YearToAvoid

2014 Acura RDX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

80/100

#4 most-complained of 16 RDX years

The 2014 Acura RDX has a Complaint Index of 80, ranking it 4th worst among 16 model years, with 242 complaints, 3 recalls, and Electrical System issues making up 69% of complaints. NHTSA data supports an Avoid verdict relative to other RDX years.

Complaints
242
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
2 / 1
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22.5
19.5 city / 27.5 hwy

Top 2014 Acura RDX problems

NHTSA owner 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%)

What owners report

  • Owners report headlights and related electrical components failing or catching fire, in one case after minor front-end damage near a wheel well.
  • Front brake pads wore down to metal contact after a reported 15,000 miles, far sooner than owners expected.
  • Some drivers describe the power steering intermittently jamming during normal driving, requiring the vehicle to be restarted multiple times.
  • Owners describe brakes failing to hold the vehicle at a stop, causing it to slide forward despite pedal pressure.
  • A clunking or droning noise from the rear suspension was reported at low speeds over uneven pavement, sometimes returning after strut replacement.
  • One owner reported the passenger-side mirror could not rotate far enough to see vehicles alongside, which a dealer confirmed was a build issue.
2014 Acura RDX complaints: complaints filed per quarter262013 Q32015 Q42017 Q22019 Q12020 Q42022 Q22023 Q42025 Q2
259 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)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2012Best015220
2013Caution67162322.5
2014Avoid80242322.5
2015Avoid87411322.5
2016Good2740222.5

All Acura RDX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Acura RDX reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2014 RDX has a Complaint Index of 80 and ranks 4th worst out of 16 RDX model years, earning an Avoid rating relative to other years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2014 Acura RDX?
The Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 69% of the 242 complaints filed with NHTSA, with a median failure mileage of 86,000 miles.
Does the 2014 Acura RDX have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2014 RDX covering the fuel system and airbags, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2014 RDX compare to other model years?
The 2014 RDX's Complaint Index of 80 is higher than the 2013 model's 67 and lower than the 2015 model's 87, placing it among the worse years alongside 2015, 2019, and 2020.

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.