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What 16 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Acura RDX

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (16)Crash / fire / injury (1)Airbags (10)Electrical system (3)Lights (3)Transmission & drivetrain (2)Brakes (1)Engine & cooling (1)Speed control (1)

Newest first · 16 complaints

Aug 31, 2022Engine & cooling

Turbo went out at 109230 miles. No warning lamps or anything prior. Unknown on other questions. Just know mil had a turbo go out and ended up being apart of recall

NHTSA ODI 11482327

Sep 26, 2020Electrical systemLights

CONDENSATION FORMS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS CAUSING THE LIGHTS NOT TO WORK.

NHTSA ODI 11361238

Feb 4, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF GEARS AND THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.

NHTSA ODI 11306973

Jul 18, 2017Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (HONDA OF BAY COUNTY LOCATED AT 3601 E 15TH ST PANAMA CITY, FL 32404) WHO STATED THAT AUTHORIZATION WAS NEEDED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 05970305. NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11006175

Jun 2, 2017Lights

4141

NHTSA ODI 10992821

May 1, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED NUMEROUS TIMES TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR, BUT THEY WERE UNRESPONSIVE. THE DEALER FAILED TO RESPOND IN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10981574

Jan 23, 2017AirbagsSpeed controlBrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN AT AN EXTREMELY LOW SPEED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AS THE VEHICLE TILTED TO THE RIGHT SIDE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO REVV AFTER IT WAS SHIFTED INTO THE PARK AND NEUTRAL POSITION. THE VEHICLE STOPPED REVVING AFTER THE IT WAS SHUT OFF. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,100.

NHTSA ODI 10946965

Jan 21, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

LOW GROWL, OR VIBRATION/SHUDDER STARTING AROUND 40-50 MPH AND CONTINUES IF YOU GO FASTER OR ACCELERATE QUICKLY. ALREADY CHANGED 2 AXLES AND HAD MOUNTS CHECK AND MULTIPLE ALLIGNMENTS. ALL OPEN SOURCE AND FORUM RESEARCH POINT VERY HEAVILY TO TORQUE CONVERTER AND POWERPOINT CONTROL MODULE.

NHTSA ODI 10946857

Dec 5, 2016Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10929976

Oct 13, 2016Airbags

TAKATA RECALL- I HAVE CONTACTED DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES OVER SEVEN MONTHS - THEY DONT HAVE PARTS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE THAT DEMANDS REAL DATES FOR REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 10915883

Sep 22, 2016Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10908795

Sep 17, 2016Airbags

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE CONTACTED DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THEY DONT HAVE PARTS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED IN APRIL 2016 AND AUGUST 2016. IS THIS A SAFTEY ISSUE FRO MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR?

NHTSA ODI 10907336

Jul 12, 2016Airbags

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR MY CAR AIRBAGS IN MARCH OF 2016. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER SEVERAL TIME TO ASK FOR THE REPLACEMENT REQUIRED BY THIS RECALL AND STILL HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE. MEANWHILE, MY FAMILY AND I ARE DRIVING IN WHAT COULD BE A DANGEROUS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10884304

Jul 12, 2016Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10884308

Jun 13, 2016Airbags

2011 ACURA RDX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE AIRBAG RECALL. *SMD

NHTSA ODI 10873073

Nov 1, 2015Electrical systemLights

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FLICKERS GOES ON FOR SOME TIME, THEN TURNS OFF BY ITSELF AFTER TURN LIGHT BACK OFF AND TURNING BACK ON THEY DO THE SAME THING OVER AGAIN SAFETY ISSUE AT NIGHT STATIONARY AND IN MOTION

NHTSA ODI 10787544

Working with the data? Download all 16 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Acura RDX verdict →