Is the 2020 Acura RDX a bad year?
349 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other RDX years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2020 Acura RDX are in line with other RDX years. Visibility and wipers 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 2020 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 56,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 102 (29%) | 34k–69k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 57 (16%) | 3k–9k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 37 (11%) | 5k–27k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 22 (6%) | 1k–11k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 22 (6%) | 3k–22k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 19 (5%) | 4k–14k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Electrical system | 27 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 26 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 5 (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 56,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 349 complaints: 4 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 3 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
76 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I was accelerating to approximately 55MPH to pass a vehicle. As soon as I completed the pass,the engine decelerated to 20 MPH and the check engine light was flashing.
Car lost all acceleration and went into limp mode attempting to overtake someone on the freeway, accelerating from 60 to 70 MPH (In a 70).
On 7/22/2020, I was entering the mass pike from I-495 outside of boston. I accelerated to get around a box truck and suddenly the engine light started flashing and the car started to lose power.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 56,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2020 Acura RDX: 5
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash. Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended. An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching. An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
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: 193
Repair instructions Acura sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2020 Acura RDX. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Oil leak at the cam chain tensioner inspection cover due to and insufficient sealant adhesion on the inspection cover
During engine start in cold conditions, a miscalculation in the PCM causes the air-fuel ratio to exceed DTC rich criteria
The MIL is flashing with a loss of power
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2020-2022 MDXs & RDXs with a client complaint of the Check Engine Light (CEL) on & the DTC P0087…
Neighbouring years
2019 RDX: 442 complaints, keep it · 2021 RDX: 115 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 2020 Acura RDX a bad year?
349 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other RDX years. At 56,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Acura RDX?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: visibility and wipers (102), engine (57), fuel system (37), brakes (22), transmission and drivetrain (22).
How many recalls does the 2020 Acura RDX have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 26V-332), Air bags (NHTSA 24V-064), Fuel system (NHTSA 23V-858), Seat belts (NHTSA 23V-158) and more. 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.