2013 Acura RDX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Acura RDX has 179 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is lighting problems (50% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2013 acura rdx. the contact stated that the headlights failed to illuminate properly. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was unable to be duplicated. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 22,000.. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 5 crash reports 4 injuries

179

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

LIGHTING

89 complaints

50%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
• EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DANGEROUSLY DIM. IT APPEARS THAT THE PROJECTORS ARE BLOCKING THE LIGHT.
• BOTH HEADLIGHTS ARE TOO DIM TO SAFELY DRIVE AT NIGHT. I WAS PULLED OVER BY A STATE TROOPER FOR NOT HAVING MY LIGHTS ON WHEN THEY WERE ACTUALLY ON. ACURA HAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ON THE 2014 ILX. THE 2013 RDX SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

35 complaints

20%

• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V061000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE PART MAY NOT BECOME AVAILABLE FOR LONGER THAN SIX MONTHS TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REASON
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE A LOANER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V06100 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN MARCH OF 2016. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE

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

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V061000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE PART MAY NOT BECOME AVAILABLE FOR LONGER THAN SIX MONTHS TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REASON”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

10 complaints

• THE BRAND NEW CAR WAS ON FIRE BY ITSELF ON OCTOBER 30, 2012. IT WAS AFTER THE HURRICANE SANDY. MY FAMILY WOKE UP BECAUSE OF SMELLING GAS FROM DOWNSTAIRS WHICH WAS THE ATTACHED GARAGE TO THE KITCHEN. WHEN MY HUSBAND OPENED THE KITCHEN DOOR TO THE GARAGE, HE COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING BUT SMOKES. WE CA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS LOOSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 50 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW GLASS CLICKED AND MOVED BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSIS. THE WINDOW WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA RDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SUN ROOF HAD DISLODGED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (ACURA OF LIMERICK, 77 AUTOPARK BLVD, LI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“THE BRAND NEW CAR WAS ON FIRE BY ITSELF ON OCTOBER 30, 2012. IT WAS AFTER THE HURRICANE SANDY. MY FAMILY WOKE UP BECAUSE OF SMELLING GAS FROM DOWNSTAIRS WHICH WAS THE ATTACHED GARAGE TO THE KITCHEN. WHEN MY HUSBAND OPENED THE KITCHEN DOOR TO THE GARAGE, HE COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING BUT SMOKES. WE CA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

7 complaints

• MY NEW 2013 RDX CAUGHT ON FIRE AT MY GARAGE IN THE DAY AFTER HURRICANE SANDY. ACURA AND AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY(PROGRESSIVE) INSISTS THAT THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE BY FLOODING. HOWEVER, CAR BATTERY AND ENGINE ARE FINE. ONLY FRONT SEAT, DASHBOARD, AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM WERE BURNED AND THE FIRE DAMAGED MY
• THE BRAND NEW CAR WAS ON FIRE BY ITSELF ON OCTOBER 30, 2012. IT WAS AFTER THE HURRICANE SANDY. MY FAMILY WOKE UP BECAUSE OF SMELLING GAS FROM DOWNSTAIRS WHICH WAS THE ATTACHED GARAGE TO THE KITCHEN. WHEN MY HUSBAND OPENED THE KITCHEN DOOR TO THE GARAGE, HE COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING BUT SMOKES. WE CA
• KEYLESS IGNITION BUTTON ALLOWS DRIVERS TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND LEFT THE VEHICLE WHILE THE SHIFT IS NOT IN PARKING. IN MY CASE, THE VEHICLE ROLLS AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“MY NEW 2013 RDX CAUGHT ON FIRE AT MY GARAGE IN THE DAY AFTER HURRICANE SANDY. ACURA AND AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY(PROGRESSIVE) INSISTS THAT THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE BY FLOODING. HOWEVER, CAR BATTERY AND ENGINE ARE FINE. ONLY FRONT SEAT, DASHBOARD, AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM WERE BURNED AND THE FIRE DAMAGED MY”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

7 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT BURNED HIMSELF IN THE PROCESS. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED THAT WAY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SECURING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND EXITING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ROLL AWAY AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE BEFORE TRAVELING ACROSS AN INTERSECTION AND CRASHING INTO A HOT
• WHEN VEHICLE IS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR GOING AT A CONSISTENT SPEED THERE IS A VIBRATION. VIBRATION GOES AWAY UPON ACCELERATION. IT DOES THIS AS WELL BETWEEN 4TH & 5TH GEAR. AFTER 55MPH IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. CALLED CREST ACURA AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE "DEACTIVATION OF CYLINDERS AND THAT IS WHAT

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT BURNED HIMSELF IN THE PROCESS. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED THAT WAY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 179 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
LIGHTING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V061000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE PART MAY NOT BECOME AVAILABLE FOR LONGER THAN SIX MONTHS TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REASON
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: THE BRAND NEW CAR WAS ON FIRE BY ITSELF ON OCTOBER 30, 2012. IT WAS AFTER THE HURRICANE SANDY. MY FAMILY WOKE UP BECAUSE OF SMELLING GAS FROM DOWNSTAIRS WHICH WAS THE ATTACHED GARAGE TO THE KITCHEN. WHEN MY HUSBAND OPENED THE KITCHEN DOOR TO THE GARAGE, HE COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING BUT SMOKES. WE CA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: MY NEW 2013 RDX CAUGHT ON FIRE AT MY GARAGE IN THE DAY AFTER HURRICANE SANDY. ACURA AND AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY(PROGRESSIVE) INSISTS THAT THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE BY FLOODING. HOWEVER, CAR BATTERY AND ENGINE ARE FINE. ONLY FRONT SEAT, DASHBOARD, AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM WERE BURNED AND THE FIRE DAMAGED MY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)