"SERVICE BULLETIN - AFTER THE SOFTWARE UPDATE, SOME VEHICLES BASED ON HOW THEY ARE DRIVEN (EXTREME CONDITIONS) MAY STILL EXPERIENCE ATF DETERIORATION AFTER UPDATING THE A/T OR PGM-FI SYSTEM AND THE SHUDDER MAY RETURN. THE PROBLEM IS TYPICALLY DIAGNOSED AS A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER (TC). THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE TC, BUT BECAUSE THE ATF HAS DETERIORATED, IT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED EVEN THOUGH THE ATF SERVICE DUE MESSAGE HAS NOT APPEARED. MAKE SURE THE SOFTWARE IS UPDATED BY REFERRING TO THE INSPECTION PROCEDURE."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Acura RDX electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Acura RDX have filed 6 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 RDX (this page) | 6 |
| 2014 RDX | 8 |
| 2015 RDX | 6 |
| 2016 RDX | 8 |
| 2017 RDX | 13 |
1fire
What stands out
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 13 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
SERVICE BULLETIN - A JUDDER FROM THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCK-UP CLUTCH MAY BE FELT WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20 AND 60MPH. THE PROBLEM IS TYPICALLY DIAGNOSED AS A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER. AMERICAN HONDA INVESTIGATED THE JUDDER AND FOUND THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS NOT CAUSING THE JUDDER; RATHER, IT WAS CAUSED BY DETERIORATED TRANSMISSION FLUID.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗BACKGROUND When the client uses the HFL, the person they are speaking with may experience poor sound quality, static, or the speakers voice cutting out. CORRECTIVE ACTION Cross-check the HFL part number and the HFL software version table in step 2 of REPAIR PROCEDURE to verify if the HFL control unit can be updated. NOTE: Make sure there is a match between the HFL P/N and software version under SOFTWARE INFORMATION
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE BULLETIN - WHEN THE CLIENT USES THE HFL, THE PERSON THEY ARE SPEAKING WITH MAY EXPERIENCE POOR SOUND QUALITY, STATIC, OR THE SPEAKERS VOICE CUTTING OUT.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The brand new car was on fire by itself on october 30, 2012. It was after the hurricane sandy. My family woke up because of smelling gas from downstairs which was the attached garage to the kitchen. When my husband opened the kitchen door to the garage, he couldn't see anything but smokes. We called 911 and found out there was fire inside of the car. The fire started internally and spread…
Had electrical trouble with your 2013 Acura RDX?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2013 Acura RDX?
It's a meaningful issue. 6 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 6 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 4,100 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Acura/RDX.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.