NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and create an electrical short, potentially causing airbags to deploy unexpectedly during a crash.
This page covers 4 recalls, 100 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2021 Acura RDX.
23–24 mpg combined
9.8–10.2 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Complaints for the 2021 Acura RDX spread fairly evenly across three systems, engine, service brakes, and visibility, each drawing roughly the same number of reports. On the visibility side, the most consistent pattern involves the automatic high-beam system activating at the wrong times: owners describe high beams switching on during early dusk or when oncoming vehicles are present, creating glare for other drivers. A secondary visibility complaint involves the rear window shattering spontaneously, with multiple owners reporting the glass broke without any impact or visible stress, in some cases while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied. Engine complaints tend to describe unusual sounds, though reports vary enough that no single symptom dominates. The spontaneous rear window failure is the most specific and repeated pattern across the visibility complaints, with owners consistently noting no apparent cause.
100
Total Complaints
2
Crash-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2021 Acura RDX has 4 recalls, the most serious being front driveshaft failures that can cause a sudden loss of drive power or allow the vehicle to roll away if parked without the parking brake engaged.
The driveshaft issue affects one or both front axle shafts, which can fail without warning and cut power to the wheels while driving. If the vehicle is already parked and a shaft has failed, it may not stay in place on a slope without the parking brake set. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve this issue, which is why more than one recall addresses it.
The remaining two recalls both concern the front passenger seat sensor, which detects whether the seat holds an adult, a child, or is empty, and uses that information to control airbag deployment. In either case, the sensor can misread the seat occupancy and cause the front passenger airbag to deploy unexpectedly during a crash rather than at the correct moment, raising the risk of injury to whoever is sitting there. As with the driveshaft issue, this defect was filed in more than one campaign because earlier repair efforts did not fully correct the underlying problem.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and create an electrical short, potentially causing airbags to deploy unexpectedly during a crash.
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger seat weight sensor at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which could prevent the front passenger air bag from deactivating when it should.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger seat weight sensors at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The left-front axle shaft wasn't properly heat-treated during manufacturing, which can cause it to fail and lose power to the wheels.
What the fix does
Acura will mail you instructions to visit a dealer, where they will replace the left-front axle shaft.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The right or left front driveshaft may have been improperly heat-treated during manufacturing, which could cause it to fail.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the affected front driveshaft at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
