YearToAvoid

2010 Acura RDX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

13/100

#14 most-complained of 16 RDX years

The 2010 Acura RDX ranks 14th worst of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 13 and 22 complaints logged, earning a "Best" verdict relative to other RDX years. Airbags account for 59% of complaints, largely tied to Takata recall parts delays.

Complaints
22
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 2
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
18 city / 23 hwy

Top 2010 Acura RDX problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags13 (59%)
  2. Engine3 (14%)
  3. Electrical System2 (9%)
  4. Fuel System2 (9%)
  5. Seat Belts2 (9%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain2 (9%)
  7. Structure & Body1 (5%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (5%)

What owners report

  • Owners report vehicles catching fire under the hood without a clear identified cause, in one case near 50,888 miles.
  • Some describe sudden loss of power at highway speed accompanied by a grinding or humming noise and smoke from under the hood, at a median mileage of 68,500.
  • Several owners who received the Takata airbag recall notice say replacement parts were unavailable and repair wait times exceeded a reasonable period.
  • One owner reported the vehicle running out of fuel unexpectedly despite the gauge showing miles remaining, creating a dangerous roadside situation.
  • A driver described the ignition key jamming and being difficult to remove multiple times at 70,000 miles.
  • One owner said a seat belt did not restrain them properly in a rear-end collision.
2010 Acura RDX complaints: complaints filed per month4Feb 2010Oct 2010Feb 2015Jun 2016Sep 2016Dec 2016Apr 2017Feb 2019
26 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2010 to Aug 2019; peak Oct 2017 (4).

2010 Acura RDX recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V182000Mar 6, 2019Airbags1,101,534 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    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.

    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.

    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.

  2. NHTSA 16V061000Feb 3, 2016Airbags2,232,187 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    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.

    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.

2010 Acura RDX fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
23 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,000
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2010 compared with other RDX years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Best1322220
2011Best716220
2012Best015220

All Acura RDX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Acura RDX reliable?
Compared to other RDX model years, the 2010 ranks well: it has a Complaint Index of 13 and sits 14th out of 16 years from worst to best, earning a "Best" verdict.
What problems does the 2010 Acura RDX have?
NHTSA complaints show Airbags as the top problem area at 59% of complaints, followed by Engine issues at 14%. The RDX has 2 recalls, both airbag-related.
Does the 2010 Acura RDX have a Takata airbag recall?
Yes. It is covered by recall 16V061000 for Takata airbag inflator replacement and by a later related recall, 19V182000, for an alternate inflator.
How many complaints and recalls does the 2010 Acura RDX have?
NHTSA lists 22 complaints and 2 recalls for the 2010 Acura RDX, with 1 crash and 2 fires reported among those complaints.
How does the 2010 RDX compare to other years like 2015 or 2019?
The 2010 RDX (Complaint Index 13) is far better than the 2015 (87) and 2019 (100) model years, which both carry an "Avoid" verdict.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.