Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2012 Acura RDX, assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its VIN to decode that exact car, its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment, alongside these records.
Open a VIN recordRecalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Acura RDX year.
No EPA fuel-economy match for this model. Naming may differ, or it predates EPA records.
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for this make, model and year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car. A dealer can confirm from the VIN.
Issue: 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.
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.
Campaign 19V182000
Issue: 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.
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.
Campaign 16V061000
Rated configuration: 2012 Acura RDX SUV 4WD
The parts named most often across 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this make, model and year.
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so read this as where to look rather than as a defect rate.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Acura RDX. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 148,000. However, following an oil change service, it was later discovered that the actual vehicle mileage was 248,553.
AMBOS FOCOS DELANTEROS SE OBEDECEN, LAS FECHAS EXACTAS CUANDO LO LLEV AL DEALER PARA GARANTA DE LOS FOCOS NO LA RECUERDO, PERO FUI EN VARIAS OCASIONES. ME INFORMARON QUE LA ESPECIFICACIN DEL FABRICANTE ERAN FOCOS AL AIRE, Y QUE POR ESO SE HUMEDECIAN Y NO TENAN GARANTA, QUE TODOS LOS DE ESE AO VINIERON AS. ME CONFIRM Y NO REGRES PARA ESE PROBLEMA., AUNQUE NO TIENE LGICA, SE COMPRA UN AUTO PARA QUE FUNCIONE TODO NORMAL Y ESTE NO ES EL CASO DE AMBOS FOCOS. AL PASAR EL TIEMPO EL PROBLEMA SE HA AGRAVADO PORQUE SE HUMEDECEN MAS Y AFECTA LA VISIBILIDAD. LLAM NUEVAMENTE AL DEALER PERO ME INFORMARON LO MISMO, LES INFORM QUE FUI EN EL PERIODO DE DE GARANTA Y NO LOS REEMPLAZARON Y AHORA ES PEOR Y QUE NI ES CIERTO QUE TODOS LOS DE MI AO ESTN AS PORQUE LOS QUE HE VISTO QUE ESTN BIEN. AGRADECER PUEDAN V VERIFICAR MI SOLICITUD EN EL DEALER Y RESOLVER EL INCONVENIENTE. GRACIAS
VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE BRAKES TO LOCK AND CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR OTHERS AND THE PERSON DRIVING THE CAR. ONCE THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN THE CAR WILL NEED TO BE PUT IN PARK, TURNED OFF AND COMPLETELY RESTARTED AGAIN. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES RANGING IN SPEEDS FROM 0MPH TO 70MPH WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESS WAY. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND STATIONARY AS WELL. IT HAS HAPPENED AT A STOP LIGHT AS WELL AS ON THE HIGHWAY.
TAKATA RECALL. THE DRIVER AIR BAG WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED. WHEN I QUESTIONED WHY THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS NOT BEING REPLACED ALSO. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS NOT BEING RECALLED. I ASKED IF IT WAS A TAKATA AIR BAG. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT ANSWER. ONLY SAYING IT WAS NOT BEING RECALLED. MY COMPLAINT IS: I DO NOT KNOW IF MY FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG IS SAFE FOR THE RIDERS IN MY CAR.
I NOTICED VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN AS IF I HAD FLAT TIRES, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING. AFTER A WEEK I HAD MY SUV CHECKED AT THE GARAGE. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT AND LEFT LINE AXLE ASSEMBLIES WHICH WAS QUITE EXPENSIVE. THE MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY FINISHED AND FOUND IT HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR A 2012 ACURA RDX.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS) WAS ISSUED IN FEBRUARY OF 2016. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 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.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. 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....UPDATED 10/11/16 *BF *CN
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 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.
TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A LETTER DATED MARCH 2016 NOTIFYING ME OF THE RECALL, AND WHEN I CONTACTED MY DEALER, THIS WAS HIS RESPONSE: KRISTEN, I UNDERSTAND YOUR SITUATION. MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME SITUATION. UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NOT A REMEDY. YOU HAVE OPTIONS. ACURA IS ALLOWING US TO TAKE THESE CARS IN ON TRADE IN FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE IF YOU DON'T FEEL SAFE. WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU WITH THAT PROCESS. BESIDES THAT DRIVE IT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. I KNOW THAT NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR. THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE AT THIS TIME. THANKS, NOT ONLY IS THIS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE, BUT ALSO OUTRAGEOUS! YOU'RE TELLING ME MY VEHICLE COULD UNEXPECTEDLY KILL ME AND MY PASSENGERS, BUT NOTHING IS TO BE DONE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS - UNLESS, OF COURSE, I WANT TO BUY A NEW CAR FROM YOU?! PLEASE INFORM ME OF WHAT MY RECOURSE CAN BE, SO I CAN KEEP MY FAMILY SAFE.
WITHIN THE FIRST 2 YEARS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOTICED MY RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING. THE ACURA DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION UNDER WARRANTY 28,782.00 MMI MAY 16, 2014. I WAS EXPERIENCING VIBRATION ESPECIALLY AT SPEEDS OF 60-65. IT KEPT GETTING WORSE I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ROAD, TIRES OUT OF BALANCE, WHEELS OUT OF BALANCE? I GOT NEW TIRES, BALANCED. IT CONTINUED. I READ ABOUT COMPLAINTS WITH THE AXLE AND SIMILAR SYMPTOMS IN OTHER ACURA SEDAN MODELS, NOT THE RDX. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE AXLE DID NEED TO REPLACED AT 46,306.00 MILES 11/30/15. IT WAS ON BACK ORDER FOR OVER A MONTH. I WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT FEBRUARY 8, 2016 AND HEARD A TERRIBLE LOUD GRINDING NOISE TURNING THE WHEEL. I PUT IT IN PARK AND IT STOPPED THEN I PROCEEDED AGAIN AND IT HAPPENED AFTER MOVING A FEW YARDS. I TRIED TO PULL TO A SAFE OUT OF THE WAY SPOT AND THE NOISE CAME AGAIN AND THIS TIME JUST WHEN PUTTING IT IN DRIVE THE TERRIBLE LOUD GRINDING TYPE NOISE CAME. I THOUGHT THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO FAIL. I STOPPED WHERE I WAS AND CALLED AAA FOR A TOW. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE AXLE HAD BROKEN INSIDE ON A PIECE ON THE LEFT SIDE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IE, I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING ETC... THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID MAYBE THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE, HE DID NOT SEE ANY DAMAGE. HE HAD ONE IN STOCK AND WAS ABLE TO REPLACE IT RIGHT AWAY. THERE IS STILL A CREAKING NOISE WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL ESPECIALLY TO THE RIGHT OR WHEN I STEP ON THE BREAKS THE FRONT END MAKES NOISE SEEMS LIKE IT NEEDS LUBRICATION OR SOMETHING. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. THE ACURA CORPORATION WILL NOT ADMIT THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE THEY WANT ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER TO HAVE IT EVALUATED. (DID THAT) TONY THE DISTRICT CASE MANAGER SAID THEY CAN ONLY TAKE CARE OF THINGS THAT ARE UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY WILL NOT BUY BACK THIS CAR SO THAT I CAN PURCHASE A SAFE CAR. I WILL BE SEEKING ARBITRATION.
MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 50K MILES. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I NOTICED A SOUND WHEN MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I EXITED THE ROAD THE WHEEL WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE SOUND INCREASED. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE AND I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A COSTLY REPLACEMENT OF TH RACK-N-PINION.
Showing 12 of 15 complaints.