2021 Acura RDX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
111 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
22,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 111 complaints (27.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 22 | 19.8% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 7.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 5.4% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 3.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 30 |
| Engine | 20 |
| Service Brakes | 15 |
| Power Train | 13 |
| Air Bags | 11 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Structure:Body | 9 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 9 |
Unknown Or Other: 30; Engine: 20; Service Brakes: 15; Power Train: 13; Air Bags: 11; Electrical System: 9; Structure:Body: 9; Visibility/Wiper: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 99 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 13 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 22 |
| 2025 | 27 |
| 2026 | 20 |
2020: 2; 2021: 17; 2022: 13; 2023: 10; 2024: 22; 2025: 27; 2026: 20
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11383297 · 2020-12-14 (December 14, 2020)
THERE IS A HORRIBLE CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT WHEN DRIVING OR TURNING (POSSIBLE PASSENGER SIDE). IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOUR SPEED IS. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT MAY BE THE SUSPENSION OR STRUTS AND IT'S SO BAD THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE MY FRONT END IS FALLING APART. WITH ONLY 2400 MILES IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE. DROPPED IT OFF AT THE DEALERS THIS MORNING AND SERVICE TECH DROVE IT AROUND BUILDING TO COME BACK AND SAY HOW BAD IT SOUNDED. HE SAYS HE HASN'T EVER HEARD THIS NOISE. ALSO, THE REAR, WHEN BREAKING AND ACCELERATING HAS A POPPING NOISE DURI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11383297 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11383623 · 2020-12-16 (December 16, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, SHE HEARD A CLUNKING AND RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL AREA. DURING ACCELERATION AND STOPPING, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JENKINS ACURA (2025 SW COLLEGE ROAD, OCALA, FL 34471, [phone removed]). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE MAKING THE SOUND AND NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A CALLBACK AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BALL JOINTS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLA…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11383623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11399917 · 2021-03-09 (March 9, 2021)
BOTH MYSELF AND HUSBAND HAVE HEARD KNOCK OR LOUD POP SOUND. ONE LOUD KNOCK OR TWO WITH SLIGHT LEVEL CHANGE SUCH AS ENTERING OR LEAVING DRIVEWAY. MANY OTHER ACURA RDX OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SAME ISSUE. APPEARS TO BE FLEXING OF PANORAMIC SUNROOF. MY VEHICLE IS ONE WEEK OLD (WAS COURTESY VEHICLE) 2021 ACURA RDX. IN SHOP NOW. MANY HAVE REPORTED SERVICE ISSUES WITH NO RESOLUTION THROUGH DEALERSHIP OR ACURA. SEVERAL OWNERS HAVE ADDED ISSUES WITH SUNROOF LEAKING AND EVEN BLOW OUT OF SUNROOF WINDOW.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11399917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11402789 · 2021-03-13 (March 13, 2021)
REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. JUST BEFORE LEAVING THE HOUSE IT WAS INFLATED TO 35 PSI. AFTER GETTING ON INTERSTATE I RECEIVED A LOW TIRE PRESSURE INDICATION. INITIALLY IT SHOWED 17 PSI. I SLOWED DOWN AND BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE NEXT EXIT IT WENT DOWN TO 0. I PULLED UNTIL A PARKING LOT AND THE TIRE HAD SHREDDED OFF THE RIM. THERE WERE NO HOLES OR NAILS IN THE TIRE TREAD BUT APPEARS TO HAVE BLOWOUT HOLES IN THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRES ARE CONTINENTAL CROSSCONTACT.
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11402789 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11418254 · 2021-05-24 (May 24, 2021)
2021 RDX A-spec 7322 miles northbound Hwy 95 Nevada to Oregon, raining. Attempted to pass semi, car behind me also passing semi, sudden loss of power, almost hit from behind, risk of on-coming traffic, able to move to right behind semi. Feeble response to any attempt to accelerate, barely limping along, moved to right shoulder and then to pullout, blinking check engine light, no other warning indicators. Idled engine for several minutes, continued to run rough, would not rev, check engine light cycled off, then back on (blinking), then off over…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11418254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11420161 · 2021-06-08 (June 8, 2021)
On May 9th we were driving on the freeway at around 3 pm on a sunlit clear day. It was a straight section of road. Dry pavement and traffic moving reasonably well. The car in front of us was at least 100 yards in front of us and about the same for the vehicle behind I believe. We were going around 50 mph. The car slammed on the brakes so hard the seat belt restraints engaged as we flew forward, enough so that my wife and I were both sore the next day. Items on the back seat flew onto the floor. If there had been a car behind us we would have be…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11420161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11420614 · 2021-06-11 (June 11, 2021)
I was driving in the rain, accelerated to pass a vehicle and the engine lost power. The check engine light came on and the car went into "limp" mode. The car would barely go 40 mph on a highway and the speed seemed to be continuing to decrease. Luckily I was able to pull over and shut the car off. Restarted, the problem appeared to go away. This is a very dangerous situation and I have read other people reporting similar incidents.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11420614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11420647 · 2021-06-11 (June 11, 2021)
Brand new 2021 Acura RDX panoramic sunroof exploded less than 2 weeks after purchase. I was driving when all the sudden, out of nowhere, there was a loud pop/explosion sound. I immediately pulled over and inspected the but didn't find anything. Not one scratch or dent anywhere. It wasn't until I was getting back in the car, and heard the sound of glass slowly shattering, that I realized it was the sunroof. Nothing external hit the car to cause the explosion/shatter. I was the only car on the road when it happened...no cars in front of, behind o…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11420647 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
21V939000 · Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
Reported: 2021-12-02 (December 2, 2021)
Honda (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.
Consequence: Driveshaft failure can cause a sudden loss of drive power, or cause the vehicle to roll away when parked if the parking brake is not applied. Either condition can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the right or left front driveshaft as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BBY, NBW, and OBX.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V064000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
Reported: 2024-02-01 (February 1, 2024)
Honda (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, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Consequence: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
NHTSA campaign record ↗26V332000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
Reported: 2026-05-21 (May 21, 2026)
Honda (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-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Consequence: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
NHTSA campaign record ↗