Your vehicleHome›Acura›RDX› 2016

Acura · Compact SUV

2016 Acura RDX

Gas

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

72 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls2 critical 2

Complaints3 crash · 2 fire · 3 injured reported 41

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2016 Acura RDX is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the RDX 2WD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 41 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Acura RDX — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Acura RDX · Photo: Kevauto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
RDX 2WD	Gas	FWD	3.5L 6-cyl	20	28	23	$3,550
RDX 4WD	Gas	AWD	3.5L 6-cyl	19	27	22	$3,750

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36138, 36140.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
RDX 2WD, RDX 4WD	5–6 / 10	Bin 5 / LEV-II ULEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors	5
GVWR class	Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	6
Displacement	3.5 L
Engine configuration	V-Shaped

Engine Output

Horsepower

279 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Transmission

Drivetrain	4x2
Transmission	Automatic
Transmission speeds	6

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Advance Package, Base/Acura Watch Plus Package, Tech Package/Tech with Acura Watch Plus Package). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	183.5 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	73.6 in
Height	66.5 in
Wheelbase	105.5 in
Track, front	63.0 in
Track, rear	63.4 in
Curb weight	3,856 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	59/41

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: 4-door SUV AWD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database

!critical

Air Bags

U40,M45,O41,G44

1,101,534 vehicles 54% reported repaired built May 21, 2015 – Feb 3, 2016

Problem 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 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.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 19V182000 reported Mar 6, 2019 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

!critical

Air Bags

JY0, JY1, JY2

2,232,187 vehicles 86% reported repaired built Nov 19, 2014 – Sep 22, 2015

Problem 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 16V061000 reported Feb 3, 2016 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf. Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a subst

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific RDX

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Acura publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Acura’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 Acura RDX, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

41complaints filed

3 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 3 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2015: 2 · 2016: 7 · 2017: 6 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 3

Most-cited components

Power Train 9

Electrical System 8

Engine 7

Service Brakes 6

Steering 4

Fuel/Propulsion System 4

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

While accelerating the car started stuttering and lost power. It seemed like it was in neutral. At the light I shifted to park and back to drive and the same problem occurred. I was only 2 blocks from home so I checked all fluid levels and they are all ok. I drove the car around the block several times and the problem went away

Engine at 108,000 miles Apr 19, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11412945

While driving approximately 40 MPH I traveled over a 50 toot, 2 lane bridge the FCW and brake warning engaged. There was no other cars in front of me. This occurs each time I travel over this bridge (approximately 20 times). It has also happened when travelling over similar bridges. The first time was june 2016.

Forward Collision Avoidance at 3,000 miles Dec 25, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11384903

Hands free link causes battery to drain and this issue is with lots of honda and Acura different models and honda knows about this problem and still choose to ignore it. Class action lawsuit filed in california about this issue

Electrical System May 22, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11209152

I was driving my 2016 Acura Rdx down a local city road midday. There were no cars in the vicinity. While driving (about 35 MPH), I suddenly and without warning heard a loud noise of glass shattering. There was no prior sound of any animal or object hitting the car.

Structure at 32,000 miles Nov 27, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11154137

The contact owns a 2016 Acura Rdx. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle shook violently, stalled, and various warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (curry Acura, 685 central park ave, scarsdale, ny 10583) where it was diagnosed that the spool valve failed. The vehicle was not repaired.

Power Train at 29,592 miles Jul 10, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11110588

The automatic brake mitigation system has deployed on 3 separate occasions for no apparent reason. Each time I was driving on a clear road with no obstructions or traffic in front of my vehicle when the system activated and began braking .

Service Brakes at 24,000 miles Oct 30, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11041039

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Acura itself: 25 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 31 injured, as claimed, not verified. Every RDX model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 24k

miles, typically

Half the 26 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 5,000 and 32,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

Too few readings for a curve — the 26 on file: 8 under 10k, 2 10k–20k, 6 20k–30k, 4 30k–40k, 2 40k–50k, 1 50k–60k, 1 80k–90k, 2 100k–150k.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	16%
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Acura bulletin B18-021This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators.

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Honda warranty extension (66) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 157

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-02-28

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 157 service bulletins

Most often about: Fuel/Propulsion System, Equipment, Air Bags, Electrical System, Service Brakes.

B18-021 Service bulletin
2026-02-28 · Air Bags
Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag Inflator for 2016 ILX and 2016 RDX.
BPO05022022901 Service bulletin
2022-05-02 · Equipment
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.
BTI&04132022901 Service bulletin
2022-04-13 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2020 MDXs, RDXs & TLXs with a client complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0171 & P0174 (Rear/Front Bank Fuel System Too Lean), or P219A&B (Air-Fuel Ratio Variation of Cylinder) stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like
BTI&03282022903 Service bulletin
2022-03-28 · Electrical System
Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2020 MDXs, RDXs & TLXs with a client complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0171 & P0174 (Rear/Front Bank Fuel System Too Lean), or P219A&B (Air-Fuel Ratio Variation of Cylinder) stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like
BTI&03112022904 Service bulletin
2022-03-11 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2020 MDXs, RDXs & TLXs with a client complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0171 & P0174 (Rear/Front Bank Fuel System Too Lean), or P219A&B (Air-Fuel Ratio Variation of Cylinder) stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like
BTI&02222022902 Service bulletin
2022-02-22 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2020 MDXs, RDXs & TLXs with a client complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0171 & P0174 (Rear/Front Bank Fuel System Too Lean), or P219A&B (Air-Fuel Ratio Variation of Cylinder) stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like
BTI&02072022901 Service bulletin
2022-02-07 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2020 MDXs, RDXs & TLXs with a client complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0171 & P0174 (Rear/Front Bank Fuel System Too Lean), or P219A&B (Air-Fuel Ratio Variation of Cylinder) stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like
BTI&01212022902 Service bulletin
2022-01-21 · Electrical System
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2020 MDXs, RDXs & TLXs with a client complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0171 & P0174 (Rear/Front Bank Fuel System Too Lean), or P219A&B (Air-Fuel Ratio Variation of Cylinder) stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P0171 P0171 on Acura →	The engine is running lean on bank 1: too much air, or not enough fuel, for the mixture the computer wants.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Mass air flow sensor →	15 bulletins
P0174 P0174 on Acura →	The engine is running lean on bank 2.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Mass air flow sensor →	15 bulletins
P219A P219A on Acura →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →	15 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 1.7%

failed emissions

1,981 initial inspections of 1,938 vehicles.

Measure	The 2016 RDX	Every 2016 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	1.7%	4.2%	1,977
Failed the safety inspection	1.3%	2.2%	1,981
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.15%	0.27%	1,981
Miles driven a year	9,632	10,028	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	99,106	103,109	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

RDX by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 A 0 1 23 mpg 2025 A 1 30 23 mpg 2024 B 2 12 23 mpg 2023 B 2 24 24 mpg 2022 B 2 31 24 mpg 2021 C 3 117 24 mpg 2020 C 5 348 24 mpg 2019 C 5 440 24 mpg 2018 A 1 77 23 mpg 2017 A 1 80 23 mpg 2016 this page C 2 41 23 mpg

Common questions about the 2016 RDX

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 Acura RDX have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 2 recall campaigns for the 2016 Acura RDX, 2 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 19V182000, covering Air Bags. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 Acura RDX?

NHTSA gave the 2016 Acura RDX 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (72/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Acura RDX?

Across the 2 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Acura RDX, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Acura RDX?

Transport Canada measured it at 183.5 in long, 73.6 in wide (body, without mirrors), 66.5 in tall, on a 105.5 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,856 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Acura RDX?

Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Acura RDX, most often about power train, electrical system, engine. Of those, 3 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 3 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2016 Acura RDX?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Acura RDX runs 5 to 6 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Bin 5, LEV-II ULEV — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Acura RDX?

The manufacturer has filed 157 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Acura RDX, most often covering fuel/propulsion system, equipment, air bags. The most recent is dated 2026-02-28. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2016 Acura RDX do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Acura RDX failed the emissions check on 1.7% of first inspections — lower than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.3% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	2 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	2 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	2	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	41	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	2 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	157	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	1	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	11 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

JSON for this page · API

2016 Acura RDX

Specs & fuel economy

Emissions & certification

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Dimensions Exterior

Engine Basics

Engine Output

Fuel Economy

Transmission

Dimensions & weight

Factory warranty running out?

Recalls (2)

Air Bags

Air Bags

NHTSA defect investigations

Whether any of this applies to one specific RDX

Hear about a recall before the letter does

Parts & accessories for the 2016 Acura RDX

Owner complaints

Most-cited components

In owners' own words

When owners reported it

miles, typically

Crash ratings

Service bulletins & campaigns

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

At the New York inspection station

failed emissions

RDX by model year

Common questions about the 2016 RDX

Does the 2016 Acura RDX have any recalls?

How safe is the 2016 Acura RDX?

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Acura RDX?

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Acura RDX?

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Acura RDX?

How clean is the 2016 Acura RDX?

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Acura RDX?

How does the 2016 Acura RDX do at state inspection?

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Where to go next

Sources & method