Reliable Auto DB

2016 Acura RDX reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Acura RDX over 11 years — 6 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most RDX years here — under the median of the other years, which is 7. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Inflator.

2012 Acura RDX
Photo by IFCAR, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons Public domain
Complaints

40

Per year

6

Recalls

2

Years on the road

11

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (9 of 40), then Electrical system (8) and Engine (7). Those filings include 3 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 2 that report an injury.

Next to 2015 and 2017

The 2015 RDX has 411 complaints, 12 per year, and the 2017 has 76 complaints, 8 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017.

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 2016 Acura RDX. How we count. Data as of .

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 (40 total)

Powertrain
9
Electrical system
8
Engine
7
Service brakes
6
Fuel and propulsion system
4
Steering
4
Structure
3
Air bags
2
Suspension
2
Visibility
2
Chest clip, buckle, and harness
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Seats
1
Tires
1
Wheels
1
Show 7 more Show less
Crash-flagged

3

Fire-flagged

2

Injury reports

2

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

220157201662017320184201932020420211202232023120244202522026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "On May 25, 2026, while driving my 2016 Acura RDX AWD on the interstate at highway speed, it suddenly began running rough and felt as if I was driving over low, spaced-out speed bumps. The check engine light started…"
    Steering, Powertrain, Engine · filed 2026-06-16
  • "On several occasions, the car alarm starts randomly sounding. When my son went to the vehicle, the lights on the dash board were flashing on and off and there was a clicking sound. We replaced the batteries in the key…"
    Electrical system · filed 2026-05-11
  • "The driver side airbag. And yes, it can be inspected. I was involved in a low impact accident, where I struck a minor curb. The airbag deployed in my face, causing a loss of consciousness and ongoing concussion. No…"
    Air bags · filed 2025-09-19
  • "The contact owns a 2016 Acura RDX. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle while turning to the left or the right. The contact stated that the steering…"
    Steering, Suspension · filed 2025-05-29
  • "The contact owns a 2016 Acura RDX. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 25 MPH, there was a loud clicking sound coming from underneath the vehicle on the front passenger side of the vehicle. No warning…"
    Suspension, Powertrain · filed 2025-01-16

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2016 Acura RDX SUV AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2016 Acura RDX SUV FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars

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 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 20 28 23 MPG $3450
RDX four-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 19 27 22 MPG $3650

Specs and fitment

3rd generation (TC1/TC2), 2016–2021
Body styles SUV
Oil 0W-20 (2.0L turbo) , 4.6 qt capacity
Tire size 235/55R19
Towing capacity 1,500 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 21V215000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-314.

Compare

Previous year 2015 Acura RDX Next year 2017 Acura RDX See every Acura RDX model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Acura RDX reliable?

Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Acura RDX over 11 years — 6 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most RDX years here — under the median of the other years, which is 7. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Inflator.

What are common problems with a 2016 Acura RDX?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (9 of 40), then Electrical system (8) and Engine (7). Those filings include 3 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 2 that report an injury.

Is the 2016 Acura RDX more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2015 RDX has 411 complaints, 12 per year, and the 2017 has 76 complaints, 8 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017.

Has the 2016 Acura RDX been recalled?

The 2016 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 2016 Acura RDX?

Owners have filed 40 complaints about the 2016 Acura RDX with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2016 Acura RDX get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2016 Acura RDX is 22.5 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.