The 2021 Acura RDX's moderate safety profile includes 2 recall campaigns and 111 owner-reported complaints. Make recall verification part of your pre-purchase checklist.

Recalls

111

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

21V9390002021-02-12

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Acura RDX and 2022 CR-V Hybrid vehicles. A component in the right or left front driveshaft may have been improperly heat-treated, which could result in driveshaft failure.

Driveshaft failure can cause a sudden loss of drive power, or cause the vehicle to roll away when parked if the parking brake is not applied. Either condition can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

View at NHTSA

26V3320002026-21-05

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 2021 Acura RDX has accumulated 111 NHTSA complaints over 1 years, with unknown or other leading the pack. Know what to look for before you buy.

01Unknown Or Other21

02Visibility/wiper8

03Service Brakes8

04Power Train7

05Air Bags6

111 total across 1 model years (2021–2021)Full data at NHTSA.gov

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Acura RDX Fuel Economy

EPA fuel economy data for all 2021 Acura RDX trims

23–24mpg combined

21-22city

26-28hwy

$3,150-$3,300/yr

With 4 configurations tested, the 2021 Acura RDX ranges from 23 to 24 MPG combined. That's a 1 MPG gap that can add up to hundreds of dollars a year in fuel costs.

By Trim

RDX FWD - Automatic (S10)

24mpg

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive

22 city28 hwy~$3,150/yr5/10 Average

RDX FWD A-SPEC - Automatic (S10)

24mpg

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive

22 city27 hwy~$3,150/yr5/10 Average

RDX AWD - Automatic (S10)

23mpg

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo · All-Wheel Drive

21 city27 hwy~$3,300/yr5/10 Average

RDX AWD A-SPEC - Automatic (S10)

23mpg

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo · All-Wheel Drive

21 city26 hwy~$3,300/yr5/10 Average

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

w/ AcuraWatch Plus Package Trim Buyer Questions

What to know about the 2021 Acura RDX w/ AcuraWatch Plus Package

How does the w/ AcuraWatch Plus Package compare to other Acura RDX trims?

the w/ AcuraWatch Plus Package sits in a specific spot in the 2021 Acura RDX lineup. Compare pricing across all trims on the 2021 Acura RDX page.

What should I know about maintaining the 2021 Acura RDX w/ AcuraWatch Plus Package?

The w/ AcuraWatch Plus Package shares its core mechanicals with other Acura RDX trims, so major service intervals are similar. Watch for unknown or other issues, the most commonly reported problem area. There are 2 recalls to verify before purchase. The 2021 model page has the details.

What are the best years for the Acura RDX w/ AcuraWatch Plus Package?

The best model year for the Acura RDX w/ AcuraWatch Plus Package comes down to the price-to-mileage ratio. Compare all years on the Acura RDX overview.

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