2020 Acura RDX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Acura RDX has 425 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is visibility problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2020 acura rdx. the contact stated while the vehicle was stationary and while scraping ice off the rear hatch windshield, the windshield fractured. the vehicle was taken to joe rizza acura (8150 w 159th st, orland park, il 60462) where it was diagnosed with the rear hatch wind. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 5 crash reports 5 injuries

425

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

VISIBILITY

101 complaints

24%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE SCRAPING ICE OFF THE REAR HATCH WINDSHIELD, THE WINDSHIELD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOE RIZZA ACURA (8150 W 159TH ST, ORLAND PARK, IL 60462) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE REAR HATCH WIND
• Rear windshield shattered while parked in my drive way. Vehicle was not being driven. I have read several reports of this happening to other Acura rdx. I have contacted the dealership and Acura who have both told me I need to pay out of pocket to get this fixed. This is an Acura problem and Acura wa
• I opened my driver's side door and sat down when I heard a crack sound. I turned around and heard a louder crack sound and saw my back window was shattered. I called Acura twice and spoke to two different agents and both stated they never heard of this happening nor were there any bulletins about t

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE SCRAPING ICE OFF THE REAR HATCH WINDSHIELD, THE WINDSHIELD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOE RIZZA ACURA (8150 W 159TH ST, ORLAND PARK, IL 60462) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE REAR HATCH WIND”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

100 complaints

24%

• WHEN TRAVELING AT 70-75 MPH ON HIGHWAY, MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO DECELERATE UNTIL I COULD ONLY GO 25-30 MPH (NO MATTER HOW MUCH I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL). I HAD TO DRIVE ABOUT 5 MINS. LIKE THIS (WITH MY 4-WAY FLASHERS ON), AS CARS PASSED AROUND ME AT HIGH SPEED, UNTIL I CO
• THE INFORMATION SYSTEM FAILS TO UPDATE AND THE SCREEN GOES BLANK WHICH TURNS OFF THE BACKUP CAMERA. MY WIFE IS DISABLED DUE TO NECK AND BACK ISSUES AND NEEDS THE CAMERA TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAYS THE POSSIBLE SOLUTION IS TO REMOVE THE THE BATTERY CABLES. MY WIFE IS 63 AND IS NOT ABLE TO DO
• CAR CAME TO SUDDEN STOP WHEN CROSSING A INTERSECTION WITH TRAIN TRACKS IN THEM COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM CAME ON THEIR WAS NO OTHER CAR AROUND ME EXCEPT FOR METAL TRAIN RAILS TO MAKE SENSOR REACT. THEIR WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME BUT COULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN A METROPOLITAN ARE

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

“WHEN TRAVELING AT 70-75 MPH ON HIGHWAY, MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO DECELERATE UNTIL I COULD ONLY GO 25-30 MPH (NO MATTER HOW MUCH I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL). I HAD TO DRIVE ABOUT 5 MINS. LIKE THIS (WITH MY 4-WAY FLASHERS ON), AS CARS PASSED AROUND ME AT HIGH SPEED, UNTIL I CO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

51 complaints

12%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 ACURA RDX. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PASSING A VEHICLE ACCELERATING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND SLOWED DOWN TO ONLY 10 MPH. WHEN THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT OP
• FROM THE DAY I TOOK DELIVERY OF MY 2020 RDX ADVANCE IN AUGUST, I'VE BEEN COMPLETELY CRAZY ABOUT IT. NOW, HOWEVER, I'M FEELING SAD AND DISILLUSIONED, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I DON'T FEEL 100% SAFE DRIVING IT. RECENTLY, AFTER SPENDING A FEW WEEKS IN GEORGIA, WE WERE DRIVING BACK HOME TO NORTHERN VIRGINI
• I DRIVE A 2020 ACURA RDX HAVING 1,840 MILES. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS (APPROXIMATELY SEVERAL MONTHS APART), MY CAR HAD SUDDENLY DECELERATED. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE BREAK AT ALL. THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN APPLYING MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 ACURA RDX. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PASSING A VEHICLE ACCELERATING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND SLOWED DOWN TO ONLY 10 MPH. WHEN THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT OP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

37 complaints

• - 2020 ACURA RDX ASPEC PURCHASED APR2020 NEW - ~2,800 MILES WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED ON SAT, 4JUL2020 - WAS TRAVELING ON I-10 WEST AT ~70 TO 75 MPH - ATTEMPTED TO PASS A VEHICLE (ON THE LEFT) WHEN CAR LOST ALL ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND ORANGE ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO BLINK IN LOWER LEFT CORNER OF DASH
• ON 7/22/2020, I WAS ENTERING THE MASS PIKE FROM I-495 OUTSIDE OF BOSTON. I ACCELERATED TO GET AROUND A BOX TRUCK AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER. NO MATTER HOW MUCH I STEPPED ON THE GAS, THE CAR KEPT LOSING SPEED. THANKFULLY, I WAS NEAR A REST STOP
• WHEN ACCELERATING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST PROPULSION WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR WOULD NOT MAINTAIN A SPEED OR ACCELERATE. AFTER THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN, I HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE EXPRESSWAY AND POWER CYCLE THE CAR. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE AND TWO ATTEMPTS, THE CAR

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

“- 2020 ACURA RDX ASPEC PURCHASED APR2020 NEW - ~2,800 MILES WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED ON SAT, 4JUL2020 - WAS TRAVELING ON I-10 WEST AT ~70 TO 75 MPH - ATTEMPTED TO PASS A VEHICLE (ON THE LEFT) WHEN CAR LOST ALL ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND ORANGE ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO BLINK IN LOWER LEFT CORNER OF DASH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

24 complaints

• BRAKES WERE MAKING A SCRAPING NOISE WHEN APPLIED. VEHICLE HAD 2,679 MILES. TOOK IT TO FOUNTAIN ACURA IN ORLANDO FOR INSPECTION. DEALER REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS ON FRONT NO CHARGE. DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE MATERIAL DEFECT AT THE FACTORY.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR AWHILE, THE BRAKES WOULD SQUEAK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COUL
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR AWHILE, THE BRAKES WOULD SQUEAK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COUL

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

“BRAKES WERE MAKING A SCRAPING NOISE WHEN APPLIED. VEHICLE HAD 2,679 MILES. TOOK IT TO FOUNTAIN ACURA IN ORLANDO FOR INSPECTION. DEALER REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS ON FRONT NO CHARGE. DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE MATERIAL DEFECT AT THE FACTORY.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~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 425 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
VISIBILITY: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE SCRAPING ICE OFF THE REAR HATCH WINDSHIELD, THE WINDSHIELD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOE RIZZA ACURA (8150 W 159TH ST, ORLAND PARK, IL 60462) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE REAR HATCH WIND
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WHEN TRAVELING AT 70-75 MPH ON HIGHWAY, MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO DECELERATE UNTIL I COULD ONLY GO 25-30 MPH (NO MATTER HOW MUCH I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL). I HAD TO DRIVE ABOUT 5 MINS. LIKE THIS (WITH MY 4-WAY FLASHERS ON), AS CARS PASSED AROUND ME AT HIGH SPEED, UNTIL I CO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 ACURA RDX. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PASSING A VEHICLE ACCELERATING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND SLOWED DOWN TO ONLY 10 MPH. WHEN THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT OP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: - 2020 ACURA RDX ASPEC PURCHASED APR2020 NEW - ~2,800 MILES WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED ON SAT, 4JUL2020 - WAS TRAVELING ON I-10 WEST AT ~70 TO 75 MPH - ATTEMPTED TO PASS A VEHICLE (ON THE LEFT) WHEN CAR LOST ALL ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND ORANGE ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO BLINK IN LOWER LEFT CORNER OF DASH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)