Is the 2015 Acura RDX a bad year?
418 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other RDX years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2015 Acura RDX are in line with other RDX years. Exterior lighting stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2015 RDX owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 77,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 345 (83%) | 55k–99k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 33 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 23 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 11 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 8 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 77,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 418 complaints: 7 mention a crash · 3 report an injury · 3 say the car was towed.
39 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2015 Acura RDX: 3
These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode. An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Acura: 86
Repair instructions Acura sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2015 Acura RDX. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The May episode of Tech2Tech is now posted
Every Service Bulletin requires you to take an HDS snap shot and use the job aid or Tech2Tech to confirm the judder/shudder is coming from the torque converter
While driving under steady cruise (Between 30 and 65 MPH) or light acceleration, does the engine intermittently rattle or runs rough with the MIL blinking
Video Message - It concerns how to replace a leaky front rocker arm oil control valve
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2014 RDX: 245 complaints, keep it · 2016 RDX: 41 complaints, keep it.
Every Acura RDX year
2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All RDX years side by side
Other Acura models: Acura CL · Acura ILX · Acura Integra · Acura MDX · Acura RL · Acura RSX · Acura TL · Acura TLX · Acura TSX. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2015 Acura RDX a bad year?
418 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other RDX years. At 77,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Acura RDX?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: exterior lighting (345), air bags (33), visibility and wipers (23), body structure (11), electrical system (8).
How many recalls does the 2015 Acura RDX have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-500), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-182), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-061). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.