Japanese cars are one of the most well-renowned carmakers when it comes to reliability. Is the Acura brand any different? Not really, it fits in that category just as well as any other, and it’s also under the Honda division.
With their Acura RDX, they haven’t disappointed, though as expected, throughout the almost 20-year production period, there are bound to be a few underwhelming editions.
That’s why today, we’ll be looking at the Acura RDX years to avoid so you get the best Acura RDX for your money. But before we get into the list, let’s do a small review of the car itself.
Meet the Acura RDX
The Acura RDX is a sport crossover SUV. A crossover SUV is a car with better suspension and off-road ability than a sedan.
It’s also more spacious and has an increased height with a bigger build though it isn’t as good of a multi-terrain car as a standard SUV. The Acura RDX in particular also has a much sportier, sharp look than most SUVs, and a much higher luxury feel, making it a popular choice in North America and Asia.
Produced in 2006, the Acura RDX Is still being produced to this day. In the recent editions of the RDX, you can choose between FWD in AWD in true SUV fashions.
Their engines produce a nice 272 horsepower, while only being 2.0l big, making this crossover SUV quite fast yet economic. It runs on petrol and has a 10-speed automatic gearbox. Now, we can start with the list itself.
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Acura RDX Years To Avoid & Why
Acura RDX 2016
For the 2016 Acura RDX, there are several frequent complaints reports that you’ll come across. First and foremost, the engine is known for stalling. This means that most likely your cylinders aren’t working properly, which are in charge of generating the power for the engine.
Another issue that you may be a victim of is acceleration defects when first starting or after you’ve shifted in a specific gear. This is caused by the engine not getting enough fuel, and that happens when you’re fuel pump is damaged, or if you have an empty tank.
Acura RDX 2019
The 2019 edition of the Acura RDX is no better than its 2016 counterpart. Primarily, they share the same issue in the acceleration problem. This is what we call ‘’ limp mode ‘’. As we said, this is most likely a fuel process issue and can be a costly fix.
Braking on the Acura RDX 2019 is also not the most pleasant experience since you can hear a loud squeaky noise when you’re doing so. If your breaks are ceramic or metallic, this can be till they break in. It may also be caused by rust, so the Acura may possibly have a weird top layer that gets rusty.
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Acura RDX 2015
When it comes to the Acura RDX 2015, its most known fault isn’t a very big deal. We’re talking about the interior accessories, such as the displays and more precisely the navigation system. The navigation system often freezes and bugs.
And similar to the Acura RDX 2016 and Acura RDX 2019, this edition also has issues with acceleration due to a faulty fuel pump. It seems as though this issue has gone under Acura’s radar, not having been resolved for many models.
Acura RDX 2010
The Acura RDX 2010 mechanically does well but there are one or two frustrating issues that customers can’t look past. First off, we’re talking about the headlights. This makes seeing the road clearly an issue, especially if the weather conditions are bad or if it’s nighttime.
Dim headlights may be because of a weak alternator which is in charge of the car’s electricity flow or just general bad wiring.
This can be a tricky, and costly fix since an alternator for an Acura RDX may cost up to 900$, and swapping a part on a Japanese machine is never an easy task, famously having complex builds which means you’ll also play a heftier price for labor.
Another issue you may come across with the 2010 edition of the Acura RDX is oil leaking. This is most likely due to a faulty oil pressure sensor.
Buying the oil pressure sensor and swapping it isn’t as costly of a process as it is with the alternator, though it still won’t go unnoticed by your bank balance. It can set you back as much as 500$.
Also Read: Avoid These Toyota Venza Years
Acura RDX Years You Should Look For
Enough of the years to avoid, let’s see a few models of the Acura RDX that you should put on your shortlist. These models are known for their reliability which resembles rare defects, and costly fixes. Here are the best-rated ones:
- Acura RDX 2022
- Acura RDX 2011
- Acura RDX 2009
There are several more very solid picks but these are truly the most hassle-free Acura RDX that is worth your money the most.
Conclusion
Before rounding up this article, we have to say that the faults we mentioned for the faulty years don’t always apply. Oftentimes you can come across an Acura RDX 2009 that won’t treat you right or an Acura RDX 2019 that will last you a lifetime.
This is why trying before buying is so important. If you have the experience yourself, you can give a good diagnosis on whether the car you’re interested in is worth it or not but if you don’t believe in yourself, you can always ask the seller if you can take it to a mechanic for a check-up before buying. Have fun car shopping!