2020 Acura RDX

I own a 2020 Acura RDX SH-AWD Advance, VIN [XXX], about 80,080 miles. On XXX, the rear windshield shattered with no external impact, with glass caving into the cargo area. No crash and no injury occurred, but shattered glass in the cargo area and loss of the rear window is a safety concern for occupants. Acura Service Bulletin 22-014, version 3, XXX, covers 2020 RDX AWD vehicles in VIN range 5J8TC2H..LL000001 through 5J8TC2H..LL039430 for rear windshield shattering with no external impact, caused by incorrect specification for the rear defroster grid. My VIN [XXX] is inside that range. I filed a goodwill claim with Acura Client Relations, cases XXX and XXX. Acura's only written reply was XXX, requesting a dealer diagnosis. Assessment photos were sent to Acura on Wednesday morning, XXX. Since then, contact has been scarce. Messages left for Acura went unreturned, callbacks when they came were unintelligible, sounding like speakerphone, and another dealership also struggled to reach my case worker, [XXX]. On XXX, [XXX] told me verbally that my claim was denied, said no warranty is available, and refused to send the denial in writing. I replied that I know warranty is not available, which is why I filed a goodwill claim. [XXX] told me to file with NHTSA. A supervisor call is scheduled for Friday, XXX, after 12pm. I have received no written denial, no written reason for the goodwill denial, and no payment or reimbursement from Acura for this defect. This is the 2nd time in 11 months of the back window caving in with no impact. XXX was the 1st incident I had. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11774313

Incident

Oct 4, 2026

My back window shattered while in driveway when tempature had slightly changed

NHTSA ID

11774111

Incident

Oct 26, 2026

The back hatch window suddenly shattered without anything hitting it, doors slamming, etc. just randomly shattered.

NHTSA ID

11773549

Incident

Oct 25, 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Acura RDX. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the head gasket had failed and that the engine and head gasket needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 75,000.

NHTSA ID

11769626

Incident

Sep 15, 2026

Mileage

75,000 mi

The vehicle had 84400 miles at the time a blown head gasket was diagnosed by a Honda factory dealer. Was told not to drive vehicle further as sudden and catastrophic engine failure could occur. Unexpected and sudden engine failure at moderate to highway speeds, can create serious safety issues for passengers, nearby vehicles, and pedestrians. The vehicle has been serviced as scheduled at the local Honda factory dealer since new with supporting receipts. No engines repairs had been made to the vehicle since new. The issue was identified when the car was in for routine scheduled maintenance and I asked the dealer to check for the cause of momentary rough idle at engine startup. No diagnostic codes were set or found. This relatively new low milage vehicle has never overheated or been exposed to driving conditions that one would expect to be related to a blown head gasket. During repair, no issues were found with either the head or block. The master technician indicated it appeared the head gasket was faulty and failed.

NHTSA ID

11769325

Incident

Sep 11, 2026

• The Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) bus network / FAKRA coaxial service cable connectors failed. This failure directly controls the primary infotainment assembly and the central safety display screen. The vehicle and its active components are currently intact, fully operational (with the defect present), and available for inspection upon request. • The hardware defect causes sudden, unpredictable total blackouts of the central display screen while driving. This completely disables the safety rearview/backup camera and mutes vital audible driver-assist safety alerts. Additionally, the defect causes extremely loud, jarring, and distracting popping and crackling noises through the audio speakers while moving, creating an immediate driver distraction and safety hazard on public roads. • Yes. The vehicle was brought to an authorized Acura dealership service center, where the active symptoms (crackling audio and system instability) were documented. Furthermore, the issue perfectly matches the diagnostic criteria of Acura's official technical service campaign (TSB 23-025). • The vehicle has been inspected at an authorized Acura dealership service department to initiate a corporate claim. However, because the vehicle is just 345 miles past an arbitrary 100,000-mile warranty extension threshold, Acura Corporate has refused to perform the physical repair, meaning the defective factory components are still currently installed in the vehicle. • There were no traditional dashboard warning lights or error codes prior to the failure. The primary symptoms are loud audio popping, crackling noises, frozen screen menus, and sudden display blackouts. These symptoms began appearing intermittently and escalated in frequency as the vehicle approached its current mileage of 100,345 miles.

NHTSA ID

11768024

Incident

Sep 8, 2026

Transfer case is leaking. Then the engine overheated. Confirmed and inspected by the dealer. No warnings prior to the incident.

NHTSA ID

11762948

Incident

Aug 14, 2026

I am reporting recurring water intrusion into my 2020 Acura RDX following significant rainfall. The first water intrusion resulted from heavy rainfall in April 2026. I did not discover the water inside the vehicle until May 1, 2026, when I found water accumulated on the driver-side floor. I filed an insurance claim after discovering the damage. Following the May 1 discovery, Gunn Acura, where I purchased the vehicle, inspected it. The dealership found the panoramic sunroof drainage system had a kinked/clogged drain line that was not properly allowing water to drain. The dealership also identified corrosion affecting wiring harness components and recommended repairs including replacement of the moonroof drain tube, carpet removal/cleaning, and replacement of affected wiring harnesses. Following another heavy rainfall on June 15, 2026, water again entered the vehicle. The water intrusion has resulted in electrical concerns, including warning messages and electrical abnormalities. Water entering the cabin can reach wiring, electrical connectors, control modules and other critical electrical components, creating a potential safety risk. The vehicle and affected components are available for inspection upon request. I have dealership documentation of the kinked/clogged drain and recommended repairs, as well as insurance documentation related to the water intrusion. I am reporting this because a failure of the panoramic sunroof drainage system has resulted in repeated cabin water intrusion and potential damage to critical electrical components. I believe this may represent a recurring safety-related defect rather than ordinary water leakage.

NHTSA ID

11760711

Incident

May 1, 2026

Over The Air Update - Vehicles equipped with the System Updates application are capable of downloading and installing Over the Air System Updates. System Updates contain upgrades that fix a variety of operational errors and/or enhancements that add new functionality. Information for the various software releases can be found in this document. Software version: D.1.6.4

"Service Bulletin - A pop noise can occur from the rear roof area when turning into driveways, bumps, or on an incline due to, in some cases, the panoramic roof frame mounting bolts are unable to maintain the necessary clamp force. This can allow shifting, which may lead to a pop noise."

Service Bulletin - Oil leak at the cam chain tensioner inspection cover due to and insufficient sealant adhesion on the inspection cover.

Service Bulletin - The front and/or rear brakes make a high-pitched squeal when the brakes are lightly applied at 24 km/h (15 mph) or less, with ambient temperatures below 10°C (50°F).

Service Bulletin - The front and/or rear brakes make a high-pitched squeal when the brakes are lightly applied at 24 km/h (15 mph) or less, with ambient temperatures below 10°C (50°F).

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2019-2025 RDXs and 2022-2025 MDXs with a client complaint of a pop noise in the rear sunroof area. Clients may describe a single pop noise heard while driving over a bump or turning in and out of driveways. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.