2015 Acura RDX Complaint Log

Over the past several months I have observed my headlights becoming dimmer when driving at night. It has gotten to the point where I now feel unsafe driving the vehicle as I can barely see the road. It appears the reflective surface inside the headlights has oxidized and no longer reflects at a safe brightness level. I spoke to my local dealership and the service department advised that he has seen the same issue on 2013-2015 RDX models but Acura has yet to issue any type of recall. My only option presented was to replace the headlight assemblies with an estimated cost of $2,200 for parts and labor.

Low Beam Headlights degraded over the time to the point that driving at night became unsafe. Border line between lighted and dark road surface non exist. Replacing halogen bulbs has not solved the issue.

Recently purchased a used 2015 RDX, headlights were foggy and the dealer cleaned the outer lens but the inner lens is not possible to restore. They are so dull that you must drive with the high beams on in order to see clearly. The Acura RLX had a recall for the exact same problem, this recall should have been extended to the RDX as well.

The headlights on my car have dimmed substantially in the last couple of years, to the point I don't feel comfortable driving at night or in unclear conditions. When I do drive at night I am forced to put my hi-beams on to see in front of me. Oncoming cars will flash their lights at me trying to tell me I don't have my headlights on when I do. I have asked Acura about but they say there is nothing that can be done. This is very disappointing and will make me question ever buying another Acura in the future. I can't, in good conscience, pass this car on to my child.

My 16 year old son was at a church function until after dark because daylight savings time means it is dark earlier. When he began to drive home he could not see the roadway because the low beam headlights provided close to zero illumination. He lost visibility and drove off the road into someone’s yard. There were children outside and they could have been killed. Only minor damage to the grass and yard occurred and fortunately no damage to the vehicle. He called me and I instructed him to engage the high beams and drive home which caused several oncoming vehicles to swerve and react menacingly because he didn’t dim his lights. The oxidation of the reflective coating is a known defect that was recalled in the Acura ILX and I expect that they should be required to take the same corrective action for the base model RDXs. Please take action

My 2015 Acura RDX has such dim headlights, that I feel that it is not safe to drive at night. The headlights have gotten so dim that I can't even tell if they are on, unless I drive by a building and see the lights in the reflection. The only way I can drive safely is to have my high beam headlights on, which is not safe for other drivers. As I understand it, the 2015 Acura RLX has had recalls for a very similar headlight issue. Why hasn't this recall been extended to the 2015 RDX, which appears to be built off the same platform, and is having the same issue?

The 2015 Acura RDX has a problem with the exterior headlamps making it a safety hazard when driving at night. Over time, the auto or all electric light options have not been fully functioning. The standard lighting on the headlights is very dim, whether using Auto or "turn on all" electric light options. Poor visibility from the regular lights is so low that the high beams need to be used regularly, even on local streets with lampposts. I tried cleaning the exterior of the lights with an at-home cleaner (oxidizer) and it helped the exterior but not the lighting. I recently took the RDX into the dealership; they replaced the bulbs but this did not resolve the issue. The service department said there was no recall for the headlights on the 2015 RDX. A similar headlight issue was addressed on a 2014-15 Acura RLX vehicles (based on Consumer Affairs online report). My option is now to replace both headlamps. The cost to replace the headlamps - with halogen lights only - is approximately $3,100. That is a huge expense to address a manufacturer standard safety function for a vehicle. My car has been serviced by Acura dealerships (and primarily the one where I bought my car) so the manufacturer knows that there certified technicians have handled all maintenance associated with this vehicle. I request that NHTSA investigate this issue with the Acura 2015 RDX headlights. This safety violation should result in Acura providing a recall option for all Acura 2015 RDX with known headlamp issues. Having proper working, standard lighting in a vehicle is a basic safety requirement and it is not clear why Acura has not addressed this issue with this model. NOTE: I tried to upload a picture of my car and a statement from the dealership on the cost of headlight replacement and the upload function is not working.

The headlights are horrible. I am unable to drive safely without using my bright lights. When I dim my headlights before approaching an oncoming car it is dangerous. On October 28, 2023 I did just that and missed seeing a deer due to the lack of visibility due to the defective headlights and hit the deer damaging my vehicle's right headlights. Prior to the accident, I invested in installing fog lights to remedy the situation, but it still did not help. I am holding Acura responsible for my accident which was due to defective headlights.

The headlights are very dull and fail to illuminate the road at night. Thus, night driving is a hazard and using high beams blind other drivers.

LOWBEAM HEADLIGHTS: I have noticed myself and others have told me my RDX headlights do not light your driving as much as other cars. I been told this for couple year but I rarely drive at dark these days. On Monday Oct 2 I was driving home in Naples Florida at 8p and realized I could hardly see the road if there wasn't street lights aiding my view. Then on one stretch of road where there are not street lights and no other cars driving beside, I realized I cannot see the road at all unless I drive with my HIGH beams on . So I drove home on HIGH beams the entire distance and made it safely. I'm not sure of whether other cars could see me or not at night, so I know that this is a safety issue. After researching this problem online I quickly found conversations regarding how common this problem is on the RDX around 100k miles. Well, now it seems I'm hearing and reading this everywhere the more I research. I called the dealer service and they want about $1500 to replace my 2 entire headlight kits. This is ridiculous price gouging when I don't have that kind of money and I have to drive unsafely or with high beams on at night which could result in a traffic ticket for doing so. I definitely believe my low beams are unsafe to drive at night and that they got worse overtime, not just overnight.

My front headlights have gradually become so dim my car is unsafe to drive at night. I have had them checked and they are on - they have become so sim it is dangerous. This is an ongoing issue - I am posting the date that I had a friend in the car who kept asking if my lights were on and was freaking out that we were driving without lights.

The low-beam headlights gradually dim over time. Dim headlights can pose a safety risk, preventing drivers from seeing a safe distance ahead. This is not very safe to drive the vehicle at nighttime, my fear and the safety of my family to continue driving this vehicle. Acura should voluntarily recall the 2015 Acura RDX, due to defective headlights. It's outrageous that Acura hasn't recalled it. The low-beam reflector itself oxidizes, is not reflective at all, and no amount of brighter bulbs. Light output of 2015 Acura Rdx is very low due to bad foil in projector headlights. I have swtiched bulbs but that did not make much different. This is a safety concern.

The low beam lighting has been dimmed even replacing with new light bulb doesn’t fix it it’s hard to drive at night

Headlights horribly dim on low - only illuminate the roadway at night if on high beams. Took it into the dealership today and was told it would be $2,500 to replace the reflectors and basically re-do the whole front headlamp area. We had this car mainly garaged during COVID when working from home 100%. Now that we drive it more, we realize it has become unsafe -cannot see to drive at night at all. Other vehicles with this problem have had recalls - RDX models of this 2015 year need to also be recalled so the problem can be fixed before causing accidents.

Low-beam headlights are dangerously dim, almost unusable at night. Replaced bulbs, no difference in light output. Dealer has confirmed issue. Obviously a safety issue, if the road can't be lighted, potential for crashes. No signal/notification in cab, as the headlights work.

Low beam headlights are so dim it is very difficult to see at night.

The Keyless Entry TPMS controller in the car, part #38320-TX4-Ao1 malfunctions, and the care does not turn itself off. The engine normally stops, but electrical systems continue operating and the car will drain its battery with a few hours. This is not an isolated occurance, while dealership personnel have not given firm #s, I beleive this may be effecting as high as 20% of the vehicles with this part. We have had a replacement part on back order since August 30th of 2023, today the dealship told me we are elevated to Urgent Backorder with not estimated fulfillment. On service tech told me the issue is that Acura suspended manufacture of the part as they try to solve this issue.

The contact owns a 2015 Acura RDX. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the low-beam headlights were very dim. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V792000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 99,500.

An electrical keyless part in the vehicle drains the battery causing it to stall wherever or whenever you are on the road. It has been confirmed by the dealer(Courtesy Acura) that the vehicle needs a new part that they are unable to manufacture in a timely manner. It has been almost a year since the incident, and Honda is still not supporting a product that was faulty the day the car rolled off the assembly line. I was told by a representative of Honda that my car, 2015 Acura RDX, is the only vehicle with that VIN number to have this problem, and I know that not to be true.

I purchased the vehicle used on July 4, 2023. I've noticed that the low beam lights are very dim to the point they are a safety hazard. My daughters both have Honda CR-V models and both of their low beam lights are much brighter than mine. I looked online, and there are a lot of people with the same issue. I took it to the dealer, and they said nothing was wrong with it. However, there is definitely something clearly wrong with it because you can barely see to drive at night. The high beams work fine, but I can't drive around with high beams all of the time.

The headlights of the RDX have grown very dim. In 2022, to pass inspection, the mechanics had us change the lamps. While they passed us for inspection, I noticed very little difference in light output. This weekend I nearly hit an under-lit bicyclist, while battling head-on lights in a bit of drizzle. In these conditions the forward light from the RDX headlights is non existent, leaving the driver to discern the glare and shadows. Really the light output is unsafe in any conditions even pure darkness. The reported cause is the deterioration of internal reflectors due manufacturing flaws. While I can no longer drive the vehicle without putting replacement lights on it, I will happy to send my old headlights to NHTSA so they can dissect and see the manufacturing flaw. Hopefully then, a recall can be made. Please let me know where to send them!

The headlights on the vehicle are VERY dim, so much so that driving at night is really not safe. At any point I have a passenger in my car while dark, they always ask if I have my lights on. On roadways at night, I have to either ride behind someone else to have the road lit in front of me OR illegally drive with the high beams on. This has been an ongoing issue for a few years but I only realized recently what a real safety hazard this is when others have brought it to my attention. I have read quite a few posts that others are also having similar issues with the 2013-2015 RDX base model (the 2014-2015 Acura RLX vehicles were recalled due to the potential delamination of reflective film inside the headlights and I suspect this is a similar issue).

Front Headlights are very dim, making it impossible to use without using the brights. Bulbs have been replaced to high intensity, and it still does not help. According to my mechanic and on-line forums, the problem is the reflective material inside the headlight assembly. Other models of Acura's have been recalled for this, but not the above model. It is getting very dangerous to drive and we do not want to spend the money for two new headlight assemblies when this is a defect in manaufactoring

The headlight housing is insufficiently opperating and is losing power and not providing safe lighting - it is exceedingly unsafe. this is a common issue among 2015 RDX when doing a search

Low Beam headlight is extremely dim. You can't even tell they are on in pitch darkness. This may be due to the reflector housing deteriorating.

Low beam headlights do not provide enough light for night driving. Just purchased a used Acura RDX with 100k miles for my daughter and I do not feel that it's safe to let her drive after dark. This appears to be a known issue with the RDX ranging 2013-2015 and I'm surprised to see there have been 0 recalls for this obvious safety issue. Hope this writeup is the one that tips the scales to force a recall.

Ballast/Reflector in headlightz started dimming at 80,000 miles, now unable to produce light at all. This is a known factory defect that acura has been too cheap to recall. I can only see with my highbeams at night and even they barely produce light.

The daytime running light is dangerously dim on one side. Changing the headlight doesn't fix the issue. The housing is defective it's failing to reflect the light outward causing dangerous visibility issues.

Low beams headlights are very dim .Very dangerous to drive in to drive at night.

The lights on my 2015 Acura RDx became so dim it was no longer safe to drive. I took it to my mechanic and he agreed saying he also felt it was a safety issue. I contacted the dealer as well as Acura and they were aware of the issue but said it was not covered under our extended warranty. The car has limited miles and we decide to replace the lights at a cost of $1859.42. The replacement of the lights has made a significant difference in the safety of the vehicle. The lights were so dim that cars coming in the other direction were flashing at me and I started to avoid driving it at night and took my husbands car. I have the lights available if they need to be inspected.

The headlights on the car are dangerously dim. The lights have been frustratingly dim for years (at least 5+ years since I’ve owned the car) but now I’m genuinely concerned for my family’s safety—they’ve continued to get dimmer and dimmer. The only way I can make it home at night is by using my brights. And even the brights present a dangerous situation for me and other cars on the road. I’ve been told by dealers that this is a known issue but they will not repair it for free without a recall — the fix is not as simple as replacing lightbulbs, it is easily $3,000-4,000 of labor and parts (the entire headlights need to be replaced). How can Acura / Acura dealers know about faulty, dangerous parts and refuse to do anything about it? Please intervene for the safety of my family. Further, I’ve read online about others in the exact same situation. This needs to be fixed and is tremendously dangerous. It’s only getting worse. Also, while the date on this complaint is today (4/16/2023), this has been an issue for YEARS.

The headlight reflectors are so bad that it has become dangerous to drive in the night. The dealership agreed that its Acura's defect for that year and asked about $2500 to replace the whole headlight unit. No use in changing just the bulb.

Notice 2-3 years ago the low beam headlight is so dim, you cannot safely see at night. Even changing to new light bulb does not fix the problem. Dealer says this is normal but if you drive at night this is not normal. I found out this is well known issue with this generation of RDX that everyone is having the problem with. And I was told changing the entire light assembly housing is the only solution as OEM housing has a problem with reflector going bad overtime. I'm considering selling the car because of this safety issue but this will only put future buyer at risk and not resolving the safety issue.

Headlight low beam becomes very dim - almost not be able to drive at night. Went to the dealership. They quote me $1500 to replace both headlight assembly because the old ones are "not working". It failed state safety inspection!

The headlights on the 2015 Acura RDX are so dim I cannot drive at night without leaving my high beams on. This has been going on for 3 years and the Acura dealer has generically said it is a known problem and there is no easy fix. There are many reports of this issue and it is a serious safety issue that neither Acura or NHTSA have addressed. It is dangerous for my family and me as we cannot see turns or obstacles well and it is dangerous for approaching drivers when I have to leave my high beams on.

The low beam lights are almost none existent. We bought he car used two days ago (3/10/23) and we drove for the first time at night and had not light visible. Car's behind were casting more light. We had to use our high beams to get home. I checked and all lights are working, high, low, running, turn, fog, etc. No bulbs are burned out. I have replaced the bulbs with OEM. No change.

Both low beam headlights are very dim. Replacing the bulb does not increase brightness. Reports from internet are saying it’s because the reflective material oxidizes and no longer reflects. Extremely dangerous to drive at night.

My headlights have become dangerously dim once my car hit 100K miles. Despite cleaning the lens and changing the bulbs, I still can hardly see at night time. I regularly have to use my brights to be able to see the lines or curbs. Dealership wants to charge close to $3,000 for repairs and cannot seem to provide a plausible reason why my car after having no accidents and is well kept and maintained is having this headlight problem. It is a significant safety concern. I drive home from baseball practices with my 2 young sons at night and need to be able to see the road!

The original low beam bulbs (halogen) melted the cover making visibility abysmal. I’ve replaced the bulbs with a LED option, and still very low visibility. There is seemingly no difference between the headlights being on and being off.

The headlights are very dim (barely any light at night) and the dealership stated the entire headlight assembly has to be replaced (over $2300 in costs). Apparently many of the same model and year RDX have the same problem.

The dim lights are horrible with about 20% of the correct or new car illumination of the street. I have replaced the low beam 3 times and I am not able to see the road with the low beam. This forces me to use my bright beams which is not safe. I have had a high energy bulb replace as suggested by the dealer and they are not helping. When you go the the service dept. at Acura and they l say, yes we hear this a lot. This is a real issue for safety. I have a case with Honda / Acura and they asked that I take my car to the local dealer for an evaluation. I did that and they kept my car for almost a month. No fix or repairs were made. The fix is a total replacement of the lights, wire system and lens cover. That is about $2000 and I should not need to pay due to this quality issue. I have a case number from Honda which can share with you if you want it. If you do an internet search you will see that this is a national problem and a recall from Honda / Acura need to be forced as they are not willing to fit the problem on their own.

headlight assembly has failed, reflective material has deteriorated and the low beam is now so faint it is not safe to drive at night. can isnt even 10 years old and cant be driven at night due to headlight failure

The contact owns a 2015 Acura RDX. The contact stated that the headlights failed to produce adequate light at night. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the bulbs, but the failure recurred. The contact called the dealer, who diagnosed that the casing needed to be replaced and the reflector had deteriorated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

The issue is with the driving lights asembly since 2 years ago my driving lights are not providing enough light to drive the vehicle i am forced to have the high beams on. I have changed numerous bulbs to no avail. At this point i am driving and cannot see infrond of me. This is dangerous to my family and pedestrians that cannot see my car or me see them.

The front headlights are dangerously dim. It is all but impossible to see the road at night. Using the brights puts others at risk. This problem was diagnosed by the dealer as buildup inside the plastic light covering. The car is only 7 1/2 years old and is a premium brand. No warnings whatsoever. The lights were not great when I bought the car, and it has only gotten worse. If there is a defect in the manufacturing of the protective shields, I feel this should be the dealers responsibility, not mine. Total cost to me is $920. I do not feel this should be my responsibility.

From what I have learned, the halogen low beam bulbs deteriorated the reflectors to the point it was noticeable around 60,000 miles and lights are now too dim to drive the vehicle since about 80,000 miles. Full headlight housing replacement is required to remedy the problem. I was driving in the rain on a dark highway when I was unable to see the roadway and had to travel with my high beams with oncoming traffic. The dealership confirmed the degraded reflector problem. There were no warning lamps or messages related to the dim lights. It sounds like an identical problem to the Acura 2014-2015 RLX which was recalled.

Low beam headlights reflector screen failure. Cannot see road when low beams are on at night

This problem only applies to the base model of the 2015 Acura RDX because Acura installed Halogen Headlight bulbs, only in the base model, they get too hot for the reflective finish on the inside of the headlight assembly. The heat ruins the finish so there is very little reflective properties to cast light out in front of the car. You cannot see very well in the dark with low beams and cannot see at all when it is raining.They have fixed this problem on other models of Acura cars but not the RDX base model. Lots of complaints on chat rooms about this problem. I had to put LED lights in my fog lights to see in front of me.

The low beam headlight reflector has deteriorated and makes the vehicle unsafe to drive at night

The contact owns a 2015 Acura RDX. The contact stated that on several occasions while the vehicle was started, the headlamps were extremely dim, making it difficult to see the roadway while driving. The contact stated that both headlight bulbs were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.