YearToAvoid

2021 Acura RDX Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 22 engine complaints for the 2021 Acura RDX, 20% of its 112 total complaints. Two crashes are linked to engine issues, with no fires or injuries reported, and no related recall exists for this problem area.

Engine complaints
22
20% of 112
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
—
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of engine power while accelerating to pass another vehicle, often in rainy conditions on the highway.
  • Several describe the check engine light flashing on and off at the same time the vehicle enters a limp mode with greatly reduced speed.
  • Some drivers say the vehicle nearly stalled or felt like it lost a cylinder's worth of power, accompanied by unusual noises from under the hood.
  • One owner reported the vehicle surging forward unexpectedly while parking, leading to a collision with a building.
  • Multiple complaints mention the car shuddering or clunking as it slows to a stop after a power-loss event.
  • A few owners noted the problem seemed tied to low oil pressure or required a dealer visit, with one referencing a service bulletin that could not be matched to a diagnostic code.

When 2021 Acura RDX engine complaints were filed

First complaint May 24, 2021, latest Sep 23, 2026.

2021 Acura RDX engine complaints: complaints filed per month2May 2021Aug 2021Jun 2022Nov 2022Mar 2024May 2025Sep 2026
22 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Jun 2021 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2021 Acura RDX

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by RDX model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20103 (14%)
  2. 20112 (13%)
  3. 20122 (13%)
  4. 20134 (2%)
  5. 20145 (2%)
  6. 20154 (1%)
  7. 20167 (18%)
  8. 201714 (18%)
  9. 201817 (22%)
  10. 201999 (23%)
  11. 202064 (19%)
  12. 202122 (20%)
  13. 20222 (6%)
  14. 20234 (18%)
  15. 20241 (9%)
  16. 20252 (7%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2021 Acura RDX have?
NHTSA lists 22 engine complaints for the 2021 RDX, which is 20% of the 112 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2021 Acura RDX engine?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this engine problem area on the 2021 RDX.
Did the engine issue cause any crashes?
NHTSA data shows 2 crashes connected to engine complaints on the 2021 RDX, with no fires or injuries reported.
What do owners describe happening with the engine?
Owners describe sudden power loss while accelerating or passing, often paired with a flashing check engine light and the vehicle entering a limp mode.
How does the 2021 RDX compare to other years for engine complaints?
The 2021 RDX's 22 engine complaints and 20% share is lower than the 2019 model year, which had 99 complaints at a 23% share, but higher than years like 2022, which had only 2 complaints at a 6% share.

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.