2016 Acura Rdx problems

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The Acura RDX is a compact luxury crossover SUV produced by Acura, a luxury vehicle division of Honda, as the second crossover SUV offering from the brand after the mid-size MDX. Since it was introduced, it shared its platform with the Honda Civic and CR-V.

First generation (TB1/2; 2007)

Originally previewed as the Acura RD-X concept car, the production RDX had its debut at the 2006 New York Auto Show and went on sale on August 11, 2006. A facelifted 2010 model went on sale in August 2009, which featured the addition Acura's "power plenum" grille and a front-wheel drive option.

Engine

The first-generation RDX is powered by a 2.3-litre straight-4 turbocharged gasoline engine, rated at 240 bhp (179 kW; 243 PS) at 6,000 rpm with a torque peak of 260 ft⋅lbf (350 N⋅m) at 4,500 rpm. At the time, this was uncommon among Honda vehicles.

The K23A1 engine has all-aluminum construction, an i-VTEC head, and dual balance shafts. It was also one of the only four-cylinder powered luxury SUVs of its generation. Honda's variable flow turbocharger reduces turbo lag by using a valve to narrow the exhaust passage at low rpm, increasing the velocity of the exhaust flow and keeping the turbine spinning rapidly. At higher rpm, the valve opens to allow more exhaust flow for increased boost. The engine also features a top-mounted intercooler which receives air from the grille, channeled by ducting under the hood.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated fuel mileage is 19 mpg‑US (12 L/100 km; 23 mpg‑imp) city and 23 mpg‑US (10 L/100 km; 28 mpg‑imp) highway miles per gallon. An updated EPA mileage estimate in February 2007 rated the RDX at 17 mpg‑US (14 L/100 km; 20 mpg‑imp) city and 22 mpg‑US (11 L/100 km; 26 mpg‑imp) highway.

2016 Acura Rdx

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Common 2016 Acura Rdx problems

The 2016 Acura RDX has been reported to have several common problems, primarily related to the electrical system, brakes, and airbags.

Electrical System Issues:
The 2016 Acura RDX has experienced issues with the electrical system, particularly in relation to Bluetooth pairing. This can be frustrating for drivers who rely on their car's infotainment system for hands-free calling and audio streaming.

Brake Problems:
Another common problem with the 2016 Acura RDX is quick brake wear, which can lead to increased maintenance costs. This issue can be particularly concerning for drivers who rely on their vehicle for daily commuting or long trips.

Airbag Failure and Recalls:
The 2016 Acura RDX has been affected by the widespread Takata airbag recall, which has impacted several models from Honda and Acura. This issue can pose a significant safety risk for drivers and passengers, as the airbags may deploy with too much force or fail to deploy entirely in the event of a crash.

Maintenance Costs:
In addition to the issues with electrical wiring and airbags, the 2016 Acura RDX has also been reported to have high maintenance costs. This can be a significant concern for drivers who are looking for a reliable and affordable vehicle.

Fuel Pump Overheating:
Another issue with the 2016 Acura RDX is fuel pump overheating, which can lead to engine stalling and other serious problems. This issue has been reported to affect the 2019 model year in particular, with many drivers experiencing sudden and unexpected engine stalling while driving.

Infotainment System Failure:
The 2019 and 2020 model years of the Acura RDX have also been reported to have major infotainment system issues, with systems freezing and taking longer to load. This can be particularly frustrating for drivers who rely on their car's infotainment system for navigation, entertainment, and other features.

Overall, the 2016 Acura RDX has several common problems that can impact its reliability and safety. While some of these issues can be addressed through routine maintenance and repairs, others may pose a more significant safety risk for drivers and passengers. It is important for potential buyers to be aware of these issues and to consider them carefully when making a purchasing decision.

2016 Acura Rdx engine

What is the most common problem with Acura RDX?

Drivers praise the Acura RDX over its relatively cheap repair and maintenance costs, as it seldom develops engine issues. However, the Acura RDX is not perfect, and many drivers have complained about squealing brakes, dangerous air bags, and poor acceleration.

Is the Acura RDX high maintenance?

The average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Acura RDX is $497, compared to an average of $859 for luxury compact SUVs and $652 for all vehicle models.

How many miles can a 2016 Acura RDX last?

According to getjerry.com, a typical Acura RDX will last 250,000-300,000 miles. This number is incredible for a car and makes Acura one of the best. The Acura RDX meets right up to this standard, which makes it and the Acura name incredible.

What is the fuel mileage of a 2016 Acura RDX?

Compare Side-by-Side

2016 Acura RDX 2WD
EPA Fuel Economy23 MPG 20 28 combined city/highway city highway
4.3 gal/100mi
368 miles Total Range
MPG estimates for 2016 and older vehicles may have been revised Learn moreView Original EPA MPG

2016 Acura Rdx car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Acura Rdx problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Electrical system problems
  • Service brakes problems
  • Power train problems
  • Engine problems
  • Unknown or other problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 2016 Acura Rdx vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

Latest 25 complaints 2016 Acura Rdx

The NHTSA has received 33 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2016 Acura Rdx. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 2016 Acura Rdx vehicles.

2023-11-22

VISIBILITY,TIRES,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-09-22
  • Crash: 1
  • VIN: 5J8TB4H37GL
  • Components: VISIBILITY,TIRES,SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2016 Acura RDX. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH a deer had jumped in front of his vehicle. The contact stated that he depressed the brake pedal with force, however, the pedal did not respond and depressed to the floorboard with no resistance. The contact stated that he was pumping the brake pedal when he crashed into the deer. The contact stated that the vehicle continued forward for several hundred yards before he was able to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that he was able to drive the vehicle to a dealer, it was an out-of-state dealer since he had been traveling when he crashed into the deer. The contact stated that the damage was to the front bumper and to the hood of the vehicle which had been deformed due to the crash with the deer. The contact stated that the out-of-state dealer repaired the crash damage and replaced the brakes with new pads and rotors. The contact observed that the vehicle was having a failure of the tire pressure monitoring system light which was constantly illuminated, the windshield wiper motor was failing intermittently and the brakes continued to feel "mushy." The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer who determined that the vehicle failures described by the contact were not duplicated following a diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
2023-07-20

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-07-20
  • VIN: 5J8TB3H33GL
  • Components: POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: While driving in the left of I20 East's two lanes on a descending hill with 5 cars ahead and an unknown number of cars behind at 70+ mph and all cars packed in close to the car ahead, I saw the lane had no real shoulder before a drop-off and the right lane had a narrow shoulder before it dropped off into woods and brush. The right lane was packed with 18-wheelers. In order to avoid constantly breaking the full length of the hill, I shifted into manual mode and a lower gear, but the car ahead began to brake suddenly and hard. Just a second before that car broke, I unlocked the shifter and was moving it forward to Drive. As the car ahead was drastically slowing, I had to hit the brakes hard to avoid rear-ending him, and the momentum of sudden braking threw my hand and the shifter all the way forward into Park. The transmission immediately produced a harsh grinding sound, I no longer could disengage the transmission from Park, and the only controls I now had were brakes and steering. Alarmed I knew I had to get to the right shoulder but I couldn't look back to see how close trucks were behind the one to my immediate right, but by braking that truck slowly moved ahead of me, providing a brief opening behind him in the right lane. As I cautiously moved into that opening, I could see an 18 wheeler approaching but still a short distance back. I continued slowly drifting into the right lane with blinkers on, when suddenly the approaching truck behind veered partially into the right shoulder in anticipation of passing me in the narrow shoulder lane. In the split second of his veering, I slowly continued into the shoulder lane causing him to veer back into the right lane, his rig full of new cars jerking back left. As I gradually slowed to a stop, the truck was approaching so fast that in my rearview mirror it looked like he might not miss me. As he shot by, he cleared me by not much more than a foot, his draft shaking my car. AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GOING INTO PARK @ 70MPH
2023-07-20

UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-07-08
  • VIN: 5J8TB4H39GL
  • Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: The transmission is Jerky and has a rough up and down shift. Vehicle has stalled and shut off without warning. My wife says the vehicle acts as though its about to die when ac compressor/blower kicks on.
2022-07-02

POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2016-08-01
  • VIN: 5j8tb3h79gl
  • Components: POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
  • Summary: From the time purchased there has been a hesitation/sputtering during acceleration. I took the car in during the warranty period and they said nothing could be found. It has continued for 6 years. I have read of similar problems with this model and year.
2021-10-30

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-10-30
  • VIN: 5j8tb3h55gl
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: After getting my tires rotated, the Check emission sensor, check transmission light, and check blind spot system all came on at once and my transmission began jerking.
2021-08-10

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-04-30
  • VIN: 5J8TB3H37GL
  • Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
  • Summary: Vehicle constantly surges during acceleration, seems as if the transmission is bad however, it also feels as if the fuel filter is clogged. This sputter occurs at various speed. Vehicle has less than 64,000 miles. Is there a fix to this issue?
2021-05-18

VISIBILITY PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-05-17
  • VIN: 5J8TB3H74GL
  • Components: VISIBILITY
  • Summary: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE MOON ROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
2021-04-19

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-04-19
  • VIN: 5J8TB3H3XGL
  • Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
  • Summary: WHILE ACCELERATING THE CAR STARTED STUTTERING AND LOST POWER. IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. AT THE LIGHT I SHIFTED TO PARK AND BACK TO DRIVE AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. I WAS ONLY 2 BLOCKS FROM HOME SO I CHECKED ALL FLUID LEVELS AND THEY ARE ALL OK. I DROVE THE CAR AROUND THE BLOCK SEVERAL TIMES AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY.
2020-12-25

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2016-06-06
  • VIN: 5J8TB4H5XGL
  • Components: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
  • Summary: WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH I TRAVELED OVER A 50 TOOT, 2 LANE BRIDGE THE FCW AND BRAKE WARNING ENGAGED. THERE WAS NO OTHER CARS IN FRONT OF ME. THIS OCCURS EACH TIME I TRAVEL OVER THIS BRIDGE (APPROXIMATELY 20 TIMES). IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHEN TRAVELLING OVER SIMILAR BRIDGES. THE FIRST TIME WAS JUNE 2016. MOST RECENTLY, NOVEMBER 2020.
2020-12-15

ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2018-09-19
  • VIN: 5J8TB3H33GL
  • Components: ENGINE
  • Summary: HAPPENED TWICE. PRESS ACCELERATOR AND ENGINE BOGS WAY DOWN, WARNING LIGHTS SEEM TO CYCLE THROUGH NUMEROUS ISSUES. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SOMEONE SAID THAT INTERNALLY THE ELECTRONICS SWITCHED IT TO HIGHWAY MODE WHERE THE ENGINE SWITCHES FROM 6 CYLINDERS TO 3 CYLINDERS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE BETTER MILEAGE. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS 6 MILES FROM HOME SO I CAREFULLY DROVE IT SLOWLY HOME, CALLED THE DEALER, AND THEY HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. SECOND TIME I WAS 100+ MILES FROM HOME. KNOWING I WAS NOW DRIVING A 3 CYLINDER INSTEAD OF 6, I GAVE MYSELF PLENTY OF ROOM TO GET UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED SINCE ALL OF THE DRIVING WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS EXCEPT FOR TWO STOP SIGNS. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING IN A SITUATION WHERE I NEEDED TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. THIS TIME I DROVE IT CAREFULLY TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AGAIN THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. SUSPECT THAT THEY RESET IT BY DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY TO RESET THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WHICH IS WHAT I WILL TRY WHEN IT HAPPENS NEXT TIME. (DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE A HUNDRED MILES AGAIN LIKE THAT. WOULD RATHER GET MY HANDS DIRTY AND RESET IT IN ORDER TO DRIVE SAFELY THAT FAR.) FIRST TIME AROUND 40,000 MILES. SECOND TIME AROUND 50,000. BOTH TIMES SPEED WAS AROUND 20-40 MPH, SLIGHT ACCELERATION, THEN IT BOGGED DOWN.
2020-07-14

UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2020-07-13
  • VIN: 5J8TB3H57GL
  • Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: DEFECTIVE KNOCK SENSOR AFTER 40,000 MI.....4 YEARS
2019-10-17

ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2019-10-05
  • Fire: 1
  • VIN: 5J8TB3H71GL
  • Components: ENGINE
  • Summary: 2016 ACURA RDX WITH APPROX 31,000 MILES. AFTER APPROX 1.5 MILE TRIP PARKED IT AT A SHOPPING CENTER, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND LOCKED THE CAR. WITHIN 3 MIN THE ENGINE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BEFORE THE FIRE DEPT PUT IT OUT. CONTACTED HONDA AND TOLD THEM THEY SHOULD LOOK AT IT TO SEE IF IT WAS AN INHERANT SAFETY PROBLEM. HONDA SAID THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT THE CAR AND TO LET MY INSURANCE HANDLE IT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AFTER BEING TOLD BY THEM THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT AS IT STILL HAD A POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP FAILED TO PROVIDE AN INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD BY HONDA NOT TO HONOR THE WARRANTY AND LET INSURANCE HANDLE IT. VEHICLE IS TOTALED AND IF THE INSURANCE CO SELLS IT AT AN AUCTION THERE WILL BE NO EVIDENCE LEFT OF WHAT CAUSED THE SPONTANEOUS FIRE TO ERUPT ON SUCH A LOW MILE ENGINE.
2019-06-10

STRUCTURE,ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2019-06-05
  • VIN: 5J8TB3H576L
  • Components: STRUCTURE,ENGINE
  • Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA RDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDER THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR CONDITIONING WOULD NO LONGER BLOW COOL AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRADSHAW ACURA (2450 LAURENS RD, GREENVILLE, SC) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM BOLT HAD ERRONEOUSLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
2019-05-22

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2019-05-21
  • VIN: 5J8TB3H50GL
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: HANDS FREE LINK CAUSES BATTERY TO DRAIN AND THIS ISSUE IS WITH LOTS OF HONDA AND ACURA DIFFERENT MODELS AND HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND STILL CHOOSE TO IGNORE IT.CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED IN CALIFORNIA ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
2019-05-08

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2019-03-09
  • VIN: 5J8TB3H37GL
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: THE TALE LIGHTS, PARK LIGHTS HAVE DISCONTINUE TO WORK, THE BRAKE LIGHT ABOVE TRUCK DOOR IS NOT WORKING. THERE IS NOT BLOWN FUSE OR BULB. DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL MARCH 9TH, WHEN MY DAUGHTER PULLED ME OVER TO TURN ON MY LIGHTS AT NIGHT. I HAD HEAD LIGHTS BUT NO REAR LIGHTS AT ALL.
2018-11-27

STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2018-11-26
  • Components: STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: I WAS DRIVING MY 2016 ACURA RDX DOWN A LOCAL CITY ROAD MIDDAY. THERE WERE NO CARS IN THE VICINITY. WHILE DRIVING (ABOUT 35 MPH), I SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING HEARD A LOUD NOISE OF GLASS SHATTERING. THERE WAS NO PRIOR SOUND OF ANY ANIMAL OR OBJECT HITTING THE CAR. I TURNED AROUND TO SEE MY REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAD SHATTERED IN ITS ENTIRETY INTO THE CAR. I STOPPED THE CAR TO ASSESS THE SITUATION. I DID NOT SEE ANY ANIMAL OR ROCK/DEBRIS - JUST THE GLASS SHATTERED ONTO THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT AND FLOOR.
2018-07-10

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2017-11-27
  • VIN: 5J8TB4H52GL
  • Components: POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA RDX. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY, STALLED, AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CURRY ACURA, 685 CENTRAL PARK AVE, SCARSDALE, NY 10583) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPOOL VALVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,592. **TR CONSUMER STATED THIRD ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE CAR. UPDATED 11/19/18*JB
2018-01-08

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2017-12-04
  • Number Of Injuries: 2
  • Crash: 1
  • VIN: 5J8TB3H7XGL
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: I WAS T-BONED ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR BY A FORD TAURUS SEDAN THAT RAN A RED LIGHT AT A RELATIVELY HIGH RATE OF SPEED (I WAS TAKING A LEFT HAND TURN BUT THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND I WAS YIELDING TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC THAT WAS GOING STRAIGHT). THE TAURUS HIT THE BACK-END OF A HONDA CRV AND THEN HIT ME. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR COLLAPSED ONTO ME AND THE METAL FROM THE DOOR GOUGED MY BACK. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED AND CUT ME WITH GLASS. THE SIDE AIR BAG CURTAIN AND THE DOOR AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND LOOKED AT THE ISSUE AND TRYING TO DEPLOY THE BAGS, WHICH STILL DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIRBAGS IN THE OTHER CARS DEPLOYED. I SAVED THE PIECES FOR ACURA FOR INVESTIGATE BUT THEY HAVE DECLINED. THEY WILL RUN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK FOR ME ONCE THE CAR IS FULLY REPAIRED. ACURA HAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON IN THE CAR TO INDICATE AN ISSUE. I HAVE MY CAR SERVICED AT ACRURA AND HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED OF ANY AIRBAG REPAIRS.
2017-11-16

UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2016-08-23
  • VIN: 5J8TB4H7XGL
  • Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: SUNROOF EXPLODED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.
2017-10-30

SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2017-07-15
  • VIN: 5J8TB3H38GL
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: THE AUTOMATIC BRAKE MITIGATION SYSTEM HAS DEPLOYED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. EACH TIME I WAS DRIVING ON A CLEAR ROAD WITH NO OBSTRUCTIONS OR TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE WHEN THE SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND BEGAN BRAKING . THIS HAS NOT LET TO AN ACCIDENT YET BUT I THINK IT IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE A DRIVER FOLLOWING BEHIND ME TO "REAR - END" ME OR IT COULD CAUSE ME TO HAVE A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT IN MY OWN CAR BY UN-NECESSARILY BRAKING ON A ROADWAY COMPROMISED BY RAIN, SNOW OR ICE WHEN I WAS NOT PREPARED OR UNABLE TO MANAGE A BRAKING EPISODE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER BUT THE PROBLEM IS OBVIOUSLY VERY INTERMITTENT AND THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE IT NOR DIAGNOSE IT. I FEEL THIS IS A CLEAR SAFETY ISSUE ON A PRIMARY SAFETY SYSTEM..
2017-10-17

STEERING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2017-10-17
  • VIN: 5J8TB4H59GL
  • Components: STEERING
  • Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED WHILE EXITING A FUEL SERVICE STATION. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL ABRUPTLY LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE DROVE INTO A DITCH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE STEERING WHEEL REGAINED NORMAL OPERATION WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DITCH. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.
2017-07-26

SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2017-07-22
  • VIN: 5J8TB3H76GL
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: COLLISION MITIGATION BREAKING SYSTEM ENGAGES RANDOMLY WHEN NOT NECESSARY. SEEMS TO BE HEAT RELATED AS IT OCCURS DURING VERY HOT WEATHER. A SUDDEN STOP IS JARRING AND COULD BE DANGEROUS.
2017-03-23

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2017-03-17
  • VIN: 5J8TB4H74GL
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
  • Summary: MY CAR HAD 9100 ON RDX I NEEDED TO HAVE MY PADS AND ROTOR REPLACED ON FROM BRAKES. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES AT 5000 MILES. WHEN I PICK UP CAR I HEARD NOICE WHEN PUMPING BREAKS WHEN I WAS PICKING UP VEHICLE AND MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I HAVE TALK TO ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE WHICH WERE NOT HELPFUL. I SPOKE TO JIM BROWN GM AT RON TONKIN. HE STATED HE WOULD TALK TO HIS MANAGER OF REPAIRS AND ACURA REP ABOUT CAR. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE RADIO AND BOARD REPLACED. LANE KEEP ASSIST WARNING LIGHT COME ON 2 TIMES AND RESET MY SOFTWARE RESET. THE MICROPHONE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD TERRIBLE CASE MILE I HAVE NEVER GONE ABOVE 19.6 MPG PER GAS TANK REFILL. DARREL SAID THAT IS EPA SUGGESTION. MY NAVIGATION KEEPS ALARMING 4 BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY HOME. SIRI DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. I WILL TELL IT TO CALL SOMEONE SOMETIMES IT DOES SOMETIMES IT DOESNT EVEN WITH NEW MICROPHONE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES CLOSE TO 4 WEEKS. I HAVE A LEMON AND WOULD NEVER TELL ANYONE TO BY AN ACURA.
2017-01-04

STRUCTURE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2016-05-10
  • VIN: 5J8TB3H50GL
  • Components: STRUCTURE
  • Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA RDX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE TRUNK AND THE MOON ROOF INADVERTENTLY OPENED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
2016-11-10

SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2016-06-18
  • VIN: 5J8TB4H51GL
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: JUNE 18, 2016, I HAD A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR A ROAD TRIP SPECIAL. I WAS GOING ON A ROAD TRIP A FEW DAYS LATER. I ADVISED [XXX] MY STEERING WHEEL IS SHAKING A LITTLE WHEN BREAKING FROM HIGHER SPEEDS. WHEN I GOT MY CAR BACK, [XXX] STATED THEY REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, I BEGAN HEARING A NOISE SOUNDED LIKE A LITTLE GRIND. KEPT DRIVING DIDN'T HEAR IT AGAIN. AS I WENT ABOUT MY DAY, TIME AND TIME AGAIN I WOULD HEAR THIS SMALL GRIND. SOME DAYS WOULD GO BY AND I WOULD HEAR NOTHING, THEN SUDDENLY AS I AM DRIVING I WOULD HEAR IT AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK AND ADVISED I AM HEARING WHAT APPEARS TO BE A GRINDING NOISE. IN JULY I TOLD THEM I WAS GOING ON A ROAD TRIP AND WANTED MY BRAKES CHECKED BECAUSE I AM STILL HEARING THIS NOISE. WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR THEY DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING. I TOLD THEM IF I HEAR ANY NOISES ON MY TRIP I WAS GOING TO BE PISSED. MY BRAKES WERE GRINDING WHILE I WAS ON MY TRIP. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP LEFT [XXX] A VOICEMAIL HE DID NOT RETURN MY CALL. I DIDN'T THINK THEN TO RECORD IT. I MADE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR AUG 2, NOTHING CAME OF IT. I TOOK THE CAR IN, TOOK THE TECH ON A RIDE AND OF COURSE COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO MAKE THE GRINDING NOISE. AS A RESULT, [XXX] TOLD ME, [XXX], WE ALREADY CHANGED THE PADS AND ROTORS, IF WE CANNOT HEAR THE NOISE WE CANNOT FIX IT, WHEN IT MAKES THE NOISE TO BRING IT BACK. I WAS PISSED. NOT SATISFIED, I CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AGAIN SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER [XXX], HE OFFERED THAT HE WOULD TAKE MY CAR AND DRIVE IT TO SEE IF HE COULD HEAR THE NOISE. AUG 10 HE STATED HE DID NOT HEAR THE NOISE. I TOLD HIM THERE IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM, AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT, TAKE THE CAR APART AND LOOK AT THE BREAKING MECHANISM. HE TOLD ME THAT THEY CANNOT JUST THROW PARTS ON THE CAR HOPING IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM, THEY NEED TO HEAR THE NOISE IN ORDER TO FIX IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2016 Acura Rdx recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 2016 Acura Rdx.

2019-03-06
  • Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
  • Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: 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.
  • Remedy: 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.
2016-02-03
  • Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
  • Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: 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.
  • Remedy: 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.

Negative 2016 Acura Rdx car reviews

  1. Armand Parker 2025-04-05

    I bought this car because it has a quiet ride, excellent acceleration, and a comfortable ride. It also has a very good safety rating and state-of-the-art safety technology. I was also drawn to Acura's reputation for reliability. The RDX with the Advance package has one of the best sound systems I've heard in a car, which is a big plus for me. Since my family and I take a lot of long driving trips each year, the smaller size of this SUV is convenient for both long trips and city driving. However, there were a couple of surprises. While I knew the car had great safety features, I didn't fully appreciate the changes it would introduce to my driving until taking it on a trip shortly after buying it. The car requires a new driver to adjust to the technology, especially the ability to adjust its speed with traffic. Although I like this feature, it does require paying attention and adjusting to the changes. On a busy highway, I disabled the system as the distance between my car and the next vehicle was too long, even with the lowest setting. Occasionally, a large number of cars would continually pull in front and constantly slow down our pace of driving. I did not like the feature of adjusting the steering when changing lanes or moving in traffic, so I turned it off quickly. No doubt, I will try it again, but I doubt it will be useful or one that I will use with any regularity.I really enjoy driving my Acura, but I have some concerns about the navigation system. It doesn't seem to be as user-friendly as other systems I've used in the past. While it does work with voice control, the list of commands is quite long and doesn't include some of the most common features found in other vehicles. I'm also not sure if I can send instructions to the car to follow a route I've created on my computer, even though the Acura website says it's possible. The salesman who sold me the car wasn't sure either. However, I do appreciate the ability to use my smartphone with the Acura's system and stream podcasts or Pandora through the stereo. While Sirius XM works well with the Acura, the traffic and weather features don't integrate with the RDX, which is a bit disappointing. Overall, I'm happy with my Acura, but I hope the navigation system can be improved in the future.I haven't been able to find a way to do this or to find it in the documentation. In my older Murano, I could easily see when the next rest area or exit was coming up. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the Acura. When I ask for rest areas, I get a list of rest areas, some of which may be behind on the route being traveled or may be many miles ahead. This information is not very helpful. A friend of mine who also owns an Acura gave up and bought a Garmin navigation system instead. I can understand why. The nav system in the RDX is a major disappointment. As someone who uses a system like this extensively on trips, I have found Google Maps or Waze on my iPhone to be much more useful and easier to use. Considering the MSRP of $45,000 for this luxury SUV, I expected much better. Additionally, the Acura salesman was not very knowledgeable about how to use the system, so learning how to use it has been mostly trial and error and occasionally stopping to check the manual to see if we missed something that would make it more useful.

  2. Tavares Haley 2024-11-13

    Hello! I recently downsized from a GMC Yukon Denali to a newer car for better gas mileage. Although I am getting better than the 14 miles per gallon, I am not completely satisfied with the car. Unfortunately, in the first month, the AC went out during 90+ degree heat, but it was fixed quickly. The navigation system has been a bit frustrating, so I end up using my smartphone or my TomTom instead. The integrated voice command is not very user-friendly, despite spending many hours programming and watching videos on YouTube to learn the system. As far as handling, it's not as good as a Denali or a BMW, but it's still decent. The interior is aesthetically pleasing and comfortable, but I am a bit disappointed with the confusing setup of the Bluetooth and voice commands, as well as the navigation. Overall, the car feels like a cheap SUV with a luxury interior. However, the jewel headlights are amazing and really light up the road at night. I absolutely love them!

  3. Garett Rogahn 2024-11-06

    I recently purchased my second RDX and while it is a pleasant car to drive, I have found it lacking in a number of ways. The technology options, while promising, have not met my expectations. The navigation system only provides one level of directions and does not override the radio, which can be frustrating. Additionally, the speed limit is not shown and I would appreciate a feature that alerts me when I am exceeding it. Despite my efforts, I was unable to transfer my addresses from my Garmin to the Acura Nav system. While the car has adaptive cruise control, it can be abrupt, especially when someone moves into my lane. The rear area is also too small for my needs. After two years with the car, I have decided to trade it in for a Subaru Outback, which offers more space and is a more honest car. Although it may not be as fancy or plush as the RDX, I feel that it is a better fit for me. I believe that Acura could benefit from rethinking the technology and interior space of their cars, as well as being more transparent with their customers. By protecting their more expensive MDX line, they have made the RDX vulnerable to competitors. I hope that Acura will take this feedback into consideration and make improvements in the future.

  4. Rusty Armstrong 2024-10-25

    I experienced several issues with the RDX tech package, such as the failure to display songs, intermittent speaker performance, and navigation malfunctions. Despite taking it to Acura of Peoria, they were unable to identify any problems. Given the high cost of the car, I was disappointed with the experience. Additionally, I felt misled by the salesperson, Jon Lozano, who did not follow through on his promises to assist me. While I cannot recommend this vehicle or dealership based on my experience, I encourage others to conduct their own research and make informed decisions.

  5. Lazaro O'Reilly 2024-08-02

    After driving the base RDX for over a year and covering more than 13,000 miles, I can share my experience. Let's start with the positives: (1) The ride is very comfortable, (2) road noise is minimal, (3) I had no issues connecting my iPhone to the electronics, (4) the faux leather is easy to clean, (5) the acceleration is VERY fast and responsive, (6) the ride feels nice and tight, (7) the sound system is good, and (8) the cabin is comfortable and solid. However, there are some areas that could be improved: (1) The gas mileage is not great, with a combined 19 MPG and only around 14 MPG around town. This was surprising to me, especially coming from a Honda CR-V. For this reason, I may consider other brands for my next car. If you live in a flat area and don't use the AC, you may get better mileage. (2) The storage and cargo space is lacking and not very well thought out, (3) there is no spare tire, and (4) the transmission can feel jerky when slowing or downshifting. Overall, I hope this review helps you make an informed decision about the RDX.

Positive 2016 Acura Rdx car reviews

  1. Dalton Conroy 2025-04-18

    I am thrilled to share that I recently purchased my second RDX! My first was a 2014 model, which I was quite happy with despite a few minor irritations. However, the 2016 model took care of all my irritations with its added technology, specifically the blind spot and rear traffic warning sensors, and changes in the technology package. The RDX has two great blind spots, so the new tech is fantastic and solves the issues - and works beautifully. The 2016 model feels heavier and drives smoother than the 2014, with better and more substantial steering. It is also quieter with less wind noise and a smoother sunroof mechanism. I did purchase a wind deflector this time though. I absolutely love the 3D navigation viewing option, and the 10-speaker sound system is wonderful. I have been a loyal Acura customer since 2000, having owned three TLs (2000, 2003, and 2008), the 2014 RDX, and now the 2016 RDX. I had some transmission issues with my 2000 TL, but the dealer took care of it even though the warranty had expired. I have always been treated well by the dealer in South Orange County, California. I did not test drive competitors' vehicles, but I did a lot of research on the Lexus RX, Lincoln MDX, Mercedes GL and GLK, and some of the BMW and Audi SUVs, which would have fit into my budget. At the end of the day, I could not justify a higher cost for the competitors (when comparing the multitude of packages available with the competition), even though they may be more prestigious in name and perhaps have more luxurious interiors. The value, quality, and solid luxury of the Acura won out when I decided not to tie up more of my money and still have all the bells and whistles you get with the RDX. As of 28th October 2018, I still love this car. My only complaint is the Apple Car Play, which is not an Acura issue. The connection is at times touchy, and at least once a month, I have to go into the settings on the car and re-enable the connection. Fortunately, the touchpad is easy to use, and I have been able to reset the connection pretty easily.

  2. Emilio Baumbach 2025-04-03

    The RDX has truly exceeded our expectations! We are thrilled with the fantastic tech packages, although we must admit that there is so much to explore that we keep discovering new ways to operate the vehicle. Additionally, the car is incredibly quiet, the ride is smooth, and the mileage is impressive for a new vehicle. We highly recommend the RDX to anyone looking for a smaller vehicle with plenty of room for riders. (As a point of reference, I am 6'2

  3. Daryl Frami 2025-03-07

    We purchased our car in January 2016 and we absolutely love it! It's our first new car in a long time and we're very happy with our purchase, even though it was on the high end of our budget. The car is incredibly comfortable to drive and is made with great quality. The technology is very easy to figure out and has lots of cool features. We recently took a ride up to Minnesota and the ride was very stress-free thanks to the cruise control system features. It was a smooth and quiet ride. While some reviews state that the navigation system is cumbersome, we found it to be no different than using a Garmin. The sound system is great and we love the HDD CD Drive. Even though dealers don't usually deal much in price, we found a much better deal at an Illinois dealer compared to the Milwaukee area and they were great! We hope to get lots of years out of it and that it holds its value.

  4. Brain Conn 2025-02-04

    We have owned three RDXs so far, and I must say that the 2011 model was the best in terms of handling and driving experience, although it was a bit choppy. I personally liked it, but my wife didn't. We opted for the advanced package, which comes with a lot of tech features that my wife finds rather complicated. However, she still loves her car. We chose the advanced package mainly for the parking sensors and the nicer rims. Our biggest complaint was the limited color selection - they did away with silver and replaced it with slate silver blue, which we didn't like. We ended up buying the white one. The interior selection was also limited, with only parchment available with white and no black option. The 16-gallon tank is still a bit too small, considering the mileage is around 21. We always have to stop to refuel. We recently took a 200-mile trip and got around 22.5 miles per gallon. We have never had any issues with Acura products and we love our dealer. We also own a 12 TSX and a 14 TL SHAWD, and we love them all. Looking back, we probably could have done without some of the tech features, which would have saved us around $3000. My wife would still buy this car again, but she finds the tech features difficult to use. We have now owned this vehicle for 7 months, and we are still not sure about most of the tech stuff. The buttons are hard to see and the dual screen is distracting while driving, especially in the sun. It's also frustrating that you can't operate the phone book while driving. My 12 TSX and 14 TL both have much more user-friendly tech features. I find myself looking for those keys when heading out. However, my wife doesn't mind the tech features because she ignores them anyway.

  5. Kristofer Von 2025-01-12

    I hope you're doing well! From my experience, this car has great quality and a good dealer. It has a powerful engine and good fuel economy, making it a practical choice. The interior is also quite useful. The only downside I've noticed is a slight blind spot on the left front side, and some wind noise at higher speeds, which I believe is coming from the outside mirror. The owner's manual can be a bit confusing, and even after reading it several times, I still don't know how to use some of the controls (I have the base model). While it may not be the most exciting car out there, it's definitely a great and practical SUV. Let me know if you have any questions!

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Additional sources

More sources of information about 2016 Acura Rdx problems:

2016 Acura RDX Reliability - Consumer Reports
2016 Acura RDX Reliability - Consumer Reports
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/acura/rdx/2016/reliability/

Owner Reported Trouble Spots · Brakes · Drive System · Exhaust · In-car Electronics · Climate System · Fuel System/Emissions · Steering And Suspension · Engine ...

2nd Gen RDX Common Issues/Years to Avoid? - AcuraZine - Acura ...
2nd Gen RDX Common Issues/Years to Avoid? - AcuraZine - Acura ...
https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-rdx-2013-2018-404/2nd-gen-rdx-common-issues-years-avoid-990631/

Oct 23, 2020 ... A search within this forum for "common issues" or "common problems ... The refresh for the RDX was in 2016. It got ... Have a 2013 with AWD and 110k ...

Acura 2013-18 RDX transmission issues -- anyone have personal ...
Acura 2013-18 RDX transmission issues -- anyone have personal ...
https://www.reddit.com/r/Acura/comments/c288we/acura_201318_rdx_transmission_issues_anyone_have/

Jun 19, 2019 ... Customers will have a complaint of harsh shifting, "transmission problem" on the display, or not accelerating well. When the transmission ...

The Most Common 2016 Acura RDX Problems | GetJerry.com
The Most Common 2016 Acura RDX Problems | GetJerry.com
https://getjerry.com/car-insurance/2016-acura-rdx-problems

Jan 30, 2024 ... , so dependability issues are few and far between. Still, in the six years that the 2016 RDX has been on the market, customers have lodged 29 ...

2016 RDX Potential Issues : r/Acura
2016 RDX Potential Issues : r/Acura
https://www.reddit.com/r/Acura/comments/1ad8a16/2016_rdx_potential_issues/

Jan 28, 2024 ... The motor? Smooth and wonderful in every way. Actually, I find the power-plant to feel "lazy" and slow to downshift should/when I want power.

Other years of Acura Rdx

acura rdx 2017 photo
Rdx 2017
Acura

55

1

32

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
acura rdx 2018 photo
Rdx 2018
Acura

50

1

34

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
acura rdx 2019 photo
Rdx 2019
Acura

268

4

31

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
acura rdx 2020 photo
Rdx 2020
Acura

185

4

29

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
acura rdx 2021 photo
Rdx 2021
Acura

60

2

38

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
acura rdx 2022 photo
Rdx 2022
Acura

16

1

32

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1

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