NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Acura RDX. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS EXPERIENCE RANDOM FAILURES, AT VARIOUS TIMES SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING. FUNCTIONALITY CAN SOMETIMES BE RESTORED BY STOPPING THE CAR AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE MUST SIT FOR HOURS WITH ENGINE OFF TO RESTORE FUNCTIONALITY. SYSTEM FAILURES INCLUDE DASHBOARD LIGHTING, VEHICLE DISPLAY SCREEN, AND HEADS-UP DISPLAY. NUMERIOUS DEALER VISITS HAVE PROVIDED NO SOLUTION TILL TODAY WHEN I WAS INFORMED THAT THAT THIS IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE AND THAT A SOFTWARE VEHICLE UPDATE IS REQUIRED. HOWEVER THIS IS NOT AVAILABLE, HAS NOT BEEN AVAILABLE FOR AROUND 6 MONTHS AND NO TIMELINE HAS BEEN OFFERED FOR THIS UPDATE. I REGARD THIS AS A SAFETY AND DRIVER DISTRACTION ISSUE THAT CAN LEAD TO COLLISIONS. ACURA NEEDS TO PLACE A HIGHER PRIORITY ON THIS ISSUE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A SAFER DRIVING ENVIRONMENT.
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DETECT VEHICLE IN FRONT, NEAR COLLISION. LOOKS TO BE RELATED TO SOFTWARE/FIRMWARE AS OTHER INSTRUMENTATION ALSO APPEARED TO HANG/PAUSE. VEHICLE WAS ALSO SOLD WITHOUT A WORKING HORN
CAR INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM FREQUENTLY FREEZES OR CRASHES, RENDERING MANY OF THE VEHICLES' FEATURES INOPERABLE. THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN INTERMITTENTLY TURN FROM NIGHT MODE TO DAY MODE. THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM IS UN-RELIABLE AND UN-STABLE. THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN GOES BLACK INTERMITTENTLY. THE DRIVE MODE IS UN-AVAILABLE
VOICE RECOGNITION WITH APPLE CARPLAY AND 3RD PARTY APPS FAILS TO FUNCTION WHICH CAN LEAD TO DRIVER DISTRACTION RESULTING IN COLLISIONS. THIS IS AN APPLE ISSUE, NOT AN ACURA ISSUE. THIRD PARTY APPS FOR APPLE CARPLAY HAVE BEEN RELEASED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO FROM THIS DATE BUT VOICE RECOGNITION WILL NOT WORK WITH THEM, AT LEAST IN THE 2019 ACURA RDX (LISTED AS COMPATIBLE) AND MOST LIKELY ALL VEHICLES THAT DO NOT HAVE TOUCHSCREENS. I HAVE DONE EXHAUSTIVE TESTING ON THIS ISSUE AND REPORTED IT TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF APPLE THAT APPLECARE WILL ALLOW ME TO GO BUT I GET 'STONEWALLED' ABOUT THIS WITH APPLE CLAIMING IT IS A PROBLEM WITH GOOGLE MAPS AND WAZE, NOT CARPLAY. HOWEVER BOTH APPS USE THE THE SAME GUI WHICH SENDS ME A MESSAGE THAT IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CARPLAY SOFTWARE LIBRARY, NOT THE 3RD PARTY APPS. HOWEVER APPLE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS OR GIVE A HIGH PRIORITY TO RESOLVING IT. I AM OF THE OPINION IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS IT CAN LEAD TO DRIVER DISTRACTION RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLE INJURY OR DEATH. I HAVE SUGGESTED TO APPLE, AND GOOGLE THAT THE APPS BE DISABLED IN CARPLAY UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED BUT HAVE FAILED TO RECEIVE ANY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO THIS SUGGESTION. EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTATION OF APPLE'S REFUSAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY WEEKS NOW. WITH THE LATEST ATTEMPT ON THE DATE BELOW. GOOGLE, CREATOR OF THE CURRENT 3RD PARTY APPS HAS ALSO BEEN INFORMED WITH NO RESPONSE.
BRAKES HAVE SQUEAKED ESP IN THE MORNINGS WITHIN THE FIRST 5-10 MIN OF DRIVING THE CAR EVER SINCE I PURCHASED IN OCT 2018. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITHOUT ANY FIXES AS PER PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS. NOTICED THAT BRAKES FEEL AS IF SOMETHING IS LOOSE WHEN YOU APPLY DEEP PRESSURE. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED AN INTERIOR CABIN CLICKING OR RATTLING TYPE NOISE WHEN BRAKING AS IF SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN THE CABIN.
MY BRAKES HAVE BEEN SQUEAKING EVER SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN OCTOBER 2018
SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT ALWAYS GO OUT EVEN WITH MY WIFE WHO WEIGHS 105 LBS IS PROPERLY SEATED WITH SEAT BELT ON.VEHICLE IS PARKED. IN ORDER TO CLEAR THIS, I NEED TO TURN OFF VEHICLE AND RE-START. THIS HAPPENS ON OCCASION BUT IS NOT EVERY TIME. DEALER HAS CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES AND SAID THEY CALIBRATED THE SEAT WEIGHT TO 65 LBS. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SERVICE AT LEAST 4 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND OTHERS THAT ARE INTERMITTENT. I HAVE SEVERAL PHOTOS AND VIDEOS OF THIS ISSUE AND HAVE CURRENTLY FILED LEMON LAW FOR THIS VEHICLE
THE ELECTRONICS ON THE VEHICLE - THE PHONE, NAVIGATION SYSTEM, RADIO - FREEZE UP AND WON'T FUNCTION. THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM'S KEYPAD DOESN'T WORK. APPARENTLY THIS IS NOW A FREQUENT PROBLEM ON 2019 ACURA RDX'S
THE APPLE CARPLAY INTERFACE IS SERIOUSLY FLAWED. WHEN IPHONE IS CONNECTED TO RDX THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS WHILE PLAYING TUNES OR USING ANY OF THE APPS THE SCREEN FREEZES AND/OR THE SOUND DROPS OUT. IT BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN HANDS FREE NO LONGER APPLIES AND HUMAN INTERVENTION IS REQUIRED, INCLUDING UNPLUGGING IPHONE AND REPLUGGING IPHONE TO RDX, USING TOUCHPAD TO TRY TO UNFREEZE THE INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY. THIS SOUND OR APP DROPOUT ISSUES OCCUR WHILE BOTH STATIONARY AND IN MOTION, DRIVING MOSTLY.
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT WILL STAY ON WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. I HAVE MANY PICTURES AND THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS OBSERVED THIS TOO. ACURA REFUSES TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THIS SAME PROBLEM ON ACURA OWNER WEBSITES. NO ONE CAN GUARANTEE ME THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL FUNCTION CORRECTLY IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS
REFERENCE A SAFETY CONCERN CAUSING DRIVER DISTRACTION. THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SHOULD REDUCE DISTRACTION, ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO GIVE MORE ATTENTION TO DRIVING, BUT THE OPPOSITE IS OCCURRING. EXAMPLE : INTEGRATING CELL PHONE TO CARS BUILT IN HANDS FREE DEVICE, BUT IT DOES NOT WORK SOMETIMES CAUSING DISTRACTIONS. OTHER EXAMPLES ARE 2: SOMETIMES THE DISPLAY SCREEN STARTS FLASHING BACK AND FORTH FROM DARKER TO BRIGHT. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING AT NIGHT WHEN THE SCREEN GOES INTO A BRIGHT DAY MODE. I KEEP A SPARE TOWEL HANDY TO COVER IT UP WHEN THIS OCCURS. 3: THE INFOTAINNMENT SYSTEM SOMETIMES STAYS IN A LOCK UP MODE SAYING "LOADING" AND THE BACK UP CAMERA SOMETIMES WILL NOT DISPLAY. THIS IS OF CONCERN BECAUSE I HAVE GRAND CHILDREN. 4: WHEN STARTING THE CAR THE XM MUSIC COMES ON LOUD AND CONTROLS (KNOB & LEVER) WILL NOT FUNCTION TO LOWER THE VOLUME DISTRACTING DRIVER WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE. SOMETIMES LOSS OF FUNCTION CONTROLLING THE VOLUME IS SHORTER TERM, OTHER TIMES WENT FOR 30 MINUTES. 5: NAVAGATION SYSTEM STOPS WORKING IN ROUTE CAUSING DISTRACTION TO FIND A PLACE TO PULL OVER AND SWITCH TO SMART PHONE. 6: NUMEROUS OTHER ISSUES OCCUR ON WEEKLY BASIS DISTRACTING DRIVING. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO REPAIR THIS WITH NO RESULTS AND THEM SAYING THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WAITING ON ACURA TO COME UP WITH A FIX. I HAVE ALSO COMMUNICATED WITH ACURA, NO RESULTS. JUST BEING STRUNG ALONG FOR 1 YEAR NOW. VIDEOS OF THE ISSUES ARE AVAILABLE. PLEASE HELP.
2019 ACURA RDX A SPEC, HAS HAD A REPEATED ISSUE WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMING ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT SEAT. PASSENGER IS 120 LB FEMALE AND THE LIGHT HAS REPEATEDLY COME ON AND STAYS ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AND RESTARTED. THIS HAS BEEN A RANDOM ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED WITH VIDEO AND SHOWN TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP HAS WITNESSED ISSUE IN PERSON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS CONNECTED TO THEIR COMPUTER. ACURA HAS REPLACED THE SEAT FRAME, WEIGHT PLATE AND NEW SENSORS ALONG WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM COMPUTER. DESPITE REPEATED REPAIRS THE ISSUE CONTINUES AND ACURA'S POSITION IS THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. DEALERSHIP SERVICE ADVISERS SAY THAT IN THE CASE OF A FRONT END ACCIDENT WHILE THE LIGHT IS ON AND AIRBAG OFF THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT ACURA/HONDA REFUSES TO ADDRESS.
THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION IN TRAFFIC, WHILE IN MOTION. THE CAR REFUSED TO START UP AGAIN, INDICATING A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CAR ALSO REFUSED TO SHUT DOWN, AND THE ELECTRONICS ARE CONFUSED. THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT THAT I HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE.
AFTER DRIVING FOR AN HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE HIGHWAY, AND SHUT MY CAR OFF AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON. THE CAR WENT INTO "LIMP MODE"
BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY MAKE SQUEALING NOISE (SINCE NEW) THAT SOUND LIKE THE BUILT IN WEAR INDICATORS THAT ALERT YOU THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. MY SAFETY CONCERNS IS THAT I HAVE HAD TO ACCEPTED THE NOISES AS NORMAL AND IF THERE WERE A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES I MOST LIKELY WILL IGNORE THE WEAR INDICATOR NOISE, LIKE THE STORY OF THE LITTLE BOY THAT CRIED WOLF. PEOPLE RIDING IN THE CAR, HEARING THE NOISES THAT I NO LONGER NOTICE HAVE MADE COMMENTS THAT I NEED TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECK.THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN SEVERAL TIMES TO THE ACURA DEALER WHO SAYS THAT IT IS A COMMON ISSUE BUT CAN NOT DO ANYTHING TILL ACURA ISSUE A FIX. I HAVE TALK TO ACURA CUSTOMER RELATIONS SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY HAVE NOT OFFERED ANY SOLUTIONS.PLEASE HELP.
WHILE LOADING ITEMS IN THE REAR OF THE SUV, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE TAILGATE ACTIVATED AND CLOSED, PINNING ME BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE TAILGATE. ADDITIONALLY, THE TAILGATE ON THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY CLOSED AT A DIFFERENT TIME, STRIKING MY WIFE IN THE HEAD. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE TAILGATE FAILED TO REVERSE ITS CLOSING MOTION WHEN ENCOUNTERING INTERFERENCE.
THE REAR HATCH UNEXPECTEDLY CLOSES AND FAILS TO REVERSE WHEN ENCOUNTERING RESISTANCE, WHILE IT IS STATIONARY. I WAS BENT OVER THE REAR BUMPER LOADING ITEMS WHEN SUDDENLY THE REAR HATCH CLOSED ON TOP OF ME. I SQUEEZED OUT AND THE HATCH CLOSED. THE HATCH ALSO UNEXPECTEDLY CLOSED, HITTING MY WIFE IN THE HEAD. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE HATCH UNEXPECTEDLY CLOSED WHEN ONLY THE SHOPPING CART WAS NEAR THE REAR BUMPER. THE LOCAL ACURA SERVICE MANAGER DUPLICATED THAT THE HATCH WILL NOT REVERSE WHEN ENCOUNTERING SIGNIFICANT RESISTANCE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT ACURA DOES NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE IN ITS CURRENT CONFIGURATION IS UNSAFE. SOMEONE (I.E. A YOUNG CHILD) IS GOING TO BE INJURED WHEN THE HATCH CLOSES ON THEM. PAGE 167 OF THE ACURA RDX OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT THE HATCH WILL REVERSE ITS COURSE WHEN ENCOUNTERING RESISTANCE.
REAR SEATBELTS ARE NOT SAFE FOR CHILDREN. THERE IS A LARGE GAP BETWEEN THE SEATBELT AND THE CHILD (5 YEAR OLD AND 9 YEAR OLD). FOR THE 9 YEAR OLD THE SEATBELT CROSSES HIS FACE. IT IS ANCHORED TOO HIGH AND TOO FAR FORWARD FROM THE SEAT,. THE SEATBELT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED AND THE SEATBACK CANNOT BE ADJUSTED. THE ACURA MANUAL SHOWS A PICTURE OF A GAP AND STATED THIS IS NOT SAFE (IN AN EXAMPLE WHEN YOU HAVE ADJUSTABLE SEATS - TO NOT ADJUST WHERE IT CREATES A BIG GAP). WHEN I DISCOVERED THIS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR, THE DEALER WOULD NOT LET ME LEAVE UNTIL I PUT MY 5 YEAR OLD IN A BOOSTER "WITH SEATBACK" TO HOLD THE SEATBELT IN PLACE DUE TO THE ISSUE. ACURA OFFERED TO GIVE ME MONEY TO BUY 3 BOOSTERS WITH SEATBACK TO KEEP IN THE CAR IN CASE I TRAVELED WITH KIDS. THEY SAID IT WAS A MANUFACTURED THAT WAY AND THEY COULD NOT FIX ANYTHING. THE SEATBELT ADAPTERS THEY WANT ME TO PURCHASE ARE NOT FOR COMFORT BUT TO SAFELY BE ABLE TO TRANSPORT KIDS IN MY CAR.
INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK (GOES BANK, FREEZES OR GOES IN AND OUT), SPECIFICALLY CARPLAY WHICH CONNECTS AND DISCONTENTS (IN AND OUT) ON A REGULAR BASIS. I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM SINCE FIRST PURCHASING THE CAR IN JULY 2018. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES NOW AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH ACURA, WHICH BLAMES APPLE AND CLAIMS IT'S NOT THEIR PRODUCT'S FAULT. I WAITED UNTIL I GOT A NEW IPHONE THINKING THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM; NOW ACURA SAYS MY PHONE IS TOO NEW AND STILL NOT COMPATIBLE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE AND DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHILE THE CAR IS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION.
SINCE PURCHASING CAR, I'VE HAD: SQUEAKY BRAKES. ACURA IS AWARE BUT DOES NOT HAVE FIX. LANE DEPARTURE ISSUE. A LOT OF "FALSE POSITIVES" WHICH CAUSES CAR TO SHAKE AND SLOW DOWN - VERY DANGEROUS WHEN ANOTHER CAR IS DRIVING BEHIND. ACURA IS AWARE BUT DOES NOT HAVE FIX. ISSUES WITH RADIO AND APPLE CARE. DOES NOT WORK INTERMITTENTLY. ACURA HAS DONE SOFTWARE UPDATE TO FIX BUT STILL HAVE PROBLEMS. SQUEAKY WIPERS. WERE REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER. NEED ANOTHER REPLACEMENT.
THE BUCKLE STOPPED LATCHING ON THE DRIVER’S SIDE SEATBELT IN SEPTEMBER 2023. IT WOULD NOT ‘CATCH.’ I WAS NOT ABLE TO USE THE SEATBELT AS IT WOULD NOT LATCH. I TOOK IT TO MY ACURA DEALER WHO REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE BUCKLE. I WAS AT RISK AS I WAS DRIVING WITHOUT A SEATBELT UNTIL MY APPOINTMENT. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS. TODAY I DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL 23V158000 DESCRIBING THIS SAME ISSUE FOR BOTH DRIVER’S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLES. MY CAR, IDENTIFIED BY ITS VIN, IS NOT LISTED FOR THE RECALL.HOWEVER, THE BUCKLE ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL IS IDENTICAL. I BELIEVE MY PASSENGER SIDE BUCKLE SHOULD ALSO BE REPLACED AND I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF MY REPAIR TO THE DRIVER’S SIDE BUCKLE. MY VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY RECALL. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER WHO VERIFIED THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED, ALTHOUGH MY PROBLEM WAS IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL DESCRIPTION. 2023-03-2023 23V158000
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026