2011 Acura Rdx problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (9) · Exterior Lighting (3) · Power Train (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Acura Rdx model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (2)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2019-03-06 · campaign 19V182000 · 1,101,534 vehicles
Defect: 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
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.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2016-02-03 · campaign 16V061000 · 2,232,187 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (50)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Air Bags 2026-02-28 · B18-020 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - warranty extension: customer support program for driver's airbag inflator for 2013-14 ilx hybrid and other listed years and models.
Electrical System 2023-05-17 · B23040A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service news - the navigation clock and date are incorrect. this is due to a limited gps receiver capacity resulting in rollover of internal chip memory. the rollover occurred on january 1, 2022 at 12:00am local time
Equipment 2022-05-02 · BPO05022022901 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dealer message - american honda is investigating a potential quality concern with rdx accessory cross bar kit. due to this investigation, american honda is requesting all dealers to return any uninstalled inventory to american honda for investigation and validation by the supplier.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2022-04-08 · B18-020 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - this bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. american honda is offering a customer support program (warranty extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
Equipment 2022-03-01 · B18-020 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - this bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. american honda is offering a customer support program (warranty extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
Electrical System 2022-01-25 · B21120A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
servicenews article - the clock shows the incorrect time. this issue is due to a limited gps receiver capacity resulting in "rollover" of the internal chip memory; the "rollover" will occur on january 1, 2022, at 12:00am local time. as a result, the navigation date and time will be incorrect.
Showing the 6 most recent of 50 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2022-08-31 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/Supercharger“turbo went out at 109230 miles. no warning lamps or anything prior. unknown on other questions. just know mil had a turbo go out and ended up being apart of recall…”
2020-09-26 · Exterior Lighting · 119,500 mi“condensation forms inside the headlights causing the lights not to work.…”
2020-02-04 · Power Train · 79,000 mi“tl* the contact contact owns a 2011 acura rdx. the contact stated that the gear shifter lever failed to shift out of gears and the key failed to release from the ignition switch. no warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed that the shifter cable failed and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was …”
2017-07-18 · Air Bags“tl* the contact owns a 2011 acura rdx. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact called a local dealer (honda of bay county located at 3601 e …”
2017-05-01 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 acura rdx. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags). the dealer was contacted numerous times to schedule the recall repair, but they were unresponsive. the dealer failed to respond in a reasonable timeframe. the manufacturer could not provide an estimated date for wh…”
2017-01-23 · Vehicle Speed Control · 30,100 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owns a 2011 acura rdx. the contact stated that while making a turn at an extremely low speed with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. as a result, the contact drove over a curb and crashed into an embankment as the vehicle tilted to the right side. in addition, the contact mentioned that…”
2017-01-21 · Power Train · 96,498 mi“low growl, or vibration/shudder starting around 40-50 mph and continues if you go faster or accelerate quickly. already changed 2 axles and had mounts check and multiple allignments. all open source and forum research point very heavily to torque converter and powerpoint control module.…”
2016-12-05 · Air Bags“tl* the contact owns a 2011 acura rdx. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags). the contact stated that the parts needed for the recall remedy were still not available and the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact had not experienced a failure. vin tool conf…”
2016-10-13 · Air Bags“takata recall- i have contacted dealership several times over seven months - they dont have parts to repair the problem. this is a severe safety issue that demands real dates for repair.…”
2016-09-22 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 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…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.