2015 Acura RDX complaints

Very low light output from low beams, I have researched others, here is the same situation I have The low-beam reflector itself oxidizes, is not reflective at all, and no amount of brighter bulbs or clean outside lenses will help with a reflector that doesn’t reflect. (It’s also not related to the cloudy inner-lens. It’s the reflector.) Replacing the entire headlight assembly seems to be the only solution ($300-450 for the lights and 2-3 hours of labor) People who mean well and arent familiar with the specifics of the Acura RDX 2013 to 2015 problem will give you conventional advice (clean the outside lenses and buy the brand bulbs they like), but they are incorrect. There is a widespread and extreme problem and defect with this specific generation of the Acura RDX. On my car the low beams are so dangerously dim, that (my case for example), I literally could not tell if the low beam headlights were on or off if I were driving on a street where any street lights (even just residential neighborhood street lights) were anywhere within eyesight. The only time I could make out that they were on would be if I were on a pitch black section of a street, in which case I could see a very faint glow that only extended maybe four-feet out. And when I parked facing the garage door at night, just about three feet from the garage door, both the running lights and the flashers were far (not just a little) brighter than the low beams.

Both headlight are dim, even change the headlight bulbs still dim. Night time driver can't see well is very danger!

Reflective film backing material inside both headlights has delaminated to the point where it's too dim to drive safely at night.

I recently purchased this vehicle used, and just drove it at night for the first time. The low-beam headlights are extremely dim, to the point that it was difficult to tell if they were even turned on. This made it very difficult to drive in the dark, and I nearly went off the road as a result. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer, service center, or other party, but I did confirm that the headlights were operating, but remained dangerously dim. No warning lights or messages came on to indicate any sort of problem.

The contact's owns a 2015 Acura RDX. The contact stated that the front headlights had become dim, which made it difficult and unsafe to operate the vehicle while driving at night. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V792000 (Exterior Lighting); however, the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

Re: Safety Concerns with 2015 Acura RDX Engine. My vehicle has experienced multiple serious engine failures beginning December 8, 2023, when it suddenly lost power while driving with a flashing check engine light. Despite multiple repair attempts by McDaniel's Acura dealership (timing belt replacement, spark plugs, front cylinder head replacement, pulley replacements), the issues have persisted and worsened. Technicians found oil in cylinders 1&3, metal debris in the oil filter, and diagnosed the engine as failing in May 2024. Current symptoms include white smoke from the tailpipe, engine rattling, and ongoing risk of sudden failure. This vehicle was leased new in 2015, purchased after lease term, and consistently maintained at Acura dealerships. Despite opening two cases with Acura Client Relations (#14622769 on April 29 and #14633862 on May 6, 2024), Honda Financial declined assistance. The dealership only offered a trade-in "incentive" while admitting they couldn't resell my vehicle due to its condition, and would instead auction in off. I'm unable to safely use this as my primary transportation. Similar engines have had multiple recalls between 2018-2023, including a December 2023 recall of 2.6 million vehicles for fuel pump issues and recalls for connecting rod bearings in similar engines. In November 2024, NHTSA began investigating 1.4 million Honda/Acura V6 engines for rod bearing failures. I request NHTSA investigate whether this represents a broader safety defect aff

Near miss of deer at night due to incredibly poor visibility of low beam headlights. Brightest bulb replacements installed and no change in visibility. Low beam internal reflection is defective

Left headlight low beam has become progressively more dim over time and although it appears functional, it's not actually lighting the roadway. Have replaced bulbs and cleaned/buffed headlight assembly with no improvement. Had entire headlight assembly replaced with used headlamp assembly and replaced bulbs, but no improvement. 2014 RDX head lamps have been recalled for the same reason. Driving at night is difficult and dangerous.

After purchasing this used vehicle from a dealership we began driving home and it got dark. It was then we noticed the headlights on the vehicle are significantly dimmer than other vehicles. I was driving in front of them and noticed this once we got out of the city and onto the freeway. Once we got home I confirmed with the person driving the vehicle that in the dark and rain it was very difficult to see and they felt unsafe. I checked to ensure the lights were turned on properly, which they were. I was hoping that replacing the bulbs would fix the issue but when I went to research this I discovered that many people online experienced the same issue and that replacing the bulbs would not fix the issue. I confirmed in the paperwork and online that the vehicle was up to dates on recall work but that this known issue was not part of any as of yet. I would like to ask that this safety issue be resolved via recall as until doing so I will not be driving in the rain or night as we believe it a potential safety hazard and likely to cause accident or injury to someone.

The reflective material inside the headlight fixtures in this vehicle have degraded so severely the low beams don't illuminate the road well enough to drive it at night. This is a manufacturer defect that has been confirmed by the Acura dealership we took it to for repair. They told us the cost to replace both fixtures is ~$2,500, which we could not afford. This is a huge safety issue, one that prevents us from driving it at night unless absolutely necessary, in which case we have to use the high beams. The 2014 Acura RDX was recalled for this defect and I frankly don't understand why the 2015s haven't -- it's exactly the same issue. We contacted our auto insurance company about submitting a claim, but they do not cover manufacturer defects. Reaching out to the NHTSA for any assistance or advice you can provide.

Low beam head lights get increasingly dim while driving despite changing the bulbs multiple times. The headlights caused the lens to get a film which I removed with a lens restoration kit just for the lens to get back the same way within days. The bulbs are getting entirely too hot. Despite the lens the bulbs are so dim on a road without street lights or another cars headlights you CAN NOT SEE ANYTHING. you might as well be driving with your lights off entirely. The fact is it’s dangerous and not safe to drive because of. No lights or warnings have appeared alerting me of any mechanical issues.

I recently bought this vehicle used with a current safety inspection. All fine till I drove it for the first time at night. The low beams put out very little light. I thought perhaps they were not on the road was so dark. The high beams worked fine. The lens are clear. Both low beams bulbs are illuminated . I have read that multiple owners have reported this problem. The problem is not solved by replacing the bulbs but only solved by replacing the whole headlight assembly. A very expensive repair. This car as is is not safe to drive at night unless I keep the high beams on. I suspect a defect in the reflectors inside the unit

The backup camera has failed. This is a safety problem.

Have tried changing the bulbs and cleaning the outside exterior bulbs to see if the lights shine brighter cannot drive safely at night because the lights are dim regardless seems to be an ongoing issue for multiple Acura owners have to drive illegally using high beams versus low beams

The headlights have dimmed so much that I can’t even drive the car at night. We spent $80 to replace the bulbs and that didn’t help. The headlights are extremely unsafe.

I purchased a 2015 Acura RDX used for my kids to drive. A year after owning it, I noticed the headlight output was poor. Things came to a head when my 16 year old son came home and told me he felt unsafe driving. The car currently has 120,000 miles on it. I tried multiple headlight restoration kits and several replacement bulbs but nothing helped. After digging deep into various forums, I learned the root cause is the deterioration of the reflective material inside of the headlight housing. I called multiple locations to determine the cost to have them replaced and learned it would be around $3,000. I then called Honda for assistance and was informed they would not offer any. I was ultimately forced to purchase and replace the units myself. I have never experienced this in my life and after owning 20+ cars believe this should have been a recall paid for by Honda.

Headlights are so dim, it is dangerous to drive in the dark. The only solution is to purchase new headlight assemblies. $1,000+. This is a known problem amongst owners of the same vehicle. Driving with the dim lights is equally as dangerous as driving without lights on.

The headlamp assemblies literally failed from the inside. The headlamp light output decreased dramatically as time went on. I read online that many Acura owners were having the same issue and that replacing the bulbs did nothing to remedy the issue as the reflective coating inside the headlamp was failing; only fix is to replace complete assemblies, which I did. I do not have the removed assemblies for inspection. The dealer admitted a problem with Acura headlamps but stated it "was not an issue significant enough for a recall." No inspections by insurance, police. No warning lamps or messages. Assemblies were replaced Feb. 2021 with noted dimming starting about 1 year prior.

The inner headlight lens are defective, and have progressively gotten worse year after year. I’m Unable to see at night due to poor lighting because of the haze covering the lens over the bulb. Research shows there are numerous complaints about this model/year car.

Headlights Due to the lack of brightness and deterioration over time, the driver is left with a lack of visibility. UNKNOWN if reproduced. No inspections. No warnings or messages.

The low-beam headlight system has deteriorated, and the reflective component makes the low beams unusable at night. This component poses a safety hazard. The dim headlights make nighttime driving extremely hazardous, forcing me to rely on high beams, creating visibility risks for other drivers. Reduced visibility has endangered my safety and the safety of others, particularly on unlit or busy roads where clear vision is essential. The Acura dealership has confirmed the issue. Their only solution is replacing each headlight assembly, which would cost over $2,000. Low Beam Bulbs have been replaced multiple times with different brands, but the issue remains. The headlighting dimming issue can not be remedied by replacing the low beam bulbs; the real issue is the reflective film issue. This issue is a serious safety concern, and it is disappointing that Honda/Acura is not willing to fix this component. There were no warning lamps or error messages to indicate the dimming issue. This issue persists, with no alternative solution except the expensive complete assembly replacement advised by Acura.

The low beams on this vehicle have been consistently getting worse even with cleaning of the outside components and changing the bulbs. This makes it dangerous for night driving.

Over the past several years, the headlights have dimmed to the point where it is difficult to see. We have tried changing bulbs several times to no avail. In searching the internet, this is a known issue. The only remedy is to purchase and install new headlight assemblies as the original equipment goes bad.

The reflector in the headlight assembly failed and the headlights are so dim it's unsafe to drive after dark.

Headlights are too dim for safe driving. I have replacement bulbs and the housing. Honda estimate for repair for a condition that is the result of using manufacturing materials (as I understand it) that degrade over time and lead to dimming is cost prohibitive.

The low front light is so dim that we need to turn on the high light to see at night. Having to use high lights also creates a glare problem for other motorists, but we need the high light as the low light is so dim that it creates a safety hazard for driving at night in urban areas with low lights. We changed the front low halogen bulb lights for LED lights but it was not enough. People suggest to change the front light house or case, but the problem persist as the reflective materials inside the OEM case becomes defective after using the lights for some time.

Headlights have been too dim to see at night for many years - I was pulled over by a police office because of this. I want to sell my vehicle but cannot in my right mind do this until there has been a recall to fix the situation that will not cost me a ton of money.

The front headlights on this car are dangerously dim. We have replaced bulbs, cleaned lenses, but the lights eventually dim. Night driving is treacherous because we have to use high beams constantly which don't light the road immediately in front of the car. The dimming has been going on for the past 5-7 years, and it is a design flaw of this car. Acura is not offering any sort of recall/replacement for the housing to fix this issue. We are getting estimates of $2000+ from local repair shops to replace the housings. This is a safety issue that Acura should address for all affected models and I would urge the NHTSA to investigate.

My car is experiencing intermittent starting issues due to low fuel pressure from my fuel pump. I am able to start my car by cycling it into accessory mode and letting it set and pressure up before finally starting it. If I didn’t do this, I could eventually have issues with my starter. My mechanic informed me of a recall for Acura RDX models 2017-2019, my car is a 2015 BUT with the exact same fuel pump! Acura won’t release the sell of said pump because it is “currently under a recall”. The recall needs to be expanded to include earlier models of this car. I currently have a warranty on my vehicle so I’d like the repair to be done but I can’t even purchase the pump from Acura at this time because of the recall. Make it make sense?!

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The low-beam headlight system has failed due to severe, progressive dimming that has rendered it nearly unusable at night. This component poses a clear safety hazard and is available for immediate inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The dim headlights make nighttime driving extremely hazardous, forcing me to rely on high beams, which in turn creates visibility risks for other drivers. Reduced visibility has endangered my safety and the safety of others, particularly on unlit or busy roads where clear vision is essential. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the issue has been confirmed by the Acura dealership on two separate occasions. Each time, they recommended a $2,000 repair due to the need to replace the entire headlight assemblies, as the dimming is related to a reflective film issue that cannot be fixed by merely replacing the bulb. This problem is persistent and has been professionally diagnosed. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? Yes, the vehicle has been inspected by both the Acura dealership and a third-party service provider, Midas. The issue has been clearly documented by both parties, and the recommended solution has been consistent: full replacement of both headlight assemblies due to the

The Low Beam Lights are extremely Dim, Had to drive with Hight Beam ON all the time, which would make it dangerous for the on comers, During rain or fog, high beam should not be used and Low beam is of no help at all, its a prevalent with 2015 RDX base model at least, Apparently Honda does not want to care about that.

I’ve owned this car since it was new-have had almost all service work performed by local Acura dealership (Gary Force Acura). Some weeks ago, I noticed I was having difficulty seeing in front of my car when driving at night. I replaced a headlight bulb but it did not help at all. The only way I could see to drive at night was with my bright lights on. I contacted a local Acura repair shop and they indicated there is a manufacturing problem with the 2015 Acura RDX-the reflective material in the low beam headlights delaminates and reflect la minimal light forward, meaning there is very little light to illuminate what is in front of me at night. This meant my only two options to operate my car at night were to risk being unable to see what was in front of me since there was minimal lights going forward on low beams, or to drive with my high beams on at night blinding oncoming traffic. Neither option is acceptable. This known manufacturing defect is not being corrected if the vehicle is outside of its warranty. I contacted my Acura dealer and spoke with Casey in the service department who told me they weren’t offering any assistance and that it would cost me approximately $3,000 to fix this known manufacturing defect. I instead went to the local Acura repair shop where I had to spend slightly more than $1,800 so my car would be operable at night-there were no other alternatives. This is a known problem with Acura headlights-there is a recall for this issue with a similar model in

The headlights have gone very dim do to the reflective coating degrading in the headlight housing. This makes the vehicle unsafe to drive at night.

The headlights on my 2015 Acura RDX have degraded so much that it is difficult to get proper visibility at night, and therefore, dangerous to drive at dark. The safety of myself and my passengers, as well as other drivers on the road, is at risk. New bulbs were installed within the last year, so it certainly isn't a bulb issue. The dealer has confirmed the issue of the housing/reflection degrading, but there is no safety recall for this issue.

The low beam headlights are so dim and weak it is unsafe to drive. I have read where Acura rdx years 2012-2015 have a lot of reports of this problem. I understand Honda has recalled another style of Acura in same time years but not acknowledged this. I have used brand name headlight restoration kit and paid to replace the headlight bulbs(low beam) but there is no improvment This is very unsafe and Honda needs to replace/repair the headlights.

I purchased my 2015 Acura RDX in October of 202o. At about 90K miles, two years later, the Low-Beam headlights started getting dimmer and it is now 4 years into owning the vehicle and literally impossible to see at night. It is not the lens clouding over, nor is it the bulbs which have been replaced a couple times now. Looking online I see that there is a problem with the reflective coating on the inside of the headlight assembly, as it deteriorates it makes the headlights dim at night. This needs to be recalled by ACURA and is definitely a safety hazard! I've already almost been in two accidents because of this. Leaving high beams on at night is the only option which poses another hazard to oncoming traffic.

Headlights are dim making driving unsafe after sunset. Even after replacing the bulb with OEM bulbs the headlight housing the fixture remains very dim forcing the driver to use high beams at after sunset.

We purchased the vehicle used showing 102,445 Miles on 5/24/24 and did not drive it at night until a few days ago. At that time we noticed the low bean projector headlights were bearly visible. Upon further research we found that this is a common safety defect on virtually all RDX models from 2006 on using Halogen Projector lighting & relates to bad reflector design. Upon contacting Acura / Honda by phone, they said at first there was no recall & the defective reflector did not exist on my vehicle. Two thing amaze me. One he obviously lied and two, this defect is well know, broadly exists on not just Honda products but other manufacturers as well and the NHTSA has not addressed it. I ordered new light assemblies that I will install myself, but there are countless retrofit methods highlighted on You Tube for something that should have created a massive recall campaign by the NHTSA BTW ! If an owner has the lights relaced by a dealer, the cost runs about $2300 ! I have owned and maintained over 60 vehicles, foreign & domestic in my 80 years. The last time I had some this this aggregious was structural suspension corrosion on a 1970 Fiat that could have killed me. I was part of the campaign that lead to a buyback.

In 2020 my RDX headlights seemed to be losing it's ability to illuminate the roadway. It continued to become worse until today, it has become so dim that it does not provide the illumination required to be street legal. No matter what I did, replacing the headlamp bulbs to polishing the oxidation from the lens, the illumination become better. I finally was told by a Acura dealership that the problem is with the silver reflective surface behind the bulb becoming oxidized and pealing off. The only way to solve the problem is to replace both headlamps. The cost is close to $1000. This failure in safety equipment less than 5 years after manufacture should be investigated.

My 2015 Acura RDX headlights are so dim that I can barely see the road ahead of me. Also, when using the low beams only, cars are flashing at me thinking I don't have my headlights on. I always use the "auto" setting on the headlight control pendant. Then I'm forced to drive with my brights on which causes other cars to flash their brights at me and may be presenting a safety issue for them to see with my brights glaring. I called the dealer and they quoted >$2000 to replace them. I understand there was a recall for faulty headlight reflective film for select vehicles made in 2014-2015 but for some reason my VIN does not qualify for the recall. I believe they were mistaken when they indicated they resolved the problem as my vehicle has the same problem the recall intended to resolve.

My regular headlights are so dim. When driving at night I have to use my high beams or I cannot see the road. Acura has admitted that there is a problem for the 2015 RDX but has not issued a recall. The original halogen headlight bulbs have damaged the reflective casing that the bulb reflects from. I have tried to improve the beam by replacing the bulbs but nothing works. It is a HUGE safety concern and a flaw in the Acura 2015 RDX headlight assemblies over time.

While overall pleased with vehicle, the low beams simply seem not visible enough to light the road properly. I believe this is a safety hazard and hearing how many other owners of the same make and model report this I believe the government to investigate this problem. Thank you.

The low beams on my 2015 Acura RDX are very dim and have gotten progressively worse over the last two years. Visibility at night is extremely poor and dangerous. I do not drive much at night, except locally. I did not think there was an issue with my car since the LED lights on newer cars are so very bright in comparison. I realized it was major issue very recently (August 2024) when I could not see more than one car length in front of me on a major highway with construction zones. I could not tell if my low beams were on or not. My high beams functioned properly and that was the safest way for me to continue driving. There have been no previous warning messages. On June 19, 2024, I had other repair work performed at an Acura dealership and received a multi-point inspection report of which I received a green light status for my headlights. I am currently at over 103,000 miles. I estimate the issue began at around 90,000 miles. I have not reported this to the Acura dealer. However, my local mechanic confirmed the issue exists. After some investigation, I found that this is a common problem with this model car and year. The quoted cost to repair this issue from two different Acura dealerships is quite expensive, ranging from $2300 to $2500, to replace both headlight assemblies. This should not be my issue to pay for; it should be a recall at Acura's expense.

The sunroof spontaneously shattered while driving the car. No other vehicles were around and no debris caused the sunroof to shatter. Glass blew in to oncoming traffic and into the car while it was being operated, which posed a risk to myself and other drivers. Upon further investigation, this is a know issue by Honda/Acura and a class action lawsuit has been file, yet the company is unwilling to make repairs to effected cars. There were no warnings etc prior to the sunroof shattering. The car was taken directly to the dealership for repairs and photos are available.

My 21 year old daughter is driving a 2015 RDX we just purchased a few months ago. The headlights are terrible! They are so dim and it’s extremely dangerous. Acura should have a recall on this

The low beam headlights have gotten very dim over the 6 years I have owned the car, to the point that it is hazardous to drive at night due to very poor visibility. The Honda dealership found no issues and only replaced the bulbs, which did not fix the problem. There are numerous online reports of exactly the same issue with the same model year of this vehicle. I don't understand why Acura does not acknowledge this issue with a recall, or why NHTSA does not consider this a well-documented and dangerous defect.

The headlight assembly oxidizes after about 8 years of use. Dealer solution is to replace both headlights for about $2,400.

The dim lights prevent clear visibility when driving. I inquired with my local Acura dealership about a solution. I was told that dim headlights on this model are a known issue. They stated that it relates back to the reflectivity inside the the light assembly and the only solution would be to replace the entire assembly on both sides. The only effective remedy I have found to see at night is to keep the bright lights on, which is a safety issue for other drivers. Replacement bulbs will not correct the visibility due to the issue with the reflectivity. This has caused multiple safety concerns at night, nearly causing multiple accidents due to not being able to see clearly.

Low beam headlights have become so dim that they are unsafe at night and provide insufficient lighting. Bulbs have been replaced but am now told by the dealership this is a potential defect with this model where the reflective housing deteriorates and requires a full replacement of the headlight assembly.

Drove vehicle home during daylight. At nite the low-beam lights are useless high-beam needed to be able to see. Carfax was unaware of a "safety recall" for this problem. I found numerous complaints about this on the web. There needs to be a "recall" to get this corrected. Should be addressed by mfg and not consumer.