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Acura RDXModel year report

2016 Acura RDX Problems

Compared with other Acura RDX years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

35/100 0.7× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
41filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
25,500miles, 26 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
23 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl FWD · 20 city / 28 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2016 Acura RDX (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 41 consumer complaints for the 2016 Acura RDX. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 9 complaints (22% of the total), followed by electrical system (8) and engine (7). 26 of the complaints include a mileage, and 85% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 25,500 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 157 technical service bulletins for this model year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 8 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 23 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 10 Acura RDX model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 35 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

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.

Also reported: Suspension (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Lane departure (1), Seats (1), Tires (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “While accelerating the car started stuttering and lost power. It seemed like it was in neutral. At the light I shifted to park and back to drive and the same problem occurred. I was only 2 blocks from home so I checked all fluid levels and they are all ok. I drove the car around the block several times and the problem went away.”

NHTSA complaint #11412945, filed 2021-04, 108,000 miles

Electrical system: “The tale lights, park lights have discontinue to work, the brake light above truck door is not working. There is not blown fuse or bulb. Did not realize until march 9th, when my daughter pulled me over to turn on my lights at night. I had head lights but no rear lights at all.”

NHTSA complaint #11206211, filed 2019-05, 32,000 miles

Engine: “Happened twice. Press accelerator and engine bogs way down, warning lights seem to cycle through numerous issues. Dealer could not find anything wrong. Someone said that internally the electronics switched it to highway mode where the engine switches from 6 cylinders to 3 cylinders in order to provide better mileage. First time it happened I was 6 miles from home so I carefully drove it slowly home, called the dealer, and they had it towed to the dealership. Second time I was 100+ miles from home. …”

NHTSA complaint #11383481, filed 2020-12, 40,000 miles

Brakes: “The automatic brake mitigation system has deployed on 3 separate occasions for no apparent reason. Each time I was driving on a clear road with no obstructions or traffic in front of my vehicle when the system activated and began braking . This has not let to an accident yet but I think it is an obvious safety hazard because it could cause a driver following behind me to rear - end me or it could cause me to have a single car accident in my own car by un-necessarily braking on a roadway compromised by rain, snow or ice when I was not prepared or unable to manage a braking episode. …”

NHTSA complaint #11041039, filed 2017-10, 24,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

85% of the 26 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 5,018 and 32,000 miles.

31%0–1019%10–2535%25–504%50–754%75–1008%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (26 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 25,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

2016720182020202220242026
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 2016 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 AWD★★★★★5 / 5554 · 15.5% risk
RDX · SUV FWD★★★★★5 / 5554 · 16.4% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2016 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2015: same overall rating; 2017: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

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

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2016 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 2WD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic202823$3,550
RDX 4WD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic192722$3,750

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 2016 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. 157 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 157 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 2016 Acura RDX have?

NHTSA recorded 41 consumer complaints for the 2016 Acura RDX as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2016 Acura RDX is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 9 complaints (22% of the total), followed by electrical system with 8.

Has the 2016 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.

How did the 2016 Acura RDX do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2016 Acura RDX 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2016 Acura RDX get?

The EPA rates the 2016 Acura RDX (RDX 2WD, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 20 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2016 Acura RDX reported?

Among the 26 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 25,500 miles and the middle half falls between 5,018 and 32,000 miles; 85% 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.