YearToAvoid

2014 Acura RDX Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2014 Acura RDX carries a complaint index of 83, the 4th-worst year out of 19, and is rated Avoid relative to other RDX years. Electrical System complaints dominate at 69% of the total, with 242 complaints and 3 recalls logged.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
83/100
#4 of 19 RDX years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
242
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
3
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
2
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
4
Top issue
Electrical System
Best nearby year
2012
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22.5
19.5 city / 27.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0

Top 2014 Acura RDX problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System167 (69%)
  2. Airbags41 (17%)
  3. Other12 (5%)
  4. Visibility & Wipers10 (4%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (3%)
  6. Brakes5 (2%)
  7. Engine5 (2%)
  8. Structure & Body3 (1%)
  9. Fuel System2 (1%)
  10. Seat Belts2 (1%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Electrical system faults tied to headlamp components, including a fire reported after a body shop plugged in the vehicle for minor collision repair.
  • Front brakes wearing down to bare metal on the rotor after 15,000 miles, far sooner than owners expected.
  • Brake pads rattling loudly against caliper clips over bumps and potholes, with dealers acknowledging the noise but calling it normal.
  • Power steering intermittently locking up multiple times over a short stretch of road, including once while merging near highway traffic.
  • AWD torque loss on icy inclines that let the vehicle slide before torque was restored to the wheels.
  • Rear suspension clunking or droning noise at low speed over uneven pavement, sometimes returning after strut replacement.
2014 Acura RDX complaints: complaints filed per quarter262013 Q32015 Q42017 Q22019 Q12020 Q42022 Q22023 Q42025 Q2
242 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2016 Q3 (26).

2014 Acura RDX recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V858000Dec 18, 2023Fuel System2,490,460 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

2014 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.

2014 compared with other RDX years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2012Best015220
2013Caution72162322.5
2014Avoid83242322.5
2015Avoid89411322.5
2016Good3340222.5

All Acura RDX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Acura RDX reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2014 RDX ranks 4th-worst among 19 model years with a complaint index of 83, earning an Avoid verdict relative to other RDX years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2014 Acura RDX?
Electrical System issues make up 69% of complaints (167 of 242), with a median failure mileage of 86,000 miles.
Does the 2014 Acura RDX have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2014 RDX, covering the fuel system and airbags; none are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2014 RDX compare to other RDX years?
The 2014 model's complaint index of 83 is worse than most other years; only 2015 (89), 2019 (94), and 2020 (100) score higher, while years like 2011 and 2012 are rated Best.
What is the fuel economy of the 2014 Acura RDX?
The EPA rates the 2014 RDX at 22.5 mpg combined (19.5 city / 27.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550.

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.