2023 Acura RDXRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

“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…”

“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…”

“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…”