Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag Inflator for 2013-14 ILX Hybrid and Other Listed Years and Models.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Acura RDX airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Acura RDX have filed 32 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
32
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 RDX | 10 |
| 2012 RDX | 6 |
| 2013 RDX | 35 |
| 2014 RDX | 41 |
| 2015 RDX (this page) | 32 |
| 2017 RDX | 3 |
| 2019 RDX | 11 |
2crashes
3injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 32 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 13 model years of Acura RDX in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags 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 - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2015 Acura RDX airbag complaints break into four distinct problems. First, an actual rupture: one owner's airbag deployed during a low-speed collision and burst open, spraying pressurized contents that caused chemical burns to the wrist and visible burn holes in the dashboard. The burns were severe enough to blacken the skin within hours and required emergency room treatment.
Second and most common: the Takata recall (NHTSA 16V061000) came with a parts shortage. Starting in March 2016, owners received recall notices but dealers and the manufacturer could not supply replacement parts for months. Multiple owners reported waits of four to six-plus months with no firm arrival dates, forcing them to keep driving a vehicle flagged as unsafe. Some repairs eventually went through, but only after extended delays.
Third, a non-deployment failure: a vehicle hit from behind and then struck head-on by a bus, but both airbags failed to go off. The occupants sustained neck, back, and leg injuries.
Fourth, intermittent airbag warning light issues. One owner reported the light flashing daily and the dealer refusing to address it without a recall letter. The same owner also noted hesitation during acceleration and shifting problems, though whether these are related to the airbag system is unclear from the complaint.
Same Acura RDX airbags reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Takata airbag inflator rupture with chemical burns
Driver-side airbag ruptured during low-speed collision (30 mph rear-end impact), spraying pressurized contents causing chemical burns to wrist and chemical burn marks on dashboard. Owner reported trauma injury, blisters, and skin necrosis requiring emergency room treatment.
When: At time of collision; injury progression over hours
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deployed during collision; Chemical burn injuries to hand/wrist; Chemical burn holes visible on dashboard; Blisters and skin necrosis (blackened skin within 2 hours)
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 16V061000
Repairs/costs cited: Airbag required replacement; chemical burn injuries required urgent care and emergency room treatment
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subject to NHTSA Campaign 16V061000 (Takata recall)
Airbag recall parts unavailability and extended repair delays
Owners received recall notices (NHTSA 16V061000) but manufacturers and dealers could not provide replacement parts for 4-6+ months. Multiple owners reported waiting until summer 2016 or later with no firm availability dates. Several reports show parts finally available after 6 months or longer delays.
When: March-June 2016 and beyond; some resolved after 6+ months
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received but repair impossible to schedule; Dealers unable to provide ETA for parts; Manufacturer unable to confirm parts availability; Owners forced to continue driving vehicle with known defect
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 16V061000
Repairs/costs cited: Airbag inflator replacement; owners reported waits of 4-6+ months; some eventually completed after delays
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V061000 issued; owners offered limited/no loaner vehicles or financial assistance; some repairs eventually completed after extended delays
Airbag non-deployment during major collision
Vehicle rear-ended on highway then struck head-on by bus; driver-side and passenger-side airbags did not deploy. Driver and passenger sustained neck, back, and leg injuries requiring medical attention.
When: At highway collision (vehicle mileage 78,000)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags failed to deploy during multi-impact collision; Unknown warning light illuminated; Occupant injuries: neck, back, leg pain
Codes mentioned: Unknown light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed; no repair status documented
Airbag warning light and system malfunction
Owner reports airbag warning light flashing on and off daily. Dealer initially refused to address issue, claiming no recall letter on file. Also reported transmission-like symptoms (missing/hesitation on acceleration) and shifting problems coinciding with airbag system warnings.
When: Ongoing (reported 12/15/2025 in one complaint; timing unclear on others)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light flashing on/off daily; Hesitation on acceleration (described as 'missing'); Improper gear shifting on acceleration
Codes mentioned: Airbag system fault
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer initially refused repair, claiming no recall letter; owner concerns about driving vehicle without repair
Synthesized from 32 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The Airbag is coming on off every day . 12/15/2925 Acura John Eagle dealer want me to pay the repair they said I don’t have the recall . I may bring car to home without repairing airbag. Please help me.with the recall letter for airbag I apreaciate. Ha
Airbag coming out every day when I driving Dealer refuse fix Airbag . Reason : I don’t have a recall letter. I have to take my car driving home . I would like to have the recall letter from the Factory to replace Airbag. I appreciate .
Had airbags trouble with your 2015 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 airbags problem on the 2015 Acura RDX?
It's a meaningful issue. 32 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 32 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 31,000 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 $1,100 for airbags 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 airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags 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/2015/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.