Acura RDX: Recalls and TSBs
Although your Acura RDX is a luxurious ride, it does have its fair share of problems. Check out some common issues found in your Acura RDX.
This article applies to the Acura RDX (2007-Present).
Acura is Honda's luxury brand, which means the cars are expected to be as reliable, if not better. With the second generation RDX models sporting a 276 horsepower engine combined, with potent fuel economy and comfortable seating arrangements, this SUV is often seen as big bang for your buck. Overall, the Acura RDX is very much reliable, and to most drivers seen as a solid purchase. However, there have been some problems that have consistently appeared.
To start, the torque converter seal has been known to leak, sometimes thousands of miles sooner than it's supposed to. While the affected car owners are faced with a large repair bill, it should be noted that these problems may stem from a simple defective seal. In terms of a global problem, Acura has had issues with its air compressors. The RDX also suffers from these faulty compressors with some leaking, or even completely failing at half of its life expectancy. The last issue is the most common, and deals with the quality of leather used on the RDXs interior. Frankly, it tears very easily and can be very costly to replace.
Common Issues
The Transmission Torque Converter Seal
The torque converter is a special component that allows an engine to spin freely, while pressurizing the automatic transmission fluid so the car can properly shift gears. The seal itself is found between the torque converter and transmission housing. When it fails, it will cause fluid to leak out.
Although you can sometimes manage the leak by being attentive to the ATF level, the seal will need to eventually be replaced. This is done by removing the torque converter to access the seal. This is not a job for a novice.
The Air Compressor
An air compressor is responsible for pressurizing refrigerant and allowing the sucked in air to cool. RDXs have had some issues with the air compressor both failing and leaking.
An air compressor has seals on the unit to prevent refrigerant from leaking out. Once these seals fail, the entire compressor needs to be replaced. This is done by draining the refrigerant, removing the A/C belt and accessing the unit. After replacing the unit, the refrigerant will need to be refilled into the system.
The Leather Seats
The overall interior layout of the Acura RDX is very comfortable with the dash controls found in very easy to reach places. However, the leather itself has been known to crack and tear early on, leaving many Acura drivers upset at the overall interior fabric quality.
Once the seats are cracked, you will either have to replace them or install seat covers. The best way to fix cracked leather is to avoid them entirely, by keeping the seats properly conditioned and cleaned.
(Related Article: How to Clean/Condition Leather Seats - AcuraZine.com)
Common Question
Does the warranty cover these issues?
It is completely situational, but if the problem is due to the components failure as opposed to user fault, it should be covered under warranty.
Technical Service Bulletins (TSB)
- IN-RFV-1-29-14 10054806 - Malfunctioning indicator lamp
- IN-2013-09 10054638 - Steering column clicking
- IN-13-11 10054476 - Rattling noise in steering column
- IN-13-20 10054472 - Throttle control malfunction
- IN-12-2-20 10054014 - Throttle control malfunction
- SB-10112013 10053783 - Throttle control malfunction
- IN-09-18-13 10053405 - Cannot shift out of park
- IN-09-13 10053305 - Cannot shift out of park
- ASN-49584 10053207 - Mystery problem*
- ASN: 1305 10052433 - Engine shuts off
- BER-13010-A 10052221 - Door lock freezes
- SB-05-16 10052175 - Throttle control malfunction
- IN-3-26-13 10052092 - Counterfeit airbags
- BER-12100-A 10048999 - Steering wheel accessory button failure
Related Discussions
- Possible Transmission Leak? - AcuraZine.com
- Upholstery/Leather Seat Repair? - AcuraZine.com
- Air Conditioning Compressor - AcuraZine.com
