Home · 2014 · Acura

2014 Acura RDX

Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist — a shareable PDF

239 owner complaints · 3 recalls · data verified July 10, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Cautionwillitcar.com

Why caution?

3 recall campaigns (3 safety-critical) — confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the seller's VIN.

Lights problems dominate (67% of complaints, typically reported near 75k miles).

Complaints are overwhelmingly minor — almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)82
Severity (30%)89
Recall load (20%)74
Trend (10%)54

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20132026

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2014 Acura RDX, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miLights~75k mi · 160 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Airbags (41) · Visibility & wipers (10) · Electrical system (8) · Suspension (8)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint — a rough guide, not a schedule.

Lights

67%

160 complaints · typically near 75k mi · 40 in the last 2 years

The low beam headlight projector lens has degraded to the point of being extremely unsafe and therefore unable to drive at night. Repair for the defective headlight is…

Airbags

17%

41 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years

TAKATA RECALL ACURA RDX 2014 WAS NOTIFIED OF DEFECTIVE PART AND RECALL ISSUE BY ACURA DEALER SHIP, THEY STATED IT WOULD BE SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS TILL PARTS WERE AVAILABLE…

Visibility & wipers

4%

10 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years

Low beam halogen headlight are dangerously dim. New bulbs haven’t helped, and no, my headlight housings aren’t chalky nor crazed. I’ve found myself in many scenarios, …

Electrical system

3%

8 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years

Headlights (low beam) have become dim, unsafe, difficult to see when driving, reflector is defective.

Recalls (3)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Fuel System, Gasoline · 23V858000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

Air Bags · 19V182000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.

Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.

Air Bags · 16V061000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JY0, JY1, and JY2.

Before you hand over money

Verify the recall work was done

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150–$250 independent inspection of this exact 2014 Acura RDX beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2014? See how every RDX model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2014 Acura RDX against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score — if they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2014 Acura RDX as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only — always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.