2021 Acura RDX: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Oct 7, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · TX

2021 Acura RDX has cold start, uses coolant and will stumble, limp mode approaching 2000 RPM. Vehicle will flash check engine light and then will go away when vehicle is restarted. Using search criteria noted TSB issued for same make model and year with an extended warranty being offered through TSB, 10 year 150,000 miles. Vehicle has 103,000 miles. Dealer is stating no TSB for this VIN, however the number one issue noted through internet searches and this database.

Filed May 9, 2025 · Brakes, Electrical · NY

It was raining and I was sat at a stop light. The brakes started to slip a little no matter how much I pressed then all of a sudden the entire car started shutting down. Engine, Transmission, Power Steering, Lane Keep Assist, Collision warning, all the lights started flashing. The car was put into Limp mode.

Filed Dec 29, 2022 · Acceleration, Engine · PA

On 12/22/22, I was driving in a 2021 RDX SH-AWD with my pregnant wife and 2 year old son from Media PA to Pittsburgh PA . It was rainy and 35-40 degrees F the whole drive. Approximately 4 hours into the drive we stopped at a rest stop on the PA turnpike to get gas. While attempting to merge back onto the turnpike from the service road to the right of the turnpike, a truck was coming up behind me in the right hand lane of the turnpike. I was traveling approximately 40mph on the service road, so I went to accelerate to safely complete the merge in front of the truck. Near the end of my acceleration sequence (I estimate I had gotten to approx 65mph) my car went into “limp mode”. I felt an unexpected and immediate loss of power and my check engine light/“MIL” began flashing yellow. I was luckily able to barely avoid a collision with the truck that was approaching. After the light started flashing I was unable to turn the knob to switch drive modes (it was in snow mode at the time this all happened). I was unable to do anything but attempt to drive to safety with severe power loss. I was able to coast my car with minimal accelerator response to the next exit off the turnpike and into a motel parking lot. I shut down the car and then turned it back on. When I turned it back on, the MIL light was no longer flashing and I had normal power restored to the vehicle, but interestingly the auto stop/start feature no longer worked. I was able to drive the remainder of the way to Pittsburgh without any further loss in power, though I was anxious the entire drive considering the major malfunction I had just experienced while attempting a merge at highway speeds. The vehicle only had approx 10,500 miles on it at the time of the incident. The vehicle is currently at the dealership being diagnosed. A case has also been opened directly with Acura/Honda.

Filed Nov 27, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · IN

I have a 2021 RDX. Was on the interstate moving at about 70 MPH coming back from Missouri. Raining. Lots of semis creating huge following misty, hard to see rain. Decided to accelerate to pass a couple. Car nearly stalled and acted like it had lost a cylinder's worth of power. Turned on hazards, slowed, pulled over and lifted the hood hearing all kinds of unusual noises. Shut the car off and restarted. All was well. Turned all lane-keeping, etc. off including cruise. Drove the last 100 miles or so without incident. Called dealer and was told likely didn't pull a code. Don't worry and keep driving. Said to make sure front of car was clean. Duh!! I keep my ride spotless (unless driving in the rain). Called CA's Acura line. Absolutely no help. 2 different females had no idea what limp mode was. Read quite a bit since then finding out it could be the result of many things including problems that could damage the motor and/or tranny. WOW!!! Had never heard of "limp mode" before. Nice that no info on this possible problem was anywhere in any user manual. Car has performed flawlessly ever since. So far, I guess the rain had interfered with the "radar" system and confused the computer. I'm thinking about buying a 40 year old car that doesn't have any of the modern computers etc. Later found info regarding TSB 20-053 which explains the problem and proposed solution. 06-26-2022 06:52 PM

Filed Sep 23, 2021 · Acceleration, Engine · IN

I own a 2021 Acura RDX that was purchased new in February 2021. In the 11,500 miles I have driven it, there have been zero problems until yesterday. However, yesterday, when driving on an Interstate highway at 70 mph, in the rain, while passing a semi truck, my Acura RDX suddenly went into limp mode and the check engine light began flashing. After pulling over to the berm, and driving in the limp mode to the next exit, I turned the engine off. When I turned the engine back on it functioned normally and the check engine light went out. The engine has functioned normally for the approximately 100 miles I have driven since that time. Since there is no problem now, I have not taken the vehicle to the dealer to be checked since I felt that they would find nothing. When looking up this problem I found that mine is not an isolated case, and this same thing has happened to other Acura RDX owners. For that reason I am reporting the problem. I have also written to Acura to tell them of the problem. This was a very scary situation to have the engine suddenly, and without warning, go into limp mode while on a busy Interstate highway. Fortunately, in this case I was able to safely get to the berm of the road, but that might not always be possible. I have no idea when this might happen again, which is also scary. It is also very strange that by turning the engine off and then back on the problem disappeared. If requested, I would be happy to have Acura look at my vehicle if it would help to find the root cause of this problem. Thank you for your review of this problem.