2011 Acura RDX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2011 Acura RDX has 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (48% of all complaints), specifically: 2011 acura rdx. consumer writes in regards to replacement parts not available to repair defective airbag recall. *smd.

3 crash reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

10 complaints

48%

• 2011 ACURA RDX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE AIRBAG RECALL. *SMD
• I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR MY CAR AIRBAGS IN MARCH OF 2016. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER SEVERAL TIME TO ASK FOR THE REPLACEMENT REQUIRED BY THIS RECALL AND STILL HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE. MEANWHILE, MY FAMILY AND I ARE DRIVING IN WHAT COULD BE A DANGEROUS VEHICLE.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT M

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“2011 ACURA RDX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE AIRBAG RECALL. *SMD”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

3 complaints

14%

• PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FLICKERS GOES ON FOR SOME TIME, THEN TURNS OFF BY ITSELF AFTER TURN LIGHT BACK OFF AND TURNING BACK ON THEY DO THE SAME THING OVER AGAIN SAFETY ISSUE AT NIGHT STATIONARY AND IN MOTION
• TL* THE CONTACT CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF GEARS AND THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE
• CONDENSATION FORMS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS CAUSING THE LIGHTS NOT TO WORK.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FLICKERS GOES ON FOR SOME TIME, THEN TURNS OFF BY ITSELF AFTER TURN LIGHT BACK OFF AND TURNING BACK ON THEY DO THE SAME THING OVER AGAIN SAFETY ISSUE AT NIGHT STATIONARY AND IN MOTION”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

3 complaints

14%

• PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FLICKERS GOES ON FOR SOME TIME, THEN TURNS OFF BY ITSELF AFTER TURN LIGHT BACK OFF AND TURNING BACK ON THEY DO THE SAME THING OVER AGAIN SAFETY ISSUE AT NIGHT STATIONARY AND IN MOTION
• CONDENSATION FORMS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS CAUSING THE LIGHTS NOT TO WORK.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

2 complaints

10%

• LOW GROWL, OR VIBRATION/SHUDDER STARTING AROUND 40-50 MPH AND CONTINUES IF YOU GO FASTER OR ACCELERATE QUICKLY. ALREADY CHANGED 2 AXLES AND HAD MOUNTS CHECK AND MULTIPLE ALLIGNMENTS. ALL OPEN SOURCE AND FORUM RESEARCH POINT VERY HEAVILY TO TORQUE CONVERTER AND POWERPOINT CONTROL MODULE.
• TL* THE CONTACT CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF GEARS AND THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“LOW GROWL, OR VIBRATION/SHUDDER STARTING AROUND 40-50 MPH AND CONTINUES IF YOU GO FASTER OR ACCELERATE QUICKLY. ALREADY CHANGED 2 AXLES AND HAD MOUNTS CHECK AND MULTIPLE ALLIGNMENTS. ALL OPEN SOURCE AND FORUM RESEARCH POINT VERY HEAVILY TO TORQUE CONVERTER AND POWERPOINT CONTROL MODULE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

1 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN AT AN EXTREMELY LOW SPEED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AS THE VEHICLE TILTED TO THE R

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN AT AN EXTREMELY LOW SPEED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AS THE VEHICLE TILTED TO THE R”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 21 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: 2011 ACURA RDX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE AIRBAG RECALL. *SMD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FLICKERS GOES ON FOR SOME TIME, THEN TURNS OFF BY ITSELF AFTER TURN LIGHT BACK OFF AND TURNING BACK ON THEY DO THE SAME THING OVER AGAIN SAFETY ISSUE AT NIGHT STATIONARY AND IN MOTION
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FLICKERS GOES ON FOR SOME TIME, THEN TURNS OFF BY ITSELF AFTER TURN LIGHT BACK OFF AND TURNING BACK ON THEY DO THE SAME THING OVER AGAIN SAFETY ISSUE AT NIGHT STATIONARY AND IN MOTION
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: LOW GROWL, OR VIBRATION/SHUDDER STARTING AROUND 40-50 MPH AND CONTINUES IF YOU GO FASTER OR ACCELERATE QUICKLY. ALREADY CHANGED 2 AXLES AND HAD MOUNTS CHECK AND MULTIPLE ALLIGNMENTS. ALL OPEN SOURCE AND FORUM RESEARCH POINT VERY HEAVILY TO TORQUE CONVERTER AND POWERPOINT CONTROL MODULE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)