2013 Acura RDX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
180 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2013 Acura RDX, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 38/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 95,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2013 sits among all RDX years
What owners report
“The low beam headlights on our Acura RDX are so dim that they cannot be used at night and we are forced to drive with high beams on for safety.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 RDX
“This recall has been announced since february 2016 (7 months ago), but the parts are still not available. I am not confident that my car is safe to drive.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 RDX
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 48 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 44,250 miles. Half of those reports fall between 10,400 and 75,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic,…
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012…
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this…
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 CR-V, Odyssey, and model year 2013 Acura RDX vehicles. During sub-freezing temperatures, the brake-shift interlock blocking mechanism may become slow and allow the gear selector to be moved from the Park…
Fix: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated brake shift interlock blocking mechanism free of charge. The recall…
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade,…
Technical service bulletins
122 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on airbags and body & structure — are on file for the 2013 Acura RDX. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2013 Acura RDX reliable?
The 2013 Acura RDX drew 180 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 38/100, scored against the model's worst year (2019).
What are the most common 2013 Acura RDX problems?
The top reported problems for the 2013 Acura RDX are electrical (96 complaints), airbags (36), and visibility & wipers (10).
At what mileage do 2013 Acura RDX problems show up?
Owners most often report 2013 Acura RDX problems around 44,250 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 10,400 and 75,000 miles.
Does the 2013 Acura RDX have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2013 Acura RDX. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.