What are the most common problems with the 2008 Acura RDX?

The air bag group has the most complaints, 20 of them. Electrical complaints come next with 3.

Does the 2008 Acura RDX have recalls?

Yes. The recall count for 2008 is 3. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.

How many owner complaints does the 2008 Acura RDX have?

NHTSA has 33 on file. One mentions a crash.

What is the gas mileage of the 2008 Acura RDX?

See the fuel economy section on this page.

Is the 2008 Acura RDX reliable?

The complaint groups above show where owners report trouble. The by-year section shows how this year compares with others.

2008 Acura RDX Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 33 owner complaints on file for the 2008 Acura RDX^[1]. The air bag group is the biggest, with 20 complaints^[2].

33owner complaints^[1]

3recalls^[3]

19MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups in the NHTSA file, biggest first.

Air Bags. 20 complaints^[2]. Owners describe warning lights, repair visits that ended without a fix, and waits for parts tied to a recall. One owner describes air bags going off while the car sat parked.
Electrical System. 3 complaints^[5]. In the stories we read, owners describe a speedometer that shows the wrong speed and a warning light that came on while driving.
Power Train. 2 complaints^[6]. Owners describe a transmission that would not shift as expected and a repair bill after a torque converter problem.
Engine. 2 complaints^[7].
Tires. 2 complaints^[8].
Wheels. 2 complaints^[9].
Structure. 2 complaints^[10]. One owner describes sudden acceleration while parking that ended in a collision.
Seats. 1 complaint^[11].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2008 RDX is necessarily included.

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module (19V182), March 2019. About 1,101,534 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: explosion, injury, death, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[12]
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module (16V061), February 2016. About 2,232,187 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, death, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Equipment › Other › Labels (07V358), August 2007. About 744 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names.^[14]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
RDX 4WD, 2.3L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S5), Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive^[4]	17 / 22 / 19	$4,350

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR AWD^[15]	n/a	n/a	n/a	4	15.5%

Engine and size

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
RDX 4DR SUV AWD /TECH PACKAGE^[16]	181 in	74 in	65 in	104 in	3,929 lb

How 2008 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each RDX model year. The 2008 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2007	53	2
2008	33	3
2009	15	2
2010	22	2
2011	16	2
2012	15	2
2013	162	3
2014	244	3
2015	415	3
2016	41	2
2017	79	1
2018	77	1
2019	440	5
2020	348	5
2021	116	3
2022	31	2
2023	24	2
2024	12	2
2025	30	1
2026	1	0

NHTSA's counts for the RDX show 33 complaints and 3 recalls for 2008^[3]. Among the 20 model years listed, 9 have fewer complaints than 2008 and 10 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2026 (1) and the most are for 2019 (440)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2008 RDX?

The 2008 Acura RDX has 33 complaints on file^[1]. Most of the weight sits in one place, the air bag group with 20 complaints^[2]. The other groups are small, with only a handful of complaints each^[5]. These are unverified owner reports and the counts are not adjusted for sales. The page also lists recalls, so check them before you buy^[3].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Acura RDX?: The air bag group has the most complaints, 20 of them^[2]. Electrical complaints come next with 3^[5].
Does the 2008 Acura RDX have recalls?: Yes. The recall count for 2008 is 3^[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.
How many owner complaints does the 2008 Acura RDX have?: NHTSA has 33 on file^[1]. One mentions a crash^[1].
What is the gas mileage of the 2008 Acura RDX?: See the fuel economy section on this page.
Is the 2008 Acura RDX reliable?: The complaint groups above show where owners report trouble^[1]. The by-year section shows how this year compares with others.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Acura RDX

2008 this page
2011 16 complaints, 2 recalls
2013 162 complaints, 3 recalls
2014 244 complaints, 3 recalls
2015 415 complaints, 3 recalls
2016 41 complaints, 2 recalls
2017 79 complaints, 1 recall
2018 77 complaints, 1 recall
2019 440 complaints, 5 recalls
2020 348 complaints, 5 recalls
2021 116 complaints, 3 recalls

Compare all model years of the Acura RDX

Other Acura models from 2008

2008 Acura MDX 49 complaints, 0 recalls
2008 Acura RL 13 complaints, 6 recalls
2008 Acura TL 124 complaints, 2 recalls

All Acura models

Similar cars from 2008: suvs

2008 GMC Acadia 854 complaints, 5 recalls
2008 GMC Envoy 77 complaints, 0 recalls
2008 Honda Element 113 complaints, 12 recalls
2008 Hyundai Santa Fe 541 complaints, 4 recalls
2008 Jeep Commander 437 complaints, 4 recalls
2008 Jeep Liberty 541 complaints, 4 recalls

All suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 33 owner complaints on file for the 2008 Acura RDX (1 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
20 complaints name the air bags component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 94,232). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Acura RDX model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for RDX 4WD, 2.3L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S5), Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 22 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
3 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
2 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
2 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
2 complaints name the tires component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
2 complaints name the wheels component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
2 complaints name the structure component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
1 complaints name the seats component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 19V182, filed March 6, 2019: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V061, filed February 3, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 07V358, filed August 13, 2007: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR AWD: rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 15.5%. NHTSA vehicle records
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, RDX 4DR SUV AWD /TECH PACKAGE: length 181 in, width 74 in, height 65 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 3,929 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2008 Acura RDX: problems, recalls and fuel economy