Acura RDX Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Acura RDX model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2009 drew the fewest (15) and the 2019 the most (438).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Still collecting reports |
1 | 0 | Power train | 5★ | 23 |
| 2024 Still collecting reports |
12 | 2 | Unknown or other | 5★ | 23 |
| 2009 Among the fewest complaints |
15 | 2 | Air bags | — | 19 |
| 2012 Among the fewest complaints |
15 | 2 | Air bags | — | 19–21 |
| 2011 Among the fewest complaints |
16 | 2 | Air bags | — | 19–21 |
| 2010 | 22 | 2 | Air bags | — | 19–21 |
| 2023 | 23 | 2 | Electrical system | 5★ | 23–24 |
| 2025 Still collecting reports |
30 | 1 | Steering | 5★ | 23 |
| 2022 | 31 | 2 | Unknown or other | 5★ | 23–24 |
| 2008 | 33 | 3 | Air bags | — | 19 |
| 2016 | 41 | 2 | Power train | 5★ | 22–23 |
| 2007 | 53 | 2 | Air bags | — | 19 |
| 2018 | 77 | 1 | Fuel system | 5★ | 22–23 |
| 2017 | 78 | 1 | Power train | 5★ | 22–23 |
| 2021 | 114 | 3 | Unknown or other | 5★ | 23–24 |
| 2013 | 162 | 3 | Exterior lighting | — | 22–23 |
| 2014 | 243 | 3 | Exterior lighting | 5★ | 22–23 |
| 2020 Among the most complaints |
346 | 5 | Unknown or other | 5★ | 23–24 |
| 2015 Among the most complaints |
412 | 3 | Exterior lighting | 5★ | 22–23 |
| 2019 Among the most complaints |
438 | 5 | Unknown or other | 5★ | 23–24 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Acura RDX years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2019 Acura RDX: 438 complaints
Most-reported: Visibility/wiper 96 (22%); Engine 89 (20%); Electrical system 39 (9%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 5 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 11,161 miles. 5 recall campaigns listed.
2015 Acura RDX: 412 complaints
Most-reported: Exterior lighting 340 (83%); Air bags 33 (8%); Visibility/wiper 20 (5%).
Reports mention 7 crashes, 4 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 55,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
2020 Acura RDX: 346 complaints
Most-reported: Visibility/wiper 83 (24%); Engine 53 (15%); Electrical system 27 (8%).
Reports mention 4 crashes, 1 fire, 4 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 6,200 miles. 5 recall campaigns listed.
The Acura RDX years with the fewest complaints
2009 Acura RDX: 15 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 10 (67%); Service brakes 2 (13%); Power train 1 (7%).
Reports mention 1 crash. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2012 Acura RDX: 15 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 6 (40%); Electrical system 2 (13%); Power train 2 (13%).
2 recall campaigns listed.
2011 Acura RDX: 16 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 10 (63%); Electrical system 3 (19%); Exterior lighting 3 (19%).
Reports mention 1 crash. 2 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Acura RDX owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 31 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 114 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30,000 |
| 2020 | 346 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6,200 |
| 2019 | 438 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 11,161 |
| 2018 | 77 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6,500 |
| 2017 | 78 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 13,500 |
| 2016 | 41 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 27,000 |
| 2015 | 412 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 55,000 |
| 2014 | 243 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 60,000 |
| 2013 | 162 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 47,500 |
| 2012 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 22 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60,000 |
| 2007 | 53 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 68,057 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Acura RDX recalls
- Fuel Pump May Fail (2014–2020 model years; 2,490,460 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2023; 23V858000)
- Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture (2007–2016 model years; 2,232,187 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2016; 16V061000)
- Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode (2007–2016 model years; 1,101,534 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 2019; 19V182000)
- Air Bag May Deploy Unintentionally During a Crash (2020–2022 model years; 750,114 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2024; 24V064000)
- Fuel Pump May Fail (2019–2020 model years; 624,552 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 2021; 21V215000)
All 16 Acura RDX recall campaigns · Acura RDX problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Acura RDX years FAQ
Which Acura RDX year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2009 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (15). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Acura RDX years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2019, 2015 and 2020 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the exterior lighting. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Acura RDX problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the exterior lighting (609 of 2,162 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Acura RDX have?
NHTSA lists 16 recall campaigns covering the Acura RDX. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Acura RDX recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.