Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 84 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Acura RLX, and it carries 5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 25 | 30% |
| Steering | 7 | 8% |
| Suspension | 7 | 8% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 5 | 6% |
| Engine | 3 | 4% |
| Steering | 2 | 2% |
| Steering | 2 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 2% |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 2% |
| Steering | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
My 2014 Acura RLX has experienced a severe failure of the Precision All-Wheel Steer (P-AWS) Rear Toe Control (RTC) Actuators. The vehicle and its components are currently located at the Hiley Acura of Fort Worth dealersh
NHTSA complaint: Steering
Sept of 2023 car was making a knocking noise. (128K ) Took to local Acura dealership. Told they could not find anything and told to drive the car till failure. Have 2 children and since this was a family car that was
NHTSA complaint: Engine
The contact owns a 2014 Acura RLX. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at an undisclosed speed, the power steering became inoperable, the vehicle steering wheel veered left or right and is misaligned.
NHTSA complaint: Steering
2014 Acura RLX Advance suffered an Engine Failure from internal bearing defect. The vehicle was meticulously maintained by Acura dealerships, and had extensive service records. While driving, the engine produced a knocki
NHTSA complaint: Engine
Per Acura service bulletin 23-022, Dated June 9th 2023, Acura extended a warranty on the rear steering actuators that were admitted to be “manufacturer error” parts, to extend 10 years from purchase date. In my opinion a
NHTSA complaint: Steering
Rear toe actuator (PAWS system) failure causes steering instability, warning lights, and loss of control during cornering. Acura denied warranty coverage despite a known defect and VIN-based extension (TSB 23-021, 23-022
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
I purchased a 2014 Acura RLX. It had a LKAS Problem warning when purchased. I thought that meant that feature would be disabled. No big deal. In stead I have experienced the car making abrupt jerks to the right on multip
NHTSA complaint: Steering
Went into limp mode on a highway in heavy traffic, car began to break rapidly decreasing in speed and would not accelerate at all. All dashboard lights came on and a CMBS notification came on. I and my family were almost
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2014 Acura RLX. 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 certain model year 2014-2015 Acura MDX 2WD and AWD, RLX and 2014 Acura RLX Hybrid vehicles. In certain driving conditions, the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) may incorrectly interpret certain roadside objects such as metal fences or metal gu
Risk: If the CMBS unexpectedly applies emergency braking force while driving, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the CMBS software, free of charge. The recall began on July 6, 2015. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238. Honda's numbers f
American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured April 23, 2013, to August 25, 2014, and 2014 Acura RLX vehicles manufactured November 5, 2012, to November 25, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the driver and front passenger seat belt may
Risk: A seatbelt that does not function increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Honda has notified owners, and dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belts, free of charge. The recall began in November 2014. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-3
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014 Acura RLX vehicles manufactured November 22, 2012, to January 30, 2014, 2015 Acura RLX vehicles manufactured June 4, 2014, to November 18, 2014, and 2014 Acura RLX Hybrid vehicles manufactured November 5, 2013, to July 25, 2014.
Risk: Delamination of the aluminum film may diminish output of the headlight, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace both of the headlights, free of charge. The recall began February 2, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-310-783-2000. Honda's nu
American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014 Acura RLX vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, through November 5, 2013. The bolts that attach the rear lower control arms to the sub-frame of the vehicle may have loosened during transport to dealerships.
Risk: Loose rear lower control arm bolts may reduce steering ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension lower control arm bolts, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early January 2014. Customers may contact Honda at
| Reliability raw | 66 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 80 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 58 | average |
| Performance | 61 | average |
| Efficiency | 40 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 84 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and steering is the most reported area with 25 of them (30%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 66/100 (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 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2014 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 66/100. 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.