2019 Acura RDX: sudden loss of power

Filed Apr 1, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · CO

Vehicle: 2019 Acura RDX (Technology Package) I am reporting a serious safety issue involving sudden loss of engine power while driving. On March 14, 2026, I filled my gas tank before traveling approximately 1.5 hours out of town. The vehicle operated normally that day. The following morning, during snowy and icy conditions, while accelerating in traffic, the vehicle suddenly lost power and stalled. Multiple warning lights illuminated on the dashboard (“Christmas tree” effect), and the steering became very stiff, making it difficult to safely maneuver the vehicle out of traffic. I was able to restart the vehicle, but warning lights remained on. The next day, while driving on the highway under normal conditions, the same issue occurred again. While accelerating, the vehicle suddenly lost power and stalled in traffic, creating a dangerous situation. In response, the fuel pump inside the gas tank was replaced; however, the problem persists. The vehicle continues to display warning lights and still loses power when accelerating. I contacted an Acura dealership after seeing reports of a fuel pump recall for similar vehicles, but I was told my VIN was not included. Despite this, the symptoms match known fuel pump-related issues. This defect poses a serious safety risk, especially when driving at highway speeds or in traffic, as sudden loss of power and steering assist can lead to a crash. No injuries have occurred yet, but the issue is ongoing and unresolved. I am requesting investigation into this issue as a potential safety defect.

Filed Oct 31, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · WA

We have owned our 2019 Acura RDX for about 4 years. Roughly 2 years ago my wife called me panicked that the car had lost power and the check engine light was on as she was exiting the freeway. It was a rainy day, she had our kids in the car on the way to a soccer game. I called off work with an emergency, drove an hour to where she was and scanned the car. No codes popped up on my scanner, I started the vehicle and it seemed to run like normal, no check engine light. I had it towed to Honda of Gresham, OR and after a week or so they called and said they couldn't find anything wrong with our vehicle. I paid for a oil change, a tow and a dealer diagnostics and was told they could not find anything. $500 later no answers. Fast forward 2 years Oct 26th 2025 I was driving the RDX this time, in the rain on the freeway. Wife and kids in the car. Went to accelerate past a slow driver and the car went into limp mode. Check engine light flashing and limited to 40 mph or so, I put the hazards on as I was on a single lane bridge with traffic behind me. I pulled over after the bridge and turned the vehicle off. After 5 minutes or so I started the car again and everything seems fine, no check engine lights nothing seems off. I continued on down the freeway without any more incident. I started researching what is going on and find many many reports of this same thing. Acura has a tsb for a front mount intercooler as the fix, but when I took ours in for the stated problem they couldn't find a problem. This car looks beautiful, but it's a safety hazard on the freeway when moisture is present, we live in the PNW and it rains 7 months out of the year. I have owned 10-12 hondas in my lifetime and this 2019 Acura RDX is the worst. Absolutely a safety hazard to my family. Disappointed this will be the last Honda we buy.

Filed Oct 15, 2025 · Steering · VA · crash · 1 injury

While driving on a congested highway, my steering wheel lost power making it impossible to control the truck's steering. The truck spun around multiple times before crossing lanes of traffic and hitting a guardrail head on. Thankfully, others avoided hitting my vehicle which would have caused more serious injuries. As of yet, the issue hasn't been reproduced or confirmed. The insurance company will conduct the Inspection. There were no warning lamps, alerts or symptoms prior to the steering wheel losing power. The insurance company has possession of the truck.

Filed Jul 29, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · CA

On July 12, 2025 my husband, the driver, and myself, owner of the vehicle and passenger this day, were driving on the freeway at approximately 7:00am in the middle lanes of the freeway. Without any codes or warnings beforehand, we heard the car make alarming beeps and automatically loss all power to the engine while traveling at highway speeds. This situation put my husband and my lives at risk and in a dangerous situation as there was traffic on a busy freeway and lost all power to the vehicle and made even maneuvering off the freeway a dangerous action as we had no warning beforehand there was something wrong. My husband was able to get us safely out of harms way. After being diagnosed at a mechanic, it turns out this problem happened due to a cracked cylinder head and had no previous warnings of an issue and no warning lights on the vehicle alerting to a problem, I will have the cylinder head in my possession and the mechanic I took my vehicle stated it cannot be ruled out this could be a manufacturer’s or casting defect. I tried contacting Acura Corporation about this situation but was told that since I did not take it to a dealership and have a certified tech look at my vehicle, there will be no case and no type of remedy or reimbursement for this situation.

Filed Jul 22, 2024 · Transmission · OK

Driving 55mph at night on highway . Went to accelerate around slower vehicle to 70mph speed limit when vehicle lost engine power and yellow check engine light began flashing on left side of instrument panel. Vehicle began slowing forcing move to right shoulder from left lane in moderate traffic. Vehicle would not accelerate past 20 mph on shoulder to nearest exit. Once at a safe location vehicle was shut off. Restarted vehicle approximately 30 seconds after shut down and vehicle began running normal.

Filed Jul 12, 2023 · Engine, Fuel system · TX

My car has been shaking on acceleration but no engine light or any warning popped up. When I called an Acura dealership, they said they would have trouble diagnosing the problem without a light on. A few days later, while accelerating on the highway, my car started shaking violently and lost power. The engine light started flashing. I could have gotten into an accident because I could no longer accelerate on the highway. I had to slowly pull off to a safe stop. This could have been a dangerous and life-threatening situation. Someone could have crashed into me behind me and I could not quickly get into a safe area. I brought it to an Acura dealership and they could not find anything. The engine light had turned off. Though, when I took the car again, the car was still shaking on acceleration. I was afraid to drive at normal speeds since it is extremely safe. I took it to another personal mechanic and he was able to reproduce the problem. He saw there is a service bulletin out for just this problem. The possible cause is “humid air within the intake tract May condense and accumulate excessive moisture during steady driving.” I would have to replace the intercooler system and get the PGM-Fl software updated. This is a safety issue, and Acura has not released any recalls on this. The dealerships are also saying it will not be covered by warranty for me.

Filed Feb 12, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · LA

Once again, 3 weeks after the first time it happened, my 2019 ACURA RDX lost ALL power and I had to drift to the side of the road. This occurred on the Baldwin Beach Express and luckily there is not a lot of traffic this time of year so I could get on the shoulder. Car would not restart, all lights around the speedometer had come on. I had to have it towed to the Acura dealership in Mobile where it was towed the first time when this happened. At that time the told me they could not duplicate the problem. Three weeks later it has happened again . The tow truck driver tried to start the car and said " you're not getting any fuel" and asked if the fuel pump had been checked. Supposedly it has been replaced when it was first recalled. Could it be another faulty fuel pump? My question....how dangerous would this be if this happened in the I-10 Mobile tunnel?????? The first time it happened I tried to call Acura but the complaint department is not open on Sundays. This time it happened on a Friday and I was able to file my complaint. Will I get a response to this event now that it has happened a second time?

Filed Jan 17, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · LA

While driving on interstate 65 headed towards Mobile, Al. My 2019 Acura RDX lost ALL power. Every light surrounding the speedometer was lighted. No power, nothing.. was able to coast from the right hand lane to the shoulder of the interstate. . No power steering and I was moving slower and slower because I was on a hill. Frightening to say the least. If I had been in the left hand lane I’m not sure I could have made it to the shoulder. And if a truck had been behind me an unable to change lanes I would have been smashed. Car towed to dealership.

Filed Oct 6, 2022 · Acceleration, Engine · IL

On July 24, 2022, while driving from Champaign-Urbana, Illinois back to our home in Lisle, IL, in a heavy rainstorm, our RDX suddenly started flashing the engine light and lost power on Interstate 57. We were fortunate to be able to maneuver it to the side of the road, and off the nearby ramp at Bradley, IL. We ‘googled’ the circumstances on our iphone, to learn that this is considered a serious, potentially life-threatening situation, and that Acura recommended immediate Service Bulletin 20-053, dated May 25, 2021, states the symptom as “The MIL is flashing with loss of power.” It indicates “Corrective Action” for the RDX as “Update the PGM-FI and replace the intercooler, the intercooler outlet pipe assembly and the intercooler outlet hose.” Affected vehicles include “ALL” 2019-2020 RDX models.” Despite the Service Bulletin that was issued, many RDX owners, noted the same response from their local Acura dealer. They note that the dealers “played dumb,” claim they could not locate a Service Code, nor “replicate the conditions and response” in the shop…. precisely my experience! In fact, the Service Receipt, indicates the car was driven less than one mile, hardly sufficient to replicate conditions. Acura Client Relations has refused to assist. I contacted the CEO Jon Ikeda but his office has not responded. I fear driving the car in wet conditions.

Filed Sep 27, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · CT

On 9/22/22 travelling on I-290 near Boylston, MA I was passing a large tractor trailer in the far left lane going up a hill. It was and had been raining very hard for at least the previous hour. When I stepped on the accelerator to increase speed, the car suddenly decelerated to about 20 mph and the check engine light began flashing. I was able cross all three lanes in very heavy traffic to the shoulder. I then slowly made my way off the interstate to a gas station right beyond the exit. My passengers and I were very concerned about the suddenness and the abrupt reduction in speed on an extremely busy roadway. A call to the nearest Acura dealer service department confirmed he had seen nearly the same symptoms the prior week under similar road conditions and the same model car as mine. He found no codes on the other car. I also notified Acura customer service who confirmed the existence of a Service Bulletin on precisely this issue (flashing light with loss of power).

Filed Oct 11, 2021 · Engine · GA

While driving on a two lane road at app 60 mph, we accelerated to pass a slower car, Our 2019 Acura RDX lost power and coasted down to about 20 mph and the check engine light was flashing. we had no control over the speed of the vehicle (limp mode), which was very scary and could have caused a serious accident. It was raining earlier but not at the time of the incident. This should be a recall and not just a Acura Service Bulletin 20-053 since it can be life threatening.

Filed Oct 6, 2021 · Transmission · FL

My 2019 Acura RDX suddenly lost power while accelerating on two occasions this year. Both times it occurred in clear weather with temperatures around 80 degrees. The first time it happened was on 7/15/2021 when I was accelerating onto a US Highway. The second time was on 10/4/2021 when accelerating from a stoplight. Both times I had to coast to the side of the road due to loss of power. I was able to restore power by restarting the engine. Please investigate since loss of acceleration can lead to crashes. For example, it can be deadly if it occurs while passing on a 2-lane road or making a left turn in front of oncoming traffic. Thanks.