Acura RDX Complaints

2,183 consumer complaints on file.

#11684165August 31, 2025
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Automatic braking system came on when the vehicle sensed another vehicle. As the breaking system turned on, the steering wheel locked and did not allow for the driver to steer in order to not avoid a collision. This happened in the streets. It is currently under investigation with insurance. The vehicle had applied the emergency breaks system a few days before, in the highway, while the driver already had the foot on the break and the steering wheel had locked, preventing the driver to change lanes. No collision on this day.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11683365August 27, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2020 Acura RDX. The contact stated that the vehicle was intermittently difficult to start. The message to depress the brake pedal and press the Push to Start button was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle was able to restart after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed several times, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11682432August 22, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The headlights on the vehicle are VERY dim, so much so that driving at night is really not safe. At any point I have a passenger in my car while dark, they always ask if I have my lights on. On roadways at night, I have to either ride behind someone else to have the road lit in front of me OR illegally drive with the high beams on. This has been an ongoing issue for a few years but I only realized recently what a real safety hazard this is when others have brought it to my attention. I have read quite a few posts that others are also having similar issues with the 2013-2015 RDX base model (the 2014-2015 Acura RLX vehicles were recalled due to the potential delamination of reflective film inside the headlights and I suspect this is a similar issue).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11682459August 22, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I came close to striking certian low lining dividers, etc.... It is very well known That RDX around my build date Main headlight projector reflector burns out. I found out that Acura had a mandatory NHTSA recall to that era ILX for this same issue and Nissan has just settled a class action lawsuit for the same issue. The headlights were all manufactured by National Automotive Lighting (NAL). and the reflective coating inside the projector lens burns in time due to high lightbulb heat. When will this be recalled?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11682123August 21, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, STEERING
While driving my 2025 Acura RDX A-Spec Advance (approx. 5,000 miles) at about 40 mph through a light curve, the vehicle suddenly lost power steering mid-turn. The dash displayed: “Electric Power Steering System Problem. Steering Assist Not Available. Do Not Drive.” This was not just a loss of assist. The wheel felt like it was resisting input and was nearly impossible to turn, locking the car into an off-road path. I narrowly missed a curb and a large tree by inches, only avoiding collision by forcing the wheel with maximum effort while applying heavy brakes. If this had occurred at higher speed or on a mountain road, the result could have been catastrophic. Once stopped, five additional warnings appeared: Brake System Problem, Lane Keeping Assist System Problem, Collision Mitigation Braking System Problem, Road Departure Mitigation System Problem, and Low Speed Braking Control Problem. After restarting, most warnings remained, though steering assist and brakes seemed temporarily normal. I cautiously drove to a nearby lot, then to the dealership. At the service center, the errors cleared only after shutting down the engine. Staff first suggested a “loose battery cable.” When I mentioned that other 2025 RDX owners have reported the same issue, I was told not to trust the internet. They kept the vehicle overnight under warranty. Initially no loaner vehicle was available, which forced my wife to leave work for daycare pickup. After she called management directly, a loaner was provided. At the time of this report, no diagnosis has been given. Service staff speculated it could be nothing or it could be a failed steering column, which matches reports from other owners. This sudden steering failure, combined with simultaneous warnings across multiple safety systems, created an immediate risk of serious crash. The incident occurred only two days after routine service at the same dealership.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11681749August 19, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Purchased car with ~96k miles. Drove at night and had extremely low road visibility due to lighting. Replaced the bulbs to a high lumen LED, did not increase lighting/visibility. My research finds this to be a known issue with a refractor found behind the headlight lens within the headlamp housing.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11681466August 18, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When I closed my passenger door my rear windshield shattered
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11681212August 17, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Parked in a restaurant parking lot, & upon leaving got into the car closed the door and the rear window just shattered. Car hadn’t been started yet & no previous damage had happened to the window. If I had been driving the car and the horrible noise it made I probably would’ve panicked and gone off the road.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11680584August 14, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Locked Acura RDX alarm goes off randomly for no reason. When the alarm is turned off all the lights on the dash are flashing on and off and ticking. The most recent is 8/14/25. But has happened on several occasions especially if locked with the key fob or the lock on exterior of door. On 8/14/2025 it was lock by the inside door lock.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11680227August 12, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
At night when I turn on my headlights, they turn on, however they do not reflect properly causing severe dimming and inability to see farther than 1-2 feet in front while I am driving. This is a severe safety hazard. Changing the bulbs regardless of halogen or LED does not improve. Many forums have this issue and it is too unsafe to drive at night putting myself, my passengers, and people on the street at risk. Mechanic confirms the issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677038July 29, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Pearl white paint peeling on trunk of car, same issue as with MDX models.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677100July 29, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On July 12, 2025 my husband, the driver, and myself, owner of the vehicle and passenger this day, were driving on the freeway at approximately 7:00am in the middle lanes of the freeway. Without any codes or warnings beforehand, we heard the car make alarming beeps and automatically loss all power to the engine while traveling at highway speeds. This situation put my husband and my lives at risk and in a dangerous situation as there was traffic on a busy freeway and lost all power to the vehicle and made even maneuvering off the freeway a dangerous action as we had no warning beforehand there was something wrong. My husband was able to get us safely out of harms way. After being diagnosed at a mechanic, it turns out this problem happened due to a cracked cylinder head and had no previous warnings of an issue and no warning lights on the vehicle alerting to a problem, I will have the cylinder head in my possession and the mechanic I took my vehicle stated it cannot be ruled out this could be a manufacturer’s or casting defect. I tried contacting Acura Corporation about this situation but was told that since I did not take it to a dealership and have a certified tech look at my vehicle, there will be no case and no type of remedy or reimbursement for this situation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677122July 29, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The headlights on this vehicle are terrible. Have to drive with brights on at night or cannot see. I replaced with better bulbs but no improvement. I have been told this is a common problem on these vehicles and the only fix is to replace the complete headlight assembly. I was told by dealership this was approximately a $3000 job.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676754July 28, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The headlights on this vehicle are very dim and it is dangerous to drive at night. I require my daughter to drive with the high beams on since the low beam lights are hardly functional. I've had the lights replaced at a cost of $500. This did not help the situation. The lights have failed inspection and I'm faced with having to replace the lights again for an additional $500 just to pass inspection. This fix will not resolve the issue. From what i've been able to research online, this is not an isolated situation with 2015 Acura RDX vehicles. It appears to be a result of a defect in the entire headlight assembly part, which is a significant cost to repair. I'm concerned for the safety of my daughter having to drive this vehicle and the safety of other drivers due to her needing to use her high beams more often than typically required. I contacted Acura USA and was told there were no recalls and that i needed to manage repairs through the dealership. This is an obvious safety issue that Acura should resolve.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675886July 24, 2025
AIR BAGS, SEATS
Purchased used 2019 RDX from Acura dealer in June 2025. Within the first 30 days of owning the RDX we noticed the Airbag Sensor for the front passenger seat would not recognize my 90 lb daughter seating in the seat and the air bag sensor would indicate the seat was empty, which would result in the airbag not deploying if we were in an accident. I took video of this happening and took my RDX into dealership for repair as we were still within the 30 day period for issues. The Acura dealership insisted they could not replicate the problem so it was fine. I again referred to the video and said we have seen proof of the issue. After much back and forth and the service manager telling me his large dog sometimes doesn't set off the sensor he agreed to call American Honda to send out an engineer to test. The engineer after running tests said seat is calibrated correctly no issue to fix, even if we wanted to pay to fix it ourselves they wouldn't fix the seat sensor because there is no issue to correct. I don't understand how a car that advertises a safety feature for anyone that weighs over 65lbs can expect me to continue to drive this vehicle when it has a proven faulty sensor. Obviously how they test the sensor is faulty as well. This is a huge safety issue for the 2019 RDX and a disappointing and shocking lack of response from Acura. We are now working to return the car to the dealership and I am sure we will have to fight to not pay extra costs that will occur with them buying it back.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675782July 23, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN
I was at a stop light, car was stopped, the electronics on the vehicle looked like it went through a reboot, A/C blower fluctuated (turned off then back on), all displays went out and restarted like it does when you start the car. When the traffic light turned green, and I stepped on the gas, the car shuddered and hesitated, like the transmission, ABS and traction control were all going haywire. Then the car drove fine. As long as I do not slow down too much or stop. Once I got home and had to back up into the garage, it went through that haywire cycle again. This was the 3rd time this has happened on this car. But after I shut off the engine, wait a little while and start it again, symptom seems to go away, until it decides to happen again. I have had this car since July of 2024, and since that time, I have had this happen to me 3 times and 2 times to my wife. I have read on the net and one of the possibilities talked about if the ABS control unit, where soldered wires seems to be melting off of the circuit boards and causing intermittent connection, therefore exhibiting erratic behavior. There are even services on eBay where you can send in your whole ABS unit and they will open them up, clean and re-solder the wires. This seems to be scary and concerning from a safety perspective. Please investigate the issue for us who are affected. It is not just my year model car, but it includes Honda branded and different Acura and Honda model cars too. Thank you.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674764July 19, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally report a recurring and concerning design issue affecting the Acura RDX — specifically, a defect in the sunroof drainage system. Based on both personal experience and widespread consumer reports, it appears that the drainage channels are prone to clogging, which results in water accumulating and eventually leaking into the vehicle’s cabin and trunk areas. In my case, this defect has led to persistent water intrusion that has damaged the interior and raised serious concerns about mold and mildew development. Stagnant water inside a sealed vehicle can pose significant health and safety risks, especially for families and those who rely on their vehicles for daily transportation. Having the drains professionally cleared at the dealership costs approximately $300 per visit. I have been informed that this service will likely be required on a recurring basis, despite the fact that such maintenance is neither expected nor common for vehicle owners. This is especially troubling considering the cost exceeds routine maintenance like oil changes or tire rotations, and it addresses an issue resulting from design flaws — not misuse or neglect. I have contacted both the dealership and Honda/Acura customer service, only to be informed that there is no permanent solution. For a vehicle marketed as a premium product, this is a disappointing and financially unreasonable resolution. I respectfully urge the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to investigate this issue as a possible design defect that compromises vehicle safety and structural integrity. Given the volume of similar complaints found in consumer forums and online reviews, it is evident that this is not an isolated incident, but rather a widespread and systemic concern that warrants further scrutiny and potential corrective action. I also have a video of water gushing inside my car which I cannot upload and it’s unacceptable. Respectfully, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATIO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674488July 18, 2025
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
Started vehicle in the morning and had driven about 5 miles. LKAS, Adaptive Cruise Control and all other collision avoidance systems turned on. ACC Speed set, but disengaged due to prior braking for the curve. Weather overcast but dry. While turning left around a sweeping curve at about 40mph the vehicle suddenly started emergency braking and trying to turn right into the guardrail on the side of the road. Major force required to keep vehicle in the lane and under control. Power steering went out. Collision braking warning, Power steering warning, LKAS warning, Road departure mitigation warning, Low speed braking control problem, also power steering icon glowed orange, safety system icon glowed orange, Lane keeping icon glowed orange, Brake system icon glowed orange. No place to pull off, continued several miles to a parking lot. Took photos of dash warnings (provided to dealer). Cycled engine power to no effect. Cycled again waiting about 1 minute and opening door to turn off nav display. Upon restart warnings all remain, power steering returned. Drove home and parked for about 1 hour. Upon restart all errors gone and functioning normally. Noted Acura Link sent CMBS Problem! notification. Car now at Acura of Brookfield (WI) for evaluation. All notification on vehicle and Acural Link cleared by time I arrived at dealer. Note vehicle defaulted back to "Normal" drive mode after this event. Had been set on "Comfort" which is normally retained at power cycle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674379July 17, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am writing to formally bring to your attention a recurring and concerning design issue with the Acura RDX involving the sunroof drainage system. This problem appears to stem from a flawed design in which the drainage channels frequently become clogged, leading to water accumulating and eventually leaking into the vehicle’s cabin and trunk areas. In my personal experience, this defect has resulted in persistent water intrusion that not only damages the interior but creates a serious risk for mold and mildew growth, along with unpleasant and unhealthy odors from sitting water. The accumulation of stagnant water inside a sealed vehicle presents a clear health and safety concern, particularly for families and daily commuters. The cost to have the drains professionally cleared at the dealership is approximately $300 per visit. I have been advised that this cleaning will be an ongoing necessity, despite the fact that this type of maintenance is not commonly expected of vehicle owners as part of standard upkeep. In comparison, this expense surpasses the cost of regular oil changes or tire rotations — yet it addresses a problem that stems from the car’s design rather than from use or neglect. I contacted both the dealership and Honda customer service and was told there is no permanent fix for this issue. The best they could offer was to cover 50% of the cost for a temporary solution — drain cleaning — which does nothing to resolve the root design flaw and will inevitably need to be repeated. As a consumer who has invested in a premium vehicle, I find this resolution to be unacceptable and financially burdensome. I respectfully request that the NHTSA investigate this matter as a potential defect affecting vehicle safety and integrity. Given the number of similar complaints circulating in consumer forums and online reviews, it is clear that this is not an isolated incident, but rather a systemic problem that deserves further attention and possible action.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673877July 16, 2025
STEERING
The contact owns a 2025 Acura RDX. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the steering wheel seized, causing the vehicle to veer into another lane. The contact was unable to move the steering wheel more than half an inch to the left or the right. The contact was able to reach the nearest exit and pulled over to the side of the road. The contact stated that after pulling over to the side of the road, the “Steering Wheel Lock” and “Stop Driving” warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2,200. The VIN was not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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