Last updated: 2026-10-10
Acura RDX Reliability by Year
Acura RDX reliability is good overall. Pick a 2024 and skip 2019 and 2020, which have shattering rear glass and sudden power loss.
Acura RDX Reliability Overview
Good overall and above average among SUVs, this compact SUV is cheap to keep up, at an estimated $497 a year in repairs. The 2019 and 2020 model years are the ones to skip, mainly for rear window glass that shatters on its own and engines that cut power while merging or passing. The 2024 model is the safer used pick.
Current generation: 3rd gen (2019–2023), facelifted 2022.
Best & Worst Acura RDX Years
Best Acura RDX Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreThe 2024 has been on the road long enough to trust its record, and it has only 10 owner complaints against 417 for the 2019 and 327 for the 2020. Its main complaint is a vibrating driver side mirror, not shattering glass or power loss. It has one recall and one fire report, so check the VIN.
Acura RDX Years to Avoid
Rear window glass that breaks on its own is the top complaint, often on parked cars or cold mornings with the defroster running. Owners also report power cutting out under hard acceleration, a flashing check engine light, and limp mode at 20 to 30 mph. Restarting usually clears it, but dealers often find no codes.
Acura RDX Reliability Score Trend
Acura RDX reliability has improved in recent years, with newer models scoring an average of 83/100 compared to 72/100 for older years.
Scores 0–100. Higher is better.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 79/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 66/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 67/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 77/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 82/100 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 82/100 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 81/100 | Excellent |
| 2026 | 87/100 | Excellent |
Year-by-Year Reliability
2026 Acura RDX
0 recalls · 0 complaints
Newest year, with no complaints or recalls on file yet, though that clean record mostly reflects how little time it has been on the road.
2025 Acura RDX
1 recalls · 27 complaints
Excellent standing and low repair costs, offset by sudden electric power steering loss reported early in ownership and one steering recall.
2024 Acura RDX
1 recalls · 10 complaints
Excellent reliability with few complaints, one steering recall, and a driver side mirror vibration pattern; the 2023 and 2025 models rate about the same.
2023 Acura RDX
1 recalls · 16 complaints
Final year of the third generation, with excellent reliability and low repair costs, though owners report limp mode and false automatic braking.
2021 Acura RDX
2 recalls · 99 complaints
A mid-pack RDX year with far fewer complaints and recalls than 2020, held back by rear brake squeal and glass that shatters.
2020 Acura RDX
4 recalls · 327 complaints
Rates good but sits among the weaker RDX years, with spontaneous rear glass breakage and rain-related power loss leading owner complaints and four recalls on record.
2019 Acura RDX
4 recalls · 417 complaints
Weakest of the eight scored RDX years, with spontaneous rear glass breakage and limp-mode power loss, though still rated good and near average for 2019 SUVs.
2018 Acura RDX
1 recalls · 71 complaints
Final year of the second generation, with good reliability and far fewer complaints than 2019, though a fuel system recall and jerky shifting stand out.
Found Your Acura RDX? Check Its History
Steering (21) problems come up most in Acura RDX owner complaints, and 14 recalls cover the years we track. A VIN check shows whether the car you found had its recall work done, plus accident and title history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
Acura RDX Repair Costs
Reliability Rating
4.5/5
Annual Repair Cost
$497
Repair Frequency
0.4/yr
Major Repair Risk
6%
$362 below the luxury compact SUVs average of $859/yr.
Ranked #1 of 11 among luxury compact SUVs.
Acura RDX Resale Value
The Acura RDX is estimated to retain about 53.8% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
- Value Retained
- 53.8%
- Depreciation
- 46.2%
- Listings Analyzed
- 119
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.
Explore Acura RDX depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comAcura RDX Years to Avoid
See which model years have the most problems
Most Reliable Acura Models
Compare all Acura models by reliability
Compare Acura RDX With Similar SUVs
The Acura RDX competes with other compact suvs such as Audi Q3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Volvo XC60.
RDX vs Audi Q3
9 years tracked · 158 complaints
RDX vs Mercedes-Benz GLC
8 years tracked · 543 complaints
RDX vs Volvo XC60
8 years tracked · 242 complaints
RDX vs BMW X1
9 years tracked · 188 complaints
RDX vs Lexus NX
9 years tracked · 321 complaints
More Acura RDX comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best Acura RDX year to buy?
- The 2024 is the best pick. It has been on the road long enough to show a clean record, with very few owner complaints and excellent reliability. The 2023 also rates well. The 2026 scores high but is too new to judge, so do not treat it as proven.
- Is the Acura RDX reliable?
- Yes, overall reliability is good, and it stands above average among SUVs. The weak spots are the 2019 and 2020 model years, which collect far more complaints than the rest. Later years, including 2023 and 2024, look much better in owner complaints and federal recall records.
- What are the most common Acura RDX problems?
- Rear window glass that breaks on its own is the most reported problem. Next come engine hesitation and power loss when accelerating, harsh or jerky shifting, and intermittent no-starts. Losing power while merging or passing is the main safety concern, and dealers often cannot reproduce the fault.
- How much does an Acura RDX cost to repair each year?
- Independent repair-cost data estimates $497 a year. That is well below the $859 average for luxury compact SUVs. Expect more if you buy a 2019 or 2020, where glass replacement and engine or transmission complaints are common.
- Does the Acura RDX have transmission problems?
- Some owners report them. Power train complaints describe harsh, jerky shifts around 20 mph, delayed engagement, slipping into neutral, and a flashing D indicator. Dealers often cannot reproduce the problem, and some owners say symptoms returned after a software update or torque converter replacement.
How we score the Acura RDX
Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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