mud, ice, snow, etc. If the indicator(s) stays on even
after you clean the area, have the system checked by an
authorized Acura NSX dealer.

uuIndicators uDriver Information Interface Warning and Information Messages

Instrument Panel

Message Condition Explanation

●

Appears if the automatic brake hold is automatically

●

Immediately depress the brake pedal.

canceled while it is in operation.

●

Appears when the automatic brake hold system is
turned off.

●

Appears when the automatic brake hold button is
pressed without wearing the driver’s seat belt.

●

Appears when the automatic brake hold button is
pressed without depressing the brake pedal while the
automatic brake hold is in operation.

●

Appears when the parking brake is applied
automatically while it is in operation.

2 Automatic Brake Hold P. 347

●

Fasten the driver’s seat belt.

2 Automatic Brake Hold P. 347

●

Press the automatic brake hold button with the brake
pedal depressed.

2 Automatic Brake Hold P. 347

2 Automatic Brake Hold P. 347
2 Parking Brake P. 344

Continued

89

uuIndicatorsuDriver Information Interface Warning and Information Messages

Instrument Panel

Message Condition Explanation

●

Appears after the 12-volt battery charging system
indicator comes on.

●

Your vehicle has less ability to accelerate and may be
harder to start on an incline.

●

Contact an authorized Acura NSX dealer immediately.

90

●

Appears when the transmission temperature is too low
to operate (approx. -13°F [-25°C] or below).

●

Appears when the High Voltage battery temperature is
extremely low (-4°F [-20°C]).

●

Appears when the twin motor unit fluid temperature is
extremely low.

●

Appears if the AWD system has a problem due to a
hybrid system or power distribution control failure.

●

You can start the engine and use the climate control
system to warm up the interior, which will also warm
the transmission enough for you to drive the vehicle.

●

The engine speed does not increase even if you fully
depress the accelerator pedal.

●

Contact an authorized Acura NSX dealer immediately.

●

To prevent the message to come on, store the vehicle in
the garage or drive in advance to warm up the High
Voltage battery.

●

The minimum operation guarantee environmental
temperature is -4°F [-20°C].

●

Vehicle speed is limited to 109 mph (175 km/h) until
twin motor unit fluid warms up.

●

Drives with the rear wheels only in this state.
Have your vehicle checked by an authorized Acura NSX
dealer.

uuIndicators uDriver Information Interface Warning and Information Messages

Instrument Panel

Message Condition Explanation

●

Appears when the engine is running and indicates that
the engine oil level is low.

●

Appears while driving - Immediately stop in a safe
place.

2 If the Low Oil Level Symbol Appears P. 442

●

Appears when the engine is running and indicates that
there is a problem with the oil level sensor.

●

Appears if the engine coolant temperature is
abnormally high.

●

Appears if there is a problem with the fuel system.
Engine performance will be limited.

●

Appears if there is a temporary problem with the gear
shift mechanism and initialization is necessary.

●

Appears when the transmission is undergoing
initialization.

●

Appears when a temporary problem is fixed.

●

Have your vehicle checked by an authorized Acura NSX
dealer as soon as possible.

2 Overheating P. 436

●

Immediately stop in a safe place and set the power
mode to VEHICLE OFF (LOCK), then select the ON mode
again.
Have your vehicle checked by an authorized Acura NSX
dealer if the message appears again.

●

Depress the brake pedal and shift to (P .

●

Keep the brake pedal depressed.

●

Initialization will be completed when the engine is
restarted.

Continued

91

uuIndicatorsuDriver Information Interface Warning and Information Messages

Instrument Panel

Message Condition Explanation

●

Appears when a problem with the transmission
prevents a gear from changing to (R .

●

Have your vehicle checked by an authorized Acura NSX
dealer.

92

●

Appears when the High Voltage battery is extremely low
and cannot start the power system.

●

Appears when the vehicle cannot be driven by the
engine.

●

Appears when the engine speed exceeds reduced REV
LIMIT while engine temperature is low.

●

Appears when braking ability is reduced due to
increased fluid consumption in the braking system.

●

Appears if you are driving at an extremely high speed
and one or more tires are underinflated.

●

Have your vehicle checked by an authorized Acura NSX
dealer.

●

Stop your vehicle in a safe place and contact an
authorized Acura NSX dealer.

●

Continue driving at a low engine speed until the engine
temperature becomes warm.

●

Slow Down and drive carefully. The message will
disappear once the brakes have cooled and the system
has returned to normal operating condition.

●

Decelerate and drive your vehicle until the message
disappears.

uuIndicators uDriver Information Interface Warning and Information Messages

Instrument Panel

Message Condition Explanation

●

Appears for a few seconds if you have not pressed the

(N button long enough to initiate Neutral-Hold mode.

2 If you want to keep the transmission in (N position

(car wash mode) P. 317

●

Appears when you press and hold (N button for more
than 2 seconds.

●

Appears when the device for starting the vehicle is too
hot.

●

Disappears when you set the gear position to other than

(N.

2 If you want to keep the transmission in (N position

(car wash mode) P. 317

●

Wait until message disappears.

Continued

93

uuIndicatorsuDriver Information Interface Warning and Information Messages

Instrument Panel

Message Condition Explanation

●

Appears when launch control cannot be used due to the
condition of your vehicle.

●

Appears if you shift the gear or do anything else after
Launch Mode is ready.

●

Appears when Launch Mode is ready.

●

Appears when the temperature of the transmission is
not in the operable range for launch control.

●

Appears if the IDS mode cannot be changed due to
certain situations, such as a system error or adverse
driving conditions.

2 Launch Control P. 328

2 Launch Control P. 328

2 Launch Control P. 328

2 Launch Control P. 328

2 Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) P. 323

94

Instrument Panel

1Speedometer

Press and hold the mph/km/h change button until
you hear a beep.
The speedometer reading and the displayed
measurements switch between mph and km/h.

1Fuel Gauge

NOTICE

You should refuel when the needle approaches .
Running out of fuel can cause the engine to misfire,
damaging the catalytic converter.

The actual amount of remaining fuel may differ from
the fuel gauge reading.

E

Gauges and Displays

Gauges

Gauges include the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, High
Voltage battery charge level gauge, ASSIST/CHARGE gauge, SH-AWD®
temperature gauge, and related indicators. They are displayed when the power
mode is in ON.

Speedometer

■

Displays your driving speed in mph or km/h.

Tachometer

■

Shows the number of engine revolutions per minute.

■ Engine speed red-zone indication

Alerts you when the engine speed is near the tachometer’s red zone.
When the engine speed exceeds 7,000 rpm, the outer ring of the tachometer flashes
in red.
To protect the engine from damage, never drive with the tachometer in its red zone.

Fuel Gauge

■

Displays the amount of fuel left in the fuel tank.

Continued

95

uuGauges and DisplaysuGauges

Instrument Panel

1Temperature Gauge

Driving with the temperature gauge pointer in the
upper zone can cause serious engine damage. Pull
safely to the side of the road and allow engine
temperature to return to normal.

2 Overheating P. 436

1High Voltage Battery Charge Level Gauge

The High Voltage battery charge level may decrease
under the following conditions:

• When the 12-volt battery has been replaced.

• When the 12-volt battery has been disconnected.

• When the High Voltage battery control system

corrects its reading.

The charge level reading will be corrected
automatically while driving.

Changes in the temperature of the High Voltage
battery can increase or decrease the battery’s
charging capacity. If temperature changes cause the
battery’s capacity to change, the number of
indicators in the battery charge level gauge may also
change, even if the amount of charging remains the
same.

Temperature Gauge

■

Displays the temperature of the engine coolant.

High Voltage Battery Charge Level Gauge

■

Shows the remaining High Voltage battery charge level.

ASSIST/CHARGE Gauge

■

■ Electric motor

The degree to which the electric motor is being powered is displayed by the readings
on the ASSIST side.

■ Battery charge in progress

The degree to which the High Voltage battery is being charged is displayed by the
readings on the CHARGE side.

96

Instrument Panel

SH-AWD® Temperature Gauge

1SH-AWD® Temperature Gauge

If the temperature reaches the red zone, stop your
vehicle in a safe place and allow the system to cool
down. After that, change the power mode to
VEHICLE OFF (LOCK) and set the power mode to ON
again. Even though the system has cooled down, the
POWER SYSTEM indicator will stay on. Have your
vehicle inspected by an authorized Acura NSX dealer.

A

B

C

D

E

1Engine Oil Temperature Gauge

Driving with the temperature gauge pointer in the
upper zone can cause serious engine damage. Pull
safely to the side of the road and allow engine
temperature to return to normal.

■

Displays the temperature of the SH-AWD® system.

Engine Oil Temperature Gauge

■

Displays the temperature of the engine oil when the IDS is in SPORT+ mode and
TRACK mode.

Since the actual oil temperature is not measured, the temperature displayed here
may differ from the actual temperature.

2 Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) P. 323

uuGauges and DisplaysuGauges

A: System performance is severely limited
due to extreme operating temperature. Stop
your vehicle in a safe place and contact an
authorized Acura NSX dealer.
B: System performance is limited due to high
operating temperature.
C: System is operating at optimum
performance.
D: System performance is limited due to low
operating temperature.
E: System is not warm enough for vehicle to
drive.

97

uuGauges and DisplaysuDriver Information Interface

Instrument Panel

Right Selector Wheel

Engine Oil Life

Elapsed Time

Blank Screen

Average Speed

RangeAverage Fuel Economy/

Instant Fuel Economy

Tire Pressure for
Each Tire

Turn-by-Turn
Directions

Oil Level Check Assist

Compass

Driver Information Interface

The driver information interface shows the odometer, trip meter, outside
temperature indicator, and other gauges. It also displays important messages such
as warnings and other helpful information.

Switching the Display

■

Roll the right selector wheel to change the display.

98

Instrument Panel

Odometer

Trip A

Trip B

TRIP Button

Outside Temperature

uuGauges and DisplaysuDriver Information Interface

Press the TRIP button to change the display.

Continued

99