YearToAvoid

2015 Acura RDX Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2015 Acura RDX ranks 3rd worst among 19 model years, with a complaint index of 89 and 411 complaints, most tied to the Electrical System (84%). It carries an Avoid verdict, driven largely by headlight and airbag-related reports plus 3 recall campaigns.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
89/100
#3 of 19 RDX years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
411
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
3
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
7
reported in complaints
Fires
0
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 2015 Acura RDX problems

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

  1. Electrical System346 (84%)
  2. Airbags33 (8%)
  3. Visibility & Wipers22 (5%)
  4. Structure & Body10 (2%)
  5. Other8 (2%)
  6. Fuel System6 (1%)
  7. Engine4 (1%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (1%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain4 (1%)
  10. Steering3 (1%)

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

What owners report

  • Headlights described as producing too little light at night, with drivers unable to see the road or hazards until close range.
  • Low beam output reported as foggy or dim, leading to reduced visibility and off-road incidents in the dark.
  • Takata airbag deployment reported with forceful chemical burns and injury during a low-speed crash.
  • Owners report sudden loss of steering control at low speed resulting in a collision with a tree.
  • Wiper blades reported icing over in cold weather, with the defrost system unable to clear them.
  • New tires reported losing traction on wet roads shortly after purchase, with reduced grip during highway merges.
2015 Acura RDX complaints: complaints filed per quarter502014 Q42016 Q32019 Q12020 Q42022 Q22023 Q42025 Q2
411 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2023 Q1 (50).

2015 Acura RDX recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V500000Jun 27, 2019Airbags1,558 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B and W59.

  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.

2015 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.

2015 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
2013Caution72162322.5
2014Avoid83242322.5
2015Avoid89411322.5
2016Good3340222.5
2017Caution6776122.5

All Acura RDX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Acura RDX reliable?
Relative to other RDX model years, the 2015 ranks 3rd worst out of 19 years tracked, with a complaint index of 89 and an Avoid verdict.
What is the biggest problem with the 2015 Acura RDX?
The Electrical System accounts for 84% of complaints (346 of 411), largely centered on headlight visibility issues, with a median failure mileage of 75,000.
Does the 2015 Acura RDX have airbag recalls?
Yes, it has 3 recall campaigns, all involving airbag inflators (Takata-related), covering campaigns 19V500000, 19V182000, and 16V061000.
How does the 2015 RDX compare to other RDX years?
The 2015 RDX's complaint index of 89 is close to the worst years, 2020 (100) and 2019 (94), and worse than the Best-rated years like 2012 (index 0) and 2011 (index 6).
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Acura RDX?
The 2015 RDX gets an EPA-rated 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.