NHTSA vehicle safety data

2013 Acura RDX Recalls & Complaints

The 2013 Acura RDX has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 162 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Acura dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2013 Acura RDX. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2013 Acura RDX owner complaints

Owners have filed 162 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Acura RDX, describing incidents dated October 30, 2012 to June 6, 2026.

Most-cited components

Exterior Lighting 89 complaints
Air Bags 36 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 10 complaints
Electrical System 7 complaints
Power Train 7 complaints
Suspension 6 complaints

Of the 162 complaints on file, 6 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 162 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11751750 · Filed July 21, 2026
NHTSA Safety Complaint – Acura RDX Driver-Side Airbag Module Availability Vehicle: 2013 Acura RDX VIN: [XXX] Component: Driver-Side Airbag Module Part Number: 77810-TX4-A40ZA-MOD My 2013 Acura RDX was vandalized in January 2026, and the driver-side airbag module was stolen. My mechanic contacted…
ODI #11742536 · Filed June 7, 2026
The headlight housings on this generation of 2013 Acura MDXs completely fail due to a design flaw that causes the housing to overheat and dim the lights to a dangerous level. At night, you would be safer if you were driving with flashlights taped to the hood of the vehicle. I’m sure this has caused…
ODI #11735888 · Filed May 5, 2026
I have a code on my Acura regarding the driver side airbag. The code is 11-10, covered under service bulletin: 18-020, noting defects in the driver side air bag module. I brought my vehicle in to Hall Acura in November 2025 where this was officially diagnosed and a order was placed for a part on…

Read all 162 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2013 Acura RDX in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA21-002: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Open since September 17, 2021

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode

NHTSA #19V182000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported March 6, 2019 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Potentially affected: 1,101,534 vehicles

Repair completion: 54.23% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign U40,M45,O41,G44 · Owners notified April 10, 2019 · Vehicles built February 28, 2012 – March 28, 2013 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture

NHTSA #16V061000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported February 3, 2016 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Potentially affected: 2,232,187 vehicles

Repair completion: 85.63% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign JY0, JY1, JY2 · Owners notified February 22, 2017 · Vehicles built August 17, 2011 – March 28, 2013 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Brake Shift Interlock/FMVSS 114

NHTSA #13V143000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission · NHTSA notice

Reported April 15, 2013 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Potentially affected: 204,169 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign S96, S97, S98 · Owners notified May 13, 2013 · Vehicles built June 11, 2012 – November 19, 2012 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Honda is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 CR-V, Odyssey, and model year 2013 Acura RDX vehicles. During sub-freezing temperatures, the brake-shift interlock blocking mechanism may become slow and allow the gear selector to be moved from the Park position without pressing the brake pedal. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Safety consequence

If the gear selector is moved from the park position without pressing the brake pedal it can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated brake shift interlock blocking mechanism free of charge. The recall began on May 13, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's campaign recall numbers are S96, S97, and S98.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

2013 Acura RDX SUV FWD

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

1 investigation

2013 Acura RDX SUV 4WD

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

1 investigation

162 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Acura RDX.

Air Bags

ODI #11751750

Incident: January 4, 2026 · Filed: July 21, 2026

NHTSA Safety Complaint – Acura RDX Driver-Side Airbag Module Availability Vehicle: 2013 Acura RDX VIN: [XXX] Component: Driver-Side Airbag Module Part Number: 77810-TX4-A40ZA-MOD My 2013 Acura RDX was vandalized in January 2026, and the driver-side airbag module was stolen. My mechanic contacted Rallye Acura to obtain the required replacement OEM part. The required component is the Driver Side Air Bag Module, Part No. 77810-TX4-A40ZA-MOD. The replacement part was ordered, but it has remained on critical back order for more than six months. Acura opened Case No. XXX; however, despite repeated communications, Acura has been unable to provide any estimated availability date or a timeline for resolution. Because this is a safety-critical component, the vehicle cannot legally be driven without the required airbag module. As a result, my vehicle has remained unusable for more than six months while I continue to incur insurance and ownership costs. I have repeatedly contacted Acura regarding this matter, including escalating the issue directly to the President and CEO of American Honda Motor Co. Despite this escalation, I continue to receive the same response that there is no estimated availability date for the part. I have also found similar complaints from other Acura RDX owners involving the same driver-side airbag module and the same part number, reporting prolonged delays and critical back-order status. I am concerned that owners of affected Acura RDX vehicles are unable to obtain a critical safety component within a reasonable timeframe. I request that NHTSA review whether this represents a broader safety-related issue involving the availability of replacement driver-side airbag modules for these vehicles. Thank you for reviewing this complaint. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11742536

Incident: June 6, 2026 · Filed: June 7, 2026

The headlight housings on this generation of 2013 Acura MDXs completely fail due to a design flaw that causes the housing to overheat and dim the lights to a dangerous level. At night, you would be safer if you were driving with flashlights taped to the hood of the vehicle. I’m sure this has caused numerous wrecks for 2013-2015 MDX owners as it is a widely reported issue that needs to be fixed asap before more people perish. Please do something about this as it is not just a select few lemons but it is nearly every 2013 Acura MDX out there with the same OEM housings. Lives could depend on fixing this issue. Please hear this out.

Air Bags

ODI #11735888

Incident: November 1, 2025 · Filed: May 5, 2026

I have a code on my Acura regarding the driver side airbag. The code is 11-10, covered under service bulletin: 18-020, noting defects in the driver side air bag module. I brought my vehicle in to Hall Acura in November 2025 where this was officially diagnosed and a order was placed for a part on back order (Part Number: 77810-tx4-a40za). To this date, the part continues to be on "critical back order". I have escalated this to Honda Corporation and opened up a case with their office (Case Number: XXX). I receive weekly emails stating that they are working on this but the part is still on critical back order. I have pushed to escalate this further and they state this is all that can be done. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Electrical System; Service Brakes; Engine

ODI #11727590

Incident: March 26, 2026 · Filed: March 27, 2026

On 3/26/2026 a symbol of an engine appeared on my dash. Then several minutes later the car began running very rough and numerous warnings signs came on including Check Engine, Check AWD System, Check Power Steering System, Check Uphill Assist system and others. I took the car to my mechanic this morning and after checking various systems he determined the Cylinder Deactivation system was not performing properly. He replaced the spark plug for cylinder 3 and confirmed the ignition coil is functioning properly. He was not able to correct the problem and said I should contact the dealer as he thought Honda had issued an extended recall on the Acura 2013 RDXs because of this problem. He said this malfunction has caused my AWD system to be disabled. I called the dealer and they said there was no recall for this issue. I have an appointment on 3/31 to have them check it out. My car only has 83,635 miles on it.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11720747

Incident: December 6, 2021 · Filed: February 26, 2026

The headlights do not produce enough light to see the road. Every time the car is driven at night it is extremely dangerous.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11718495

Incident: January 1, 2023 · Filed: February 17, 2026

Headlights are very dim due to degradation of the reflective projection surface. Internet searches indicate this is a common problem for the 2013-2015 Acura RDXs. The only solution is to replace the entire headlight assembly.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11716792

Crash

Incident: November 17, 2025 · Filed: February 9, 2026

Low beam headlight projector reflectors deteriorate making the low beam headlights unusable for safe driving. Entire assembly has to be replaced to remedy. Extremely common in this generation of Acura RDX based on internet searches.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11715164

Incident: January 15, 2026 · Filed: February 2, 2026

2013 ACURA RDX. HEAD LIGHTS HAVE DIMMED WHERE ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. HAD THE WHOLE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLIES REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP 11 months ago FOR $4,000. Still have same problem with new ones

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11702801

Incident: December 1, 2025 · Filed: December 3, 2025

The low beam headlights lights on my 2013 Acura RDX are very dim, and replacing the bulbs does not make any difference. I have read multiple reports that this is a common problem where the reflective material inside the projector style housing breaks down over time, and that the only fix is to replace the entire headlight assembly on both sides. Due to the poor lighting, I have had several near misses with other cars and obstacles that have been hard to see. Compared to other vehicles I have driven over by lifetime, this car really does has a significant safety problem. Headlight assemblies should not degrade this quickly, and replacing them is an expensive repair. I believe that NHTSA should investigate this issue for a potential recall, as not being able to see at night is a major safety issue.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11685529

Incident: January 1, 2024 · Filed: September 7, 2025

My low beam headlights have diminished in their effectiveness / intensity over time such that I fear driving at night due to possible danger of an accident. If I do have to drive at night, I have to use my high beams...which is also totally unacceptable, and illegal in post places. I have taken the car to the Acura dealership to explain the problem and determine the proper fix. I felt like this should be covered under warranty, since this is a safety issue, no different than safety belts, air bags, etc. The Acura dealership tested the lights and acknowledged the problem, but stated there was no warranty coverage for the issue. The determined fix was to replace both headlight assemblies for a cost of approximately $2500. This is totally unacceptable in my opinion, given this a definite safety issue.

Other Acura RDX model years

Check your 2013 Acura RDX VIN

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