2012 Acura RDX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2012 Acura RDX has 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (32% of all complaints), specifically: takata recall i received a letter dated march 2016 notifying me of the recall, and when i contacted my dealer, this was his response: kristen, i understand your situation. many people are going through the same situation. unfortunately there is not a remedy. you have options. acura is allowing .

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

6 complaints

32%

• TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A LETTER DATED MARCH 2016 NOTIFYING ME OF THE RECALL, AND WHEN I CONTACTED MY DEALER, THIS WAS HIS RESPONSE: KRISTEN, I UNDERSTAND YOUR SITUATION. MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME SITUATION. UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NOT A REMEDY. YOU HAVE OPTIONS. ACURA IS ALLOWING
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 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 MANUFAC
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. TH

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

“TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A LETTER DATED MARCH 2016 NOTIFYING ME OF THE RECALL, AND WHEN I CONTACTED MY DEALER, THIS WAS HIS RESPONSE: KRISTEN, I UNDERSTAND YOUR SITUATION. MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME SITUATION. UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NOT A REMEDY. YOU HAVE OPTIONS. ACURA IS ALLOWING ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

2 complaints

11%

• 1. NOTICED VEHICLE LEAKING OIL AT FRONT OF ENGINE BLOCK. DEALER INSPECTED AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IDENTIFIED A CASTING/MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN RIGHT FRONT TOP OF ENGINE BLOCK (NOTCH) THAT WAS CAUSING OIL LEAK. 2. SEVERAL DAYS LATER ON MAY 21ST FOR NO APPARENT REASON, MOONROOF IMPLODED. *TT
• WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 5,000 TO 6,000 RPM WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. THE BRAKE WAS NOT HOLDING AND I STARTED MOVING CLOSER TO THE CAR STOPPED FOR THE RED LIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I THEN PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN N

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

“1. NOTICED VEHICLE LEAKING OIL AT FRONT OF ENGINE BLOCK. DEALER INSPECTED AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IDENTIFIED A CASTING/MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN RIGHT FRONT TOP OF ENGINE BLOCK (NOTCH) THAT WAS CAUSING OIL LEAK. 2. SEVERAL DAYS LATER ON MAY 21ST FOR NO APPARENT REASON, MOONROOF IMPLODED. *TT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

2 complaints

11%

• WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 5,000 TO 6,000 RPM WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. THE BRAKE WAS NOT HOLDING AND I STARTED MOVING CLOSER TO THE CAR STOPPED FOR THE RED LIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I THEN PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN N
• Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Acura RDX. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 148,000. However, following an oil change service, it was later discovered that the actual vehicle

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

“WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 5,000 TO 6,000 RPM WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. THE BRAKE WAS NOT HOLDING AND I STARTED MOVING CLOSER TO THE CAR STOPPED FOR THE RED LIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I THEN PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN N”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

2 complaints

11%

• DEC. 23 2014: MY HUSBAND AND I WERE TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY GA400 AT APPROX. 60 MPH. ALL WINDOWS WERE CLOSED, THE SUNROOF & SUNROOF SHADE WERE CLOSED. APPROX. OUTSIDE TEMP WAS 45F, CLOUDY DAY, INSIDE VEHICLE TEMP WAS APPROX. 70F. THERE WERE NO CARS OR OBJECTS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ON THE H
• VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE BRAKES TO LOCK AND CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR OTHERS AND THE PERSON DRIVING THE CAR. ONCE THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN THE CAR WILL NEED TO BE PUT IN PARK, TURNED OFF AND COMPLETELY RESTARTED AGAIN. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED TO MY VEHICL

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

“DEC. 23 2014: MY HUSBAND AND I WERE TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY GA400 AT APPROX. 60 MPH. ALL WINDOWS WERE CLOSED, THE SUNROOF & SUNROOF SHADE WERE CLOSED. APPROX. OUTSIDE TEMP WAS 45F, CLOUDY DAY, INSIDE VEHICLE TEMP WAS APPROX. 70F. THERE WERE NO CARS OR OBJECTS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ON THE H”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

2 complaints

11%

• MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 50K MILES. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I NOTICED A SOUND WHEN MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I EXITED THE ROAD THE WHEEL WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE SOUND INCREASED. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE AND I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A COSTLY REPLACEMENT OF TH RACK-N-PINION.
• WITHIN THE FIRST 2 YEARS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOTICED MY RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING. THE ACURA DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION UNDER WARRANTY 28,782.00 MMI MAY 16, 2014. I WAS EXPERIENCING VIBRATION ESPECIALLY AT SPEEDS OF 60-65. IT KEPT GETTING WORSE I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ROAD, TIRES OUT OF

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

“MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 50K MILES. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I NOTICED A SOUND WHEN MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I EXITED THE ROAD THE WHEEL WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE SOUND INCREASED. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE AND I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A COSTLY REPLACEMENT OF TH RACK-N-PINION.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 19 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A LETTER DATED MARCH 2016 NOTIFYING ME OF THE RECALL, AND WHEN I CONTACTED MY DEALER, THIS WAS HIS RESPONSE: KRISTEN, I UNDERSTAND YOUR SITUATION. MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME SITUATION. UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NOT A REMEDY. YOU HAVE OPTIONS. ACURA IS ALLOWING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 1. NOTICED VEHICLE LEAKING OIL AT FRONT OF ENGINE BLOCK. DEALER INSPECTED AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IDENTIFIED A CASTING/MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN RIGHT FRONT TOP OF ENGINE BLOCK (NOTCH) THAT WAS CAUSING OIL LEAK. 2. SEVERAL DAYS LATER ON MAY 21ST FOR NO APPARENT REASON, MOONROOF IMPLODED. *TT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 5,000 TO 6,000 RPM WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. THE BRAKE WAS NOT HOLDING AND I STARTED MOVING CLOSER TO THE CAR STOPPED FOR THE RED LIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I THEN PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN N
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: DEC. 23 2014: MY HUSBAND AND I WERE TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY GA400 AT APPROX. 60 MPH. ALL WINDOWS WERE CLOSED, THE SUNROOF & SUNROOF SHADE WERE CLOSED. APPROX. OUTSIDE TEMP WAS 45F, CLOUDY DAY, INSIDE VEHICLE TEMP WAS APPROX. 70F. THERE WERE NO CARS OR OBJECTS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ON THE H
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)