2021 Acura RDX: owner complaints and recalls

Analysis of 105 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 3 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.

105
Complaints
3
Recalls
2
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
1
Injuries
15.2
Severity index

Severity index 15.2 - Low. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.

Among the 90 2021 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2021 Acura RDX ranks 90 of 90 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 0% of its model-year peers. See the full 2021 ranking.

What actually fails

ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2927.6%
ENGINE2019.0%
SERVICE BRAKES1514.3%
AIR BAGS1110.5%
STRUCTURE109.5%
POWER TRAIN98.6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM98.6%
VISIBILITY/WIPER98.6%

The single most-reported system is UNKNOWN OR OTHER, cited in 29 of 105 complaints (27.6%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.

Complaints filed per year

2020: 22021: 172022: 132023: 102024: 222025: 272026: 1420212223242526
YearComplaints
20202
202117
202213
202310
202422
202527
2026 (year to date)14
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 1.8x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.

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-
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.