ACURA RLX · model year

2016 ACURA RLX

9 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

5 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2016ACURARLX carries 9 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 5/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 5/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2016 RLX is structure:body with 2 filings, followed by unknown or other (2) and air bags (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2016 RLX, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

9
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
2016 ACURA RLX — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2016 ACURA RLX. Overall composite: 5.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 5.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 5.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 5.0 ★
NHTSA overall 5.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

9 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 5/5 — Top NCAP rating · Front: 5/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 5/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE:BODY2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
AIR BAGS1
SUSPENSION1
WHEELS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
STEERING1

Recent Complaints

20210425STEERING

THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH 4 WHEEL STEERING. THE REAR WHEELS ARE CONTROLED BY THE COMPUTER. WHILE MANEUVERING IN A PARKING LOT OR AFTER SHARP TURNS THE REAR WHEELS DO NOT RESPOND TO DRIVER INPUT. THE WHEELS GET STUCK IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND THE DRIVER MUST CORRECT DIRECTION OF TRAVEL TO COMPENSATE. THE STEERING ACTUATORS WERE REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP AND THE ISSUES IS STILL HAPPENING

Mileage: 70,000

20201001ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA RLX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER LOADING GROCERIES INTO THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE, THE TRUNK TO WAS MANUALLY CLOSED HOWEVER, THE TRUNK UNLOCKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO FIX FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER ADMITTED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. A CASE NUMBER WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VERN EIDE ACURA (4030 S GRANGE AVE, SIOUX FALLS, SD 57105, WHERE THE DEALER REPLACED TWO NEW ANTENNAS FOR THE REMOTE USED TO UNLOCKED THE TRUNK, AND A NEW BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB. THE ANTENNA AND BATTERY REPLACEMENT FAILED TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,700.*DT CONSUMER WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT BY CUSTOMER SERVICE.*JB*DT *TR

Mileage: 19,700

20201001STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA RLX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER LOADING GROCERIES INTO THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE, THE TRUNK TO WAS MANUALLY CLOSED HOWEVER, THE TRUNK UNLOCKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO FIX FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER ADMITTED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. A CASE NUMBER WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VERN EIDE ACURA (4030 S GRANGE AVE, SIOUX FALLS, SD 57105, WHERE THE DEALER REPLACED TWO NEW ANTENNAS FOR THE REMOTE USED TO UNLOCKED THE TRUNK, AND A NEW BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB. THE ANTENNA AND BATTERY REPLACEMENT FAILED TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,700.*DT CONSUMER WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT BY CUSTOMER SERVICE.*JB*DT *TR

Mileage: 19,700

20160807SUSPENSION

3 SIDEWALL SEPARATIONS ON 3 DIFFERENT WHEEL LOCATIONS IN NORMAL DRIVING AFTER HITTING MODERATE POTHOLES AT BETWEEN 30-40 MPH. THE MID PROFILE MICHELIN PRIMACY OEM TIRES, 19 INCH WHEELS, AND SUSPENSION DO NOT FUNCTION SAFELY ON THIS HEAVY SEDAN. THE RISK OF EVEN A SMALL POTHOLE, EXPANSION JOINT, OR MANHOLE IS A DANGER SINCE THE SIDEWALLS GET CUT WITHOUT ACTUALLY BLOWING OUT, SO A BLOWOUT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE WITH A TIRE IN A MILLION MILES OF DRIVING OVER 35+ YEARS. TO HAVE 3 IN 5 MONTHS SCREAMS OF A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH MICHELIN DENIES AND ACURA WON'T ADDRESS. 1. TURNING RIGHT ON AN ENTRANCE RAMP AT ABOUT 35MPH, SEPARATED DRIVER FRONT TIRE WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE IN THE DARK. 8,000 MILES ON TIRE. (FEB 2016) 2. SLOWING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT ABOUT 20MPH, SEPARATED PASSENGER REAR TIRE WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE IN THE DRIVING LANE. 15,000 MILES ON TIRE. (JUNE 2016) 3. JUST AFTER TURNING RIGHT ONTO AN ENTRANCE RAMP TO A HIGHWAY, HIT

Mileage: 15,400

20160807WHEELS

3 SIDEWALL SEPARATIONS ON 3 DIFFERENT WHEEL LOCATIONS IN NORMAL DRIVING AFTER HITTING MODERATE POTHOLES AT BETWEEN 30-40 MPH. THE MID PROFILE MICHELIN PRIMACY OEM TIRES, 19 INCH WHEELS, AND SUSPENSION DO NOT FUNCTION SAFELY ON THIS HEAVY SEDAN. THE RISK OF EVEN A SMALL POTHOLE, EXPANSION JOINT, OR MANHOLE IS A DANGER SINCE THE SIDEWALLS GET CUT WITHOUT ACTUALLY BLOWING OUT, SO A BLOWOUT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE WITH A TIRE IN A MILLION MILES OF DRIVING OVER 35+ YEARS. TO HAVE 3 IN 5 MONTHS SCREAMS OF A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH MICHELIN DENIES AND ACURA WON'T ADDRESS. 1. TURNING RIGHT ON AN ENTRANCE RAMP AT ABOUT 35MPH, SEPARATED DRIVER FRONT TIRE WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE IN THE DARK. 8,000 MILES ON TIRE. (FEB 2016) 2. SLOWING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT ABOUT 20MPH, SEPARATED PASSENGER REAR TIRE WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE IN THE DRIVING LANE. 15,000 MILES ON TIRE. (JUNE 2016) 3. JUST AFTER TURNING RIGHT ONTO AN ENTRANCE RAMP TO A HIGHWAY, HIT

Mileage: 15,400

20160807UNKNOWN OR OTHER

3 SIDEWALL SEPARATIONS ON 3 DIFFERENT WHEEL LOCATIONS IN NORMAL DRIVING AFTER HITTING MODERATE POTHOLES AT BETWEEN 30-40 MPH. THE MID PROFILE MICHELIN PRIMACY OEM TIRES, 19 INCH WHEELS, AND SUSPENSION DO NOT FUNCTION SAFELY ON THIS HEAVY SEDAN. THE RISK OF EVEN A SMALL POTHOLE, EXPANSION JOINT, OR MANHOLE IS A DANGER SINCE THE SIDEWALLS GET CUT WITHOUT ACTUALLY BLOWING OUT, SO A BLOWOUT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE WITH A TIRE IN A MILLION MILES OF DRIVING OVER 35+ YEARS. TO HAVE 3 IN 5 MONTHS SCREAMS OF A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH MICHELIN DENIES AND ACURA WON'T ADDRESS. 1. TURNING RIGHT ON AN ENTRANCE RAMP AT ABOUT 35MPH, SEPARATED DRIVER FRONT TIRE WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE IN THE DARK. 8,000 MILES ON TIRE. (FEB 2016) 2. SLOWING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT ABOUT 20MPH, SEPARATED PASSENGER REAR TIRE WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE IN THE DRIVING LANE. 15,000 MILES ON TIRE. (JUNE 2016) 3. JUST AFTER TURNING RIGHT ONTO AN ENTRANCE RAMP TO A HIGHWAY, HIT

Mileage: 15,400

20160707CrashAIR BAGS

I WAS INVOLVED IN A MODERATE TO SEVERE FRONTAL CRASH DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AND A LEFT TURNING DRIVER STRUCK MY CAR THE KNEE AIRBAG WAS THE ONLY AIRBAG TO DEPLOY CAUSING LEG.PAIN DUE TO THE AIR BAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL NOT GOING OFF CAUSED NECK, BACK PAIN WITH HEADACHES ALONG WITH PAIN GOING INTO MY LEGS. THE CAR IS SHOWING TWO AIR BAG CODES CAR IS A 2016 ACURA RLX

Mileage: 985

20160707CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

I WAS INVOLVED IN A MODERATE TO SEVERE FRONTAL CRASH DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AND A LEFT TURNING DRIVER STRUCK MY CAR THE KNEE AIRBAG WAS THE ONLY AIRBAG TO DEPLOY CAUSING LEG.PAIN DUE TO THE AIR BAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL NOT GOING OFF CAUSED NECK, BACK PAIN WITH HEADACHES ALONG WITH PAIN GOING INTO MY LEGS. THE CAR IS SHOWING TWO AIR BAG CODES CAR IS A 2016 ACURA RLX

Mileage: 985

20160707CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

I WAS INVOLVED IN A MODERATE TO SEVERE FRONTAL CRASH DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AND A LEFT TURNING DRIVER STRUCK MY CAR THE KNEE AIRBAG WAS THE ONLY AIRBAG TO DEPLOY CAUSING LEG.PAIN DUE TO THE AIR BAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL NOT GOING OFF CAUSED NECK, BACK PAIN WITH HEADACHES ALONG WITH PAIN GOING INTO MY LEGS. THE CAR IS SHOWING TWO AIR BAG CODES CAR IS A 2016 ACURA RLX

Mileage: 985

Compare 2016ACURARLX to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2016 ACURA RLX have?
The 2016 ACURA RLX has 9 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 ACURA RLX?
The 2016 ACURA RLX received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 5/5, front crash rating of 5/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 5/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 ACURA RLX?
The most-complained component for the 2016 ACURA RLX is STRUCTURE:BODY with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and AIR BAGS.
Is the 2016 ACURA RLX safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2016 ACURA RLX has an NHTSA safety rating of 5/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.