NHTSA — Exterior Lighting Problems

2014 Acura RDX (Page 1 of 5)

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
12,932 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2014 Acura RDX lights problems

lights problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2014 Acura RDX:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2014 Acura RDX Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #85

Aug 192023

RDX

  • miles

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

The headlights are so dim it's unsafe to drive at night. I replaced the bulbs, but the headlights still are too dim to drive at night. It's dangerous and people in my car with me at night after I replaced the bulbs noticed it too and were very concerned.

- Andover, KS, USA

problem #84

Nov 102022

RDX

  • miles
October 2021 at 74,790 miles I took the 2014 RDX to the dealer as the driver side headlight did not illuminate. The bulb was replaced. The light was still dimmer than the passenger side. In December 2022 at 81,415 mile service at the dealer I reported continued issues with night driving and dim headlights and was informed that the both head light projectors oxidized and the recommendation was to replace both ( $2,177.98). I limited my night driving and tried one more time to have the bulbs replaced without improvement. July 2023 at 85,204 miles both headlight assembly were replaced at the dealer ( $2,276.85). At the same time I contacted American Honda Motor Company to request financial assistance. After providing all dealer service documentation I was called to be advise that this was outside of warranty even thought the vehicle was not safe to drive in the dark.

- Des Moines , WA, USA

problem #83

Aug 122023

RDX

  • miles
Low beam headlights have gotten dimmer and dimmer over time, and represent a significant safety risk when driving at night. We have replaced the bulbs with the brightest, most expensive options possible, and no difference. We had the dealer check the problem, and they told us that they could "recondition" the headlight covers (which didn't look to me to be the problem, but we were desperate to make the situation better). No change at all (except we're out a few hundred dollars). Upon further research online, sounds like it is a common issue for this generation of Acura RDX, as well as other cars that use the same headlight projector. The heat from the bulbs gradually degrades the reflective coating on the inside of the projector, and it doesn't matter what bulb you put in at that point. It is amazing to me that this is a known issue, and no recall has been issued by Acura. Properly functioning headlights are a critical component of a safe operating vehicle.

- Danvers, MA, USA

problem #82

Aug 012023

RDX

  • miles

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

headlights too dim And won-??t pass inspection

- Weston, MA, USA

problem #81

Jul 012020

RDX

  • miles
I am the original owner of a 2014 Acura RDX, and I've been facing headlight issues since hitting 70,000 miles. The problem has worsened, making it extremely dangerous to drive at night due to the excessively dim headlights. I've nearly been in two car accidents because of this visibility problem. I've ruled out lens clouding as the cause and discovered that the issue lies with the coating inside the headlight assembly, leading to significant dimming during nighttime use. This poses a serious safety hazard, and I believe the dealer should issue a recall to address it. It's concerning that many others have experienced the same problem, yet Acura hasn't taken action to resolve it, despite the evident safety risk. Notably, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Honda issued a recall for certain Acura RLX vehicles with the same issue, but not for the RDX. I feel that it's time for the government to intervene and compel Acura to conduct a recall for this problem. Safety should be their top priority, and prompt action is necessary to ensure the issue is resolved. On a related note, Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP (CSK&D) is currently investigating a potential class action lawsuit involving Acura vehicles, including the 2013, 2014, and 2015 Acura RDX models. Reports suggest that these vehicles have unsafe low-beam headlights that gradually dim over time, creating a safety risk, especially at night when visibility is crucial.

- Awendaw, SC, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #80

Jul 012017

RDX

  • miles
My 2014 Acura RDX only has 24,000 miles on it and the headlight are so dim I cannot even tell if they-??re on at night!!! This is extremely dangerous!!! To replace these headlights through my local dealer cost over $850! I-??ve found on the internet that this is a very common problem that thousands have had! I cannot believe that the government has not forced Acura to recall for this problem!!!

- Weston, FL, USA

problem #79

Jul 012021

RDX

  • miles

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

The headlights are extremely dim making night driving unsafe. The Acura of Chattanooga attempted to deglaze the exterior of the light housing, but the problem is inside the round bulb cover. It is easily visible to see the glaze covering the inside of the bulb. This low light/visibility problem is constant at any speed.

- Athens, TN, USA

problem #78

May 022020

RDX

  • miles
I am the original owner of the vehicle and have kept up on all routine maintenance. At about 65K miles the headlights started getting dimmer and it is impossible to see at night. It is like having a bic lighter for headlights. It is not the lens clouding over and there are numerous other consumers online that have the exact same problem. Online reasearch shows that there is a problem with the coating on the inside of the headlight assembly that makes the headlights dim at night. This needs to be recalled by the dealer and is definitely a safety hazard! Acura will not address the issue and they recommend changing the whole headlight assembly at $18000 for parts. I tried putting in brighter bulbs and this did not fix the problem. Please help!!

- Rocky River , OH, USA

problem #77

Nov 012020

RDX 6-cyl

  • miles
Problem: Dim low beam headlights. I first noticed this issue around the end of 2020 to 2021 (mileage around 80,000). It got progressively worse over the next 2 years. I believe that it is now unsafe to drive this vehicle at night. I have contacted Acura customer service (American Honda) regarding this problem 12/06/21 case #[XXX]. I have made a number of efforts to improve brightness including refinishing plastic lens, replacing halogen bulbs, replacing with LED bulbs but none of these have improved the unsafe low beam headlights. On my last visit to the Acura dealership I was told that I had a fogged projector glass in the light assemble. the only repair would be to replace the entire light assemble both right side and left side costing $3,500. On 7/5/23 the Honda case worker says that because there is no recall they can not do anything about it. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Westminster, CA, USA

problem #76

Jun 012021

RDX

  • miles
Headlights are dangerously dim. Replacing the bulbs did not help. I am forced to either use high beams or not drive at night.

- Hartford City, IN, USA

problem #75

May 082023

RDX

  • miles

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

Headlights are dim, even after replacing it is something faulty with the original design. I have nearly been hit by cars turning into the road at night because of how dim the lights are. I have to have them on bright to be seen which creates further issues eith cars flashing their brights. I have researched online and found this is a common problem that acura refuses to issue a recall for. Please help us!!!

- Grandview, TX, USA

problem #74

May 102023

RDX

  • miles
These low beam head lights are so dim you can not see the road at night

- Lake Mary , FL, USA

problem #73

Apr 262023

RDX

  • miles
Low beam headlights have become very dim. By not adequately lighting the road ahead, a dangerous condition is being created for the driver. High beam headlights must be used to provide adequate lighting but must be switched to low beam to avoid blinding oncoming vehicle drivers. Based on internet searches on this matter, many other 2013, 2014, and 2015 Acura owners are having the same problem. Acura is aware of the faulty manufacturing of the low beam headlight units but refuses to issue a recall on the RDX model.

- Montpelier, VA, USA

problem #72

Mar 012020

RDX

  • miles
I can not drive the vehicle at night due to not being able to see the road using the low beam headlights. The low beam headlights have become so dim that I have to use the high beam in order to drive at night.

- Grand Haven, MI, USA

problem #71

Mar 232023

RDX

  • miles
Exterior light, especially the low beams, are not sufficient for driving at night. The beams are very low and make it challenging to see. If I did not have added fog lights, I would find it impossible to drive at night without constant usage of the high beams. It seems this was recalled in other models and needs to be addressed. It is not safe for drivers and it is clear that just changing the bulbs does not fix the problem. The dealership was going to charge me over 100 dollars just to look at the headlights and said that it was a known issue and nothing can really be done without an extensive overhaul of the headlights. This needs to be recalled.

- Allentown, PA, USA

problem #70

Nov 012022

RDX

  • miles
Headlights have gradually become so dim that the vehicle is not safe to drive at night. This 2014 Base model Acura RDX was purchased new from the dealer in 2013 and has less than 50,000 miles. This appears to be a widespread issue and the only identified correction is to replace both headlight assemblies at an estimated cost exceeding $2000 (for dealership replacement). In addition to compromising the safe night operation of the vehicle, this is an unreasonably short lifetime limitation for mandatory safety equipment.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #69

Dec 272022

RDX

  • miles
The headlights on my 2014 Acura RDX are very dim. I went to the Acura dealership and they agreed that it was dim and suggested that I replace both hid bulbs which I did but it hasn't made much of a difference. Not having properly lighting is obviously a safety issue and makes it very difficult to drive at night, especially with our current weather conditions. I emailed Acura to follow up and they said there is nothing they can do as there isn't a recall. A recall should happen asap as this is a big safety issue.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #68

Jan 032023

RDX

  • miles
The low beam headlights are extremely dim, making the car unusable at night. The exterior plastic is clear and not cloudy. Changing the bulbs did not help. It appears that the reflective coating inside the light has failed. The car was not used at night durning the pandemic so I'm not sure when the failure occurred. I have recently replaced both light assemblies in order to use the car at night. Calls to Acura were not helpful.

- Smithtown, NY, USA

problem #67

Mar 012020

RDX

  • miles
The headlights have gone extremely dim making it really hard to see in the night. I have tried replacing bulbs multiple times but it doesn-€™t help. Reading on forums it seems many folks are hitting the same issue and are pointing to the housing/reflector going bad. Please take a look at this as it seems similar issue has been reported and recall issued for other models from Acura.

- Sammamish , WA, USA

problem #66

Feb 022023

RDX

  • miles
Low beam lights are insufficient to see the road. Very dangerous

- Fenton, MO, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?