2020 Acura RDX: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Jul 17, 2026 · Engine · 65,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2020 Acura RDX. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH in inclement weather, moisture entered the turbocharger, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over, restarted the vehicle, and drove to a local dealer. A technician confirmed that the failure was caused by moisture entering the turbocharger and referenced an unknown Technical Service Bulletin associated with the repair for the vehicle. The dealer stated that the vehicle was safe to operate. There were no further issues with the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

Filed May 27, 2026 · Engine · GA

This is a well known problem that when water gets into the intercooler, the car goes into limp Mode. This happens to my daughter, while driving 85 miles in the fast lane in the highway. Her check engine light started flashing, she was unable to accelerate, and she was scared! She had to pull over in the left lane, against the median.This is a safety hazard! I am paying over $1000 to have this fixed. TSB 20-053 this should be a recall!!

Filed Apr 7, 2024 · Engine · KY

The emission light flashes and puts the vehicle in "Limp mode." The speed is drastically reduced and won't exceed 30 mph. Horrify experience. The problem seems related to rain and acceleration. Now the car is towed. No warning before it happens. But the emission light was flashing afterward.

Filed Aug 19, 2022 · Engine · 18,986 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2020 Acura RDX. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle went into limp mode and experienced unintended deceleration to 5 MPH with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 18,986.

Filed Jul 19, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · FL

Upon rapid acceleration, pushing the gas pedal down, the engine light started blinking and the car went into limp mode losing all power. This was a serious concern because we had just got off the interstate and if we had been full speed attempting to pass a vehicle, we could have been in a serious accident due to failure of power.

Filed Oct 20, 2021 · Transmission · AL

Pulled out to pass and when I tried to accelerate, the engine basically died. It didn't turn off, but dropped to limp mode and the check engine light started flashing. Engine stayed in limp mode until being turned off and on again. In limp mode, car would not even go 10 mhp on even a slight uphill incline. Doubt it would have made it up more of a hill. This could be a huge safety problem if there had been more traffic. Acura is aware of the problem and says it is a design flaw with the turbo intercooler, but they don't have parts to fix it. They said pulling over and turning the car off for a minute and restarting it should fix the problem, which it did for me, but that isn't always safe to do. Acura also said it is out of warranty and I will have to pay for the repair out of pocket. Owners need to be aware their car could die unexpectedly when trying to accelerate and what to do to correct it, and Acura/Honda needs to recall and repair this!

Filed Jun 22, 2021 · Engine, Transmission · VA

While driving, the engine suddenly lost power and started blinking the engine light and went into the "limp mode" mentioned here: https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/auto-news/the federal safety agency-report-2020-acura-rdx-lost-power-while-driving/ I was forced to pull over without power and wait with the engine off until it resumed normal function. This could have caused a crash without the power to drive on the highway.

Filed May 27, 2021 · Engine, Fuel system · IN

While traveling to my dealer on interstate 69 in Indiana, in the rain, I had to accelerate to avoid a conflict with a truck. When I pushed the accelerator to the floor, the Check Engine Light came on and the car went into limp mode. I had to pull to the shoulder and restart the car to continue. The dealer provided me a loaner 2021 Acura RDX, VIN #5J8TC2H5XML023677 with 740 miles on the odometer, which experienced the same phenomena, Check Engine Light coming on in the rain under acceleration, when I was attempting to merge onto Interstate 69 at Illinois road in Indiana. Pulling over to restart the engine allowed me to continue.

Filed May 21, 2021 · Engine · TX

- 2020 Acura RDX Aspec - my 2nd one of this model!!!!! - Tue, 18May2021 - travelling at ~65 mph on the Houston Hardy Toll Road and lost all ability to accelerate and MIL (engine light) came on - I was able to pull over 4 lanes to the right shoulder safely - I turned the car off, waited ~30 seconds and then turned the car back on - I drove to the dealership, Gillman Acura, which is ~21.4 miles, and delivered the car - Gillman Service Rep advised that they were applying the intercooler replacement fix associated with Acura Service Bulletin 20-053 - issued 21Apr2021 - Dealership replaced intercooler, I picked up the car on Thu, 20May2021 - drove ~22 miles home and the very next day, Fri, 21May2021, when i was ~3 blocks from my house, the VSA - vehicle stability assistant light came on - 21May2021 and the car is back at the dealership for repair - The RDX is a rolling death trap and I pray that it doesn't take one or more fatalities and/or serious injuries to Acura owners and/or others before Acura does the right thing - a recall - In Apr2021, I purchased the first 2020 RDX Aspec, VIN: 5J8TC1H6XLL014219, and experience the "limp mode" issue on 4Jul2020 while traveling on I-10 west from Tallahassee to Houston - vehicle had 2.8K miles and experienced limp mode - see the federal safety agency complaint > 11339164 - Dealership exchanged the first car and now I've experienced "limp mode" with the second car

Filed Apr 21, 2021 · Acceleration · 26,000 miles · TX

Failure date 4/15/21. Client driving a 2020 acura rdx at 75mph at night with light rain returning home on us281, south texas. Vehicle suddenly began decelerating to about 45mph, with no response through the gas pedal to maintain speed. Vehicle check engine light came on and was flashing. Vehicle pulled over to off ramp and idled to a gas station that was near.. Vehicle was towed to dealer the next day. Dealer initial response was that no issue was found and attributed it to "bad gas". Vehicle owner did not accept this answer and asked dealer to search service bulletins. The next day, it was found that there had been several incidents reported on this failure mode, and the repair/replacement of pn# 19710-6b2-a01 which includes an intake intercooler kit pn# 06198-5yf-305, and lubricant pn# 08734 was the fix of this issue. The fix prevents moisture from entering the intake intercooler asm and causing the vehicle engine to decelerate into "limp mode". Note: also, vehicle pgm software was updated. .

Filed Mar 24, 2021 · Acceleration, Electrical · TX · fire

My SUV has been in service over 15 times stemming from electrical issues with the dash harness, multi times for loss of power while driving, loss of infotainment systems, and piping noise coming from the speakers. The loss of power and 'limp mode' has happens 3 times. Once at highway speed after an out of state trip, and twice on my way to work during humid conditions. The electric issues have happened multi times during all driving conditions. I was on my way home from work today, and I started to smell something burning. I worked my way out of the main highway when smoke started pouring out of the AC vents. A few moments later I could see flames coming out of the dash behind the infotainment screen.

Filed Nov 27, 2020 · Engine, Fuel system · 12,000 miles · MI

I was driving on a freeway at 4:30am when I suddenly lost all power from the engine and it went into limp mode. The check engine light was flashing and fortunately there was no traffic so I was able to pull off the road. I shut off the car and sat for a few minutes and when I restarted the car everything was working fine. I had a 12 hour drive ahead of me and I never stopped thinking of how that could have ended up so badly. Later that day as I was driving through atlanta I shuddered to think what could have happened if this lack of propulsion had occurred. My guess, quite bluntly, is that I probably would have been killed. I have read online of this problem happening to a significant number of other people. Acura needs to be held accountable before someone is killed!