Exterior Lighting Problems of Acura RDX - part 1

The low beam headlights are very dim and this causes reduced / no visibility while driving at night. While driving in the dark, it is impossible to see anything on the road ahead.

See all problems of the 2015 Acura RDX 🔎.

Low beam headlights degrading. Car is unsafe to drive at night! tried changing light bulbs but does not improve light quality. Dealer said it was an Acura issue. The problem has been getting progressively worse.

See all problems of the 2014 Acura RDX 🔎.

Bought this used on February 5th 2026 low beam headlights so dim barely illuminating driving surface.

The low beam headlights have degraded over time and are now barely providing any light, making driving at night unsafe. This appears to be due to the degradation of the low beam assembly reflector. Replacing the low beam headlights with higher quality lights did not make any noticeable difference. This issue has been reported in numerous online chats for the 2015 Acura Rdx.

Headlights are dangerously dim, even with original equipment replacement bulbs.

2013 Acura Rdx. Head lights have dimmed where its not safe to drive. Had the whole head light assemblies replaced by the dealership 11 months ago for $4,000. Still have same problem with new ones.

See all problems of the 2013 Acura RDX 🔎.

Low beam headlights degrading from reflector delamination. Car is unsafe to drive at night. Changing lightbulbs does not improve light quality. Issue has been getting progressively worst each year to a point where the car is not drivable at night.

I purchased this 2014 Acura Rdx in 2016, a certified pre-owned with original 28,000 miles, from price Acura in dover, DE. VIN # [xxx] . The car is very well maintained; garage kept and consistently follows the regular maintenance schedule. The current mileage is 143,968. I have voiced my concern to the price Acura dealership regarding the ongoing issue with the headlights. The combination of heavy oxidation, internal condensation, and water seepage has gotten worse over time, causing very dim, unsafe low beams even after bulb/lens restoration. This issue is not normal wear and tear but is a defective seal or manufacturing issue. I’ve had to use my high beams to see while driving at night, but with oncoming traffic having to turn them off and on, not to impact other drivers, it is not safe. This issue has worsened, has negatively impacted my safety driving at night, most recent the driver side low beam headlight burnt out while I was traveling along back roads at night. After researching this issue, I learned this is a widespread problem and replacing the low beam headlight bulb is not the answer, and that the entire headlight assembly needs to be replaced, which I found is very costly. I am a loyal Acura customer with over 10 years of ownership. Given this widespread problem and my loyalty, I’m hoping for some manufacturer assistance, perhaps a covered repair, partial credit, or guidance getting help to cover this costly defect. Would you please advise of any cost effective service or potential solutions to resolve this known problem. As it stands, this issue has limited me to daylight driving only until this issue is properly fixed. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The headlights are unsafe with dim low beam projectors even after trying a couple sets of new bulbs. Here are the part numbers for reference 33100-tx4-a12 33150-tx4-a12 there is a significant safety issue requiring replacement of components that should not need replacing.

The low beam headlights lights on my 2013 Acura Rdx are very dim, and replacing the bulbs does not make any difference. I have read multiple reports that this is a common problem where the reflective material inside the projector style housing breaks down over time, and that the only fix is to replace the entire headlight assembly on both sides. Due to the poor lighting, I have had several near misses with other cars and obstacles that have been hard to see. Compared to other vehicles I have driven over by lifetime, this car really does has a significant safety problem. Headlight assemblies should not degrade this quickly, and replacing them is an expensive repair. I believe that NHTSA should investigate this issue for a potential recall, as not being able to see at night is a major safety issue.

Low beam headlight projector reflectors deteriorate making the low beam headlights unusable for safe driving. Entire assembly has to be replaced to remedy. Extremely common in this generation of Acura Rdx based on internet searches.

My 2015 Acura Rdx has such dim headlights, that I feel that it is not safe to drive at night. The headlights have gotten so dim that I can't even tell if they are on, unless I drive by a building and see the lights in the reflection. The only way I can drive safely is to have my high beam headlights on, which is not safe for other drivers. Not to mention illegal in most areas. As I understand it, the 2015 Acura rlx has had recalls for a very similar headlight issue. Why hasn't this recall been extended to the 2015 Rdx, which appears to be built off the same platform, and is having the same issue?.

Can’t see to drive at night with low beams on. Miss turns at night.

The low beam is very dim at night regardless what bulb I've installed. The reflective material inside the projector housing is no longer working.

Base model halogen headlights project unsafe low light after defects in the projection reflector assembly delaminate. Light output at night is completely unsafe to drive. Acura knows it’s a defective part and will not offer fix other than full replacement of entire headlight assemblies at a cost of approximately $3,000. Major safety issue making a car unsafe to drive at night, all due to a poor design and defective reflective coating used on projector part of headlights.

Purchased car with ~96k miles. Drove at night and had extremely low road visibility due to lighting. Replaced the bulbs to a high lumen led, did not increase lighting/visibility. My research finds this to be a known issue with a refractor found behind the headlight lens within the headlamp housing.

At night when I turn on my headlights, they turn on, however they do not reflect properly causing severe dimming and inability to see farther than 1-2 feet in front while I am driving. This is a severe safety hazard. Changing the bulbs regardless of halogen or led does not improve. Many forums have this issue and it is too unsafe to drive at night putting myself, my passengers, and people on the street at risk. Mechanic confirms the issue.

The low beam headlights on my 2014 Acura Rdx are too dim to allow safe night driving. An independent service provider confirmed the headlight coating is causing a "cataract" type effect on the inside of the lamp. The bulbs were switched to brighter led lights, but there is no significant improvement. It seems the next step is to replace the entire headlight assembly which would be an out of pocket expense of at least $1000. 00. This is a failure of the low beam head light manufacturing which has made my vehicle impossible to drive at night unless the high beams are used.

The headlights on this vehicle are terrible. Have to drive with brights on at night or cannot see. I replaced with better bulbs but no improvement. I have been told this is a common problem on these vehicles and the only fix is to replace the complete headlight assembly. I was told by dealership this was approximately a $3000 job.

The headlights on this vehicle are very dim and it is dangerous to drive at night. I require my daughter to drive with the high beams on since the low beam lights are hardly functional. I've had the lights replaced at a cost of $500. This did not help the situation. The lights have failed inspection and I'm faced with having to replace the lights again for an additional $500 just to pass inspection. This fix will not resolve the issue. From what I've been able to research online, this is not an isolated situation with 2015 Acura Rdx vehicles. It appears to be a result of a defect in the entire headlight assembly part, which is a significant cost to repair. I'm concerned for the safety of my daughter having to drive this vehicle and the safety of other drivers due to her needing to use her high beams more often than typically required. I contacted Acura USA and was told there were no recalls and that I needed to manage repairs through the dealership. This is an obvious safety issue that Acura should resolve.

Low beam daily headlights do not illuminate properly forcing you to use high beams constantly because you can't see the road at night. Dangerous for driver of vehicle and major hazard for cars you pass because you are using your high beam headlights all the time.

I came close to striking certian low lining dividers, etc. . . . It is very well known that Rdx around my build date main headlight projector reflector burns out. I found out that Acura had a mandatory NHTSA recall to that era ilx for this same issue and Nissan has just settled a class action lawsuit for the same issue. The headlights were all manufactured by national automotive lighting (nal). And the reflective coating inside the projector lens burns in time due to high lightbulb heat. When will this be recalled?.

The low-beam reflector itself oxidizes, is not reflective at all, and no amount of brighter bulbs or clean outside lenses will help with a reflector that doesn’t reflect. (it’s also not related to the cloudy inner-lens. It’s the reflector. ) replacing the entire headlight assembly is the only solution which is about 1,000. 00 many people are complaing of this. This should be a recall from Acura. On this model car, the low beams get so dangerously dim, that (my case for example), I literally could not tell if the low beam headlights were on or off if I were driving on a street where any street lights (even just residential neighborhood street lights) were anywhere within eyesight. The only time I could make out that they were on would be if I were on a pitch black section of a street, in which case I could see a very faint glow that only extended maybe four-feet out.

Very low light output from low beams, I have researched others, here is the same situation I have the low-beam reflector itself oxidizes, is not reflective at all, and no amount of brighter bulbs or clean outside lenses will help with a reflector that doesn’t reflect. (it’s also not related to the cloudy inner-lens. It’s the reflector. ) replacing the entire headlight assembly seems to be the only solution ($300-450 for the lights and 2-3 hours of labor) people who mean well and arent familiar with the specifics of the Acura Rdx 2013 to 2015 problem will give you conventional advice (clean the outside lenses and buy the brand bulbs they like), but they are incorrect. There is a widespread and extreme problem and defect with this specific generation of the Acura Rdx. On my car the low beams are so dangerously dim, that (my case for example), I literally could not tell if the low beam headlights were on or off if I were driving on a street where any street lights (even just residential neighborhood street lights) were anywhere within eyesight. The only time I could make out that they were on would be if I were on a pitch black section of a street, in which case I could see a very faint glow that only extended maybe four-feet out. And when I parked facing the garage door at night, just about three feet from the garage door, both the running lights and the flashers were far (not just a little) brighter than the low beams.

Both headlight are dim, even change the headlight bulbs still dim. Night time driver can't see well is very danger!.

I recently purchased this vehicle used, and just drove it at night for the first time. The low-beam headlights are extremely dim, to the point that it was difficult to tell if they were even turned on. This made it very difficult to drive in the dark, and I nearly went off the road as a result. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer, service center, or other party, but I did confirm that the headlights were operating, but remained dangerously dim. No warning lights or messages came on to indicate any sort of problem.

The drivers side headlight does not work. If it does work initially upon turning on, when the car brakes, the light flickers and then goes out. I have replaced the light bulb three times and it doesn't fix the problem. My mechanic said there is no way to fix it and sometimes this happens with the type of light bulbs this car uses. It seems to be electrical that the brake or motion of the stopping causes the light to shut off and I can't get it to turn back on so I either have to not drive at night or drive with my high beams on - both of which seem unsafe. Another reason I'm thinking it could be electrical is that the lock beep noise and lights flashing rarely works anymore and if it does, it's very faint.

Have replaced low beam headlight bulbs multiple times within weeks/months of each time for months now. Low beam is so dim that vehicle is unsafe to drive at night without turning on high beams. Something is more wrong than just the bulb. Taken to repair shop each time. Changing bulbs works for a few days then no light happens again. What do I do???.

Low beam headlights have begun to dim so much that they are unsafe and ineffective at night. I understand that there may be a reflector problem with the headlights.

Headlights have grown dim. The bulbs have been replaced multiple times to find a bright enough bulb, to no avail. Approximate visual distance at night in unlit areas is less than 25'. This is a safety hazard because this does not allow enough time to avoid impacts.

Low beam headlights are very dim, making it difficult to see at night. I believe this puts me, as well as other drivers at serious risk of injury. I see many other reported issues with the low beam headlights being too dim, but evidently Honda/Acura has not recalled my car (yet).

Left headlight low beam has become progressively more dim over time and although it appears functional, it's not actually lighting the roadway. Have replaced bulbs and cleaned/buffed headlight assembly with no improvement. Had entire headlight assembly replaced with used headlamp assembly and replaced bulbs, but no improvement. 2014 Rdx head lamps have been recalled for the same reason. Driving at night is difficult and dangerous.

The contact owns a 2021 Acura Rdx. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front headlights and instrument panel lights started blinking off and on. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the body control module had malfunctioned due to water intrusion from the moon roof seals. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.

See all problems of the 2021 Acura RDX 🔎.

After purchasing this used vehicle from a dealership we began driving home and it got dark. It was then we noticed the headlights on the vehicle are significantly dimmer than other vehicles. I was driving in front of them and noticed this once we got out of the city and onto the freeway. Once we got home I confirmed with the person driving the vehicle that in the dark and rain it was very difficult to see and they felt unsafe. I checked to ensure the lights were turned on properly, which they were. I was hoping that replacing the bulbs would fix the issue but when I went to research this I discovered that many people online experienced the same issue and that replacing the bulbs would not fix the issue. I confirmed in the paperwork and online that the vehicle was up to dates on recall work but that this known issue was not part of any as of yet. I would like to ask that this safety issue be resolved via recall as until doing so I will not be driving in the rain or night as we believe it a potential safety hazard and likely to cause accident or injury to someone.

Low beam headlights became very dim, making it unsafe to drive at night. Only solution was to replace entire headlight housings, costing $2,285 (would have been $4,000 if purchased original vs aftermarket housings).