2012 Acura RDX reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2012 Acura RDX has 15 complaints with NHTSA after 15 years, or 1 per year. That is the fewest complaints per year among the 13 RDX years on this site. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Inflator.

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (6 of 15), then Electrical system (2) and Powertrain (2). The most filings arrived in 2016 (7 of 15).

Next to 2013

The 2013 RDX has 162 complaints, 5 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Acura RDX. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (2)

Recall air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator 2019-03-06 · NHTSA campaign 19V182000

Summary 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, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.

Remedy 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 service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.

Recall air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator 2016-02-03 · NHTSA campaign 16V061000

Summary 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 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Remedy 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 recall are JY0, JY1, and JY2.

Complaints by component (15 total)

Air bags

Electrical system

Powertrain

Steering

Engine

Engine and engine cooling

Exterior lighting

Speed control

Structure

Show 1 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Acura RDX. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 148,000. However,…"
Electrical system · filed 2025-11-03
"AMBOS FOCOS DELANTEROS SE OBEDECEN, LAS FECHAS EXACTAS CUANDO LO LLEV AL DEALER PARA GARANTA DE LOS FOCOS NO LA RECUERDO, PERO FUI EN VARIAS OCASIONES. ME INFORMARON QUE LA ESPECIFICACIN DEL FABRICANTE ERAN FOCOS AL…"
Exterior lighting · filed 2018-09-28
"VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE BRAKES TO LOCK AND CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR OTHERS AND THE PERSON DRIVING THE CAR. ONCE THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN THE CAR WILL NEED TO BE PUT IN PARK,…"
Unknown or other · filed 2018-09-04
"TAKATA RECALL. THE DRIVER AIR BAG WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED. WHEN I QUESTIONED WHY THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS NOT BEING REPLACED ALSO. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS NOT BEING RECALLED. I ASKED IF IT WAS A TAKATA…"
Air bags · filed 2018-02-21
"I NOTICED VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN AS IF I HAD FLAT TIRES, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING. AFTER A WEEK I HAD MY SUV CHECKED AT THE GARAGE. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT AND LEFT LINE AXLE ASSEMBLIES…"
Powertrain · filed 2017-10-21

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2012 Acura RDX SUV 4WD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	4 stars
2012 Acura RDX SUV FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
RDX two-wheel drive	2.3L, 4-cyl	Automatic (5-speed)	Front-wheel drive	19	24	21 MPG	$3800
RDX four-wheel drive	2.3L, 4-cyl	Automatic (5-speed)	All-wheel drive	17	22	19 MPG	$4200

Specs and fitment

2nd generation (TB1/TB2), 2012–2015

Body styles SUV

Oil 0W-20 (3.5L V6) , 4.5 qt capacity

Tire size 235/60R18

Towing capacity 1,500 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 19V182000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that 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, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode. An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Remedy: 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 service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.

Compare

Next year 2013 Acura RDX See every Acura RDX model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Acura RDX reliable?

What are common problems with a 2012 Acura RDX?

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (6 of 15), then Electrical system (2) and Powertrain (2). The most filings arrived in 2016 (7 of 15).

Is the 2012 Acura RDX more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 RDX has 162 complaints, 5 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Acura RDX been recalled?

The 2012 Acura RDX has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Acura RDX?

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 2012 Acura RDX with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Acura RDX get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Acura RDX is 20 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a Acura RDX use?

US RDX manuals specify 0W-20 for recent turbo four-cylinder engines.

What generation is the 2018 Acura RDX?

3rd generation / TC1-TC2 (2016-2021).

What tire size does a recent Acura RDX use?

Many 2016-on US RDX pages list 235/55R19; earlier second-gen rows list 235/60R18.