What are the most common problems with the 2011 Acura RDX?

Air bags lead the owner complaints, with 10 naming that group. Electrical and exterior lighting follow with 3 each.

Does the 2011 Acura RDX have recalls?

Yes. The by-year facts show 2 recalls for this model year. The Recalls section on this page lists them.

What is the gas mileage of the 2011 Acura RDX?

See the fuel economy section on this page, which is built from EPA data.

Is the 2011 Acura RDX reliable?

The complaint file is small at 16 complaints, and the largest group is air bags at 10. See the by-year section for how this year sits next to others.

2011 Acura RDX Problems, Recalls and MPG

Q: How many complaints does the 2011 Acura RDX have?

NHTSA has 16 owner complaints on file.

NHTSA has 16 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Acura RDX^[1]. Air bags come up the most, with 10 complaints naming that group^[2].

16owner complaints^[1]

2recalls^[3]

19–21MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

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

Most reported problems

Here is how the owner complaints on file group up, biggest first.

Air Bags. 10 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe waiting on parts for an air bag recall repair. They say the dealer could not give them a date, and they worry about driving in the meantime.
Electrical System. 3 complaints^[5]. Owners describe a headlight that flickers and shuts off on its own. Another owner describes a gear lever that would not move out of gear while the key stayed stuck in the ignition.
Exterior Lighting. 3 complaints^[6]. Owners describe a headlight that cuts out and comes back, which they see as a safety issue at night.
Power Train. 2 complaints^[7]. Owners describe a shudder or growl at highway-type speeds, and a shifter that failed to release.
Brakes. 1 complaint^[8].
Speed Control. 1 complaint^[9].
Engine. 1 complaint^[10].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2011 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.^[11]
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.^[12]

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 2WD, 2.3L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S5), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	19 / 24 / 21	$3,900
RDX 4WD, 2.3L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S5), Premium, All-Wheel Drive^[13]	17 / 22 / 19	$4,350

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD^[14]	n/a	n/a	n/a	4	15.5%

NHTSA lists these versions as not rated: SUV FWD^[15].

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2011 Acura RDX with 2.3L 4-cylinder^[16]	240 hp

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^[17]	182 in	74 in	65 in	104 in	3,946 lb

How 2011 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each RDX model year. The 2011 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 16 complaints and 2 recalls for 2011^[3]. Among the 20 model years listed, 4 have fewer complaints than 2011 and 15 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 2011 RDX?

The 2011 Acura RDX has a small complaint file, with 16 complaints in total^[1]. Most of the weight sits in one group, air bags, at 10 complaints^[2]. The by-year facts also show 2 recalls for this year^[3]. These are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a guide and not a verdict. If you are shopping for one, check that any open recall work has been done before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Acura RDX?: Air bags lead the owner complaints, with 10 naming that group^[2]. Electrical and exterior lighting follow with 3 each^[5]^[6].
Does the 2011 Acura RDX have recalls?: Yes. The by-year facts show 2 recalls for this model year^[3]. The Recalls section on this page lists them.
How many complaints does the 2011 Acura RDX have?: NHTSA has 16 owner complaints on file^[1].
What is the gas mileage of the 2011 Acura RDX?: See the fuel economy section on this page, which is built from EPA data.
Is the 2011 Acura RDX reliable?: The complaint file is small at 16 complaints^[1], and the largest group is air bags at 10^[2]. See the by-year section for how this year sits next to others.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Acura RDX

2008 33 complaints, 3 recalls
2011 this page
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 2011

2011 Acura MDX 70 complaints, 0 recalls

All Acura models

Similar cars from 2011: suvs

2011 Nissan Pathfinder 45 complaints, 2 recalls
2011 Nissan Xterra 24 complaints, 2 recalls
2011 Toyota 4Runner 163 complaints, 10 recalls
2011 Toyota Land Cruiser 4 complaints, 5 recalls
2011 Volkswagen Tiguan 162 complaints, 3 recalls
2011 BMW X5 331 complaints, 18 recalls

All suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 16 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Acura RDX (1 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
10 complaints name the air bags component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Acura RDX model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for RDX 2WD, 2.3L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S5), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 24 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
3 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
3 complaints name the exterior lighting 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
1 complaints name the brakes component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
1 complaints name the speed control component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
1 complaints name the engine 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
EPA rating for RDX 4WD, 2.3L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S5), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 22 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 15.5%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2011 Acura RDX with 2.3L 4-cylinder: rated 240 hp. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, RDX 4DR SUV AWD /TECH PACKAGE: length 182 in, width 74 in, height 65 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 3,946 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.

2011 Acura RDX: problems, recalls and fuel economy