2013 Acura RDX Reliability
The 2013 Acura RDX has 162 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about exterior lighting and air bags. Compared with other RDX model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the RDX's typical year, while the 2012 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
162
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
6
Complaints citing a crash
2
Complaints citing a fire
2013 Acura RDX complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 model year, filed between 2012 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 89 | 55% |
| Air bags | 36 | 22% |
| Visibility / wipers | 10 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 4% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 7 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 6 | 4% |
| Suspension | 6 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 2% |
2013 Acura RDX recalls
3 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2013 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V143000 | Apr 15, 2013 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission | Honda is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 CR-V, Odyssey, and model year 2013 Acura RDX vehicles. During sub-freezing temperatures, the brake-shift interlock blocking mechanism may become slow and allow the gear selector to be moved from the Park… |
| 16V061000 | Feb 3, 2016 | Air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012… |
| 19V182000 | Mar 6, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic,… |
How the 2013 compares with nearby RDX years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year RDX analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 16 | 2 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2012 | 15 | 2 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2013 (this page) | 162 | 3 | Exterior lighting | Caution |
| 2014 | 244 | 3 | Exterior lighting | Avoid |
| 2015 | 416 | 3 | Exterior lighting | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2013 Acura RDX on the used market
- 16 of 270 2013 Acura RDX listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2013 Acura RDX
- Lights: check headlights (low and high), brake lights and turn signals; condensation inside the housings is worth noting.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 3 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2013 Acura RDX can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2013 Acura RDX reliability FAQ
Is the 2013 Acura RDX reliable?
The 2013 Acura RDX has 162 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about exterior lighting and air bags. Compared with other RDX model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the RDX's typical year, while the 2012 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2013 Acura RDX problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Acura RDX are exterior lighting (89), air bags (36), visibility / wipers (10), electrical system (7). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2013 Acura RDX have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2013 Acura RDX, including 13V143000 (powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission) and 16V061000 (air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2013 Acura RDX compare with the 2012 and 2014 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2012 has 15 complaints and 2 recalls (better year); the 2014 has 244 complaints and 3 recalls (avoid). The 2013 has 162 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2013 Acura RDX?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Acura RDX research
Other Acura RDX model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2013 RDX, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.