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#BS-2021-ACURDX-5128

2021 Acura RDXProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 168 owners and 3 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
168
Crashes
8
Fires
0
Recalls
3
TSBs
194
🟢

Preliminary Verdict

Proceed with Caution

Based on 168 complaints, 8 crashes, 0 fires, and 3 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

loud squeaky noise from brakes

1 complaints • Severity 4/10

$X,XXX
2

engine stalled when accelerating

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
3

rear windshield shatter with no external impact

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

23 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 30K miles.

!Inspect the BrakesMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

8
0–30K
5
30–60K
3
60–90K
90–120K
1
120–150K
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (8 reports) • Median: 30K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine (23 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Other31 (18%)
Engine23 (14%)
Brakes15 (9%)
Drivetrain13 (8%)
Airbags11 (7%)
Visibility11 (7%)
Electrical9 (5%)
Structure:body9 (5%)

2021 Acura RDX: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 2021 Acura RDX, with 23 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 30,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 30K-mile mark.

Brakes Issues

Brakes complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2021 Acura RDX, with 15 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to brakes-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2021 Acura RDX, with 13 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2021 Acura RDX, with 11 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

3
20
22
21
24
22
13
23
32
24
41
25
33
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2021 Acura RDX. Recent trend: stable.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (3 recalls)

21V939000Jan 2022

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Acura RDX and 2022 CR-V Hybrid vehicles. A component in the right or left front driveshaft may have been improperly heat-treated, which could result in driveshaft failure.

24V064000Mar 2024

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.

26V332000Jul 2026

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2021 Acura RDX NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

The worst model year for the Acura RDX is the 2016 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is brakes.

2021 Acura RDX vs. Class Average (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD)

This vehicle

168

Class avg

207

Complaint volume is roughly in line with other small sport utility vehicle 2wd vehicles from 2021.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 168 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 3 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Acura RDX Model Years

2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007
View all Acura RDX years →

2021 Acura RDX: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2021 Acura RDX?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2021 Acura RDX is related to the engine, with 23 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2021 Acura RDX reliable?
The 2021 Acura RDX has 168 complaints, 8 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How safe is the 2021 Acura RDX?
NHTSA rates the 2021 Acura RDX 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2021 Acura RDX problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2021 Acura RDX have any recalls?
Yes, the 2021 Acura RDX has 3 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Acura RDX problems start?
Based on 17 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 30,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2021 Acura RDX data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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