10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
10,121 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2014 Acura RDX:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #106

Dec 212023

RDX

  • miles
Over the last year or two, my headlights have dimmed more and more to the point that I really can only drive at night with my high beams on. The bulbs have been replaced and that has not improved things so it is not a bulb issue.

- Sudbury, MA, USA

problem #105

Jan 312024

RDX

  • miles
The low-beam headlights are extremely dim making it difficult to see while driving at night without using high-beam lights.

- Rockwall, TX, USA

problem #104

Jan 012019

RDX

  • miles
Low beam headlights have gradually dimmed over time to the point that they provide minimal lighting to the roadway and often appear to oncoming drivers as only daytime running lights (they often flash their headlights at me to tell me to turn mine are, except they already are on). This is a widely occurring issue with 2013-2015 RDXs as evidenced by many numerous consumer statements publicly viewable online. This is a widespread safety issue requiring investigation and remediation from the manufacturer

- Minneapolis , MN, USA

problem #103

Jan 212024

RDX

  • miles
The low beam headlights are too dim to drive at night safely. They are available for inspection. My safety and the safety of others is in extreme danger when driving at night because I can-??t see unless I turn on the high beams. The problem is known and recalls were issues for some models. The components have not been inspected but it-??s obvious.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #102

Nov 162023

RDX

  • miles
Low beams have been getting progressively worse since late 2023 to the point where the low beams are as bright as my day running lights. Driving at night has become very dangerous and I need to continually turn on and off high beams to see roadway at night. This seems to be a common problem in 2013-2015 RDX cars. There was a recall for Acura headlights in a different Acura model many years ago. It seems the RDX model in the 2013-15 years should be covered as well.

- North Reading, MA, USA

problem #101

Jan 022024

RDX

  • miles
Our low beam headlights have been very low for a few months now. I have tried to replace the bulbs, using multiple different types / various degrees of halogen light bulbs, but each time this does not solve the low output problem. Now our car is failing our yearly state safety inspection and after research it appears the reflector inside the housing unit may need change. The lights are very dim and are becoming hard to drive without using high beams.

- Burke, VA, USA

problem #100

Dec 012023

RDX

  • miles
Low beams have become way too dim. I replaced the bulbs, but it made only a minor improvement. I also cleaned the outer surface so it's not hazy anymore.

- Missouri City, TX, USA

problem #99

Jan 082023

RDX

  • miles
Dim headlights. Replaced them ($300) thinking they were getting old, upon the next evening driving - the lights were still too dim to safely drive the vehicle. No change in visibility whatsoever. Because of that these headlights are not up to par with Transportation safety. This needs to be recalled and replaced with halogen!

- Lithia, FL, USA

problem #98

Jan 012019

RDX

  • miles
Low beam headlights have been horrible for the last several years. They light up a few feet ahead, very abnormal for headlights. They were fine when purchased but after about 6 years it got progressively worse. It was extremely risky to drive at night. Fortunately no accidents but a huge risk out on the road. There are many owners who have the 2013 to 2015 base RDX after searching the internet who have a similar problem. Honda/Acura should recall them. Acura dealers will admit that some owners have replaced the headlight assemblies but not on a massive scale. I think some just don't drive at night or don't want to or have the money for repair. Apparently not a problem with some cars but others like mine a major problem. I resolved the problem today by purchasing new headlight assemblies (the ONLY solution) from An Acura dealer just to provide safety and visibility in an otherwise good vehicle. Most Acura dealers charge around $2,500. The reflective coating wears off and delaminates after years of use from what I understand. This should be a definite recall and replaced by the manufacturer due to an unjust cost to the owners and more importantly for SAFETY!!! It was almost like driving without headlights on at all. It's simply not right it's a travesty to leave the owners with the financial responsibility for something provided by the manufacturer that is faulty/defective. Regards, Brad Singer

- Yardley, PA, USA

problem #97

Nov 222023

RDX

  • miles
Both headlight lowbeams are very dim, so dim that they provide almost zero lighting to see the road at night. Dealer informed me that I would need to purchase both headlight assemblies at a cost of just under $3,000.

- Lutz, FL, USA

problem #96

Jan 012023

RDX

  • miles
The regular headlights (low beam) are incredibly dull. Sometimes i turn the headlights off and back on to be sure they are on, because its hard to tell - especially if its raining. I have replaced the bulbs with no change. I have read online this is a recurring problem with this model. My wife had to drive home the other night from the airport in the rain and felt incredibly unsafe and drove with her high beams on the entire time to be able to see

- Manchester, MA, USA

problem #95

Aug 122023

RDX

  • miles
The headlights are detective. The lowbeams are so dim it's dangerous to drive at night. This can cause a serious accident or other problems.

- Broken Arrow , OK, USA

problem #94

Aug 012023

RDX

  • miles
Headlights are so dim I can-??t see while driving. Replacing bulbs had no results.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #93

Oct 012021

RDX

  • miles
The low beam headlights do not adequately illuminate the road. It has gotten progressively worse over the last 18-24 months and has gotten to the point that we can-??t safely drive the vehicle unless we are able to use the high beams. When I was at the dealership for routine maintenance I asked about replacing the bulbs. I was told replacing the bulbs would not solve the issue and they did not feel right about charging me for something they knew would be a temporary at best solution. I can only assume the dealer/manufacturer inspect the lights as part of every service visit. There have not been any warning lights on the dash. Other than not being able to see the road there have not been any other symptoms.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #92

Sep 292023

RDX

  • miles
The headlight reflector has been burned by the halogen lamp. After doing some research it-??s a very common problem. Replacing the halogen bulb does nothing as the reflector does not work. Honda/ Acura is denying any responsibility. The car has ZERO visibility at night. The light power is equivalent to a candle light

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #91

Nov 082023

RDX

  • miles
Headlights are so dim almost impossible to drive at night. Dealership says nothing is wrong with them.

- Antioch, TN, USA

problem #90

Nov 062023

RDX

  • miles
The headlights are so dim that I have to drive with the high beams on at all times or I can-??t see. I even had an Acura dealer try to clean them and it didn-??t help. It-??s crazy that this is a known issue (according to the Acura dealership) and this hasn-??t been recalled. I-??m basically driving in the dark or can-??t drive at all at night.

- Westport , MA, USA

problem #89

Oct 212023

RDX

  • miles
I just recently purchased this vehicle on 10/18/23. I purchased it during the daytime so was unaware of the headlight problem until I had to drive at night time. The low beams are extremely dim! I checked all fuses, relays and bulbs and everything is in good working order. Reached out to my local dealership and they advised this is a known issue but has not been recalled. The housing assembly causes delamination over time and will cost me more than $2,000 to replace the entire headlight assembly on both sides and Acura is aware of this issue and recalled the headlight problem on similar Acuras of the same year but refuses to fix this safety problem. I can not see when driving at night unless my highbeams are on which is illegal on the highway!

- Macon, GA, USA

problem #88

Sep 012021

RDX

  • miles
When my car hit approximately 100,000 miles noted greatly decreased visibility for night time driving due to poor output from what I thought was the lights. Had Acura dealer replace lights with no change noted. They then suggested I have someone else(because they wouldn-??t do it) replace bulbs with LED bulbs. Had LBulbs changed to LED with no change. This is a major safety issue as I do not have adequate or any visible lighting with my low beams making it impossible to be able to see to drive at night. This is extremely dangerous. Acura will not do anything. I did research online and noted many people with same or similar year RDX talking about this issue and reporting it. Online I found this: it-??s a very real problem that is common to the 2013, 2014, and 2015 Acura RDX base model. It-??s outrageous that Acura hasn-??t recalled it. The low-beam reflector itself oxidizes, is not reflective at all, and no amount of brighter bulbs or clean outside lenses will help with a reflector that doesn-??t reflect. (It-??s also not related to the cloudy inner-lens. It-??s the reflector.) Looks like there are several complaints about that gen RDX and its HIDs getting dim at around 100k. Focus seems to be converging on the reflector and/or the fresnel lens degrading. There-??s even a law firm doing some preliminary work to judge whether or not to file a class action.

- Center Valley, PA, USA

problem #87

Aug 242023

RDX

  • miles
Over a period of about 1 year the low beam headlights dimmed to a point that the vehicle was unsafe to drive at night. The lights provided no illumination. The dealership (Ron Tonkin Acura) did tell me that the reflector in that model and year could deteriorate and be "less" reflective. They recommended purchasing replacement components on Amazon ($418.99) and have them installed at the dealership ($435.62). I purchased the parts and had them installed. The dealership also told me that they did not have enough information to say if the replacements lights would have the same issue.

- Beaverton, OR, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »