2016 Acura RDX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Acura RDX has 56 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: i purchased a 2016 acura rdx with 995 miles on 1/21/2016. on the drive home, and several times since (the latest being earlier this week) while making a left turn at slow speed (after stopping or slowing) the vehicle "dies" and i keep pushing on the accelerator and after 20 seconds or so, it "grabs". ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 1 crash report

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

9 complaints

16%

• I PURCHASED A 2016 ACURA RDX WITH 995 MILES ON 1/21/2016. ON THE DRIVE HOME, AND SEVERAL TIMES SINCE (THE LATEST BEING EARLIER THIS WEEK) WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT SLOW SPEED (AFTER STOPPING OR SLOWING) THE VEHICLE "DIES" AND I KEEP PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND AFTER 20 SECONDS OR SO, IT "GRABS"
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA RDX. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY, STALLED, AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CURRY ACURA, 685 CENTRAL PARK AVE, SCARSDALE, NY 10583) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPOOL VALVE FAILED.
• WHILE ACCELERATING THE CAR STARTED STUTTERING AND LOST POWER. IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. AT THE LIGHT I SHIFTED TO PARK AND BACK TO DRIVE AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. I WAS ONLY 2 BLOCKS FROM HOME SO I CHECKED ALL FLUID LEVELS AND THEY ARE ALL OK. I DROVE THE CAR AROUND THE BLOCK SEVERAL TI

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

“I PURCHASED A 2016 ACURA RDX WITH 995 MILES ON 1/21/2016. ON THE DRIVE HOME, AND SEVERAL TIMES SINCE (THE LATEST BEING EARLIER THIS WEEK) WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT SLOW SPEED (AFTER STOPPING OR SLOWING) THE VEHICLE "DIES" AND I KEEP PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND AFTER 20 SECONDS OR SO, IT "GRABS"”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

8 complaints

14%

• THE 2016 ACURA RDX NEWLY PURCHASED ON 4/25/2016 FROM FRESNO ACURA HAD A SPONTANEOUS FIRE AND SUBSEQUENT IMMEDIATE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE DURING A TRIP FROM FRESNO (CALIFORNIA) TO MONTEREY (CALIFORNIA). THE VEHICLE HAD AN ESTIMATED 250 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE AND ELECTRIC
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA RDX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ODOMETER GAUGES FAILED. WITHIN A FIVE MILE DRIVE, THE ODOMETER READING JUMPED FROM 9,995 MILES TO 10,231 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE READING ON THE ODOME
• MY NAVIGATION SYSTEM STARTS ALARMING 3-4 BLOCKS FROM HOME STATING I HOME WHEN I AM NOT ON MY STREET. ALSO SYSTEMS SAYS I AM AT AN EXIT IN SEATTLE BUT IT IS INCORRECT. I SPOKE WITH ACURA AND THEY STATED THE MAPS ARE 5 YEARS OLD WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I WOULD THINK MAPS WERE UP TO DATE. ALSO MY RADI

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

“THE 2016 ACURA RDX NEWLY PURCHASED ON 4/25/2016 FROM FRESNO ACURA HAD A SPONTANEOUS FIRE AND SUBSEQUENT IMMEDIATE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE DURING A TRIP FROM FRESNO (CALIFORNIA) TO MONTEREY (CALIFORNIA). THE VEHICLE HAD AN ESTIMATED 250 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE AND ELECTRIC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

7 complaints

13%

• THE 2016 ACURA RDX NEWLY PURCHASED ON 4/25/2016 FROM FRESNO ACURA HAD A SPONTANEOUS FIRE AND SUBSEQUENT IMMEDIATE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE DURING A TRIP FROM FRESNO (CALIFORNIA) TO MONTEREY (CALIFORNIA). THE VEHICLE HAD AN ESTIMATED 250 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE AND ELECTRIC
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA RDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDER THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR CONDITIONING WOULD NO LONGER BLOW COOL AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRADSHAW ACURA (2450 LAURENS RD, GREENVILLE, SC) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED
• 2016 ACURA RDX WITH APPROX 31,000 MILES. AFTER APPROX 1.5 MILE TRIP PARKED IT AT A SHOPPING CENTER, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND LOCKED THE CAR. WITHIN 3 MIN THE ENGINE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BEFORE THE FIRE DEPT PUT IT OUT. CONTACTED HONDA AND TOLD THEM THEY

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

6 complaints

11%

• I HAD 5000 MILES ON CAR AND MY BRAKES STARTED MAKING NOISE LIKE THE PADS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I WAS COMING TO A LIGHT AND PUTTING MY BRAKES ON AND ALSO DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND HEARD THE NOISE. TOOK MY CAR TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THIS CAN HAPPEN IF YOU ARE ON THE HILLS IN PORTLAND.
• JUNE 18, 2016, I HAD A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR A ROAD TRIP SPECIAL. I WAS GOING ON A ROAD TRIP A FEW DAYS LATER. I ADVISED [XXX] MY STEERING WHEEL IS SHAKING A LITTLE WHEN BREAKING FROM HIGHER SPEEDS. WHEN I GOT MY CAR BACK, [XXX] STATED THEY REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LAT
• MY CAR HAD 9100 ON RDX I NEEDED TO HAVE MY PADS AND ROTOR REPLACED ON FROM BRAKES. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES AT 5000 MILES. WHEN I PICK UP CAR I HEARD NOICE WHEN PUMPING BREAKS WHEN I WAS PICKING UP VEHICLE AND MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I HAVE TALK TO ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE WHICH W

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

“I HAD 5000 MILES ON CAR AND MY BRAKES STARTED MAKING NOISE LIKE THE PADS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I WAS COMING TO A LIGHT AND PUTTING MY BRAKES ON AND ALSO DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND HEARD THE NOISE. TOOK MY CAR TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THIS CAN HAPPEN IF YOU ARE ON THE HILLS IN PORTLAND.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

5 complaints

• SUNROOF EXPLODED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.
• I WAS DRIVING MY 2016 ACURA RDX DOWN A LOCAL CITY ROAD MIDDAY. THERE WERE NO CARS IN THE VICINITY. WHILE DRIVING (ABOUT 35 MPH), I SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING HEARD A LOUD NOISE OF GLASS SHATTERING. THERE WAS NO PRIOR SOUND OF ANY ANIMAL OR OBJECT HITTING THE CAR. I TURNED AROUND TO SEE MY REAR DRI
• DEFECTIVE KNOCK SENSOR AFTER 40,000 MI.....4 YEARS

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

“SUNROOF EXPLODED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~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 56 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: I PURCHASED A 2016 ACURA RDX WITH 995 MILES ON 1/21/2016. ON THE DRIVE HOME, AND SEVERAL TIMES SINCE (THE LATEST BEING EARLIER THIS WEEK) WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT SLOW SPEED (AFTER STOPPING OR SLOWING) THE VEHICLE "DIES" AND I KEEP PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND AFTER 20 SECONDS OR SO, IT "GRABS"
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THE 2016 ACURA RDX NEWLY PURCHASED ON 4/25/2016 FROM FRESNO ACURA HAD A SPONTANEOUS FIRE AND SUBSEQUENT IMMEDIATE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE DURING A TRIP FROM FRESNO (CALIFORNIA) TO MONTEREY (CALIFORNIA). THE VEHICLE HAD AN ESTIMATED 250 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE AND ELECTRIC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: THE 2016 ACURA RDX NEWLY PURCHASED ON 4/25/2016 FROM FRESNO ACURA HAD A SPONTANEOUS FIRE AND SUBSEQUENT IMMEDIATE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE DURING A TRIP FROM FRESNO (CALIFORNIA) TO MONTEREY (CALIFORNIA). THE VEHICLE HAD AN ESTIMATED 250 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE AND ELECTRIC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: I HAD 5000 MILES ON CAR AND MY BRAKES STARTED MAKING NOISE LIKE THE PADS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I WAS COMING TO A LIGHT AND PUTTING MY BRAKES ON AND ALSO DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND HEARD THE NOISE. TOOK MY CAR TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THIS CAN HAPPEN IF YOU ARE ON THE HILLS IN PORTLAND.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)