2013 Acura Rdx problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Exterior Lighting (81) · Air Bags (35) · Visibility/Wiper (8)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Acura Rdx model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
39 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
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.
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2013-04-15 · campaign 13V143000 · 204,169 vehicles
Defect: Honda is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 CR-V, Odyssey, and model year 2013 Acura RDX vehicles. During sub-freezing temperatures, the brake-shift interlock blocking mechanism may become slow and allow the gear selector to be moved from the Park position without pressing the brake pedal. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: If the gear selector is moved from the park position without pressing the brake pedal it can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated brake shift interlock blocking mechanism free of charge. The recall began on May 13, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's campaign recall numbers are S96, S97, and S98.
Service bulletins (122)
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.
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.
Structure:body 2021-09-07 · BTI&09072021903 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dealer message - american honda motor co., inc. (ahm) is searching for certain 2013-2017 rdxs with a client complaint of paint peeling on the rear roof panel. to better understand the cause of this condition, ahm would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair
Structure 2021-08-19 · BTI&08192021903 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dealer message - american honda motor co., inc. (ahm) is searching for certain 2013-2017 rdxs with a client complaint of paint peeling on the rear roof panel. to better understand the cause of this condition, ahm would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair
Showing the 6 most recent of 122 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-07-21 · Air Bags“nhtsa safety complaint – acura rdx driver-side airbag module availability vehicle: 2013 acura rdx vin: [xxx] component: driver-side airbag module part number: 77810-tx4-a40za-mod my 2013 acura rdx was vandalized in january 2026, and the driver-side airbag module was stolen. my mechanic contacted rallye acura to obtain the required replacement oem…”
2026-06-07 · Exterior Lighting“the headlight housings on this generation of 2013 acura mdxs completely fail due to a design flaw that causes the housing to overheat and dim the lights to a dangerous level. at night, you would be safer if you were driving with flashlights taped to the hood of the vehicle. i’m sure this has caused numerous wrecks for 2013-2015 mdx owners as it is …”
2026-05-05 · Air Bags“i have a code on my acura regarding the driver side airbag. the code is 11-10, covered under service bulletin: 18-020, noting defects in the driver side air bag module. i brought my vehicle in to hall acura in november 2025 where this was officially diagnosed and a order was placed for a part on back order (part number: 77810-tx4-a40za). to this da…”
2026-03-27 · Service Brakes“on 3/26/2026 a symbol of an engine appeared on my dash. then several minutes later the car began running very rough and numerous warnings signs came on including check engine, check awd system, check power steering system, check uphill assist system and others. i took the car to my mechanic this morning and after checking various systems he determi…”
2026-02-26 · Exterior Lighting“the headlights do not produce enough light to see the road. every time the car is driven at night it is extremely dangerous. …”
2026-02-17 · Exterior Lighting“headlights are very dim due to degradation of the reflective projection surface. internet searches indicate this is a common problem for the 2013-2015 acura rdxs. the only solution is to replace the entire headlight assembly.…”
2026-02-09 · Exterior Lighting · 💥 crash“low beam headlight projector reflectors deteriorate making the low beam headlights unusable for safe driving. entire assembly has to be replaced to remedy. extremely common in this generation of acura rdx based on internet searches.…”
2026-02-02 · Exterior Lighting“2013 acura rdx. head lights have dimmed where its not safe to drive. had the whole head light assemblies replaced by the dealership 11 months ago for $4,000. still have same problem with new ones…”
2025-12-03 · Exterior Lighting“the low beam headlights lights on my 2013 acura rdx are very dim, and replacing the bulbs does not make any difference. i have read multiple reports that this is a common problem where the reflective material inside the projector style housing breaks down over time, and that the only fix is to replace the entire headlight assembly on both sides. …”
2025-09-07 · Exterior Lighting“my low beam headlights have diminished in their effectiveness / intensity over time such that i fear driving at night due to possible danger of an accident. if i do have to drive at night, i have to use my high beams...which is also totally unacceptable, and illegal in post places. i have taken the car to the acura dealership to explain the probl…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.