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 #66

Feb 022023

RDX

  • miles
Low beam lights are insufficient to see the road. Very dangerous

- Fenton, MO, USA

problem #65

Feb 272023

RDX

  • miles
Headlights are very dim and it makes it very hard to see while driving at night.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #64

Jun 032019

RDX

  • miles
The headlights are not bright enough to drive the car during night. I've called Acura a few times before to ask if they had a recall and what I could do to fix the problem. They told me I had to replace the whole headlight assembly which is $914 a headlight. I've tried switching the bulbs before but it's never fixed the problem. I avoid driving the car at night but when I have to, I use the bright lights but it bothers other people. I'm sorry to have to do it but there's no way that I can see or feel safe driving the car wo using the bright lights. There were no warning about the problem but Its been this way since I purchased the vehicle about 3 years ago. I purchased the car from a local Acura dealership and it belonged to a sales rep who worked there. I'm upset at the possibility that they were selling the car for the headlight issue and they still sold it to me. I've taken the car to Acura before and they told me that I had to replace the whole headlight assembly. I believe they know it's a common issue but haven't done a recall. $2000 it's a lot of money to spend on new headlights, especially when I did not do anything to cause this issue. Acura should be responsible. This is a big safety issue. The date the problem started was when i purchased the vehicle in 2019

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #63

Nov 282019

RDX

  • miles
The headlights on Acura 2014 RDX are very dim. There has already been some recalled, however, there needs to be more. I am not able to drive my car at night unless it is an emergency due to a lack of visibility. The only way to see beyond 3 feet in front of the car is to turn on the brights. This is a huge safety risk to my family and other drivers on the road. The dealership confirmed that the only way to fix the headlight issue was to get new headlights. I have had this issue with my headlights for over 3 years now, and first thought it was the bulbs needing replacement, then thought it was battery-related, and I have continued to check or fix other factors in my car until I started to do research on the problem. I believe that I am not the only one having the same issue.

- Newnan, GA, USA

problem #62

Jan 012021

RDX

  • miles
Low beam headlights are very dim, even after replacing the bulbs. This is a very obvious existing condition, that can be witnessed by looking at the low beam headlights when they are turned on for the vehicle. This appears to be a common problem for 2014 RDX models. It appears that the projector housing coating has disintegrated on the headlight assembly, causing the low beam headlight to appear very weak. This might be similar to low beam headlight recall for 2014 RLX models, but, there has not been a similar recall for RDX models. The dim low beam headlights makes it very unsafe to drive during night time conditions. High beams seem to work fine, but, obviously, cannot be used continuously.

- Renton, WA, USA

problem #61

Jan 052023

RDX

  • miles
Ive always have problems with headlights low beam, they simply dont illuminates the road at night, I have to use high beam making others to flash their high beams at me. I have change bulbs but no matter what I instal they dont illuminate enough.

- Toa Alta, PR, USA

problem #60

Jan 022017

RDX

  • miles
I have 2014 Acura RDX with VIN: 5J8TB4H32EL008430. I'm facing with headlight issue since many years where my headlight with low beam is very dim and the roads are not visible in the dark. It is a major safety issue and my family was recently almost met with an accident. After the incident, I have changed the bulbs too but it didn't resolve the issue. I have searched online and found that many customers with Acura RDX are facing the same issue. I also checked in recall section but didn't find that except Acrua RLX has the recall for headlight. This is a major safety concern.

- Chester Springs, PA, USA

problem #59

Nov 012022

RDX

  • miles
Low beam headlights became very dim. Both, left and right (more left than right). When there is some street light, it is hard to notice if the lights are on at all. They don't project enough light to see at night, and the little that they project is not reaching far enough. I can only see a few feet away from the car. It has become dangerous to drive in the dark. Replacing light bulbs did not change anything. This has been worsening gradually, but seems to have accelerated over the past 9+ months to the point that it is dangerous to drive. There has been no indicator warning. The car dealer saw and knew what to do by looking at the headlights: change the entire headlight assembly. I still have the defective parts if needed.

- Vestavia Hills, AL, USA

problem #58

Jun 012018

RDX

  • miles
Headlights are so dim my car cannot be driven at night. The reflective coating inside the light housing has deteriorated and no longer reflects the light. Replacements cost $800 or more. VERY DANGEROUS!!!

- Weston, FL, USA

problem #57

Dec 072022

RDX

  • miles
Headlights are so dim it is unsafe to drive at night. Seems many others complaints of this online and due to reflective film backing material inside the headlights could delaminate The reflective coating on the headlight housing has disintegrated resulting in virtually no low-beam headlight illumination on the roadway Acura changed headlight design in 2015 but no formal recalls on earlier vehicles

- Portage, WI, USA

problem #56

Nov 022020

RDX

  • miles
The headlights for 2014 Acura RDX dimmed so that they were ineffective. Lightbulbs were replaced. No difference. Premium lightbulbs put in. No difference. Dealer said they saw no problem. Headlights continued to dim more. Google search revealed other 2014 Acura RDX owners had the same problem. Appears to start after 80,000 miles. I asked the dealer who offered to replace entire headlight hardware but could not guarantee it solved the problem. Offer to replace with used parts did not offer reasonable solution, given widespread problem. I ended up trading in the car. Loved it otherwise!

- Worcester, MA, USA

problem #55

Nov 062022

RDX

  • miles
I-??ve been having a problem with my 2014 Acura RDX for dim low-beam headlights for some time now. I took my Acura to my dealership approximately 5-6 months ago, for regular service and reported the problem of the dim low-beam headlights, which at the time also seemed uncentered. At that time, the dealership said there was no problem found with the headlights. No warning alerts from the dashboard ever came on. In the meantime, the dim low-beam headlights progressively became worse, I almost missed the turn onto my street and scarcely missed a young biker after the turn. The lights were barely operational. Now, I am no longer able to drive my Acura at night at all. All night errands, appointments, etc., are thank God, done by my 2 children which is definitely not convenient for them either. I have noticed other customers making complaints regarding some of these same issues. Please help.

- Tinton Falls, NJ, USA

problem #54

Aug 302022

RDX

  • miles
Low beam headlights are very dim and present a hazard when driving at night due to limited visibility. The halogen projector lens inside the headlight assembly appears to have haze built up and the reflector bowl may be compromised by build up or heat damage. The faulty design and inability to clean the projector lens or refresh the reflector bowl may necessitate replacement of the entire headlight assembly. This is a manufacturing defect and should be recalled and replaced by the manufacturer.

- Fairway, KS, USA

problem #53

Sep 152022

RDX

  • miles
On this model car, the low beams get so dangerously dim, that (my case for example), I literally could not tell if the low beam headlights were on or off if I were driving on a street where any street lights (even just residential neighborhood street lights) were anywhere within eyesight. The only time I could make out that they were on would be if I were on a pitch black section of a street, in which case I could see a very faint glow that only extended maybe four-feet out. And when I parked facing the garage door at night, just about three feet from the garage door, both the running lights and the flashers were far (not just a little) brighter than the low beams. 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.) Replacing the entire headlight assembly is the only solution. People who mean well and aren't familiar with the specifics of the Acura RDX 2013 to 2015 problem will give you conventional advice (clean the outside lenses and buy the brand bulbs they like), but they are incorrect. There is a widespread and extreme problem and defect with this specific generation of the Acura RDX. The deterioration also happens gradually, so you don-??t necessarily notice it at first, but it gradually gets worse and worse until the headlights are practically nonfunctional.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

problem #52

Sep 012021

RDX

  • miles
The headlights are so dim the vehicle can not be driven at night. My mechanic tells me this is a known issue for the RDX and I will have to replace the headlights at my own expense. The estimated cost is over $2000. Its hard to say when I first noticed the issue but it is at the point that if I am driving at night I must use my high beams.

- Coventry, CT, USA

problem #51

Jul 252022

RDX

  • miles
Purchased vehicle used. Halogen headlight assemblies are so dim at night that vision is impaired. This is a safety hazard for night driving. Known issue on this car model, that seems to be due to failure of reflective material over time. Will replace headlight assembly.

- Ballwin, MO, USA

problem #50

Aug 232022

RDX

  • miles
Headlights are too dim. Dangerously dim. Apparently the entire assembly is defective and needs to be replaced.

- Napa, CA, USA

problem #49

Feb 012020

RDX

  • miles
Acura RDX 2014 headlights - Yes available for inspection. The headlights are extremely dim and I have difficulty seeing the road due to the lack of light. They are so dim that passengers tell me I don't have my headlights on when I do. Upon researching this problem I found many Acura RDX 2014 with this problem. The dealership service department told me that the vehicle is known for headlight assembly issues, but offered no real solution. No warning for the problem it just occurred on night when I was driving.

- Clarks Summit, PA, USA

problem #48

Aug 052022

RDX

  • miles
Father in laws vehical, low beam headlights so dim you can not see the road in front of you. very unsafe condition. bulbs changed, it appears reflective material inside the housing is missing or faded away, replacement lamp assembly very expensive. I see many other reports of this problem on here & on the Web. Other Acuras have had recalls issued for similar reasons, why not this one?

- Midlothian, TX, USA

problem #47

Dec 312021

RDX

  • miles
Like many other Acura RDX 2014 owners, I have also experienced the dimming of headlights to the point where it is unsafe to drive in the evening or during severe weather conditions. After replacing the bulbs twice and cleaning the lenses, I took it to an Acura dealership. They checked the wiring and confirmed there were no issues, and said that the headlight assemblies are failing and need to be replaced. After searching the issue, I see it is common so I don't understand why this has not yet been recalled. It is a known issue that this car is unsafe to drive at night, endangering people in the vehicle, other drivers, and pedestrians. The alternative is to turn on high beams and blind oncoming drivers, which is just as dangerous. Acura is aware of this issue and confirmed no active recalls. I am passionate that this should be a recall - how is Acura okay with having cars on the road that are actively dangerous to drive at certain hours of the day? It's a defective vehicle and should be recalled. Get these off the road.

- Arlington, VA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »