Wiper Problems of Acura RDX - part 1

While on vacation, upon entering the parked vehicle, the rear hatch window spontaneously shattered. No local place was open (Sunday) and the wait for a new window was days out so I had to drive two hours home with a makeshift windshield made from a tarp and duct tape. This is an obvious hazard as I could not see out the back window. Replacement window to be installed in the coming days. No warnings indicated.

See all problems of the 2022 Acura RDX 🔎.

Rear windshield shattered while driving, with no impact. That is a dangerous risk that could go terribly wrong with other drivers.

See all problems of the 2019 Acura RDX 🔎.

On March 5, 2026 my son and I were sitting parked in my 2019 Rdx a-spec SUV when we heard a loud cracking sound and my rear windshield shattered. We got out of the car and did not see anyone or anything nearby that could have impacted the windshield. There were no objects on the ground or inside of the car that could have caused the break. I called 911 to get emergency assistance because at the time we weren't sure whether it was possible that someone had thrown or shot something at our car. I also called my insurance company while onsite to file a claim. The police arrived and could not find any sign of foul play but noted a comment report to document the incident. We had to drive the car home with shattered glass falling into our car as we drove very slowly home. We were shaken and very confused as to why and how this could have happened. When I got home I googled, "rdx" and before I could type in anything else, hundreds of customer complaints including news coverage of the very same incident I experienced showed up. Acura/Honda knew about this and had issued service bulletin (22-014) on 10/28/2022 but never directly informed customers that this could happen. There is no recall, no light indicators, no warning. I was in the car with my son. We could have been on the highway or anywhere when our windshield shattered. I contacted an Acura dealership and they indicated that I was responsible as the customer. Now, I am having to pay $500 out of pocket in order for my insurance to cover the damages. This may also cause my insurance rate to increase. This is a terrible safety issue and Honda/Acura failed to inform customers and take responsibility for a known, well-documented safety issue.

The rear window on the hatch shattered without any trauma to the glass. It was completely unexpected and there was immediately a hole in my rear window. There were no obvious defects in the glass and again, no trauma to the window prior to it shattering. The car was parked in the garage when it happened.

Component failure & inspection: the rear windshield glass spontaneously imploded/shattered. This is a documented manufacturing defect involving the rear defroster grid, as detailed in Acura technical service bulletin (TSB) 22-014. The vehicle and the shattered glass are currently available for inspection. Safety risk: the glass shattered while the vehicle was occupied, spraying shards of tempered glass into the cabin. This posed an immediate risk of laceration and eye injury to the occupants, as well as a significant distraction/startle hazard that could have resulted in a collision if the vehicle were in motion. Confirmation: the failure was inspected and confirmed by mcgrath Acura of westmont on February 27, 2026. The dealership acknowledged the existence of TSB 22-014 and the defect in the defroster grid but has not yet provided a full remedy. Manufacturer inspection: the vehicle is an Acura precision certified unit. A formal case has been opened with Acura client relations (case #16209033), and photos of the failure have been provided to them. Warning symptoms: there were no warning lamps or symptoms prior to the failure. The glass imploded suddenly and without external impact while the vehicle was stationary.

Got in my vehicle as usual, started the vehicle shortly after I heard cracking thought nothing of it and all of a sudden the rear tailgate window shattered completely.

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Car was parked in parking lot and was not moved. When I returned to my car after working I got in and looked out my rearview mirror as I was about to put car in reverse to notice that my rear window did not look right. After getting out of the car to investigate, it was found that my rear window had been completely shattered. The window had no obvious area of impact, as if something had accidentally hit it or as if someone were trying to break in. It appeared to have self-shattered. This was also confirmed with police report filing. I was also told that the only reason my window still remained in place (even shattered) was because I had a tint film over it.

Rear windshield shattered upon closing the driver door to start and drive the car. No impact from a random object or use of defroster.

See all problems of the 2020 Acura RDX 🔎.

My rear windshield shattered during the winter. There was no signs of any damage beforehand. There was broken glass everywhere and I could’ve seriously cut myself or anyone back there could’ve been hurt by the pieces of broken glass. I had to file a police report for my insurance. Many car dealerships are refusing to fix! there’s too many reports of this happening!.

•what component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? rear window spontaneously combusted and cracked while I was driving. It is being repaired on Saturday by safelite per my hartford insurance •how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I could not see out of my rear window, it was entirely fractured and had a hole in it. It also spilled glass on the road and in my car. •has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes, it has previously been acknowledged by Acura/Honda however they did not include my VIN number on the issue, even though it was in the same class of issues. •has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? yes, through my insurance carrier hartford it was brought to safelite where they put on a crash cover before they replace the glass this Saturday. •were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? no.

When I closed my driver's door, the rear window shattered. Glass came into the vehicle when this happened. I had it repaired the next day by safelite. I made an insurance claim but still had to pay $500 deductible. There was no warning that such a break could happen. There was no prior damage to the window or tailgate at all. I see online there are other instances of this reported, but unsure why Acura hasn't done a recall or otherwise notified the owners of this danger.

The rear windshield was shattered on its own. It is available to inspect. It caused glass to be scattered around & unsafe to drive. I could not see through the window. It has not yet been inspected. No warning lamps or messages. It just shattered just sitting outside my work.

I had parked my vehicle in front of my house on Friday, January 30, 2026 at 1:30a. M. I had turned on my vehicle's engine via Acuralink app at 5:20p. M. On that same day. So that it can be warmed up to go to work. At 5:30p. M. I went to my vehicle and saw the rear windshield had been broken. I initially thought someone had broken into the vehicle so I immediately called my near by police station to which they told me to call 9-1-1. I called 9-1-1 and reported a police report with the officers who came to my house. I then contacted my landlord and super since the vehicle was parked in a location where it was visible to my building cameras but no one was near my vehicle during the time the rear windshield had broken. I proceeded to do my research online and discovered that this is a constant occurrence with Acura Rdx models from years 2012-current. The issue is with the defroster when the vehicle engine starts. I took my vehicle to paragon Acura where they proceeded to take pictures of the vehicle and the damage and replaced the vehicle with an aftermarket windshield, stating the issue is with the windshield which is incorrect, the issue is with the defroster. They assured me this will not happen again due to them using aftermarket glass and this is a one time goodwill repair. Glass is still in my trunk door as I was unable to leave the vehicle for cleaning. I explained to Acura this can not happen due to having 3 young children who place their school bags in the trunk of the car, it could have shattered while they were putting their bags in the trunk as they do daily. There was absolutely no warnings or trigger before the glass had broken or given any signs of breaking.

The back tailgate glass shattered. It was parked, I had just turned it on. And as I was starting to shift it to reverse it shattered. A pop the soundof glass falling. I slammed on breaks got out the window was broken, missing. All along the windsheild wiper. I had to get it fixed after 5 days waiting for the glass to come in by safelite.

I used my automatic start and came outside and got in the car and my rear windshield cracked.

My back window just shattered on its own while the car was sitting in the driveway. It wasn't running, and nothing hit it. The glass just suddenly cracked and spidered everywhere without any warning.

The lift gate hatch window suddenly imploded.

Car was parked in my garage. Rear window shattered after I entered the car and shut the car door.

Rear back glass exploded right after parking the vehicle.

The rear windshield shattered out of nowhere while parked outdoors on a cold day (<20 degree weather). There was no impact involved in the shattering. Dealer stated that I must go through insurance in order to get rear windshield repaired. Upon further searching this is a problem that is common with the Acura Rdx model from years 2019-2023 there was even a technical service bulletin (TSB) on may 20th, 2023 involving 'rear windshield glass shattering' caused by 'incorrect specification for the rear defroster grid' showing that the company is aware of this issue.

I used my automatic start to warm up my vehicle (it was on for about 5 minutes). When I went to open up by rear door (using my remote button), the back window completely shattered. I was walking up to my car when I heard the crackling of the glass. There was no warning about it. I will be calling the dealership about it tomorrow. Picture #1 was what the window looked like when I close the back. Picture #2 was the aftermath when I opened and closed the driver's door.

To whom it may concern, I am submitting a vehicle safety defect complaint regarding my 2020 Acura Rdx. The rear window of my vehicle suddenly shattered without any impact, collision, road debris, or external force. At the time of the incident, the vehicle was stationary. There was no warning or visible damage prior to failure. The glass shattered unexpectedly, creating a dangerous condition and risk of injury. I was required to file an insurance claim and have the rear window replaced. I am concerned this may indicate a defect in the glass, manufacturing process, or vehicle structure. I request that NHTSA review this incident, determine whether similar failures have been reported, and evaluate whether this represents a safety-related defect requiring investigation or recall. I can provide photographs, repair invoices, VIN, mileage, and additional documentation upon request. Sincerely, joyce burnett phone: 757-636-6167 (mobile) VIN: 5j8tc1h57ll013150.

The rear windshield of a 2019 Acura Rdx spontaneously shattered while the vehicle was sitting in our driveway. Vehicle was turned off, nothing fell or contacted the car, no passengers in the vehicle. This is the 2nd time this happened, last incident occurred ~2 years ago. Acura denied any record of this being an ongoing issue then, and has the same stance on the issue now, despite it being a widely known issue according to internet searches. We took pictures of the break, vehicle is available for inspection but we will be replacing the rear windshield immediately via insurance/safelite as we need the vehicle to be operational. Fortunately, we were not in the vehicle driving at the time of break, as reports indicate loud sound upon breakage that can startle driver. We also cannot operate the vehicle until rear windshield is replaced due to sound concerns for infant and temperature control issues with the rear exposed to outside air. Vehicle and rear hatch was inspected by safelite personnel upon replacing the first broken windshield. No other symptoms present before the glass broke. We have pictures of the broken windshield, showing the car sitting in the driveway. Same exact thing happened in the first incident (car was sitting in driveway, not being used).

Rear windshield shattered on its own, without impact from any object.

Sometime between 9pm on January 13th and 8:45am on January 14th, the rear glass of my 2020 Acura Rdx shattered inside our closed, insulated garage. No cause could be found inside or around the garage and I googled and found out the rear defroster grid causes stress on the class and is actually quite common. I also have a video but it’s too large to upload.

I am the owner of a 2020 Acura Rdx. Approximately 64,000 miles. Car was parked in my driveway. My wife heard a loud bang. Back windshield shattered. Pieces of glass inside and outside the vehicle. The window had no prior dents or cracks.

On January 6, 2026, as I left my house and was driving to work, I heard a loud gunshot/explosion sound. The trunk window had a whole and it started to shatter. The window completely shattered and fell. No evidence of a rock hitting the window was present. The temperature was 45 degrees. The coldness was not an issue, as this car has been in below 0 degree weather. I called Acura dealership. They told me they had never heard of this issue and didn’t offer to inspect the vehicle. I had to find a fix outside of Acura. No warning lights or prior failure issues with windows. The defroster was not on either.

Got in my car to leave work, heard a strange rattle noise from the back of the car when I shut the driver door. I looked back and see a hole in the rear windshield. I got out to take a closer look, and also to take a picture. When I got back in the car and shut the door, a large chunk of glass fell into the back of the vehicle. My car was parked at work for 8. 5 hours, and I had to drive 40 miles home with a shattered back windshield. This is the 2nd time the back windshield has randomly shattered. The first time was in March 2025, in my driveway at home, during the overnight hours. Before leaving for work, I found glass had exploded on the inside and outside of the vehicle, and also on the driveway under the area of the back windshield. Both times it has spontaneously shattered has been in a different location. Also, there has not been any previous known damage, such as chips or cracks. No suggestion of foreign objects coming into contact with the glass, or any obvious signs of vandalism.

Rear window for 2019 Acura Rdx shattered while sitting in driveway. There was no impact and the car was stationary.

My rear windshield spontaneously shattered with me sitting in my driver's seat in a parking lot. I just started my car, put on my seat belt when I heard this loud noise and saw the rear windshield shattered. I found no object in my car that could have caused the problem like a rock.

The whole rear glass unexpectantly shattered. My car was parked in the driveway and I found it this way later in the day. The whole rear hatchback glass was shattered everywhere. Glass pieces were starting to fall inside. I called the my local Acura dealer bobby rahal and they said this was problem with the Rdx but Acura was not covering them. He said there is a TSB tech. Service bulletin. This is a very dangerous defect that needs to be recalled.

I was leaving noticed I could not see out of back windshield. Thought it was ice and put on the defroster. Went to scrape ice and noticed the windshield was shattered in pieces. Did not see any object around vehicle that could have hit or fell on it yo cause damage.

While entering the vehicle in the parking lock, I closed the driver door and the rear view mirror shattered completely on it own.

I walked outside after work and the rear windshield was shattered. I work at a high school so I assumed it was an accident and after administration checked cameras from the entire day, nothing was founded. I googled the make and model of my car and saw it’s common to occur as a defect.

Rear windshield shattered while parked. There was no accident/impact. Just spontaneously shattered.