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Acura · NHTSA safety record

2010 Acura RDX

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 22 safety complaints about the 2010 Acura RDX with the US government. Of those, 1 describes a crash, 2 mention a fire, 1 person was injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the air bags.

The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 13 complaints, 59% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 70,000 miles, the median across the 9 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers February 2010 to August 2019 · How this is counted

What is on file

22 complaints on file

22

Complaints

1

Describe a crash

2

Mention fire

1

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
AIR BAGS 13 · 59%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 · 9%
ENGINE 2 · 9%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 2 · 9%
POWER TRAIN 2 · 9%
SEAT BELTS 2 · 9%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 · 5%
SEATS 1 · 5%
WHEELS 1 · 5%
0 8 15

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 22.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2016 at 8.

12 9 6 3
10 11 15 16 17 19

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2010 to 2019.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2010 Acura RDX, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test 4-DR. w/SAB
Overall Not rated
Frontal crash Not rated
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash Not rated
Side barrier Not rated
Side pole Not rated
Rollover
Chance of rollover 15.5%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

NHTSA made its frontal crash test harder for the 2011 model year, and says ratings from before that change should not be compared with ratings after it. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

2 on file

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

19V182000 · March 6, 2019

The 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 as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
The 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.
The remedy
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.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 1,101,534 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

16V061000 · February 3, 2016

The 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.
The 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.
The remedy
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.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 2,232,187 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SEAT BELTS

1 injured · crash

WAS SITTING AT A TOP LIGHT AND CAR HIT ME FROM BEHIND. MY SEAT BELT DIDN'T STOP ME AND HIT MY HEAD AND ARM ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IT DID STOP THE PASSENGER. FILED A COMPLAINT WITH ACURA AND THEY SAID THE SEAT BELT WORKED AS DESIGNED. I AM 5'10 SO I DO NOT SIT CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. IF THE SEAT BELT WOULD HAVE STOPPED ME, I WOULD HAVE NOT SLAMMED MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND GOTTEN A HEAD INJURY. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10438821. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · towed · 67,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 ACURA RDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND EMITTED A LOUD GRINDING/HUMMING NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AS IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE TOW YARD AND THEN TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE

NHTSA complaint 11032032, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

fire · 50,888 miles

2007 ACURA RDX CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND TOTALLY DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. NEITHER THE DRIVER, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FINE. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10360491. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

140,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE ALSO JERKED VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING AND SHUDDERED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO CAM AUTOMOTIVE (309 HARRISBURG AVE, LANCASTER, PA 17603, (717) 435-9799), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA complaint 11252009. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

60 miles

I PURCHASED A 2010 ACURA RDX FROM CAR ZONE, LOCATED AT 18690 VAN BUREN BLVD I RIVERSIDE, CA. BEFORE THE PURCHASE, I ADDRESSED THE TIRE PRESSURE AIR LIGHT AND THE UNSTEADINESS OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE IN WHICH THE DEALER DID NOT FIX. I TOOK THE CAR TO METRO ACURA IN MONTCLAIR, CA FOR THE RECALL ON AUGUST 5TH. I DROVE 3 BLOCKS AND THE AIR BAG SAFETY LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT BACK TO METRO ACURA ON AUGUST 9TH AND THEY STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. I FILED A CASE WITH ACURA , #09780205 ON AUGUST 12TH. AT THIS POINT, NO ONE WANTS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE AIR BAG MAINTENANCE. THIS SHOULD NOT BECOME MY PROBLEM BECAUSE THE AIR BAG

NHTSA complaint 11243386, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

85,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT CALLED MCGRATH ACURA OF MORTON GROVE (9105 WAUKEGAN RD, MORTON GROVE, IL 60053, (847) 470-2300) AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA complaint 11180317. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOARDWALK ACURA (6806 TILTON RD, EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ 08234, PHONE NUMBER: (609) 428-4496), BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint 11034404. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

80,000 miles

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPUTABLE GARAGE WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE PIECE THAT CONTROLS THE PRESSURE TO THE TURBO MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE CAR TO USE TOO MUCH BOOST. THIS PARTICULAR PIECE COULD NOT BE REPLACED AND AS SUCH, THE ENTIRE TURBO ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 80K MILES AND HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED.

NHTSA complaint 11030734. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Acura RDX

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 30 1 —
2024 11 2 —
2023 23 2 —
2022 31 2 —
2021 113 3 —
2020 346 5 —
2019 438 5 —
2018 77 1 —
2017 77 1 1
2016 41 2 —
2015 412 3 —
2014 243 3 —
2013 162 3 —
2012 15 2 —
2011 16 2 —

Other 2010 Acura models

TL 64 TSX 63 MDX 45 RL 9 ZDX 9

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Acura on this site — 73 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst