2021 Acura RDX problems and recalls

Owners filed 59 complaints on the 2021 Acura RDX in the last three full years, out of 111 on record. The most cited component is the Unknown Or Other.

111
Complaints
3
Recalls
3
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
1
Injuries
38.4
Severity index

Severity index 38.4 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 38.4p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 85 of 92 by severity index among 2021 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 8% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2021 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 30 complaints (27.0%)30 27%EngineEngine: 20 complaints (18.0%)20 18%Service BrakesService Brakes: 16 complaints (14.4%)16 14%Power TrainPower Train: 13 complaints (11.7%)13 12%Air BagsAir Bags: 11 complaints (9.9%)11 10%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 10 complaints (9.0%)10 9%StructureStructure: 10 complaints (9.0%)10 9%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 9 complaints (8.1%)9 8%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3027.0%
ENGINE2018.0%
SERVICE BRAKES1614.4%
POWER TRAIN1311.7%
AIR BAGS119.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM109.0%
STRUCTURE109.0%
VISIBILITY/WIPER98.1%

Complaints filed per year

014272020: 22021: 172022: 132023: 102024: 222025: 272026: 20 (partial year)2021222324252726
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20202
202117
202213
202310
202422
202527
2026 (year to date)20
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 1.8x those in 2020 to 2022 (59 against 32).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V93900002/12/2021POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFTHonda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Acura RDX and 2022 CR-V Hybrid vehicles. A component in the right or left front driveshaft may have been improperly heat-treated, which could result in driveshaft failure.
24V06400001/02/2024AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERHonda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX
26V33200021/05/2026AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERHonda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-

Other Acura RDX model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 13 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-28. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.