Lost Acceleration In "Limp Home" Mode

2020 Acura RDX

This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Acura dealer.

8.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
11,250 miles
Total Complaints:
6 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (3 reports)
  2. service bulletin 20-053 (2 reports)
  3. pull over to safety (park) turn off wait then turn on (1 reports)
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2020 Acura RDX Owner Comments

problem #6

May 142022

RDX SH AWD

  • Automatic transmission
  • 28,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Accelerating in the rain to pass a slower car, my car suddenly lost power and I had to pull off the road. The engine warning light started blinking at the same time but then it stopped. Looked in the book and the suggestion was to turn off the engine, wait 10 minutes and turn back on, which I did, and I was able to continue to drive.

I took it in to the dealer to check into this and had found Service Bulletin 20-053 and referenced it to them. Of course they said they could not duplicate the problem so would not be doing anything for me. Unacceptable! You KNOW this is a problem, my situation is nothing new and yet you refuse to fix it. I'm no longer confident in this car and It's only two years old with 28,000 miles on it.

- Julie N., Burke, VA, US

problem #5

Apr 022021

RDX ADV SH-AWD 2.0L Turbo

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,515 miles

Same issue as others have posted, ours was over the weekend of 4/30/2021 through 5/2/2021. 2020 RDX Advanced with SH-AWD, 15k odometer. 1st occurrence was during a light rain while attempting to pass another vehicle traveling at approximately 60 MPH, vehicle went into "limp mode" - MIL check engine light was flashing with a total of 9 codes thrown. Pulled vehicle over onto shoulder of highway and shut off the engine and waited 30 seconds.

I restarted the vehicle and RDX's still had the 9 codes, but the check engine light was solid orange and not flashing. Wife read the online owners manual that indicated that it was safe to drive, so we proceeded on with our out of state trip. During the weekend while it was still raining, I took the vehicle out again myself and experienced the same issue with the MIL flashing and, after re-start, the MIL went to solid orange, the same 9 codes are still present.

I scheduled a dealer visit for diagnostics. Car is drive-able with the codes present and operates normally with the 9 codes still present. The only thing I could find for this issue is a Service Bulletin 20-053 (December 24th, 2020) at the NHTSA website (MIL is Flashing with Loss of Power) that calls for the intercooler to be replaced due to moisture (Humid Air) in the intercooler via the air cleaner / filter system. New OEM Intercooler Kit 06198-5YF-305. Note: the only time I have had this issue is when driving in the rain, otherwise the car operates normally.

Update from May 8, 2021: Update 05/06/2021. Dealer performed service bulletin 20-053 which included a new intercooler and charge pipe, hose. ECU was flashed for an update. No issues to report.

- craprdx, Houston, US

problem #4

Dec 132019

RDX A-spec 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 705 miles

While attempting to accelerate on a rainy evening, the engine power was lost. It took me a couple seconds to realize what had happened, and now I am in the fast lane, slowing down, and getting past. The vehicle was still responsive to throttle input, however at full throttle could not maintain speed. I made my way over the emergency shoulder and turned off the vehicle. After restarting the vehicle it was able to quickly accelerate up to speed and be back on my way. I am now at 3500 miles and has not had the issue again. It may be worth noting it was the only time I drove it in the rain. I know based on my experience with vehicle systems, this may only be a fluke or one time occurrence for me. However, with the power of the internet, we are able to all come together with the same issue. I now know it is in fact a greater problem as this reported issue pops up several times.

- Jason B., Shirley, IN, US

problem #3

Jul 162020

RDX SH/AWD 2.0L Turbo 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 8,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While traveling at 75mph on an interstate highway, on a high humidity, rainy day, I accelerated to pass, and the engine lost power and speed. It fell to 40mph, and then to 20mph... Fortunately there were no cars behind me, and I could limp over to the shoulder and drive, at 20mph, to the next exit and then to a gas station. Parked, it shut down and called Acura roadside assistance. They messaged that they would return my message and locate me.

After a few minutes I found the phone number of the nearest Acura dealer and called. They said they said they could send a tow truck, but my wife and I could not ride in the tow truck, due to covid, and would have to find our own trans. there. I then called a friend at Honda, who researched and found out that the loss of power is due to H2O in the turbo intercooler due to the hi humidity conditions, then a water sensor detects H2O, and reduces power to prevent engine damage. I then restarted the engine, which ran fine, and completed my trip with no problems. When I returned home, I sent a detailed memo to Acura CEO, an Acura rep., by way of the Acura Representatives office in Cal., and to my Acura Dealership Service Mgr.. The dealership had never heard of the problem, and the potential prob. is NOT mentioned in ANY of the SIX OWNERS documents that came with the car.

Two months later I received a phone call from an Acura rep. office worker, and after explaining the problem to him, he DID NOT UNDERSTAND what I was talking about. Since then, NOTHING. This COULD have been a VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT, if the interstate was crowded like it normally is!! Acura has a problem - the sensors are there, but they are not draining the unwanted H2O the proper way!!

- Ted K., Pipersville, PA, US

problem #2

Nov 222020

RDX A-spec V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 6,630 miles

November 22, 2020 at 10:20 pm on ROUTE 287.

I was 20-25 minutes away from home on 287, after a long trip. I accelerating to merge on to the connecting lanes (with trucks) as my lane was coming to an end. All good until a few feet ahead the engine performance light starts blinking and car started to slow down almost to a rolling speed. Nothing I did made it go any faster to get out of the way of the semi-truck whose headlights I saw getting closer. The truck managed to switch lanes as I turned on hazard lights and rolled into a wide enough shoulder for safety.

I turned the car off and waited a few minutes. I turned it back on, the engine performance light was off and I arrived home safely. Is Acura waiting for something really horrible and tragic to happen before they address this issue? I purchased my car in mid-June and had a maintenance (B) performed less then a week prior to my trip. I really hope Acura addresses this before it causes a horrible accident.

- Carmen M., Colonia, NJ, US

problem #1

May 232020

RDX Technology 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 7,900 miles

I had driven my RDX on secondary roads for an hour, so the car was fully warmed up. I entered a highway on ramp and started to accelerate. Seeing a very slow vehicle in the slow lane ahead, I applied more throttle (though not flooring the pedal) put on my blinker and started to pass.

The car immediately went into “limp mode”. The check engine light was blinking and the car lost all power. I couldn’t accelerate at all. The car I was attempting to pass was only going about 30 mph, and I couldn’t get around her. I had to put on my brakes in the middle lane of I-95 with trucks bearing down on me, which is a terrifying situation.

I pulled to the side of the road and shut off the engine for about 30 seconds. Upon restarting, the car had full power and the check engine light was off. Strangely this seemed to cause the auto-stop-start to not work. I drove the car for about 100 miles before the a-s-s started working again.

I drove the car for about 300 miles before I could get it in to the dealership. When the dealer checked out the car, there were no codes and despite their best efforts they could find no issues.

This is a very serious condition, and I hope Acura does something to fix it before someone gets killed.

- John K., Phillipsburg, US

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