2013 Acura RDX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
162 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
47,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 39 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 84 of 162 complaints (51.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 2.5% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 2.5% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 1.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 84 |
| Air Bags | 36 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Suspension | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 5 |
Exterior Lighting: 84; Air Bags: 36; Visibility/Wiper: 8; Electrical System: 7; Power Train: 7; Suspension: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 123 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 32 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 21 |
| 2023 | 25 |
| 2024 | 23 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 8 |
2012: 2; 2013: 4; 2014: 7; 2015: 3; 2016: 32; 2017: 6; 2018: 3; 2019: 5; 2020: 3; 2021: 10; 2022: 21; 2023: 25; 2024: 23; 2025: 10; 2026: 8
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10512592 · 2013-05-17 (May 17, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT BURNED HIMSELF IN THE PROCESS. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED THAT WAY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,300.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512592 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10948736 · 2017-01-31 (January 31, 2017)
AROUND 58,000 MILES TRANSMISSION STARTED HESITATING, JERKING. HAPPENS WHILE STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP, IN TURNS,AT HIGHWAY SPEED, WHILE PASSING/ACCELERATING AND ALSO ON CRUISE. ACURA AND DEALER BOTH AWARE AND SAY "ENGINEERS ARE WORKING ON A SOFTWARE FIX" (IT HAS BEEN MONTHS). HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT SCARED TO PASS A VEHICLE OR MAKE A QUICK TURN. DEALER ADMITS SOMETHING IS WRONG BUT CANNOT FIND ANYTHING. AM HEARING COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER RDX OWNERS.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10948736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10650650 · 2014-10-28 (October 28, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA RDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE EPS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE EPS UNIT AND THE POWER STEERING GEAR BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,559.
Owner-reported narrative. 23,559 miles reported. Look up ODI 10650650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11439682 · 2021-11-08 (November 8, 2021)
Unfortunately, I am writing to report a dangerous situation that occurred while I was driving on November 3rd, 2021. This involved a safety issue that could have resulted in serious injury to me and other drivers on the road. As I was traveling on a very busy street in Miami, FL at a speed of 45 MPH, my steering wheel suddenly became very heavy and hard to turn which made me have no control over my vehicle. I eventually pulled to the side of the road almost hitting not only the car in front of me but a pedestrian on the sidewalk. I did not un…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11439682 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10745496 · 2015-08-01 (August 1, 2015)
THE BRAKES MAKE A HIGH-PITCHED SQUEAL WHEN AT LOW SPEEDS WITH LIGHT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES. MOSTLY OCCURS GOING DOWN A SLOPE(PARKING GARAGE), DOWN A DRIVEWAY, AND SOMETIMES RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING ON FLAT ROADS. THE BRAKES ON THE ACURA RDX CONTINUE TO SQUEAL AFTER BEING "FIXED" TWICE. IN THE DEALER-PERFORMED SERVICES, THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. WHEN CONTACTING THE DEALER ABOUT THE ISSUE AGAIN, THE DEALER STATED THAT ACURA WAS WORKING ON A SOLUTION. WHEN CONTACTING ACURA CLIENT RELATIONS, THEY ADVISED ME TO SPEAK T…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10745496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11020009 · 2017-08-27 (August 27, 2017)
OUR PARKING PAWL MAYBE DEFECTIVE. WE ALWAYS ENGAGE OUR EMERGENCY BRAKE WHEN PARKING IN OUR DRIVEWAY; TODAY WAS NO DIFFERENT, BUT WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RE-ENTER MY CAR IT STARTED ROLLING BACK BY ITSELF EVEN WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. I TRIED TO STOP THE CAR FROM ROLLING BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY IN FEAR FOR MY 2 YOUNG CHILDREN STILL IN THE CAR. IN THAT ATTEMPT, I ENDED UP BREAKING MY HAND AND HAD TO GO THE THE ER. EVENTS: 1. PULLED UP INTO DRIVEWAY AND STOPPED COMPLETELY 2. ENGAGED EMERGENCY BRAKE 3. PUT SHIFTER IN PARK POSITION 4…
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11020009 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10485859 · 2012-11-23 (November 23, 2012)
MY NEW 2013 RDX CAUGHT ON FIRE AT MY GARAGE IN THE DAY AFTER HURRICANE SANDY. ACURA AND AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY(PROGRESSIVE) INSISTS THAT THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE BY FLOODING. HOWEVER, CAR BATTERY AND ENGINE ARE FINE. ONLY FRONT SEAT, DASHBOARD, AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM WERE BURNED AND THE FIRE DAMAGED MY GARAGE TOO. FURTHERMORE IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE THAT FLOODING CAUSED FIRE AT ALL. I SHOWED MY RDX TO ACURA TECHNICIANS, BUT SILENT. ISN'T IT A DEFECT OF NEW MODEL? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10485859 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11474867 · 2022-07-20 (July 20, 2022)
Ofttimes when parking the car does not fully shut off because the accessory mode fails to shut off. I have to restart the car and put it in gear go forward or backward attempting to shut off everything several times before the car fully shuts off. I have had to purchase a new battery because the car failed to shut off when parked by an attendant. Sometimes it will take me at least six (6) attempts before the car finally shuts off. Thanks!
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11474867 at NHTSA ↗