YearToAvoid

2016 Acura RDX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

27/100

#12 most-complained of 16 RDX years

The 2016 Acura RDX has a complaint index of 27 and ranks 12th out of 16 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict. It logged 40 complaints, 2 recalls, 3 crashes, 2 fires and 0 deaths, with transmission and powertrain issues topping the list.

Complaints
40
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
3 / 2
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22.5
19.5 city / 27.5 hwy

Top 2016 Acura RDX problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain9 (23%)
  2. Electrical System8 (20%)
  3. Engine7 (18%)
  4. Brakes6 (15%)
  5. Other5 (13%)
  6. Fuel System4 (10%)
  7. Steering4 (10%)
  8. Structure & Body4 (10%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (10%)
  10. Airbags2 (5%)

What owners report

  • Some vehicles stall or hesitate when making slow-speed turns, with the engine seeming to 'die' before catching again after a delay.
  • Owners describe the odometer jumping several hundred miles within a short drive, with dealers unable to explain the discrepancy.
  • A few owners report engine fires occurring shortly after the vehicle was parked and turned off, with no prior warning.
  • Some drivers say the brake pedal sank to the floor with little resistance during hard braking, reducing stopping power.
  • Owners note the power driver's seat moving forward on its own, pinning them against the steering wheel while driving.
  • Airbag deployment during minor impacts has been reported, in some cases causing injury.
2016 Acura RDX complaints: complaints filed per month3Oct 2015Oct 2016Oct 2017May 2019Apr 2021Jul 2023Sep 2025
56 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2015 to Jun 2026; peak Oct 2016 (3).

2016 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.

2016 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.

2016 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
2014Avoid80242322.5
2015Avoid87411322.5
2016Good2740222.5
2017Caution5376122.5
2018Good4777122.5

All Acura RDX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Acura RDX reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2016 RDX a complaint index of 27, ranking it 12th of 16 model years and earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other RDX years.
What are the most common problems on the 2016 Acura RDX?
Transmission and powertrain issues account for 23% of complaints (9 of 40), followed by electrical system problems at 20% (8 complaints) and engine issues at 18% (7 complaints).
Are there recalls on the 2016 Acura RDX?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2016 RDX, both involving airbag inflators; neither is a do-not-drive recall.
Which Acura RDX years are worse than 2016?
NHTSA complaint data marks 2014, 2015, 2019, and 2020 as 'Avoid' years, all with higher complaint indexes (80, 87, 100, and 93) than the 2016 model's index of 27.
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Acura RDX?
EPA rates the 2016 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.