NHTSA Complaint #10836547 — 2012 ACURA RDX

WITHIN THE FIRST 2 YEARS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOTICED MY RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING. THE ACURA DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION UNDER WARRANTY 28,782.00 MMI MAY 16, 2014. I WAS EXPERIENCING VIBRATION ESPECIALLY AT SPEEDS OF 60-65. IT KEPT GETTING WORSE I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ROAD, TIRES OUT OF BALANCE, WHEELS OUT OF BALANCE? I GOT NEW TIRES, BALANCED. IT CONTINUED. I READ ABOUT COMPLAINTS WITH THE AXLE AND SIMILAR SYMPTOMS IN OTHER ACURA SEDAN MODELS, NOT THE RDX. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE AXLE DID NEED TO REPLACED AT 46,306.00 MILES 11/30/15. IT WAS ON BACK ORDER FOR OVER A MONTH. I WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT FEBRUARY 8, 2016 AND HEARD A TERRIBLE LOUD GRINDING NOISE TURNING THE WHEEL. I PUT IT IN PARK AND IT STOPPED THEN I PROCEEDED AGAIN AND IT HAPPENED AFTER MOVING A FEW YARDS. I TRIED TO PULL TO A SAFE OUT OF THE WAY SPOT AND THE NOISE CAME AGAIN AND THIS TIME JUST WHEN PUTTING IT IN DRIVE THE TERRIBLE LOUD GRINDING TYPE NOISE CAME. I THOUGHT THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO FAIL. I STOPPED WHERE I WAS AND CALLED AAA FOR A TOW. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE AXLE HAD BROKEN INSIDE ON A PIECE ON THE LEFT SIDE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IE, I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING ETC... THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID MAYBE THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE, HE DID NOT SEE ANY DAMAGE. HE HAD ONE IN STOCK AND WAS ABLE TO REPLACE IT RIGHT AWAY. THERE IS STILL A CREAKING NOISE WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL ESPECIALLY TO THE RIGHT OR WHEN I STEP ON THE BREAKS THE FRONT END MAKES NOISE SEEMS LIKE IT NEEDS LUBRICATION OR SOMETHING. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. THE ACURA CORPORATION WILL NOT ADMIT THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE THEY WANT ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER TO HAVE IT EVALUATED. (DID THAT) TONY THE DISTRICT CASE MANAGER SAID THEY CAN ONLY TAKE CARE OF THINGS THAT ARE UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY WILL NOT BUY BACK THIS CAR SO THAT I CAN PURCHASE A SAFE CAR. I WILL BE SEEKING ARBITRATION.