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2014 Acura Rlx Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
48
Latest May 15, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
58%
of 83 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2014 Acura Rlx submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 48 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

The 25 most recent of 48, in the owner's own words

ElectricalSteering
Filed May 15, 2026

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. The warning lights lane departure, forward collision, all wheel steering, power steering and other warning indicators illuminated. In another occurrence, a noise could be heard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with power steering failure. A used part for a rear wheel steering actuator was replaced.; however the issue persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

NHTSA ID
11738094
Incident
Mar 27, 2025
Mileage
130,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Mar 30, 2026

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 any part that is known to have manufacturer defects that effect the primary Rear wheel drive system that effects almost all safety systems on the vehicle to include limp mode on a highway needs to be replaced, this is a large safety issue. Fact; Honda admits manufacturers errors on parts. Fact; Honda recognizes the issue and issues a service bulletin. Fact; Honda extends the duration to repair the manufacturing defective part. Fact; Honda denies claims ( even when vehicle safety is a concern) after the 10 year deadline Fact; most average 2014 cars driven 12,500 miles per year have roughly 125,000 miles in 10 years and the manufacturer error was realized most likely due to usage. My 2014 now 12 years old has just recently realized the manufacturer error at 81,000 miles and Honda will not honor repairs for their errors. Facts; Google; “is it safe to drive my Acura RLX with a defective Precision all wheel steering actuator”…safety concerns realized. Facts; NHTSA is in place to keep the consumers safe and the manufacturers held accountable for repairs, let’s face it the service bulletin is just a way for manufacturers to appear proactive while turning out defective unsafe parts.

NHTSA ID
11728136
Incident
Mar 4, 2026
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Sep 16, 2025

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 multiple occasions. One instance, I turned onto an on-ramp that was dual lane. There was a vehicle to the right of me and my car abruptly jerked to the right towards the other car. I was able to slow a bit before entering the interstate traffic to gain control. Another instance, I turned left onto a county road. Upon straighten my steering wheel the car made another sudden jerk to the right with my steering wheel still partially turned to the left, and several warning lights and message started appearing, including: Brake system problem, adaptive cruise control problem, brake hold system problem, power steering system problem, and vehicle stability assist problem. I have noticed a rubbing sound coming from the rear end at times when turning. There have been 3 other instances where the car was jerked to the right with no additional warning lights or warning. Luckily those times there were no other vehicles nearby and I was moving at a slower speed allowing me to be able to slow down and correct the issue. The vehicle has not been inspected yet. The vehicle has an appointment with the dealership in the next 24 hours. It is available for inspection upon request. This is a serious safety issue! My teenage kids are not safe to drive this vehicle! The vehicle is in excellent structural condition and the motor runs excellent. It sounds like the RTC actuators is a huge issue!

NHTSA ID
11687574
Incident
Sep 12, 2025
Steering
Filed Sep 5, 2025

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 rear ended by several vehicles. I am terrified to drive the vehicle and immediately pulled over to the side of the road and had vehicle towed. Also, while driving vehicle, steering wheel will randomly jerk hard to the left causing vehicle to swerve left. I Have contacted the Acura dealership and am being denied the recall.

NHTSA ID
11685357
Incident
Jun 27, 2025
Steering
Filed Aug 13, 2025

The PAWS (Precision All Wheel Steering) has major issues where the system either activates suddenly when driving the vehicle, regardless of slow speeds, high speeds, going straight or turning and the back wheels suddenly turn causing the rear end to slide out. I took the vehicle to my local dealership and they said it is a known problem with this vehicle rear toe actuators and Honda has issued a warranty extension for 2013-2019 RLX to correct it. Unfortunately, this vehicle is no longer under that warranty and the only way it can be corrected is a $6800 replacement. Honda (Acura) obviously knows this is an issue but the severity is being majorly downplayed, as losing steering of a vehicle seems pretty serious to me! The vehicle cycles through multiple warning lights immediately upon the issue occurring, not before.

NHTSA ID
11680393
Incident
Jul 1, 2025
Steering
Filed Jul 28, 2025

Power sterling went out

NHTSA ID
11676581
Incident
Jul 28, 2025
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 11, 2025

This car is equipped with four wheel steering. The actuators that control the real wheels activate when the steering wheel has not turned. This occurs when the car has completed a turn and is moving in a straight line.

NHTSA ID
11666245
Incident
Jun 9, 2025
Other / unspecifiedSteering
Filed May 7, 2025

The rear tires P-AWS actuators cause the rear wheels to slide sideways causing lose of vehicle control with out warning. There is no rhyme or reason to the loss or when to know its coming. The cars are a ticking time bomb. Upon researching this problem, it seems I'm not the only one having issues with this. It needs to be put on the manufacturer to repair issues with this if there are that many of these cars out there with this issue. It's going to get someone killed.

NHTSA ID
11659588
Incident
May 7, 2025
SteeringSuspension
Filed Apr 9, 2025

The vehicle is equipped with rear wheel steering which is executed through a toe actuator device in the suspension attached to each rear wheel. The actuators are malfunctioning on my vehicle, causing it to swerve while driving on multiple occasions. The vehicle swerved in a fashion taking it out it its lane and could easily have put the vehicle into oncoming traffic with zero steering input from the driver. This is a very serious safety issue and vehicles with this equipment should be recalled for repair in my opinion. Acura is aware of the problem and did extend the warranties on the vehicles to cover the issue, but the extension ended in 2024. I spoke with Acura customer service at their US headquarters in Torrance, CA and their response was that they no longer cover this repair but acknowledge that it is a serious safety concern with the vehicle. My local Acura dealer charges approximately $7,000 to repair the problem and I will attach the estimate.

NHTSA ID
11653772
Incident
Apr 7, 2025
Seat beltsSteering
Filed Aug 9, 2024

The contact owns a 2014 Acura RLX. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power, decelerated to 45 MPH, and failed to accelerate properly. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was persistent. The contact also stated that the front passenger’s side seat belt failed to buckle securely. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with steering wheel column failure. The dealer informed the contact of a previous recall, but the recall had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ID
11607541
Incident
Jun 1, 2024
Mileage
120,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 5, 2024

The contact owns a 2014 Acura RLX. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The contact then became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 13-041. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 156,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID
11606533
Incident
Aug 5, 2024
Mileage
156,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Jul 26, 2024

When I make left or right turns in a round about the words BRAKE pop up on dash board, the car slows like it's loosing power and several different things pop up saying forward collision, lane departure warning, emergency brake failure and a couple more warnings telling me to turn off the car and park the car. The steering wheel gets stuck to the side even though the car is driving straight then the tires will jerk the car and the wheel will straighten back up

NHTSA ID
11604748
Incident
Jul 6, 2024
Steering
Filed Sep 13, 2023

The contact and her husband own a 2014 Acura RLX. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the contact lost control of the vehicle due to the vehicle jerking to the right. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions and an unknown software update was performed. The failure persisted after the software update. The vehicle was later diagnosed with a defective precision all wheel steering actuator; however, the parts were on backorder. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000.

NHTSA ID
11544228
Incident
Jul 1, 2020
Mileage
131,000 mi
Driver assistanceOther / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Jul 31, 2023

After making a turn at light, steering wheel stayed turned while car was straight. Then it jerks itself back into place. Another occurrence was while driving on highway, steering wheel was turning sideways while driving straight then car starts to slow down on its own and the lights on dash came on ( breaking system, fwd collision, lane departure, brake hold system,VSA, EPS, hill start assist) this has happened 3 times in the last 2-3 months. We have changed tires, had alignment done, had fuses replaced, new battery and it is still happening. Not safe while driving on highway or anywhere for that matter. Needs to be recalled and fixed. I have looked up this issue and it seems to be an ongoing issue on this year/make/model. I cannot be driving in a car like this if it keeps happening, I drive my elderly mother and in-laws to their doctor appointments and cannot risk an accident with them. It happened once with my in- laws in the car. Could be a serious lawsuit on Acura. The consumer stated that all of the issues started around the same time.

NHTSA ID
11535452
Incident
Jul 31, 2023
Steering
Filed Jul 18, 2023

Has happened numerous times driving 65 on freeway dashboard lights up in able to steer car a won’t accelerate the does a fishtail movement, very scary an dangerous.Have taken to dealer ship they say install new battery, which has been done same incidents happen, not to mention dealership can not replicate the issue after having for a week an driving car. Driving 35mph will loose power steering then car violently fishtails causing the car to lurch into oncoming lane , have narrowly been missed being hit by on coming traffic. Seem to happen randomly with no notice except loosing power steering. Other complaints say it is the PAWS system the Honda/Acura refuse to repair, again dealership,can not replicate, suggests new battery. It is a very dangerous situation on the road an will seriously cause bodily harm to me or the oncoming traffic. Looking for some help before a serious accident occurs.

NHTSA ID
11532920
Incident
Jul 13, 2023
Steering
Filed Jan 28, 2023

While vehicle is driving the steering wheel turns abruptly. All warning lights on the dashboard starts to turn on. Researching the issue online, I realize that it is a recurring problem. The P-AWS system have problems with the rear wheel actuators. The driving capabilities become severely altered and very dangerous to drive. Once the problem starts it may come back to normal driving in a few seconds or continue for hours. Steering issue while vehicle is in motion can cause an accident.

NHTSA ID
11504193
Incident
Jan 26, 2023
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jan 2, 2023

While my wife was driving my RLX I left my neighborhood and made a right turn onto the main road, while on the main road the PAWS system malfunctioned and the vehicle "Fishtailed" causing the vehicle to swerve violently, steering turned violently as well and instrument cluster illuminated with multiple warning lights. PAWS system malfunctioned/failed (its available for inspection) The safety of my wife and son was put at risk as this could have caused a crash/accident The problem has been confirmed The vehicle component has been inspected and scanned for codes Codes U0122-00, U0155-00, U0029-00, 27-21, 86-23, U129D-00, U0416-68, U126-00, U0100-00, U0101-00, C1600-94, U129D, and U1281. No prior warning lamps,messages or symptoms indicating a problem with system or vehicle This issue happened on Saturday December 10, 2022. How is this not a recall? Did a google research on the condition and multiple reports of these vehicles equipped with the PAWS system "Fishtailing" when the rear steering actuators malfunction.

NHTSA ID
11499832
Incident
Dec 10, 2022
BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Nov 10, 2022

The contact owns a 2014 Acura RLX. The contact stated that while his son was driving 55 MPH, the power steering and the brakes failed with the ABS and power steering warning lights illuminated. The contact's son managed to coast the vehicle onto the shoulder as the power steering and the brake functionality returned. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer where it remained for several weeks. The contact was initially informed that the alternator needed to be replaced; however, the contact was later informed that the failure was related to the battery. The dealer then informed the contact that they could not duplicate the failure and the vehicle was towed back to his residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. The consumer stated the manufacturer and the dealer refused to put in writing what actions modifications, or alterations they made to the vehicle which they had in their possession for nearly 9 weeks.

NHTSA ID
11493090
Incident
Aug 7, 2022
Steering
Filed Sep 23, 2022

The car, unexpectedly fishtails while driving straight.This has happened since I purchased the car and it is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS as it can thrust the car into oncoming traffic. The service technicians can never duplicate the problem. The problem, according to the dealer is the PAWS system rear wheel steer and it is a very well known problem with the 2014 RLX. The dealer told me that the PAWS system parts are no longer made and if they were, they would cost $2800.00 each side, plus labor. Honda Acura must recall and correct this problem before it kills someone. At the very least figure out how to disable the system so it can’t steer on its own. There WILL BE traffic fatalities if this issue isn’t corrected, it’s just a matter of time. (The internet is flooded with the same story by other owners who have not reported their concerns to NHTSA)

NHTSA ID
11486009
Incident
Sep 3, 2022
Steering
Filed Aug 25, 2022

Rear wheels on car will suddenly without warning turn causing the car to violently fishtail. I have had this happen 5 times in the last month. Acura dealer reproduced the malfunction 2 times. The last time this happened it almost put my family into oncoming traffic. We cannot currently drive the car for safety reasons and parts to fix the problem are not available. Seems the problem is within the P-AWS rear wheel steering actuators. Car is available for inspection and there are no warning lights or messages when this happens.

NHTSA ID
11481308
Incident
Aug 22, 2022
Steering
Filed Jun 29, 2022

At about 35 mph, the vehicle started to fishtail while going straight after performing a left U-turn. VERY SCARY!! I regain control after two seconds and warning lights started to flash. I had my four and six-year-old in the car. I pulled over, turned off the vehicle, waited 30 seconds and restarted it. All lights went away. I then after, drove the car slowly home in 100+ degree weather. There has been a rubbing noise coming from the vehicle while turning at low speeds for over 6 months.

NHTSA ID
11471616
Incident
Jun 21, 2022
Steering
Filed Apr 29, 2022

The steering ability and rear suspension failed on the vehicle. I was driving straight on a major interstate and the car veered to the right. I was able to correct the vehicle by turning the steering wheel to the left. This happened on several occasions during this particular weekend. However, 2 weeks prior to this incident, I received forward collision warnings, brake warnings, and lane departure warnings. I researched this issue online and it said it could possibly be a defective battery which I had recently replaced. The battery never failed. The warnings only happened for 2 days. Then the car started started fishtailing 2 weeks afterwards. I took the car into the dealership and the diagnosis was rear actuators which had been replaced 2 years prior. The cost of the repair is $4600. I informed them this is a safety issue and could cause harm to me or someone else. However, they refuse to take responsibility for the rear suspension issue.

NHTSA ID
11462693
Incident
Mar 26, 2022
Steering
Filed Mar 17, 2022

The component that failed is the left and right PAWS steering actuators. My car has 66,000 miles. At 25,000 miles, these parts were replaced by the dealer. Now at 66,000 miles, the parts are again failing. The car is unsafe to drive because the failure of these parts cause the rear wheels to "fishtail." It has happened to me 3 times this month and then I brought the car into the dealer. Although it didn't cause an accident, it certainly is easy to see how this loss of steering control would cause an accident. The dealer has confirmed the parts need replacing. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the failure.

NHTSA ID
11457079
Incident
Mar 14, 2022
Steering
Filed Jan 24, 2022

Steering abruptly turns rear wheels when car is going straight, usually after a turn. This has happened multiple times when driving at moderate speeds over the last year or so. I thought it was the tires, so I got new tires and it is still happening. It is very scary and now I'm afraid to drive my car on the interstate at high speeds. I believe that this is a serious safety issue and consumers are not being treated fairly by Acura. In my opinion, this is an unsafe vehicle and should be recalled. If unstable abrupt steering of the rear wheels were to occur at high speed in traffic or along winding 2 lane roads, someone could be seriously injured or killed.

NHTSA ID
11448651
Incident
Mar 1, 2020
Steering
Filed Jun 29, 2021

As of June 2021... Experiencing the same issues as everyone else. Purchased the 2014 model in 2015 and while it is paid off and out of warranty, the power all wheel steering (paws) feature malfunctions while driving at various speeds. The rear wheels would erroneously turn and caused the vehicle to suddenly jerk and fishtail. Technicians at the Mac Churchill - Fort Worth dealership always told me that they were unable to diagnose/duplicate the problem. While under warranty, I took the car to the dealership and reported the car making loud noises when steering, informing them that a moaning/rubbing noise could be heard from the car's rear when driving straight...again, I was told by the techs that they couldn't duplicate the problem. Made a call to Acura customer care 800 number on June 4, 2019 to report this same issue and received no resolution. The car is well out of warranty and all of the issues are happening quite frequently. Was traveling on hwy 45 headed back to DFW area. The posted speed limit is 75 mph. All the warning lights started flashing-paws, brake assist, power steering, hill, lane departure, etc. The power to engine was cut, thus slowing the car down, steering wheel alignment was off. This was VERY scary and of course, prompted me to just take it to an independent mechanic. The mechanic made me aware that they were unable to get parts to fix the problem and that their is an ongoing class action lawsuit regarding this issue. Called Acura customer care 800 # again and rep stated there is no known class action lawsuit related to my VIN #. I'm not sure what else to do about this issue. Acura should be held liable and fix this recall before someone gets seriously hurt.

NHTSA ID
11422809
Incident
Jun 11, 2021

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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