2015 Acura RDX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2015 Acura RDX has 436 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is lighting problems (76% of all complaints), specifically: the reflective material in the headlights has deteriorated to the point that night time driving is hazardous. i have replaced the regular bulb and it did not resolve the issue, i then replaced the reg bulb with an led light and it did not resolve the issue. without a good reflector surface, the ligh.

7 crash reports 5 injuries

436

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

LIGHTING

333 complaints

76%

• THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL IN THE HEADLIGHTS HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT NIGHT TIME DRIVING IS HAZARDOUS. I HAVE REPLACED THE REGULAR BULB AND IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE, I THEN REPLACED THE REG BULB WITH AN LED LIGHT AND IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. WITHOUT A GOOD REFLECTOR SURFACE, THE LIGH
• MY 2015 RDX IS JUST OVER 5 YEARS OLD AND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO FOGGED OVER THAT IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AND I NEED TO REPLACE THEM. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE ISSUE AND WAS QUOTED OVER $800 EACH TO REPLACE THEM. (OVER $1600 TOTAL) THE DEALER TRIED SOM
• THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO PASS STATE SAFETY INSPECTION AND IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT DUE TO LIMITED VISIBILITY. AFTER REPLACING THE LIGHTBULBS WITH NO CHANGE AND THEN CLOSELY INSPECTING THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, BOTH THE SAFETY INSPECTOR TECHNICIAN AND ACURA SERVICE CENTE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL IN THE HEADLIGHTS HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT NIGHT TIME DRIVING IS HAZARDOUS. I HAVE REPLACED THE REGULAR BULB AND IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE, I THEN REPLACED THE REG BULB WITH AN LED LIGHT AND IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. WITHOUT A GOOD REFLECTOR SURFACE, THE LIGH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

33 complaints

• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUF
• TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE TODAY (3/21/2016). THE NOTICE STATES THAT REPAIR KITS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE SUMMER OF 2016 --THAT'S AT LEAST A FULL 3 MONTHS FROM NOW. IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE FOR ACURA/HONDA TO EXPECT THAT I SHOULD PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER EVERY TIME I GET IN MY CAR FOR THE NEX
• TAKATA RECALL: RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 3-22-16. PART IS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL SUMMER 2016. I HAVE READ ABOUT THESE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW AND HAVE CHECKED OFTEN TO MAKE SURE MINE WAS NOT ON THE LIST. WHY AM I JUST NOW RECEIVING A NOTICE? WHY AREN'T THE PARTS AVAILABLE? WHY DO I

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

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUF”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

21 complaints

• THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE THAT CAME WITH ALL SEASON TIRES, WAS NOT DESIGNED TO KEEP THE WIPERS FROM ICING UP DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPPED TO 26 DEGREES, AND THE DEFROST SYSTEM COULD NOT KEEP ICE FROM FORMING ON THE WIPER BLADES, CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. ACURA
• MY 2015 RDX SUNROOF LEAKS RAIN WATER WHILE STATIONARY. THE CAR IS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOUSE.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 ACURA RDX. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,023.

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

“THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE THAT CAME WITH ALL SEASON TIRES, WAS NOT DESIGNED TO KEEP THE WIPERS FROM ICING UP DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPPED TO 26 DEGREES, AND THE DEFROST SYSTEM COULD NOT KEEP ICE FROM FORMING ON THE WIPER BLADES, CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. ACURA ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

10 complaints

• TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 74 MPH THE MOON ROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE INSIDE VISOR WAS OPEN AND THE GLASS MOON ROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME. GLASS FRAGMENTS DROPPED ON TOP OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER.
• AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN US RTE 95 YESTERDAY, GOING OVER THE BRIDGE INTO PORTSMOUTH, NH AT ~65 MPH, MY SUNROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED, COVERING ME AND THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR WITH BROKEN GLASS. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO AN EXIT JUST OVER THE BRIDGE AND CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. I THINK I AVOIDED AN
• TAKATA RECALL. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE MY RIGHT HAND WAS ON THE 2 O'CLOCK POSITION. I WAS GOING ABOUT 30 MPH ON A CITY STREET, AND HIT A CAR THAT STOPPED SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF ME. IT WAS LIKE A BOMB BLAST ONTO MY WRIST, FORCEFULLY BLASTING OUT ACID AND AIR OR WHATEVER'S IN THAT AIRBAG. I HAVE A TRA

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

“TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 74 MPH THE MOON ROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE INSIDE VISOR WAS OPEN AND THE GLASS MOON ROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME. GLASS FRAGMENTS DROPPED ON TOP OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

8 complaints

• MY 2015 RDX SUNROOF LEAKS RAIN WATER WHILE STATIONARY. THE CAR IS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOUSE.
• 2015 ACURA RDX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEALERSHIPS FAILURE TO REMEDY RECALL DEFECT. *SMD
• PUT MY CAR IN PARK IN DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, STEPPED OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND IT STARTED MOVING FORWARD, HITTING THE GARAGE. THE CAR HIT THE GARAGE AND I TRIED TO PUSH IT BACKWARDS, IT MOVED BACKWARD AFTER HITTING THE GARAGE AND STARTED ROLLING AWAY FROM THE GARAGE. MY BABY WAS IN THE CAR

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

“MY 2015 RDX SUNROOF LEAKS RAIN WATER WHILE STATIONARY. THE CAR IS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOUSE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 436 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
LIGHTING: THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL IN THE HEADLIGHTS HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT NIGHT TIME DRIVING IS HAZARDOUS. I HAVE REPLACED THE REGULAR BULB AND IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE, I THEN REPLACED THE REG BULB WITH AN LED LIGHT AND IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. WITHOUT A GOOD REFLECTOR SURFACE, THE LIGH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE THAT CAME WITH ALL SEASON TIRES, WAS NOT DESIGNED TO KEEP THE WIPERS FROM ICING UP DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPPED TO 26 DEGREES, AND THE DEFROST SYSTEM COULD NOT KEEP ICE FROM FORMING ON THE WIPER BLADES, CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. ACURA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 74 MPH THE MOON ROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE INSIDE VISOR WAS OPEN AND THE GLASS MOON ROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME. GLASS FRAGMENTS DROPPED ON TOP OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)