Skip to content
Acura RDXModel year report

2012 Acura RDX Problems

Complaints
15filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
40,000miles, 8 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 2.3L 4-cyl FWD · 19 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Acura RDX (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2012 Acura RDX. The part named most often is air bags, with 6 complaints (40% of the total), followed by electrical system (2) and other or unknown (2). 8 of the complaints include a mileage, and 63% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 40,000 miles. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 52 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the inflator module and 31 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall. The driver air bag was recalled and replaced. When I questioned why the front passenger side air bag was not being replaced also. The dealership said it was not being recalled. I asked if it was a takata air bag. Dealership would not answer. Only saying it was not being recalled. My complaint is: I do not know if my front passenger air bag is safe for the riders in my car.”

NHTSA complaint #11074082, filed 2018-02, 38,000 miles

Electrical system: “While coming to a stop at a busy intersection, the engine suddenly accelerated up to 5,000 to 6,000 RPM with my foot on the brake and the transmission in drive. The brake was not holding and I started moving closer to the car stopped for the red light in front of me. I then put the transmission in neutral while the engine was still at 5,000 RPM and getting faster. Finally, the engine came down to about 1,000 RPM and I continued through the intersection on the green light after placing the car in drive. …”

NHTSA complaint #10576642, filed 2014-04, 17,500 miles

Other or unknown: “Dec. 23 2014: my husband and I were traveling down highway ga400 at approx. 60 MPH. All windows were closed, the sunroof & sunroof shade were closed. Approx. Outside temp was 45f, cloudy day, inside vehicle temp was approx. 70f. There were no cars or objects directly in front of the vehicle on the highway. Suddenly, we heard a loud pop that seemed to come from the roof of the car. Since we did not see anything make contact with the roof of the car, we didn't investigate further. Jan. 4, 2015: again traveling on the highway about 70mph, we heard a noise from the sunroof. …”

NHTSA complaint #10671263, filed 2015-01, 30,000 miles

Steering: “My vehicle has only 50k miles. While driving on the highway I noticed a sound when moving the steering wheel. When I exited the road the wheel was more difficult to turn and the sound increased. My vehicle was towed to a garage and I was told that I needed a costly replacement of th rack-n-pinion.”

NHTSA complaint #10818539, filed 2016-01, 50,100 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

63% of the 8 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 30,000 and 50,100 miles.

13%0–1013%10–2538%25–5025%50–750%75–1000%100–15013%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (8 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 40,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

20122014201520167201720182025
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2012 Acura RDX. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
RDX · SUV 4WDnot rated———4 · 15.5% risk

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Acura RDX version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
RDX 2WD2.3L 4-cyl5-speed automatic192421$3,900
RDX 4WD2.3L 4-cyl5-speed automatic172219$4,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2012 Acura RDX → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 52 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 52 bulletins →

Other model years of the Acura RDX

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2025302,1001523Too new to compareToo new
20241216,5002523—Too new
20232418,9942524—Too new
2022318,000252445 · TypicalRising
202111730,000352487 · MoreRising
20203496,3505524100 · MoreRising
201944011,1615524100 · MoreRising
2018786,500152333 · FewerRising
20178013,500152343 · TypicalRising
20164125,500252335 · FewerStable
201541555,000352389 · MoreRising
201424460,000352382 · MoreRising
201316247,5003—2350 · TypicalRising
20121540,0002—21—Rising
20111665,3352—21—Falling
20102270,0002—21—Stable
20091533,8992—19—Rising
20083360,0003—190 · FewerStable
20075368,0572—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Acura RDX model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Acura RDX have?

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2012 Acura RDX as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Acura RDX is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 6 complaints (40% of the total), followed by electrical system with 2.

Has the 2012 Acura RDX been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Acura RDX get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Acura RDX (RDX 2WD, 2.3L 4-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 19 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Acura RDX reported?

Among the 8 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 40,000 miles and the middle half falls between 30,000 and 50,100 miles; 63% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.