10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 8,229 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
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« Read the previous 20 complaints
Ballast/Reflector in headlightz started dimming at 80,000 miles, now unable to produce light at all. This is a known factory defect that acura has been too cheap to recall. I can only see with my highbeams at night and even they barely produce light.
- Woodlyn, PA, USA
Low beams are so dim that you cannot tell if the vehicle has its lights on at all. This forces me to use my high beams when driving at night blinding other drivers. Acura has stated that the whole headlight assembly must be replaced. There are no warnings or light bulbs out on the vehicle.
- Durham, NC, USA
The 2015 Acura RDX has a problem with the exterior headlamps making it a safety hazard when driving at night. Over time, the auto or all electric light options have not been fully functioning. The standard lighting on the headlights is very dim, whether using Auto or "turn on all" electric light options. Poor visibility from the regular lights is so low that the high beams need to be used regularly, even on local streets with lampposts. I tried cleaning the exterior of the lights with an at-home cleaner (oxidizer) and it helped the exterior but not the lighting. I recently took the RDX into the dealership; they replaced the bulbs but this did not resolve the issue. The service department said there was no recall for the headlights on the 2015 RDX. A similar headlight issue was addressed on a 2014-15 Acura RLX vehicles (based on Consumer Affairs online report). My option is now to replace both headlamps. The cost to replace the headlamps - with halogen lights only - is approximately $3,100. That is a huge expense to address a manufacturer standard safety function for a vehicle. My car has been serviced by Acura dealerships (and primarily the one where I bought my car) so the manufacturer knows that there certified technicians have handled all maintenance associated with this vehicle. I request that NHTSA investigate this issue with the Acura 2015 RDX headlights. This safety violation should result in Acura providing a recall option for all Acura 2015 RDX with known headlamp issues. Having proper working, standard lighting in a vehicle is a basic safety requirement and it is not clear why Acura has not addressed this issue with this model. NOTE: I tried to upload a picture of my car and a statement from the dealership on the cost of headlight replacement and the upload function is not working.
- Reston, VA, USA
Low beam headlamps are very dim and unsafe to drive with at night. Changing bulbs does not help as the interior of the unit is defective. This is very unsafe to drive at night.
- Kennebunkport, ME, USA
The headlights on this vehicle have deteriorated over time to the point where it is 100% a safety issue. I have had all of the bulbs replaced, but it is not the bulbs and this is a known issue with this model of vehicle. I am baffled that there hasn't been a recall for this vehicle for this KNOWN issue. It would be pretty easy to look across multiple forums and find numerous people with the same issue. The biggest challenge with this issue is that it doesn't occur all at once. It's kind of a slow burn over time, which makes it somewhat difficult to notice. There have been a number of times where there is something in the road and I've had to swerve at the last second to avoid it because the headlights were not projecting as they should.
- Byron Center, MI, USA
My headlights provide no useable light to drive at night I have to use my high beams. So I avoid using this car at night when possible. It is my understanding that there was a recall on a similar problem of the Acura. 2014-2015 Acura RLX 11, 2014 -?" Acura will voluntarily recall approximately 9,700 model-year 2014-2015 RLX vehicles in the United States to replace the both headlight assemblies, free of charge. I would like my car headlights fixed so I can drive at night. This is not a maintenance problem but a Acura headlight product problem.
- Maplewood, NJ, USA
The low beam headlight of my 2015 Acura RDX FWD became so dim and made driving at night impossible, unless putting the high beam on. I went to the local ACURA dealership and replaced the lightbulbs but it made not difference at all. I saw many same complaints on-line for ACURA RDX manufactured between 2013-2015, this is a serious safety issue and Honda needs to do something to fix this issue before people get hurt.
- Houston, TX, USA
Headlights are very dim. Originally they were bright. Over time they have dimmed to the point of not being able to see at night. There are many discussions and threads on this defect. This is a significant safety issue.
- Twinsburg, OH, USA
My 2015 Acura RDX headlights have progressively been getting more and more dim over the past 5+ years. I am now at the point that I can no longer safely drive my car at night. I am unable to see very far in from of me, making it impossible to see lines in the road, or gauge where my vehicle is in the road. I have to use my high beams if I want to see anything. This blinds oncoming traffic. While looking this problem up online, I see that many others have complained about this, but there has been no resolution. Acura told me to pay the dealership to do diagnostics on my car and send them the report. I do not have the money to pay for diagnostics, and do not feel I should do so when there is a lot of evidence of a problem already. Acura recalled headlights of another model that had the same issue, the Acura RLX. "Delamination of the aluminum film may diminish output of the headlight, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash"
- Jericho, VT, USA
The headlights on the 2015 Acura RDX are so dim I cannot drive at night without leaving my high beams on. This has been going on for 3 years and the Acura dealer has generically said it is a known problem and there is no easy fix. There are many reports of this issue and it is a serious safety issue that neither Acura or NHTSA have addressed. It is dangerous for my family and me as we cannot see turns or obstacles well and it is dangerous for approaching drivers when I have to leave my high beams on.
- Mclean, VA, USA
Not related to any specific event, but the headlight housing on my Acura RDX has degraded such that the lights are nearly too dim to be usable at night. The dealer has advised me of a $3k cost to fix, but this is apparently a known, recurring issue related to this model, and perhaps other Acura models. Apparently, the reflective housing degrades around the headlight.
- Madison, WI, USA
Over the past several months I have observed my headlights becoming dimmer when driving at night. It has gotten to the point where I now feel unsafe driving the vehicle as I can barely see the road. It appears the reflective surface inside the headlights has oxidized and no longer reflects at a safe brightness level. I spoke to my local dealership and the service department advised that he has seen the same issue on 2013-2015 RDX models but Acura has yet to issue any type of recall. My only option presented was to replace the headlight assemblies with an estimated cost of $2,200 for parts and labor.
- Nashville, TN, USA
Recently purchased a used 2015 RDX, headlights were foggy and the dealer cleaned the outer lens but the inner lens is not possible to restore. They are so dull that you must drive with the high beams on in order to see clearly. The Acura RLX had a recall for the exact same problem, this recall should have been extended to the RDX as well.
- Newfields, NH, USA
Low Beam Headlights degraded over the time to the point that driving at night became unsafe. Border line between lighted and dark road surface non exist. Replacing halogen bulbs has not solved the issue.
- Churchville, PA, USA
My 16 year old son was at a church function until after dark because daylight savings time means it is dark earlier. When he began to drive home he could not see the roadway because the low beam headlights provided close to zero illumination. He lost visibility and drove off the road into someone-??s yard. There were children outside and they could have been killed. Only minor damage to the grass and yard occurred and fortunately no damage to the vehicle. He called me and I instructed him to engage the high beams and drive home which caused several oncoming vehicles to swerve and react menacingly because he didn-??t dim his lights. The oxidation of the reflective coating is a known defect that was recalled in the Acura ILX and I expect that they should be required to take the same corrective action for the base model RDXs. Please take action
- Greenville, SC, USA
The low beam headlights are so dim that it is dangerous to drive at night. We must drive with high beams on in order to be safe on the road. It is unsafe for the car, us and other drivers to have the RDX on the road using low beams. In 2021, we had the vehicle inspected by the dealership, they informed us that the fix would be a $1200 replacement of the headlights. They offered to clean the lenses at a reduced cost, which we had already done, but this did not fix the problem. There are no warning lights or other indicators of the problem except that we cannot see at night.
- Windsor, CA, USA
My 2015 Acura RDX has such dim headlights, that I feel that it is not safe to drive at night. The headlights have gotten so dim that I can't even tell if they are on, unless I drive by a building and see the lights in the reflection. The only way I can drive safely is to have my high beam headlights on, which is not safe for other drivers. As I understand it, the 2015 Acura RLX has had recalls for a very similar headlight issue. Why hasn't this recall been extended to the 2015 RDX, which appears to be built off the same platform, and is having the same issue?
- West Hartford, CT, USA
The headlights are horrible. I am unable to drive safely without using my bright lights. When I dim my headlights before approaching an oncoming car it is dangerous. On October 28, 2023 I did just that and missed seeing a deer due to the lack of visibility due to the defective headlights and hit the deer damaging my vehicle's right headlights. Prior to the accident, I invested in installing fog lights to remedy the situation, but it still did not help. I am holding Acura responsible for my accident which was due to defective headlights.
- Fredericksbrg, VA, USA
Headlights horribly dim on low - only illuminate the roadway at night if on high beams. Took it into the dealership today and was told it would be $2,500 to replace the reflectors and basically re-do the whole front headlamp area. We had this car mainly garaged during COVID when working from home 100%. Now that we drive it more, we realize it has become unsafe -cannot see to drive at night at all. Other vehicles with this problem have had recalls - RDX models of this 2015 year need to also be recalled so the problem can be fixed before causing accidents.
- Woodbury , MN, USA
- St. Augustine, FL, USA