2023 Acura Rdx

This is a follow-up to my earlier complaint about the same vehicle, a 2023 Acura RDX A-Spec Advance. In August 2026 the vehicle was stolen from a public street after offenders broke through the exterior driver’s door handle, reached the wiring behind it, and lowered the window to get inside. On Oct 15th, offenders attacked the same driver’s door handle on the same vehicle in what appears to be a second attempt using the same method. The handle was broken, but because we spent a lot of money installing more security, the vehicle was not taken. Two attacks on one vehicle in about two months, both starting at the exterior handle, suggest the method is known and repeatable. We have heard this exactly from police and repair shops too. The door’s window and lock circuitry appears to respond to input at the handle area without authentication, so physical access to that point is enough to defeat the locking system and lower all windows. I am a repeat RDX owner (2008, 2017, and 2023 models) and did not experience this on earlier generations. I ask NHTSA to investigate whether the third-generation door and window architecture is vulnerable, whether other Acura and Honda models share it, and whether a remedy, such as requiring key authentication before the window circuit responds, is warranted. Police reports were filed for both incidents, and I can provide the damaged handle for inspection.

On September 3, 2026 at approximately 1 AM, my 2023 Acura RDX A-Spec was stolen from my residence while both of my authorized keys were in my possession. The exterior driver-door key cylinder showed evidence of forced manipulation/damage. Despite the vehicle being locked, the factory theft-deterrent alarm did not activate and I did not receive an AcuraLink theft/alarm notification. The vehicle was successfully entered, started, and driven away without an authorized key in the thief’s possession. After the vehicle was recovered, I contacted Acura Client Relations because I am concerned that the factory theft-deterrent/immobilizer system did not prevent the vehicle from being started and the alarm did not activate during the unauthorized entry. Acura has not identified the method by which the vehicle was started or provided an explanation for the reported non-activation of the alarm. I am reporting this because I am concerned there may be a vulnerability involving the door-lock, alarm, immobilizer, and other related electronic security systems that could allow unauthorized entry and theft. I am requesting that NHTSA evaluate whether similar incidents have been reported involving 2023 Acura RDX vehicles or other vehicles manufactured by American Honda Motor Co. including Honda and Acura vehicles.

On 8-20-26, my RDX was stolen while legally parked in front of our home, only 10 days after I traded in my previous 2017 RDX for this vehicle. I am a repeat Acura RDX owner, having also previously owned a 2008 RDX. I did not experience or become aware of this vulnerability on either of those earlier generation vehicles; it appears specific to the current (third) generation RDX's door/window electrical architecture. The method used to steal the vehicle exploited what appears to be a design vulnerability in the driver's door: the offender(s) forcibly broke/punched through the exterior door handle assembly to gain direct physical access to the internal door wiring harness located behind it. Using that access, they manually activated the power window motor circuit to lower the driver's side window, then reached through the opening to unlock and open the door — completely bypassing the vehicle's locking and anti-theft system. Component that failed: The driver's door window motor control circuit / door control module wiring. The circuit appears to respond to direct voltage/signal applied to the wiring without any authentication, verification of key fob presence, or confirmation that a legitimate occupant is issuing the command. This means physical access to the wiring — obtainable simply by breaking the exterior handle housing — is sufficient to defeat the entire vehicle security system. The vehicle itself is no longer available for inspection in its as-stolen condition, as it was recovered by police in a different location and condition; the damaged handle and wiring may still show evidence of the breach method. Safety risk: This defect allowed an unauthorized individual to gain full entry to and control of the vehicle in under a minute, without needing a key, fob, or any electronic bypass tool, defeating the purpose of the vehicle's locking system entirely. This creates both a theft risk and a broader safety risk, since anyone with knowledge of this meth

The contact owns a 2023 Acura RDX. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and retrieving an item from the front driver’s side door; after closing the door, the rear glass exploded without impact. The dealer was notified of the failure, and an appointment was scheduled. Upon investigation, the contact discovered an undisclosed Technical Service Bulletin that was associated with the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the model of vehicle was not included in a TSB for the failure. A case was filed with the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 30,100.

GPS has stopped working. This affects navigation safety. Also, creates clock error and compass error. It's dangerous to get lost and disoriented. This is a common problem in many Acuras. Needs to be a recall.

The contact owns a 2023 Acura RDX. The contact stated that while driving in a heavy rain storm the windshield wipers was activated and suddenly seized. The contact was able to drive and park on the shoulder and the local police were contacted. After the rain storm passed the vehicle was safely driven home. The cause of the failure not determined. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 37,850.

The rear windshield shattered with no incident happening to cause this. I returned home, parked in the garage, closed the garage door. 20 minutes later I opened the garage door, and when I opened the trunk, I noticed glass everywhere and the rear window shattered.

The brakes squeaks all the time and makes a grinding noise. I have been at the dealership several times for the same issue. The sensor also hit brakes on its own sometimes when nothing is in front of the car!!! Very dangerous!!!!

Transfer case is defective and Acura is refusing to fix it under warranty. Says it’s’normal’ for the AWD system to leak causing destruction.

Back windshield exploded.

On October 31, 2024, I was nearing the end of a three hour trip. I was traveling on a rural two-lane highway with a 55 mph speed limit. I had just pulled away from a 4-way stop intersection and was following a single vehicle traveling 40 mph. Once I could see there was a safe distance from oncoming traffic, I decided to pass the slower vehicle. As I moved into the opposite lane and accelerated, the engine lost power and barely made it around the car I was passing. If oncoming traffic had been closer there could have been a head-on collision. The engine light started flashing and I had to keep the accelerator pressed half way to the floor to maintain 50 mph. There was no shoulder on the road and no place to pull over, so I continued for 15 minutes with engine light blinking and struggling to maintain 50 mph. No other warning lights came on and the engine was not overheating. When I reached my destination I turned the engine off and then restarted it. The flashing engine light was gone and the car drove fine. The nearest Acura dealer was an hour away so I took the car to my dealer when I returned from my trip. They test drove the vehicle and called the Acura Tech Line. They could not duplicate the problem. They said they did not find any diagnostic codes so there was nothing they could do. They said if it happens again to bring it back. If it happens again I might not live to tell the story!

The infotainment system on this vehicle keeps failing when using Apple Carplay. The problem consistently happens when driving. The problem consists of the apple carplay going black screen and disconnecting entirely and then taking long to reconnect. This is a safety issue if you’re using the gps navigation from iOS while driving. The problem has been reported to the Acura Service dealer multiple times and they were able to reproduce it as well. They have said there is an interruption caused by satellite communications interfering with carplay while driving. They said currently no fix for this issue.

Highlight: The car was able to be started with a button press and driven away without any key inside the car. (Also, some side information that the car had it's annual check-up on the Saturday before this incident). Normally my wife keeps her purse in the house on the counter (along with the spare key in a drawer under that counter). Previously, if she forgot her purse (and car keys inside the purse), she would head out to the garage and attempt to start the car (she keeps it unlocked in the garage). In a normal situation, the car would beep at her that she didn't have the key and she would go into the house to grab her purse. On 7/31, after a frazzling day, she got a call from her doctor to come to their office for a checkup (40 minutes away). She forgot her purse again; however, this time, the car started without any warning. She took the complete drive to the doctor's office shut off the car and then realized she didn't have her purse. She even tried to turn the car back on to see if the key was in the car, it did not start. She called me, I checked her purse and spare key were both in the same location they were always in. I did remotely try to start the car to see if she could drive it back with me starting it, however, it wouldn't let her take it out of park. She continued with her doctor's appointment. Inconveniently, I grabbed her purse and took my car 40 minutes to drop off her keys and back. Luckily, she was at a doctor's office and in a safe space, however, this has the potential to be very inconvenient and unsafe for others.

I am leasing the ACURA RDX 2023 . Currently mileage in 11444. This car start has oxidized on right side of headlight 4 months ago. I came to service in NIELLO ACURA. They called Acura factory service . It is not under warranty. They can’t do anything for my car. I only had this car 1 years . This is total defective .

The contact owns a 2023 Acura RDX. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the Forward Collision Avoidance: Emergency Automatic Braking inadvertently activated, and the vehicle stopped. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle, veer to the shoulder, and contacted the dealer to have the feature deactivated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,888.

The infotainment screen went blank 4 times. It works intermittently and reset itself. The dealer performed service bulletin S/B 24-004 on May 21, 2024. Since then it has gone out twice. I taking the vehicle in again. I seen there are issues with that system draining the battery and the car not starting. That had to me this morning.

On entering the highway and accelerating quickly, engine lost power and car entered limp mode, refusing to exceed 60 MPH. Also, check engine light began flashing. Very dangerous situation in heavy traffic all going over 70 MPH. Exited at next exit, shut down car, then restarted with no further issues.

Infotainment system fails while using Android auto after receiving or making a phone call, which results in navigation via Google Maps unable to provide directions. The only manner in which I found temporarily resolves the issue, is restarting the infotainment system, which requires the vehicle to be stopped turned off and the driver’s door opened. This poses a grave safety risk while operating the vehicle, especially in heavy traffic conditions especially in inclement weather conditions, which I have unfortunately experienced on multiple occasions. on my second visit to the dealership i was advised by the service advisor at the dealership, that Honda is ‘aware of an uptick in reports with Android Auto and new phone models, and there is no fix identified, and any fix will most likely be with a software update.’ I as also advised that as an alternate method of restoring the connection between the phone and the car is to turn off the wi-fi and Bluetooth connections on the phone, then turn it back on, and once its turned back on, use the infotainment system to reconnect the phone. This advice is reckless at best as it requires me to move my attention from operating the vehicle to resolve this issue.

Fast blinking engine light, and car not able to accelerate past 40mph. Was informed by dealership that it was possible water intrusion but had no guarantee or adequate mitigation strategy to ensure the problem would not occur other than indicating it is normal behavior to expect during heavy down pour!! The following codes were presented to dealership service dept after performing diagnostic: P0300, P0301, P0304 Car has 10k miles and it’s a 2023 RDX A Spec. Another issue happening with the car is an intermittent “Brake Failure. See Dealership” message on the dashboard. Was told it’s expected behavior for this to sometimes happen and due to no permanent code present, they cannot repair or identify the issue. I guess the breaks have to fail while driving before they actually prevent an accident from happening?!!!

My name is Jorge L Cremades, my mobile phone is 786-546-6956. Today, 7/17/2023, around 2:42 PM EST, as I was driving / backing up in my driveway, my 2023 RDX shattered it's rear glass. As I was backing up in my driveway and looking through the side and back mirrors, I heard a loud noise and when I looked back into my car I saw my rear glass was blown away like it exploded or something similar. I bought this vehicle on 5/15/2023.