MODELYEARINDEX

Which Acura RDX years to avoid

Across 10 scored model years, the 2019, 2020 and 2021 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Acura RDX Full report
F
Grade 2012–2021
2019 vs model median 4.9×
Model median3× median
Engine 71
Drivetrain 26
Electrical 25
Avoid

2019 · 2020

Best

2012 · 2018

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2012
0.18× 14 A
2013
1.20× 61 C
2014
1.06× 67 C
2015
0.87× 49 C
2016
0.55× 29 B
2017
0.94× 48 B
2018
0.79× 33 B
2019
4.86× 274 F
2020
4.64× 252 F
2021
2.15× 124 F
2022 P
0.97× 42 B
2023 P
0.43× 26 B
2024 P
0.35× 15 A
2025 P
1.38× 67 C

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2019 F 274 reports · median 8,750 mi

  1. Engine 71

    My rdx went into 'limp mode' (30 MPH max) while on I-75 southbound in moderate traffic near macon ga at 10 AM trying to accelerate to speed limit (70 MPH) from 50 MPH after being cut off by an inattentive driver. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Drivetrain 26

    Vehicle loses almost all engine power under hard acceleration. This fault requires you to stop the vehicle and restart to continue. Engine light flashes yellow. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 25

    The engine shut down in the middle of an intersection in traffic, while in motion. The car refused to start up again, indicating a transmission failure. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

2 crash

2020 F 252 reports · median 4,900 mi

  1. Engine 45

    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. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Lights & Visibility 40

    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. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Fuel System 25

    - 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… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

10 crash · 3 fire · 6 injuries

The best year for the RDX

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2012 is the best-scoring RDX model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 90.5 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2012 0.18× 14 A
2016 0.55× 29 B
2018 0.79× 33 B

Recalls

15 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
23V858000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2014–2020 2,490,460
16V061000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2012–2016 2,232,187
19V182000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2012–2016 1,101,534
24V064000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER 2020–2022 750,114
21V215000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2019, 2020 624,552
23V158000 SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY 2019, 2020 448,613
13V143000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2013 204,169
20V314000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2019 135,995
26V332000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER 2019–2024 98,892
25V582000 STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM 2025 17,330
19V500000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2015 1,558
17V256000 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS 2017 1,425

+ 3 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2019 were reported at a median of 8,750 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Acura RDX years should you avoid?
2019, 2020, 2021 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Acura RDX model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Acura RDX?
2012 is the best-scoring Acura RDX model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 90.5 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Acura RDX have?
15 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Acura RDX model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2019 RDX
Complaints in window
274
Severity-weighted
374.5
Model median (weighted)
77
vs model median
4.86×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
5
Open investigations
0
Score 12.5 F