2013 Acura RDX Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2013 Acura RDX has a complaint index of 72, ranking 6th worst out of 19 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Electrical System problems dominate at 59% of complaints, with 3 recalls covering airbags and a transmission shift interlock issue.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 72/100
- #6 of 19 RDX years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 162
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 6
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 4
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 22.5
- 19.5 city / 27.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
Top 2013 Acura RDX problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System96 (59%)
- Airbags36 (22%)
- Visibility & Wipers10 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (5%)
- Other7 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain7 (4%)
- Structure & Body5 (3%)
- Engine4 (2%)
- Brakes3 (2%)
- Steering2 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Low beam headlight projector reflectors deteriorate over time, making the headlights unusable and requiring full assembly replacement.
- Headlights sometimes fail to illuminate properly, though dealers were unable to duplicate the issue on inspection.
- The keyless ignition button lets drivers shut off the engine and exit while the vehicle is not in park, causing it to roll on its own.
- The transmission can violently upshift while accelerating from a stop, in one case causing a crash into a building with airbag deployment and injury.
- After being placed in park, the vehicle can roll away unexpectedly and crash into objects or other vehicles.
- A vibration occurs during gear changes between 2nd and 3rd gear and between 4th and 5th gear at steady speeds, disappearing upon acceleration.
2013 Acura RDX recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- 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.
- NHTSA 13V143000Apr 15, 2013Transmission & Powertrain204,169 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission
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."
Risk: 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.
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.
2013 Acura RDX fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19.5 MPG
- Highway
- 27.5 MPG
- Combined
- 22.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,550
- 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.
2013 compared with other RDX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Acura RDX reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 RDX carries a complaint index of 72 and ranks 6th worst among 19 model years, giving it a Caution verdict relative to other RDX years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Acura RDX?
- Electrical System complaints make up 59% of all reports, followed by Airbags at 22%. Owners also reported issues with visibility/wipers, suspension, and transmission/powertrain.
- Does the 2013 Acura RDX have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2013 RDX: two airbag inflator recalls and one covering a brake-shift interlock mechanism that can become slow in sub-freezing temperatures.
- At what mileage do 2013 RDX problems typically appear?
- Median mileage at failure across all complaints is 47,500 miles, though Electrical System failures had a higher median of 95,000 miles and Transmission & Powertrain issues appeared earlier at 25,950 miles.
- How does the 2013 RDX compare to other RDX years?
- The 2013 RDX (complaint index 72) is worse than years like 2010-2012 which earned Best verdicts with indexes of 22, 6, and 0, but better than 2019 and 2020 which scored 94 and 100 and were rated Avoid.