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VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Acura RLX2014–2020

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

🏅 LUXURY
Acura RLX
2014–2020
B
Defect Risk
Recall intensity
1.5/yr · seg. median 0.0
Limited data — provisional
Safety
Low
0 inj.
✓No open federal investigations
3
Recalls
0
Complaints
2019
Best Yr
0
Injuries
Avoid 2019
7
Years Analyzed
3
Total Recalls
0
Total Complaints
0
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Acura RLX Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2019

2 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

#2 WORST
2014

1 recall · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Federal Defect Investigations

NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 2 past investigations into the RLX became recalls.

Recently concluded investigations
EA19001 · air bags · closed Sep 2024→ Became recall
DP22005 · electrical system · closed Aug 2023→ Became recall

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of September 13, 2026.

Acura RLX — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
202000——
82
88
84
Excellent
201920——
75
84
78
Avoid
201800——
82
78
81
Excellent
201700——
82
71
78
Excellent
201600——
82
64
76
Excellent
201500——
82
57
73
Excellent
201410——
82
51
71
Caution

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the RLX compares — best year within each era shown.

2018–Present

Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2020 (Buyer Score 84).

Best: 2020
2020 · 842018 · 812019 · 78

2013–2017

Mid-decade models in the depreciation sweet spot — typically 35–55% below original MSRP. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and recall completion. Best: 2017 (Buyer Score 78).

Best: 2017
2017 · 782016 · 762015 · 732014 · 71

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year RLX to buy?+

See the Buyer Score table above for a full ranking of every RLX model year.

Which RLX years have the most problems?+

The 2019, 2014 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2019 RLX leads with 2 recalls and 0 owner complaints.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common RLX problems?+

See the complaint chart on this page for a breakdown by component.

Deep-Dive Research

Common Problems

Full year-by-year breakdown of every documented defect for the Acura RLX.

Reliability Score

Reliability rating and score breakdown compared to similar luxury vehicles.

Years to Avoid

Every RLX year ranked by problem score — worst years listed with full reasoning.

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

Run a VIN Check →