Acura RDX won't start problems

Filed Aug 21, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · FL

My RDX experienced a water-intrusion failure involving the panoramic sunroof drainage system and associated electrical components. An authorized Acura dealer diagnosed the right-front sunroof drain as backed up/overflowing, allowing water to reach the Body Control Module (BCM/Multiplex Control Unit). The dealer attributed abnormal security-alarm activation and battery drain to the water-damaged BCM and indicated that the BCM required replacement. The dealer also identified a blocked right-rear sunroof drain that allowed water to reach the tuner, causing radio/stereo malfunction and requiring tuner replacement. The water intrusion reached critical electrical components and caused unpredictable electrical behavior, including unexplained security-alarm activations, exterior lights remaining illuminated, complete battery discharge, loss of keyless access, and ultimately a no-start condition that rendered the vehicle inoperable. After the battery was depleted, I had to use the manual key to enter the vehicle. This created a risk of being stranded and raised concerns about the reliability of the vehicle’s electrical systems. There were no known dashboard warning lamps or conventional warning messages before the failure. AcuraLink recorded unexplained security-alarm activations on August 16, 2026, at 10:27 PM EDT and again on August 19, 2026, at 10:51 AM EDT. During the overnight incident, the alarm activated and the exterior lights remained on until the recently replaced battery was completely discharged. The car also experienced radio/stereo problems traced by the dealer to water reaching the tuner, and water was present in the passenger-footwell area. My car was inspected and the problem confirmed by an authorized Acura dealership. The car is available for inspection and available upon request.

Filed May 12, 2026 · Fuel system · VI

My 2020 Acura RDX is currently non-operational due to a failure of the fuel pump, which is the subject of the federal safety agency Recall 23V‑858. The vehicle suffered a complete loss of power and will not start, posing a significant safety risk should this have occurred while in motion. Despite contacting Acura Client Relations over 30 days ago, no remedy has been provided. My Case Manager states they are unable to offer a solution other than waiting for a "Territory Manager" to make contact—an event that has yet to occur. My vehicle has now been completely disabled for over two weeks. Because I reside in the [XXX] , the manufacturer claims they cannot service the vehicle due to a lack of a local franchise dealership. However, as a [XXX] territory, federal safety mandates apply. Acura has refused to authorize a local certified mechanic to perform the repair or ship the necessary parts to rectify this safety defect in a reasonable timeframe. The manufacturer is effectively denying a federally mandated safety remedy based on geographic location, leaving me with a non-operational, hazardous vehicle and no timeline for repair. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 2, 2024 · Engine · FL

Highlight: The car was able to be started with a button press and driven away without any key inside the car. (Also, some side information that the car had it's annual check-up on the Saturday before this incident). Normally my wife keeps her purse in the house on the counter (along with the spare key in a drawer under that counter). Previously, if she forgot her purse (and car keys inside the purse), she would head out to the garage and attempt to start the car (she keeps it unlocked in the garage). In a normal situation, the car would beep at her that she didn't have the key and she would go into the house to grab her purse. On 7/31, after a frazzling day, she got a call from her doctor to come to their office for a checkup (40 minutes away). She forgot her purse again; however, this time, the car started without any warning. She took the complete drive to the doctor's office shut off the car and then realized she didn't have her purse. She even tried to turn the car back on to see if the key was in the car, it did not start. She called me, I checked her purse and spare key were both in the same location they were always in. I did remotely try to start the car to see if she could drive it back with me starting it, however, it wouldn't let her take it out of park. She continued with her doctor's appointment. Inconveniently, I grabbed her purse and took my car 40 minutes to drop off her keys and back. Luckily, she was at a doctor's office and in a safe space, however, this has the potential to be very inconvenient and unsafe for others.

Filed Jul 3, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · IN

Vehicle began jerking while in motion, and all error messages the vehicle has ability to display rotated across the screen, including PO848. Transmission was replaced by a dealer. Vehicle would not start two weeks later. Vehicle towed to dealer. Dealer stated battery and starter were bad. Both of those components replaced by Acura dealer. Within one week, alarm was sounding randomly and clicking noise coming from dash. Dealer is now replacing a control module. This is a safety issue because as it was jerking, I lost control of the vehicle. The car alarm going off for a prolonged time at high decibels puts the hearing of bystanders at risk. Seems the car poses a fire risk as well.

Filed Jun 26, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · IL

Vehicle began hesitating when starting, but not all of the time. One day after refueling it would not start. Lights on the dashboard flashed and flickered and the keyless start button made a clicking sound, but the vehicle would not start. Vehicle was towed to the nearest mechanic. The next morning the mechanic started the vehicle and found nothing wrong. Mechanic kept the vehicle for a couple days and the problem reoccurred. Vehicle will not start. Computer diagnostics shows the 2018 Acura RDX Control Unit part number 38320-TX4-A31 is faulty. This part is backordered and likely will not be available in the near future. The intermittent starting failure poses a safety risk and could leave a driver stranded.

Filed Feb 28, 2023 · Electrical, Fuel system · MD

On 02/25/2023 our car abruptly stalled on us while driving without any warning in a remote area out of state over 3 hours away from our residence at night with temperatures below freezing with a minor in the car. We were lucky it happened on a back road and not on highway with hi velocity just an hour earlier because this would have killed us. The car came to a complete stall in the middle of the road, the red battery sign came on and the car would not start. We had a very poor cell phone reception, it took us over 3 hours to get a tow track, by the time the truck arrived we were shivering from cold. The car is impossible to put in neutral while in full stall that makes removing car from the road and towing near impossible. The car got towed to the nearest Acura repair center in PA. We were left with no car with a minor in the middle of the night in the cold out of state with very limited financial resources. As of now the car is still at the repair shop in PA, we are back in Maryland without any vehicle. The repair shop told us that there is no fuel pressure and it is likely fuel pump failure, that has already been reported and recalled on other Acura RDX 2019, but for some reason is not associated with our VIN. This is a major safety concern with a faulty part on a 4 years old car that could have potentially killed us and now is putting unimaginable financial, logistical and emotional hardship on us being left without a vehicle out of state and absolutely no timeline on when this very costly repair will be done due to unavailability of the part. Please issue a recall on this VIN ASAP before somebody will get hurt. It seems to be problem with many Acura RDX 2019 cars and is calling for much larger recalls then previously issued the federal safety agency recalls: 21V‑215 FAM 2019-20 RDX Fuel Pump Motor Safety Recall Expansion and 20V‑314 S7D2019 /RDX Fuel Pump Motor Safety Recall. This same exact fuel pump failure is reported all over the internet in forums and RDX 2019 reviews.

Filed Sep 16, 2020 · Acceleration · 11,500 miles · NC

1. Twice while driving, warning lights flash "approaching object" when there is nothing around the vehicle, speed about 20mph, empty, rural road, no bad weather, 8am in the morning. 2. When trying to start the vehicle, the entire car shuddered and would not turn over. Re-tried and the car started. Car was stationary in a garage. 3. While driving about 60 MPH, hwy 29 north in danville, va, the entire car shuddered for 2-3 seconds losing power. The vehicle didn't shutoff and I was able to resume safe driving. No inclement weather at the time. 4. While at a stop light in virginia, the vehicle lurched forward (accelerated on it's own) when I took my foot off the gas pedal and I had to slam on brakes. I was able to resume safe operation afterwards. No inclement weather. Normal busy traffic in northern va. Refer to repair order # 6138673, 7/31/2020, chevy chase acura, bethesda, md for additional info.

Filed Nov 25, 2019 · Fuel system · 43,718 miles · IL

My car would not start one morning. I could not get it out of "accessory mode" and that mode drained the battery completely. I also smelled fuel when I tried to have it jump started and it ran for 10 seconds then died. I had it towed to an acura dealer to have it fixed and they called to tell me that the plastic fuel line on the underside of the car had "microcracks" along its entirety and was leaking fuel out of these cracks. They said that the fuel line was not damaged in a discrete location (I.e. From a rock or object that hit it but the entire plastic line spanning the front of the car to the rear of the car had cracks all over it). I asked for the fuel line for evidence and they claimed they threw it out.

Filed Nov 7, 2019 · Electrical · 9,900 miles · NY

The above mentioned vehicle was leased in march 2019. I have recently experienced issues with the infotainment system that comes standard with my vehicle. The screen is going black and not responding while the vehicle is in motion on a bridge. This is causing my bluetooth, blindspot assist, navigation, and entire computer system to malfunction. I am also having issues with the vehicle starting. It was at one point I was told to place my key near the start button in order for the vehicle to start. I was informed by daniel flores of acura of wappinger falls that they are aware of the issue but they have no idea when the issue will be resolved. I am afraid that I will be placed in a situation where my vehicle will not start or cause a safety issue for myself or a pedestrian. My vehicle is less than a year old and I have I invested more than $10000 in it. The only way for me to get out of it is to spend an additional $133.00 a month (which I do not have) and change the vehicle out today!!!. I am looking for help. My husband recently had a 2013 nissan rogue catch on fire in my driveway just under my bedroom window. I am afraid that something like this may occur again.

Filed May 21, 2015 · 7,234 miles · NY

Security system engages itself when your in the car with all systems shut down. Also engages itself when the car is on and in gear. Alarm goes off and security light goes on and cant be stopped by key fob or turning the car off. Then turned the car off and then it would not start alarm still sounding then it started while alarm on and alarm light on and drove a distance with alarm sounding then stoped and turned car ofg and alarm went off and did not restart itself again. My concerns have been brought to the rallye acura desler in roslyn ny where car purchased since march but no response. I am concerned that alarm engages itself when I am driving and may turn the car off. Must be a short or defect in the system. Also the alarm is able to be turned on when all windows are wide open. These are not only saftey concerns but security issues as well. The car alarm in progress can be driven off and seemingly halted when stopped.