Service Bulletin - The lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the transmission indicator flashing âDâ and set DTC P0741 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck OFF.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Acura RDX powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2018 Acura RDX have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 RDX | 4 |
| 2016 RDX | 6 |
| 2017 RDX | 20 |
| 2018 RDX (this page) | 12 |
| 2019 RDX | 36 |
| 2020 RDX | 21 |
| 2021 RDX | 9 |
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 12 powertrain complaints filed for the 2018 Acura RDX, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 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 powertrain 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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe intermittent but recurring transmission hesitation and hard, jerking shifts—sometimes accompanied by slipping into neutral—that range from mildly inconvenient during light traffic to dangerous during highway merging and accident-avoidance maneuvers. One owner reports the transmission cutting power completely while trying to accelerate to avoid a rear-end collision.
Acura issued service bulletin SB23-029 recognizing a torque converter defect on 2017–2018 RDX models and offering warranty repair, but multiple owners report the transmission behavior worsened immediately after the torque converter was replaced under that program. Dealers have performed fluid flushes, fluid replacements, and software updates with no lasting fix; one owner documented four hard-shift events in 30 minutes despite recent service.
Several narratives connect simultaneous failure of the transmission, Check Engine light, transmission warning light, blind spot monitoring, and gear display—one incident occurred on a busy highway at 70 mph, forcing an emergency pullover. Owners trying to get warranty coverage report denials based on mileage or non-original-owner status, despite the defect being well-known to Acura and Honda. One owner faced a nearly $5,000 out-of-warranty repair bill; another was told transmission replacement is needed but coverage was declined.
Two separate narratives document a gas tank and filler pipe leak at very low mileage (3,037 miles) requiring full replacement, followed shortly by rear propeller shaft bolts backing out and loosening at 3,761 miles.
Same Acura RDX powertrain reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission Hesitation and Hard Shifting
Transmission hesitates and shifts hard into the next gear, sometimes accompanied by slipping into neutral. Multiple owners report the issue recurs after software updates and dealer fluid flushes. One owner documented the problem occurring multiple times within 30 minutes; another experienced violent jerking that worsened over time after a torque converter warranty repair.
When: Intermittent; some owners report it starting after dealer torque converter repair; others note it occurs during stop-and-go traffic, traffic lights, and merging situations. One owner first noticed it at 6,812 miles; issues persist through 49,409 miles across different vehicles.
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission hesitation during acceleration; Hard, jerking shifts into next gear; Slipping into neutral while driving; Engine racing in neutral; Delayed engagement; Inability to accelerate during merging or turning; Hesitation during crucial accident-avoidance maneuvers
Codes mentioned: P0741
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report transmission fluid flushes, fluid replacement (10 quarts), and software updates performed at dealerships. One owner received a torque converter warranty replacement under Acura's service campaign, after which the transmission behavior worsened significantly. One owner was quoted nearly $5,000 for torque converter repair. Full transmission replacement has been recommended by dealers in at least one case but not covered by warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura issued a warranty extension / service campaign (SB23-029) for torque converter replacement on certain 2017–2018 RDX vehicles. However, owners report that Acura Corporate declined coverage for subsequent transmission failures occurring after the torque converter repair, citing expiration of standard warranty despite the issue originating immediately after Acura's work. One owner was told by Honda representative that they were denied assistance because the vehicle was out of mileage and they were not the original owner.
Check Engine / Transmission Warning Lights and Associated System Failures
Check Engine light, transmission warning light, flashing D indicator, and blind spot monitoring failure appear in conjunction with transmission issues. One owner experienced all three system failures simultaneously on a highway at 70 mph, requiring emergency pullover. Owners report these lights are intermittent in some cases but become constantly illuminated after dealer visits in others.
When: Timing varies; one owner experienced simultaneous failure at 70 mph on highway (highway travel). Another reports lights became constant after a dealer inspection visit. Multiple instances documented at different mileages ranging from early to high-mileage operation.
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine light illuminated; Transmission warning light illuminated; Flashing D (drive mode) indicator; Blind spot monitoring system failure; Gear display failure; Emission system failure warning
Codes mentioned: P0741
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealers identified the issue as related to torque converter defect (SB23-029). No standardized repair protocol found in narratives; one owner faced $5,000 repair cost out of warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura Service Bulletin 23-029 documents this as a known issue affecting 2017–2018 RDX models. However, narrative indicates this is treated as a service bulletin repair rather than a recall, and owners report denial of coverage based on warranty status and original ownership.
Rear Propeller Shaft Bolt Loosening
Bolts securing the rear propeller shaft backed out and loosened during driving, causing the shaft to rub on safety holders and render the vehicle undrivable. This occurred within two months of a separate gas tank and filler pipe repair at the dealership.
When: At 3,761 miles; two months after initial gas tank replacement work was performed at the dealer
Symptoms owners cite: Rear propeller shaft becomes loose; Shaft rubs on safety holders; Vehicle becomes undrivable
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced the original bolts with OEZM bolts with Loc-Tite. Vehicle required flatbed tow to dealership.
Gas Tank and Filler Pipe Leak
Leak in the connection between the filler pipe and gas tank appeared early in vehicle ownership. Both the filler pipe and gas tank required replacement at very low mileage. Owner reports receiving false information from the dealer about the work performed.
When: At 3,037 miles on the odometer
Symptoms owners cite: Gas cap warning light repeatedly illuminates; Emission system light activated; Leak in gas tank / filler pipe connection
Repairs/costs cited: Filler pipe and gas tank were replaced by the dealer.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Stopped at a red light, I was waiting for the opportunity to make a right turn. When the right lane was free of traffic I began to turn into that lane, but an approaching car made a lane change as it neared the intersection, and I let my foot off the accelerator for a split second before I realized I was too far into the lane. I tried to accelerate quickly to avoid getting rear-ended, but my…
When my gas cap warning light kept going on in spite of my loosening it and tightening it and then my emission system light came on, I brought the car to the dealer. They found that there was a leak in the connection between the filler pipe and the gas tank. Both had to be replaced on a car with 3,037 miles on it. In the process, I was given false information about the work that was done, which I…
This is related to complaint #11143782. Two months after my gas tank was replaced due to a faulty connection between it and the filler pipe, the bolts holding the rear propellor shaft came loose as I was driving on a busy city street, making the car undrivable. At that time, my car had 3761 miles on it. The car had to be flatbed towed to the Acura dealer, where I was told that the bolts had…
My 2018 RDX has started to jerk when I stop and then restart. I have noticed some hesitation and a bit of jerky driving but today it was very noticeable. I could barely go above 40 miles an hour after I started driving after a stop light and the car was very jerky. It seems to be either a fuel pump or transmission issue. I am going to check with the RDX dealership where I bought the car in…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2018 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 powertrain problem on the 2018 Acura RDX?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 4,266 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2018/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.