Acura RDX engine problems, 2016–2026
201 of the 1,188 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Acura RDX 2016–2026 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2019 (90), 2020 (55), 2021 (22). Filed under the same heading across these years: 7 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Acura RDX engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | — | — | 1 TSB | the year → |
| 2025 | 0 | — | — | 1 TSB | the year → |
| 2024 | 1 | 9% | — | 1 TSB | the year → |
| 2023 | 4 | 17% | — | 6 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2021 | 22 | 19% | — | 18 TSBs | the year → |
| 2020 in depth | 55 | 16% | 6k | 24 TSBs | the record → |
| 2019 in depth | 90 | 21% | 8k | 25 TSBs | the record → |
| 2018 | 11 | 14% | — | 15 TSBs | the year → |
| 2017 | 11 | 14% | — | 17 TSBs | the year → |
| 2016 | 7 | 17% | — | — | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 32 · 2020: 43 · 2021: 35 · 2022: 18 · 2023: 11 · 2024: 22 · 2025: 14 · 2026: 21
Across the model years, half of the 93 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 3,000 and 19,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
After leaving work on may 16, 2019, I accelerated from a stop light onto highway 1 in san luis obispo. Immediately, the car stalled, lost all power, and a warning light illuminated stating "AWD malfunction, AWD not available." I pulled off the road, turned the car off. I re started a couple minutes later, and made it home.
While driving on a 2 lane highway on may 25, 2019, I attempted to pass a slower moving vehicle by flooring the gas to overtake them, and crossing the hashed highway line. I was driving in an area where the road undulated, so passing was only legal in stretches where the road was flat with distant visibility.
I wanted to let you know a frightening experience we had with the Acura Rdx on august 16th. My family, including my 2 children & dog, were driving home on the expressway in the hov line. My husband was driving the Rdx we just leased not even a month ago. He had the car in cruise control doing 60 MPH.
While driving at a consistent rate of speed on a 65 MPH highway the vehicle suddenly and without warning lost engine power. The vehicle began to rapidly drop speed and the check engine light would blink when the accelerator was depressed.
While driving on a freeway for about 15 minutes at 65 MPH, the MIL indicator started blinking. The vehicle began to rapidly shake, while the engine power decreased significantly. The engine dramatically went from 65 mph to 35 mph causing a safety hazard while driving on the freeway as we attempted to exit and pull over safely.
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications7 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year
- Sep 17, 2025
- Service Bulletin - Oil leak at the cam chain tensioner inspection cover due to and insufficient sealant adhesion on the inspection cover.
- Apr 30, 2025
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2023 RDXs and TLXs with a client complaint of the "Emissions System Warning" Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with DTC P2101 (Electronic Throttle Control System Malfunction) stored. Client may experience the vehicle going into "limp" mode. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect t
- Apr 18, 2025
- Service Bulletin - The lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the transmission indicator flashing “D” and set DTC P0741 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck OFF.
- Apr 18, 2025
- Dealer Message - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications. As a result, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock-up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the MIL not illuminating. “D” flashes and “Transmission Overheat” message appears setting DTC P0741 Torqu
- Jan 10, 2024
- Service Bulletin - The MIL comes on during vehicle operation due to variations in the purge control solenoid valve spring, the valve wears unevenly and intermittently sticks. This may result in setting DTC P0441 (Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System Purge Flow Malfunction).
- Apr 13, 2022
- 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
- Mar 28, 2022
- 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
Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Acura RDX
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Acura RDX problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Acura RDX years have the most engine complaints?
2019, 90; 2020, 55; 2021, 22. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2019 (21%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the Acura RDX?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading on any of these model years. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the Acura RDX?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 7,500 miles across the model years; half of them between 3,000 and 19,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.