The Acura RDX is a powerful, efficient crossover vehicle with bold styling. It’s no wonder that many RDX owners love their vehicle so much. Still, even this robust automobile can experience mechanical failures from time to time. Let’s look at some potential Acura RDX breakdowns, their symptoms and associated costs. The factory Acura warranty is 4 years/50,000 miles.

When the Acura extended auto warranty or factory expires, an extended vehicle protection plan can pay for high repair costs. Get a free estimate from CARCHEX today.

Lights Dim Or No Start

When the Acura RDX alternator goes bad, you might notice the headlights or interior lights going dim. Also, the car’s performance may suffer. You might be able to jump start the car, but eventually you’ll be left without battery charge.

Replacement costs for a new RDX alternator are between $315 – $560, parts and labor.

Water Pump Failure

The Acura RDX water pump can fail due to a variety of reasons such as a failed thermostat, radiator or head gasket. The pump may become noisy or leak fluid. In the worst case, the engine can overheat which may even lead to complete engine failure. Leaking coolant can also cause problems to other parts like drives and belts.

Replacing a failed Acura RDX water pump will cost you around $290 to $450. The parts alone are around $200.

Oil Pump Failure

A failed oil pump can result a variety of symptoms from clanking noises to engine overheating. In some cases, a simple check engine light may be the only sign of oil pump malfunction. Similar symptoms may come from oil leaks not related to a failed pump.

The cost to replace a failed Acura RDX oil pump is around $870 to $1080. However, if other parts (oil pan gasket, etc.) need to be replaced, the costs could go up significantly.

AC Problems

If your Acura air conditioning doesn’t produce cold air, you’ll need an AC diagnostic check. Technicians can detect tiny AC system leaks by adding a special dye to the refrigerant.

The Acura AC diagnostic check costs around $80 to $120. Any of the following may be determined to be the source of AC malfunction (with estimated repair costs):

  • AC condenser from $440 to $570
  • AC compressor from $700 to $1030
  • AC evaporator from $510 to $760

Catalytic Converter

In most cases, all you’ll see is the check engine light come on when the Acura catalytic converter fails. However, you may also notice a strange exhaust smell or reduced engine power. A failed emissions test is also sometimes due to a catalytic converter problem.

Installing a new Acura RDX catalytic converter will cost you around $630 to $1470, parts and labor. Labor alone is around $450. Make sure you ask the technician to check for other problems, since catalytic converter failure is often due to a failed part elsewhere.

When your Acura extended auto warranty or factory car warranty has expired, an Extended Vehicle Protection Plan can cover your repair costs. Get a free estimate from CARCHEX now.

As the leading Extended Vehicle Protection Plan provider, CARCHEX has collected years of repair claim data on thousands of vehicle makes and models. Specific types of Acura RDX repairs highlighted in this article are derived from data provided by RepairPal, a CARCHEX partner. Repair costs derived from both RepairPal, as well as CARCHEX based on actual claim related data.