2016 Acura RLX recalls & problems

Safety recalls

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Suspension

  The contact owns a 2016 Acura RLX. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and turning, the rear axle made a rubbing sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear axle actuators had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered because the 10-year extended warranty had expired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone, and a case was filed, but coverage was denied. The contact was awaiting a callback from an Acura regional manager. The contact stated that the failure was a factory defect. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.

  Sep 21, 2026 · 44,000 miles
• Fuel/propulsion system

  The car died on the freeway, tow truck towed contacted mechanic next day and they came and diagnosed the car and needed a crank shaft sensor and change was complete. Car is still showing the same issues stalls approximately 30 to 40 mins of idle I had mechanic pull live data stream from scanner upon monitoring short term fuel trim bank 1 still shows that the fuel pump is seizing one warm, causing the car to stall, which is a huge safety issue I have a 5 month old and 8 year old in the car when she stalled on the freeway. Pump is seizing when it’s hot.

  Jun 26, 2026
• Steering

  THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH 4 WHEEL STEERING. THE REAR WHEELS ARE CONTROLED BY THE COMPUTER. WHILE MANEUVERING IN A PARKING LOT OR AFTER SHARP TURNS THE REAR WHEELS DO NOT RESPOND TO DRIVER INPUT. THE WHEELS GET STUCK IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND THE DRIVER MUST CORRECT DIRECTION OF TRAVEL TO COMPENSATE. THE STEERING ACTUATORS WERE REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP AND THE ISSUES IS STILL HAPPENING

  Mar 13, 2021 · 70,000 miles
• Electrical system

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA RLX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER LOADING GROCERIES INTO THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE, THE TRUNK TO WAS MANUALLY CLOSED HOWEVER, THE TRUNK UNLOCKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO FIX FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER ADMITTED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. A CASE NUMBER WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VERN EIDE ACURA (4030 S GRANGE AVE, SIOUX FALLS, SD 57105, WHERE THE DEALER REPLACED TWO NEW ANTENNAS FOR THE REMOTE USED TO UNLOCKED THE TRUNK, AND A NEW BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB. THE ANTENNA AND BATTERY REPLACEMENT FAILED TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE…

  Jun 6, 2020 · 19,700 miles
• Suspension

  3 SIDEWALL SEPARATIONS ON 3 DIFFERENT WHEEL LOCATIONS IN NORMAL DRIVING AFTER HITTING MODERATE POTHOLES AT BETWEEN 30-40 MPH. THE MID PROFILE MICHELIN PRIMACY OEM TIRES, 19 INCH WHEELS, AND SUSPENSION DO NOT FUNCTION SAFELY ON THIS HEAVY SEDAN. THE RISK OF EVEN A SMALL POTHOLE, EXPANSION JOINT, OR MANHOLE IS A DANGER SINCE THE SIDEWALLS GET CUT WITHOUT ACTUALLY BLOWING OUT, SO A BLOWOUT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE WITH A TIRE IN A MILLION MILES OF DRIVING OVER 35+ YEARS. TO HAVE 3 IN 5 MONTHS SCREAMS OF A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH MICHELIN DENIES AND ACURA WON'T ADDRESS. 1. TURNING RIGHT ON AN ENTRANCE RAMP AT ABOUT 35MPH, SEPARATED DRIVER FRONT TIRE…

  Jun 26, 2016 · 15,400 miles
• Air bagsCrash1 injury

  I WAS INVOLVED IN A MODERATE TO SEVERE FRONTAL CRASH DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AND A LEFT TURNING DRIVER STRUCK MY CAR THE KNEE AIRBAG WAS THE ONLY AIRBAG TO DEPLOY CAUSING LEG.PAIN DUE TO THE AIR BAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL NOT GOING OFF CAUSED NECK, BACK PAIN WITH HEADACHES ALONG WITH PAIN GOING INTO MY LEGS. THE CAR IS SHOWING TWO AIR BAG CODES CAR IS A 2016 ACURA RLX

  Jun 23, 2016 · 985 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

• Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen

  From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled…

  EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021
• Electrical overstressClosedLed to recall 20V024

  The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal,…

  EA19001 · opened Apr 19, 2019 · closed Sep 19, 2024