2019 Acura RDX Airbags Problems

Purchased used 2019 RDX from Acura dealer in June 2025. Within the first 30 days of owning the RDX we noticed the Airbag Sensor for the front passenger seat would not recognize my 90 lb daughter seating in the seat and the air bag sensor would indicate the seat was empty, which would result in the airbag not deploying if we were in an accident. I took video of this happening and took my RDX into dealership for repair as we were still within the 30 day period for issues. The Acura dealership insisted they could not replicate the problem so it was fine. I again referred to the video and said we have seen proof of the issue. After much back and forth and the service manager telling me his large dog sometimes doesn't set off the sensor he agreed to call American Honda to send out an engineer to test. The engineer after running tests said seat is calibrated correctly no issue to fix, even if we wanted to pay to fix it ourselves they wouldn't fix the seat sensor because there is no issue to correct. I don't understand how a car that advertises a safety feature for anyone that weighs over 65lbs can expect me to continue to drive this vehicle when it has a proven faulty sensor. Obviously how they test the sensor is faulty as well. This is a huge safety issue for the 2019 RDX and a disappointing and shocking lack of response from Acura. We are now working to return the car to the dealership and I am sure we will have to fight to not pay extra costs that will occur with them buying it back.

NHTSA ID

11675886

Incident

Jul 3, 2025

My 2019 Acura was involved in a front end collision which resulted in the car being deemed a total loss. Not one of the airbags deployed at any point during the collision, despite hitting head on. The collision resulted in me having severe neck and shoulder pain and stiffness as well as my foot and arm. There was no warning indicators on the dash prior to the collision. The car did however contact emergency services and was able to give the coordinates of the crash. I have searched for recalls on the 2019 Acura and none of which identify the airbags being faulty.

NHTSA ID

11578850

Incident

Feb 27, 2024

The "airbag is turned off" warning light for the front passenger seat is lit (on) while an adult is sitting in the front passenger with the seat belt latched. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE.. I have reported this to the Acura dealer where I purchased the vehicle and they said since they are unable to repeat the issue they can't do anything about it. In addition, when this issue is occurring the warning light on the dash and the audible bell regarding the seat belt being unlatched while the vehicle is in motion does not come on.

NHTSA ID

11566424

Incident

Jan 17, 2024

The contact owns a 2019 Acura RDX. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the passenger’s side air bag off light remained illuminated with a passenger seated in the seat. After restarting the vehicle, the failure would be self-corrected. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the passenger’s side air bag sensor, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was concerned that in a crash the passenger’s side air bag would not deploy as needed. The failure mileage was 8,000.

NHTSA ID

11519977

Incident

Sep 1, 2019

Mileage

8,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 ACURA RDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS OCCUPYING THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED TWICE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTOSPORT ACURA OF DENVILLE (3109 ROUTE 10 EAST, DENVILLE, NJ 07834, (973) 298-0330), BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 10088356. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

NHTSA ID

11289294

Incident

Sep 1, 2019

Mileage

14,000 mi

AT TIMES, EVEN WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG "OFF LIGHT" STAYS ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, I HAVE TAKEN THE ACURA RDX TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES AND IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. IT HAPPENS REGULARLY WHEN MY WIFE IS THE PASSENGER, SHE WEIGHS 110 POUNDS. IN THE ACURA OWNER'S GUIDE IT SAYS THE SENSOR DETECTOR SHOULD TURN OFF THE "AIRBAG OFF" INDICATOR WHEN IT DETECTS SOMEONE OVER 65 POUNDS. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT OFF IS TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART THE CAR. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE PASSENGER WILL NOT BE PROTECTED WHEN THE "AIRBAG OFF" IS INDICATED. WE HAVE PROVIDED THE DEALER WITH VIDEOS OF THIS HAPPENING.

NHTSA ID

11255705

Incident

Aug 31, 2019

PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAGS TURNS OFF RANDOMLY WHILE SEAT IS OCCUPIED BY SOMEONE OVER 100 LBS. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN STARTING THE CAR OR AFTER TRAVELING. IT HAS OCCURRED ON ANY TYPE OF ROAD AND WHILE THE PASSENGER IS SITTING SQUARELY IN THE SEAT AND THE SEAT BELT IS FASTENED. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND RETURNED CAR WITH NOTHING DONE. ON THE THIRD VISIT THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A DUEL SENSOR AND READ LOW THAN ACTUAL WEIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11228306

Incident

Jun 24, 2019

Mileage

22,000 mi

SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT ALWAYS GO OUT EVEN WITH MY WIFE WHO WEIGHS 105 LBS IS PROPERLY SEATED WITH SEAT BELT ON.VEHICLE IS PARKED. IN ORDER TO CLEAR THIS, I NEED TO TURN OFF VEHICLE AND RE-START. THIS HAPPENS ON OCCASION BUT IS NOT EVERY TIME. DEALER HAS CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES AND SAID THEY CALIBRATED THE SEAT WEIGHT TO 65 LBS. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SERVICE AT LEAST 4 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND OTHERS THAT ARE INTERMITTENT. I HAVE SEVERAL PHOTOS AND VIDEOS OF THIS ISSUE AND HAVE CURRENTLY FILED LEMON LAW FOR THIS VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11206343

Incident

Oct 18, 2018

Mileage

1,000 mi

I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE A WEEK AGO (4/30/2019) AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE DEALER TELLS ME THE LIGHT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON WHEN NO ONE IS SITTING ON THE SEAT AND THAT THE PASSENGER MUST BE ABOVE 65 POUNDS FOR THE LIGHT TO BE TURNED OFF, BUT MY MOTHER, WHO WEIGHS 95 POUNDS, SAT IN IT LAST WEEKEND AND THE LIGHT REMAINED. I HAVE A PHOTO AND VIDEO. SEEMS LIKE MORE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, AS READ IN ACURAZINE.COM. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. THE LIGHT ISN'T ON WHEN I START THE CAR WITH MOM SITTING ON IT, THEN IT COMES ON EVEN WHEN SHE'S APPLYING HER WEIGHT (95 POUNDS) ON THE SEAT. THE CAR IS IN THE DEALERSHIP BUT BASED ON WHAT I'VE READ ONLINE IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT GETS FIXED.

NHTSA ID

11205970

Incident

May 4, 2019

Mileage

200 mi

2019 ACURA RDX A SPEC, HAS HAD A REPEATED ISSUE WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMING ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT SEAT. PASSENGER IS 120 LB FEMALE AND THE LIGHT HAS REPEATEDLY COME ON AND STAYS ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AND RESTARTED. THIS HAS BEEN A RANDOM ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED WITH VIDEO AND SHOWN TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP HAS WITNESSED ISSUE IN PERSON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS CONNECTED TO THEIR COMPUTER. ACURA HAS REPLACED THE SEAT FRAME, WEIGHT PLATE AND NEW SENSORS ALONG WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM COMPUTER. DESPITE REPEATED REPAIRS THE ISSUE CONTINUES AND ACURA'S POSITION IS THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. DEALERSHIP SERVICE ADVISERS SAY THAT IN THE CASE OF A FRONT END ACCIDENT WHILE THE LIGHT IS ON AND AIRBAG OFF THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT ACURA/HONDA REFUSES TO ADDRESS.

NHTSA ID

11180949

Incident

Sep 18, 2018

Mileage

100 mi

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT WILL STAY ON WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. I HAVE MANY PICTURES AND THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS OBSERVED THIS TOO. ACURA REFUSES TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THIS SAME PROBLEM ON ACURA OWNER WEBSITES. NO ONE CAN GUARANTEE ME THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL FUNCTION CORRECTLY IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS

NHTSA ID

11180638

Incident

Sep 28, 2018

Mileage

200 mi