2016 Acura RDX Electrical Problems

On several occasions, the car alarm starts randomly sounding. When my son went to the vehicle, the lights on the dash board were flashing on and off and there was a clicking sound. We replaced the batteries in the key fobs. The battery was low so we had that recharged but the problem continued. We replaced the car battery and that appeared to solve the problem for about 6 months. The same problem occurred again. The only way to stop the alarm from going off is to disconnect the battery. Leaving the door unlocked does not stop this from happening. When we searched online, it is clear this is a common problem with this car, but there have been no recalls or TSB issued. This is a safety issue because we need to disconnect the battery and leave the car unlocked when we leave the vehicle. This has not been inspected by any service center. Based on our research, Acura will recommend replacing the smart power control unit at a cost of up to $1500 or more. We are hoping that others have reported this as well.

NHTSA ID

11737153

Incident

Apr 24, 2026

After getting my tires rotated, the Check emission sensor, check transmission light, and check blind spot system all came on at once and my transmission began jerking.

NHTSA ID

11438737

Incident

Oct 30, 2021

HANDS FREE LINK CAUSES BATTERY TO DRAIN AND THIS ISSUE IS WITH LOTS OF HONDA AND ACURA DIFFERENT MODELS AND HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND STILL CHOOSE TO IGNORE IT.CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED IN CALIFORNIA ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11209152

Incident

May 21, 2019

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 ID

11206211

Incident

Mar 9, 2019

Mileage

32,000 mi

MY CAR HAD 9100 ON RDX I NEEDED TO HAVE MY PADS AND ROTOR REPLACED ON FROM BRAKES. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES AT 5000 MILES. WHEN I PICK UP CAR I HEARD NOICE WHEN PUMPING BREAKS WHEN I WAS PICKING UP VEHICLE AND MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I HAVE TALK TO ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE WHICH WERE NOT HELPFUL. I SPOKE TO JIM BROWN GM AT RON TONKIN. HE STATED HE WOULD TALK TO HIS MANAGER OF REPAIRS AND ACURA REP ABOUT CAR. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE RADIO AND BOARD REPLACED. LANE KEEP ASSIST WARNING LIGHT COME ON 2 TIMES AND RESET MY SOFTWARE RESET. THE MICROPHONE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD TERRIBLE CASE MILE I HAVE NEVER GONE ABOVE 19.6 MPG PER GAS TANK REFILL. DARREL SAID THAT IS EPA SUGGESTION. MY NAVIGATION KEEPS ALARMING 4 BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY HOME. SIRI DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. I WILL TELL IT TO CALL SOMEONE SOMETIMES IT DOES SOMETIMES IT DOESNT EVEN WITH NEW MICROPHONE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES CLOSE TO 4 WEEKS. I HAVE A LEMON AND WOULD NEVER TELL ANYONE TO BY AN ACURA.

NHTSA ID

10968227

Incident

Mar 17, 2017

MY NAVIGATION SYSTEM STARTS ALARMING 3-4 BLOCKS FROM HOME STATING I HOME WHEN I AM NOT ON MY STREET. ALSO SYSTEMS SAYS I AM AT AN EXIT IN SEATTLE BUT IT IS INCORRECT. I SPOKE WITH ACURA AND THEY STATED THE MAPS ARE 5 YEARS OLD WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I WOULD THINK MAPS WERE UP TO DATE. ALSO MY RADIO WOULD ERASE STATIONS THAT WERE PRESET AND SHOW ZZZZZ ON STATIONS. THEY NEEDED TO UPDATE SOFTWARE AND REPLACE COMPUTER BOARDS AND RADIO. ALSO WHEN ON A CALL IT WOULD DROP THE SOUND WHEN ON PHONE. I ALSO HAVE STATIC WHILE ON PHONE. ACURA STATED THAT THE SOFTWARE WOULD CORRECT THIS BUT IT CONTINUES THE ERROR. ALSO THE CAR WOULD BRAKE WHEN ON ITS OWN WHEN I AM A 100 FT AWAY FROM THE OTHER CAR. THEY UPATED SOFTWARE ON 9/27/2016

NHTSA ID

10911013

Incident

Mar 17, 2016

Mileage

5,018 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA RDX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ODOMETER GAUGES FAILED. WITHIN A FIVE MILE DRIVE, THE ODOMETER READING JUMPED FROM 9,995 MILES TO 10,231 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE READING ON THE ODOMETER AND READING ON THE INTERNAL MEMORY WERE THE SAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,995.

NHTSA ID

10895311

Incident

Aug 2, 2016

Mileage

9,995 mi

THE 2016 ACURA RDX NEWLY PURCHASED ON 4/25/2016 FROM FRESNO ACURA HAD A SPONTANEOUS FIRE AND SUBSEQUENT IMMEDIATE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE DURING A TRIP FROM FRESNO (CALIFORNIA) TO MONTEREY (CALIFORNIA). THE VEHICLE HAD AN ESTIMATED 250 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NONOPERATIONAL AND WAS TOWED TO LOS GATOS ACURA AND WITH UNCLEAR CAUSE AS TO THE ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE FAILURE AND INITIAL INSPECTION SUGGESTED A "RESIDUE" AROUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND A SUBSEQUENT FACTORY SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPORTED, "NO FACTORY DEFECT." HOWEVER, THIS IS WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF REMOVING AND INSPECTING ANY COMPONENTS OTHER THAN THE OPENING OF THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND REMOVAL OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT UNDER PANEL THAT PROTECTS OBJECTS FROM BEING DRAWN INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE, FRESNO ACURA, FOR REPAIR. ACURA HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE AN INSPECTION REPORT FOR THE BASIS OF THE DENIAL FOR WARRANTY REPAIR ON A NEW VEHICLE WITH LOW MILES, AN INADEQUATE INSPECTION, AND A HIGH SAFETY HAZARD IF A MANUFACTURER DEFECT ALLOWS FOR SPONTANEOUS FIRE WITHIN A PROTECTED ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

NHTSA ID

10874431

Incident

May 27, 2016

Mileage

250 mi