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A recent Acura RDX review received by the National Highway Traffic Safety Agency (NHTSA) highlights a serious problem with these vehicles.
Specifically, the review says that when a driver attempts to accelerate, the engine begins to malfunction, suddenly losing all power. This condition is known as “limp mode,” and is usually accompanied by the “check engine” light illuminating. One complaint sent to the NHTSA noted this happening when the driver attempted to pass another vehicle, nearly causing a potentially devastating accident.
Ironically, the NHSTA gave the Acura RDX a five-star rating for safety in crash tests. This problem was not apparent in those tests, but since that time, the NHTSA has received will over 70 complaints — and owners are starting to demand that the manufacturer issue a recall for all affected vehicles. Fortunately, no deaths have been reported in connection with this defect — yet.
Specific Incidents
The NHTSA has received no fewer than 20 complaints late model about Acura vehicles that abruptly lose all power when the driver attempts to accelerate – typically, while attempting to pass another vehicle. Three of these stories highlight the dangers of this condition.
The first Acura RDX review submission comes from a New Jersey man who was attempting to pass a slow-moving dump truck on Route 539, a two-lane highway through a rural part of the Garden State. He had completed the pass and had pulled in front of the truck when the engine abruptly lost power and the check engine light began flashing. Unable to go faster than 20 miles per hour, the driver was fortunately able to pull over on to the shoulder before he was struck from behind. The problem cleared up after shutting the motor down and restarting.
The second complaint submitted to the NHTSA was from an owner who experienced the problem four times. Twice, the driver was attempting to merge on to the freeway, and the other two incidents occurred while attempting to pass slower vehicles. A third complaint also noted an abrupt power loss when attempting to pass.
Acura Dealers’ Response
Generally, owners and lessees report Acura dealers have refused to address the problem, denying that it’s happening. Mechanics claim they are unable to replicate the problem under garage conditions. One owner wrote, “Acura has repeatedly denied the existence and told me I was the only one experiencing this issue. The approximately 20 complaints filed with the NHTSA indicate otherwise.”
Why is it Happening?
The exact cause of the problem is not altogether clear. According to Honda, parent company of Acura, it may be due to sodium particles that is found in some brands of gasoline. This affects the fuel pump, impeding the flow of fuel. However, Honda also noted that the problem has been occurring primarily during warmer months and in southern regions of the country – so this explanation fails to account for such incidents that have occurred in the late fall and winter months. Furthermore, although Honda has recalled affected vehicles, the recall list does not include the models that have been the subject of many an Acura RDX review.
65 thoughts onAcura RDX Review: Engine Loses Power While Accelerating
It happened to me today with my 2017 with 35,000 miles and I barely made it to my mechanic. I turned the car off while I talked to him about what happened and when he turned it back on it worked fine,even though the dash warning lights were all still on. I left it with him. By-the-way,it was raining HARD and has been for about 6 weeks!.
I had this happen on the way to get warranty service on the infotainment on a 2020 RDX, raining heavily and trying to accelerate to pass a truck. CEL came on and it went into limp mode and had to be restarted. The loaner vehicle, a 2021 RDX, when merging onto the interstate leaving the dealer, experienced the exact same thing, again, raining heavily.
This has happened twice now on my 2019 Acura RDX Advance. Much like the other commentary it happens under hard acceleration and oddly enough only when it’s raining. The vehicle went into limp mode and I was able to pull off restart the engine to eliminate the problem. Very dangerous situations but times it occurred and came close to being struck by cars following. The dealer stated it would be fixed by a software update but it happened again.
This happened with my 2021 RDX driving home July 4th weekend in Texas, during a rainstorm. I hit the gas to make a red light and the car lost power. Found a parking lot. Stopped car and problem fixed itself.
2019 Acura RDX lost power in very wet weather in March 2020 while I was passing a truck on a 2 lane highway. It happened at the moment I expected the turbocharger to give me the acceleration needed to complete the pass. Luckily we avoided a crash, but the scariest driving experience of my life. After a lot of runaround the dealer replaced a lot of rubber tubing related to the intercooler/turbocharger and cut the old tubing open and found unmistakeable signs of moisture. The vehicle did record a cylinder misfire which apparently triggers an immediate engine lapse into limp mode. This is terribly dangerous.
I am a Acura RDX and I too have had this loss of power happen on many occasions. Very scary when you are pulling into traffic and there is no pick up.
This is obviously a defect of something with the car since so many people are experiencing this problem.
I have a 2017 Acura RDX.
I can’t accelerating over 50mph in freeway
same thing happen to me twice in a month
lol
I own a 2018 RDX. Yesterday, I was driving on the highway and car went into limp mode and barrage of warning lights started cycling starting with the ACC, VSA, power steering, power breaking, hill assist, lane assist, among others, then back to ACC. I turned pulled over, turned the car off and on again, but acceleration problems persisted. Thankfully I want far from home and was able to get home driving with my hazards. This is the 2nd time this has happened and now I’m afraid to drive the car. The first time this happened was when the car was 6 months old and dealer could not replicate the problem. Car is being towed to dealership. Who do I report this problem to?
I had this happen to me while driving to Florida from Michigan the day before Thanksgiving. I wasn’t passing anyone on the freeway at about 6:00am in light traffic, but the car suddenly went into limp mode and the check engine light kept flashing. Seriously scared the crap right out of me. Luckily I was able to get over to the shoulder where I stopped and when I restarted the vehicle, everything was working fine. However, I still had another 1000 miles to go and when I say I feared for my life driving through Atlanta, please believe me. I was forced to stay in the far right lane just in case it happened again. Can you possibly imagine this happening if I was in the 5th or 6th lane. It would have been catastrophic not only for me, but probably a lot of other people.
My wife now refuses to drive that vehicle and I can’t blame her. The NHTSA needs to deal with this with our further delay!
This is the power happened to me this weekend on the way back from San Francisco I was attempting to pass a slower moving car and get in front of a merging car when my 2019 RDX lost power almost causing an accident. I managed to pull off to the side of the road and after I turned the car off and then on again it worked 20 minutes later after I stopped to get gas when trying to merge into traffic from the on ramp it happened again. I again had to pull off to the side of the road turn the car off and then on again and try to merge with heavy traffic going 70 miles an hour at the same time I’m afraid to accelerate too hard otherwise it’ll do it again. This is unacceptable and unsafe.
It just happened to me on US41 near Naples, Fl I was almost in a head on collision. The car would not react after it went limp. I literally had to go to the opposite dish to avoid the collision since I was overtaking a bus an had no room to merge right again