Acura RDX years to avoid (and the best years)
2,045 NHTSA owner complaints and 15 recalls across 16 model years, 2010 to 2025. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 2,045complaints
- 15recalls
- 48reported crashes
- 10reported fires
- 39reported injuries
- 1reported deaths
Which Acura RDX years should you avoid?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the Acura RDX years to avoid are 2019, 2015, 2020 and 2014. The typical Acura RDX year has 58 complaints on file.
- 2019: 437 complaints, 7.6 times the typical year. Most complaints name the wipers and visibility (26% of complaints) and the engine (21% of complaints).
- 2015: 410 complaints, 7.1 times the typical year. Most complaints name the exterior lighting (82% of complaints) and the airbags (8% of complaints).
- 2020: 345 complaints, 6.0 times the typical year. Most complaints name the wipers and visibility (29% of complaints) and the engine (16% of complaints).
- 2014: 242 complaints, 4.2 times the typical year. Most complaints name the exterior lighting (67% of complaints) and the airbags (17% of complaints).
What are the best Acura RDX years?
The Acura RDX years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2012 (15), 2011 (16) and 2023 (21). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30 | 0.5× | 1 | 1 | 0 | Few red flags | Steering |
| 2024 | 11 | 0.2× | 2 | 1 | 2 | Few red flags | Wipers and visibility |
| 2023 | 21 | 0.4× | 2 | 0 | 0 | Few red flags | Wipers and visibility |
| 2022 | 31 | 0.5× | 2 | 4 | 2 | Few red flags | Wipers and visibility |
| 2021 | 111 | 1.9× | 3 | 3 | 1 | Some concerns to check | Engine |
| 2020 | 345 | 6.0× | 5 | 4 | 4 | Approach with caution | Wipers and visibility |
| 2019 | 437 | 7.6× | 5 | 3 | 5 | Approach with caution | Wipers and visibility |
| 2018 | 77 | 1.3× | 1 | 5 | 3 | Few red flags | Fuel system |
| 2017 | 75 | 1.3× | 1 | 7 | 6 | Some concerns to check | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2016 | 40 | 0.7× | 2 | 3 | 3 | Few red flags | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2015 | 410 | 7.1× | 3 | 7 | 4 | Approach with caution | Exterior lighting |
| 2014 | 242 | 4.2× | 3 | 2 | 4 | Approach with caution | Exterior lighting |
| 2013 | 162 | 2.8× | 3 | 6 | 4 | Some concerns to check | Exterior lighting |
| 2012 | 15 | 0.3× | 2 | 0 | 0 | Few red flags | Airbags |
| 2011 | 16 | 0.3× | 2 | 1 | 0 | Few red flags | Airbags |
| 2010 | 22 | 0.4× | 2 | 1 | 1 | Few red flags | Airbags |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 589 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Structure & body264 (45%)
- Engine & powertrain143 (24%)
- Brakes50 (8%)
- Airbags & seat belts42 (7%)
- Electrical & infotainment40 (7%)
Recalls (15)
Airbags · 26V332000 · May 2026 · model years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Steering · 25V582000 · Sep 2025 · model year 2025
A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Steering · 24V114000 · Feb 2024 · model year 2024
Corroded and binding steering gears can result in a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 24V064000 · Feb 2024 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fuel system · 23V858000 · Dec 2023 · model years 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Brakes · 23V430000 · Jun 2023 · model year 2023
Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Seat belts · 23V158000 · Mar 2023 · model years 2019, 2020
An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Transmission · 21V939000 · Dec 2021 · model year 2021
Driveshaft failure can cause a sudden loss of drive power, or cause the vehicle to roll away when parked if the parking brake is not applied. Either condition can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fuel system · 21V215000 · Mar 2021 · model years 2019, 2020
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fuel system · 20V314000 · May 2020 · model year 2019
If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 19V500000 · Jun 2019 · model year 2015
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Airbags · 19V182000 · Mar 2019 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Safety · 17V256000 · Apr 2017 · model year 2017
If the label information can be wiped away, the operator may not be able to refer to the information, possibly resulting in the vehicle being overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 16V061000 · Feb 2016 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Transmission · 13V143000 · Apr 2013 · model year 2013
If the gear selector is moved from the park position without pressing the brake pedal it can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.