NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 16 complaints against the 2023 Acura RDX. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2023 Acura RDX complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2023 Acura RDX has generated 32 NHTSA complaints and has 1 active recall. If your 2023 Acura RDX has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Acura pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
Powertrain and transmission defects directly impair the vehicle’s core function and are generally considered substantial defects under California lemon law. Owners of the 2023 Acura RDX have reported harsh shifting, shuddering, slipping, and transmission warning lights. 4 NHTSA complaints have been submitted for this defect category. Owner reports include: “Transfer case is defective and Acura is refusing to fix it under warranty. Says it’s’normal’ for the AWD system to leak causing destruction.” (NHTSA Complaint #11724008)
The 2023 Acura RDX has generated 4 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “Back windshield exploded.…”
Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2023 Acura RDX has 4 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2023 Acura RDX. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the Forward Collision Avoidance: Emergency Automatic Braking inadvertently activated, and the vehicle stopped. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle, veer to the shoulder, and contacted the dealer to have the feature deactivated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,888.” (NHTSA Complaint #11592399)
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2023 Acura RDX include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 4 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “The infotainment screen went blank 4 times. It works intermittently and reset itself. The dealer performed service bulletin S/B 24-004 on May 21, 2024. Since then it has gone out twice. I taking the vehicle in again. I seen there are issues with that system draining the battery and the car not starting. That had to me this morning.” (NHTSA Complaint #11592140)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2023 Acura RDX have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 4 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “On entering the highway and accelerating quickly, engine lost power and car entered limp mode, refusing to exceed 60 MPH. Also, check engine light began flashing. Very dangerous situation in heavy traffic all going over 70 MPH. Exited at next exit, shut down car, then restarted with no further issues.” (NHTSA Complaint #11576358)
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2023 Acura RDX by the NHTSA or Acura. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda’s numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2023 Acura RDX:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Acura to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Acura must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2023 Acura RDX qualifies as a lemon under California law, Acura may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Acura a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Acura dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Acura pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Acura a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Acura is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2023 Acura Rdx has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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