Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Acura RDX, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 19 | 58% |
| Power train | 2 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 6% |
| Engine | 1 | 3% |
| Air bags | 1 | 3% |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Tires | 1 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Acura rdx Acura says that the filter in the transmission is none serviceable but now my car is in a shop to replace the converter and they said the filter should be replaced which is why the torque converter went bad in
NHTSA complaint: Power train
THE SRS WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR OVER A YEAR. WE HAD THE 2 RECALLS 2016 & 2019 DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG REPAIRED AT ACURA OF DAYTON IN OCTOBER 2019, AND THEY RESET THE WARNING LIGHT. IT CAME BACK ON WITHIN A FEW DAYS. T
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
THE TURBO ON MY 2008 ACURA RDX HAS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT IN THAT THE WASTE GATE ACTUATOR HAS A CONNECTION POINT THAT WITH OPERATING TIME BECOMES OBLONG AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE WASTE GATE TO OPEN AND CLOSE TOTALL
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TAKATA RECALL: I HAVE TWO CONFLICTING REPORTS FROM NHTSA. ONE STATES A RECALL DATE OF 2/03/2016 (16V061000) ON THE AIRBAGS AND THE SECOND REPORT STATES THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS. WHICH IS CORRECT?? ALSO: EQUIPMENT
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TAKATA RECALL MY 2008 ACURA RDX WAS A PART OF THE TAKATA AIR BAG INFLATOR RECALL AND WAS APPARENTLY REPAIRED ON JANUARY 20TH OF 2017. HOWEVER, THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 2008 ACURA RDX ON 7/27/2018 WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TAKATA RECALL WAS SUPPOSEDLY COMPLETED,BY DEALER AWHILE AGO. NOW GETTING A 'CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM' MESSAGE AND 'SIDE AIRBAG OFF. UNDERSTAND THERE ARE A FAIR NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS RE THIS AND WONDERING IF SHOULD BE COVERED B
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
MY AIRBAGS LIGHT IS COMING ON AND OFF,TOOK IT TO THE DEALER STATES IT MIGHT BE A SENSOR,IT DID CUT OFF, NEXT WEEK BACK ON,TOOK IT TO DEALER TODAY ,TELLS ME MY AIRBAG HARNESS IS BAD,HOW MY AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TAKATA RECALL - STILL HAVEN'T BEEN CONTACTED TO REPLACE/RECALL THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2008 Acura RDX. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV
Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or dea
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer servic
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-20
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this re
CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567, 'CERTIFICATION.' INCORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS WERE APPLIED TO THESE VEHICLES.
Risk: SOME CERTIFICATION LABELS MAY NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED TIRE AND RIM SIZE INFORMATION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE INCORRECT LABEL AND ADHERE THE CORRECT LABEL. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 20, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
| Reliability raw | 76 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 84 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 66 | good |
| Efficiency | 34 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 19 of them (58%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 76/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2008 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.