2018 Acura Rlx hybrid problems
The Acura RLX is a mid-size flagship luxury car manufactured by Honda and sold under their Acura division, released in 2013, succeeding the RL. The RLX was discontinued in 2020.
Background and development
The Acura Legend was a very successful vehicle to launch Acura as a separate division, and combined with sales of the Integra this resulted in Acura outselling longtime luxury marques BMW and Mercedes-Benz as well as Toyota's new luxury division Lexus. However, the successor RL sold below expectations due to relatively tight interior for its size, the lack of a V8 performance engine option and better handling rear-wheel drive experience, and/or relatively expensive compared to its rivals.
An October 2009 Car and Driver blog cited a dinner with Acura executives who acknowledged that the introduction of the new, larger, and in some guises, more powerful, fourth generation Acura TL made it difficult to market the then-current RL. In November 2009, an Autoweek article reported that new Honda CEO Takanobu Ito told Automotive News that Acura is going to change course. Speaking of the worldwide economy before the collapse of investment bank Lehman Brothers, Ito said through an interpreter, "Pre-Lehman, we did have the idea to produce more multicylinder engines... I see the future of Acura as a merger of BMW and Audi -- something between high performance and high technology." As a result of this midstream change, Acura will be in a "low-growth period of developing new products," Ito said. "We were thinking that we could come up with glamorous, gorgeous products that would sell. Now, our premium products will be expressed in advanced environmental technologies, rather than glamorous things attached to the product," he said.
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Common 2018 Acura Rlx hybrid problems
The Acura RLX Hybrid 2018 has been reported to have several issues, primarily related to the transmission, fuel pump, and electrical components.
One common problem is related to the dual-clutch transmission (DCT) in the 2018 Sport Hybrid model. The clutch and other parts of the DCT are failing, and the replacement parts are not available. The local transmission shop and dealerships have confirmed that all parts for the DCT have been discontinued. The only solution offered is to replace the entire transmission, which costs around $17,000. This issue affects many 2018 Sport Hybrid owners, and the lack of available replacement parts is a significant concern.
Another problem is related to the fuel pump, which can fail due to an improperly molded part. This issue affects various Honda and Acura models, including the 2018 to 2020 Acura RLX. If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle may not start or could stall while driving. The fix involves replacing the fuel pump module with an improved part, which dealerships will perform free of charge.
Electrical issues have also been reported, such as battery, undercharging, and brake warnings in the 2018 RLX Hybrid. Some owners have experienced completely dead batteries, even with relatively low mileage. These issues can cause headaches for owners, requiring frequent visits to dealerships for repairs and replacements.
Lastly, the RLX has received criticism for its expensive price when new, as well as outdated features and infotainment systems. However, these concerns may be less relevant now, as used RLX models are available at more affordable prices.
In summary, the Acura RLX Hybrid 2018 has been reported to have problems with its dual-clutch transmission, fuel pump, and electrical components. These issues can lead to significant repair costs and inconvenience for owners.
Is Acura RLX reliable?
Compared to rivals, the RLX offers far fewer trims, doesn't have CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration, and isn't as well known. And while Acura vehicles have a good record of reliability, the RLX's resale value is below average.
How much does it cost to replace the battery in a Acura RLX hybrid?
Labor costs are estimated between $405 and $511 while parts are typically priced around $3,957.
Is Acura RLX expensive to maintain?
The average annual repair cost for a Acura is $501, which means it has above average ownership costs. The other factors that contribute to Acura reliability include an average of 0.4 visits to a repair shop per year and a 8% probability of a repair being severe.
Why did Acura stop making the RLX?
2020 was the final model year for the RLX as the market shifts towards SUV / crossovers. As a result, the TLX became Acura's flagship sedan. Although similar, the RLX was larger than the current TLX.
2018 Acura Rlx hybrid complaints
The NHTSA has received 0 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2018 Acura Rlx hybrid.
You can leave your car complaint via the special form below.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2018 Acura Rlx hybrid problems:
Get an RLX or run away? - AcuraZine - Acura Enthusiast Community
Dec 30, 2019 ... ... transmission on the RLX Sport Hybrid so the ... common across a lot of Honda/Acura ... 2018 TLX - Any Problems yet? Acura TL 2007 stuttering at ...
Why does the RLX get such a bad rep?? : r/Acura
Jan 23, 2022 ... ... issues, but I don't pretend to speak for everyone. ... Hybrid about a year ago and have had no problems. ... I went from 02 TL type S to 2018 RLX ...
RLX Sport Hybrid bad choice - AcuraZine - Acura Enthusiast ...
Feb 27, 2021 ... I have a 2018 rlx hybrid with numerous battery, undercharging, brake warnings etc. This car is nothing but headache and I have only 16k ...
2018 Sport Hybrid problems | Acura MDX SUV Forums
Mar 6, 2019 ... The shudder was always worse when the engine was cold, when the hybrid battery was very low or on a very steep uphill surface. Because the ...
Issues with 2016 RLX Sport Hybrid - AcuraZine - Acura Enthusiast ...
Jun 4, 2019 ... 3G RLX (2013+) - Issues with 2016 RLX Sport Hybrid - Hi all, I've had my RLX Hybrid for about 2 and a half years now (34.5k miles) and ...
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