Acura RDX Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 232 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the Acura RDX across 17 model years. The 2014 model year has the most (41). The words owners use most often: “takata air bags” (26% of reports).
- 232air bags complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 19mention a crash
- 14mention an injury
- 5related recalls
- 4%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Takata air bags: mentioned in 61 of 232 complaints (26%)
- Consumer writes: mentioned in 16 of 232 complaints (7%)
- Airbag inflator: mentioned in 13 of 232 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 46 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 232 complaints, 19 mention a crash, 14 an injury.
Acura RDX air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 RDX | 1 | 8% | 28,000 |
| 2022 RDX | 2 | 6% | 25,000 |
| 2021 RDX | 11 | 9% | — |
| 2020 RDX | 6 | 2% | 1,300 |
| 2019 RDX | 12 | 3% | 1,000 |
| 2018 RDX | 3 | 4% | 45,500 |
| 2017 RDX | 4 | 5% | 123,000 |
| 2016 RDX | 2 | 5% | 20,500 |
| 2015 RDX | 33 | 8% | 16,500 |
| 2014 RDX | 41 | 17% | 20,000 |
| 2013 RDX | 36 | 22% | 46,200 |
| 2012 RDX | 6 | 40% | 40,000 |
| 2011 RDX | 10 | 63% | 35,050 |
| 2010 RDX | 13 | 59% | 42,000 |
| 2009 RDX | 10 | 67% | — |
| 2008 RDX | 20 | 61% | 94,232 |
| 2007 RDX | 22 | 42% | 99,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (5)
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
Model years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Problem: 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.
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
Model years: 2020, 2021, 2022
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Model years: 2015
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B and W59.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Model years: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
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 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.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Model years: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Problem: 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.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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 recall are JY0, JY1, and JY2.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Car goes into limp mode all the time and fuel cuts on and off
The airbag light came on in XXX. on our 2017 Acura RDX. Took the vehicle to Acura Buerkle in [XXX] for service and to look at the light. We were told the vehicle is not safe to drive as the air bag sensor needs to be replaced. Initially the dealership gave us a loaner vehicle and then called and…
NHTSA Safety Complaint â Acura RDX Driver-Side Airbag Module Availability Vehicle: 2013 Acura RDX VIN: [XXX] Component: Driver-Side Airbag Module Part Number: 77810-TX4-A40ZA-MOD My 2013 Acura RDX was vandalized in January 2026, and the driver-side airbag module was stolen. My mechanic contacted…
The contact owns a 2024 Acura RDX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The vehicle failed to stop and crashed into the rear driverâs side of another vehicle. During the crash, the braking system malfunctioned, and…
The contact owns a 2018 Acura RDX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the driverâs side air bag needed to be replaced; however, the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Acura RDXs have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 232 owner complaints about air bags for the Acura RDX. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Acura RDX air bags?
Yes: 5 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the Acura RDX?
The most frequent phrase is “takata air bags”, in 61 of 232 complaints, followed by “consumer writes” (16).
Other Acura RDX problems
- Exterior Lighting problems (612)
- Visibility/wiper problems (249)
- Engine problems (219)
- Electrical System problems (163)
- Power Train problems (145)
- Service Brakes problems (108)
See all Acura RDX problems.