Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Acura RDX, and it carries 1 recall. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 12 | 16% |
| Electrical system | 10 | 13% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 11% |
| Engine | 4 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 4% |
| Power train | 2 | 3% |
| Power train | 2 | 3% |
| Air bags | 2 | 3% |
| Structure | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TRANSMISION WARNING LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH SIDE WARNING INDICATOR , STAYS ON TILL VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF . THEN MAY OR MAYNOT COME BACK ON . VERY INTERMITENT.
NHTSA complaint: Power train
I have been experiencing issues with the alarm system when I lock the car the alarm randomly goes off. I have had my battery replaced and it still happens. There is nothing touching the handles during these times, it hap
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2017 Acura RDX. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle loss automotive power while the accelerator pedal was depressed. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure oc
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The contact owns a 2017 Acura RDX. While the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact's wife enabled the parking brak
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The contact owns a 2017 Acura RDX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly sputtered, and the transmission warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independen
NHTSA complaint: Power train
I was at a stop light, car was stopped, the electronics on the vehicle looked like it went through a reboot, a/c blower fluctuated (turned off then back on), all displays went out and restarted like it does when you star
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The engine upper magnesium intake manifold is spider cracked around several mating half bolts causing an engine emission warning light to illuminate for bank #2 lean code. I believe the part number for the upper intake m
NHTSA complaint: Engine
Acura RDX alarm keeps going off; smart power control unit (keyless access/tpms) is faulty.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2017 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 certain 2017 CR-V and Acura RDX vehicles. The Certification Labels on the affected vehicles were printed with ink that may be inadvertently wiped away with an alcohol solvent. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part
Risk: If the label information can be wiped away, the operator may not be able to refer to the information, possibly resulting in the vehicle being overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda and Acura will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Certification Label, free of charge. The recall began June 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda'
| Reliability raw | 76 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 84 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 39 | below average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 12 of them (16%). There is 1 recall 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 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2017 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 74/100. 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.