NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
This page covers 5 recalls, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2013 Acura ZDX.
19 mpg combined
12.4 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
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.
The 2011 to 2013 Acura ZDX received an overall rating of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program for US-market vehicles. In frontal crash testing, it earned 4 stars. Side crash protection was rated at 5 stars, while rollover resistance received 4 stars. Side pole crash testing resulted in a 5-star rating. NHTSA applies these ratings across model years until a significant redesign occurs, so this assessment covers the entire 2011 to 2013 range.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2013 Acura ZDX has 5 recalls, all centered on the same critical safety issue: the front airbag inflators on both the driver and passenger sides can explode and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin, with potentially fatal results.
All five recalls trace back to the Takata airbag inflator defect affecting the frontal airbags on both sides of the vehicle. When either airbag deploys in a crash, the inflator housing can rupture violently, scattering metal shards that can strike the driver, front passenger, or rear occupants. The driver-side and passenger-side inflators are covered by separate recall filings, but the hazard is the same on both sides of the dashboard. Because prior repair attempts for this defect did not fully resolve the issue across the broader affected vehicle population, multiple rounds of recalls were issued over time, which is why five separate filings appear for what is essentially one dangerous component shared between the two airbag positions. Any ZDX that has not had both inflators replaced remains at risk of this type of failure in a crash.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Driver air bag inflators installed during previous recalls or as service parts may explode during a crash when the air bag deploys due to a manufacturing defect.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflator with a different inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Moisture can seep into the dual-stage driver frontal air bag inflator over time, potentially causing it to rupture.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.