2019 Acura RDX Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2019 Acura RDX ranks 2nd worst out of 19 model years, with a complaint index of 94 and 438 complaints across 5 recalls. Visibility & Wipers (26%) and Engine (23%) are the top complaint areas, making this year rated Avoid relative to other RDX years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 94/100
- #2 of 19 RDX years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 438
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 5
- Top issue
- Visibility & Wipers
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 23.5
- 21.5 city / 27 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
Top 2019 Acura RDX problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Other142 (32%)
- Visibility & Wipers113 (26%)
- Engine99 (23%)
- Fuel System43 (10%)
- Electrical System41 (9%)
- Transmission & Powertrain37 (8%)
- Structure & Body27 (6%)
- Brakes26 (6%)
- Airbags11 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Steering can suddenly lose power assist at speed, causing loss of control and collisions.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during a head-on collision despite significant impact force.
- The power tailgate can close on a person or object without reversing when it senses resistance.
- The engine has shut down unexpectedly while driving through an intersection and then refused to restart.
- Electrical systems including the dashboard display, heads-up display, and infotainment have randomly failed, sometimes requiring the engine to be shut off and restarted.
- Rear seatbelts sit too high and too far forward for smaller children, crossing near the face and unable to be adjusted.
2019 Acura RDX recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V332000May 21, 2026Airbags98,892 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
- 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.
- NHTSA 23V158000Mar 9, 2023Seat Belts448,613 vehicles
Seat belts:front:buckle assembly
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2020 CR-V, 2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019 Insight, and 2019-2020 Acura RDX vehicles. A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching.
Risk: An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are NDA, QDB, BDC, MDD, LD9. TDF, FDG, ODH, YDI, ZDE.
2019 Acura RDX fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21.5 MPG
- Highway
- 27 MPG
- Combined
- 23.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,375
- 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.
2019 compared with other RDX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2019 Acura RDX a good year to buy?
- No. It has a complaint index of 94, the second-highest of the 19 RDX model years tracked, and carries an Avoid verdict relative to other RDX years.
- How many complaints does the 2019 Acura RDX have?
- NHTSA lists 438 complaints for the 2019 RDX, with the top problem areas being Visibility & Wipers (26% of complaints) and Engine (23%).
- Does the 2019 Acura RDX have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2019 RDX covering airbags, fuel system, and seat belt components; none are do-not-drive recalls.
- What is the biggest problem area for the 2019 RDX?
- Visibility & Wipers complaints make up 26% of all reports, with a median failure mileage of 58,500 miles, followed by Engine complaints at 23% with a median mileage of 8,300 miles.
- How does the 2019 RDX compare to other years?
- The 2019 RDX's complaint index of 94 is worse than most other RDX years; only the 2020 model, with an index of 100, ranks worse.