2014 Acura RLX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2014 Acura RLX has 136 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (35% of all complaints), specifically: i was driving down the freeway when the back-end of the car became very loose and out of control. the car was swerving back and forth violently. i was able to gain control avoiding the cars to the left of me and the ditch to the right. i was able to get the car under control and i slowed the spee.

1 crash report

136

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

48 complaints

35%

• I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WHEN THE BACK-END OF THE CAR BECAME VERY LOOSE AND OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR WAS SWERVING BACK AND FORTH VIOLENTLY. I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AVOIDING THE CARS TO THE LEFT OF ME AND THE DITCH TO THE RIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND I SLOWED THE SPEE
• THE RLX HAS ALL WHEEL STEERING. THE REAR STEERING WHEEL ACTUATORS MAKE A GROANING SOUND, WHICH ACURA HAS NOT EVALUATED FOR POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERNS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE PART IS DEFECTIVE AND COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IF IT FAILS. ACURA KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS NOT BEEN
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 ACURA RLX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR REGULAR SERVICE AND THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE OUTER AND INNER TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY AND DID NOT DRIVE

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

“I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WHEN THE BACK-END OF THE CAR BECAME VERY LOOSE AND OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR WAS SWERVING BACK AND FORTH VIOLENTLY. I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AVOIDING THE CARS TO THE LEFT OF ME AND THE DITCH TO THE RIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND I SLOWED THE SPEE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

17 complaints

13%

• I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WHEN THE BACK-END OF THE CAR BECAME VERY LOOSE AND OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR WAS SWERVING BACK AND FORTH VIOLENTLY. I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AVOIDING THE CARS TO THE LEFT OF ME AND THE DITCH TO THE RIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND I SLOWED THE SPEE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 ACURA RLX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND DECELERATING, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT. UPON COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM BO
• SINCE TAKING DELIVERY OF THE CAR, IT HAS MADE LOUD CLUNKING AND RATTLING NOISES AND VIBRATION FROM ALL FOUR WHEELS, PARTICULARLY NOTICEABLE WHILE DRIVING AT SLOWER SPEEDS (15-45 MPH). THE DEALER MADE AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS BY REPLACING THE DAMPERS ON ALL FOUR STRUTS AT THE DIRECTION OF ACURA. THIS D

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

12 complaints

• REAR SUSPENSION MAKING MOANING NOISES WHILE STEERING AT LOW SPEED.
• WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2014 THE FIRST WEEK I DETECTED A NOISE ON THE REAR OF THE CAR, I WENT TO THE ACURA SERVICE CENTER AND THEY FOUND PROBLEM WITH THE ACTUATORS, THEY RECEIVED THE VISIT FROM AN USA SERVICE CENTER TECHNICIAN AND CONFIRMING A MALFUNCTION ACTUATOR THEY SAID THAT THEY WILL WORK O
• IT WAS THE SCARIEST THING EVER I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE CAR WITH MY SON WHEN MY VEHICLE STARTED DECELERATING WHAT A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAPPEN . I PURCHASED THE CAR 94 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS INCIDENT. I TOOK IT TO THE ACURA DEALER WHICH THEY SAID IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

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

“REAR SUSPENSION MAKING MOANING NOISES WHILE STEERING AT LOW SPEED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

12 complaints

• The contact owns a 2014 Acura RLX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle loss motive power. The contact stated the failure continued to occur periodically. The vehicle was able to restart. The lane control, forward control collision, slip differential and hill assis
• After making a turn at light, steering wheel stayed turned while car was straight. Then it jerks itself back into place. Another occurrence was while driving on highway, steering wheel was turning sideways while driving straight then car starts to slow down on its own and the lights on dash came on
• While driving on the highway at about 65/70mph, my seatbelts locked and the emergency brakes engaged along with the lane departure warning and a couple other warning lights I’ve never seen. This has happened approximately 3 times.

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

“The contact owns a 2014 Acura RLX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle loss motive power. The contact stated the failure continued to occur periodically. The vehicle was able to restart. The lane control, forward control collision, slip differential and hill assis”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

10 complaints

• VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR AT RANDOM TIMES - THIS CAN BE WHEN UNDER MODERATE LOAD TO LIGHT LOAD. THIS WILL LIMIT THE CAR TO A SPEED TO APPROX. 50MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS SLOWED DOWN 10+MPH AND SOMETIMES WILL REQUIRE YOU TO COME TO A DEAD STOP TO FUNCTION
• WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON U.S. 1, A SIX LANE ROAD, I PLACED A TELEPHONE CALL USING THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. SHORTLY AFTER THE CALL WAS CONNECTED, THE CAR'S WARNING ALARM SOUNDED AND AN "I" APPEARED IN THE INFORMATION DISPLAY. FRANTICALLY TRYING TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING IN HEAV
• MMEDIATELY ONCE THE CAR IS STARTED THE FOLLOWING SENSOR CODES POP UP: VSA, ALL WHEEL STEERING, EPS PROBLEM, FORWARD COLLISION PROBLEM. THE CAR CAN BE STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. WHEN THE SENSORS ARE ON THE CAR IS NOT ABLE TO GO ABOVE 50 MPH.

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

“VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR AT RANDOM TIMES - THIS CAN BE WHEN UNDER MODERATE LOAD TO LIGHT LOAD. THIS WILL LIMIT THE CAR TO A SPEED TO APPROX. 50MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS SLOWED DOWN 10+MPH AND SOMETIMES WILL REQUIRE YOU TO COME TO A DEAD STOP TO FUNCTION ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 136 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WHEN THE BACK-END OF THE CAR BECAME VERY LOOSE AND OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR WAS SWERVING BACK AND FORTH VIOLENTLY. I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AVOIDING THE CARS TO THE LEFT OF ME AND THE DITCH TO THE RIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND I SLOWED THE SPEE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WHEN THE BACK-END OF THE CAR BECAME VERY LOOSE AND OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR WAS SWERVING BACK AND FORTH VIOLENTLY. I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AVOIDING THE CARS TO THE LEFT OF ME AND THE DITCH TO THE RIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND I SLOWED THE SPEE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS: REAR SUSPENSION MAKING MOANING NOISES WHILE STEERING AT LOW SPEED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: The contact owns a 2014 Acura RLX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle loss motive power. The contact stated the failure continued to occur periodically. The vehicle was able to restart. The lane control, forward control collision, slip differential and hill assis
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)