NHTSA Complaint #11243475 — 2014 ACURA RLX

THE 2014 ACURA RLX INTRODUCED ACURA'S NEW PAWS SYSTEM (PRECISION ALL WHEEL STEERING). THE REAR WHEELS TURN SLIGHTLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE CAR AND ARE CONTROLLED BY THE VEHICLE NOT THE DRIVER (DRIVER CONTROLS ONLY THE STANDARD FRONT WHEEL STEERING). THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY SOUNDS LIKE AN UPGRADE IN THEORY AND MAY EVEN BE IN CASES AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH THE REAR WHEELS TURNING EVER SO SLIGHTLY. HOWEVER, I HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE IT FEELS LIKE I DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE FROM MY DRIVER'S SEAT. WHILE IN MOTION, IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMPLETING A TURN, THE REAR WHEELS APPEAR TO BE LATE IN CORRECTING BACK TO THE CAR'S NEW DIRECTION (APPROX. 2-3 SECONDS LATE). THIS RESULTS IN A FEELING OF "FISHTAILING". I CAN FEEL THE BACK END OF THE CAR PULLING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND MY NATURAL INSTINCT IS TYPICALLY AN OVERCORRECT. MY BEST EXAMPLE WOULD BE A ROUNDABOUT TURN. THE REAR WHEELS ATTEMPT TO STAY IN THE CIRCULAR TURN EVEN WHEN YOU EXIT THE ROUNDABOUT TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. THE PROBLEM IS THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE IS PULLING TOWARDS THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS FEELING IN AN "S" CURVE AND A U-TURN. WHAT PROMPTED ME TO FINALLY SPEAK UP ABOUT THIS IS IN MY MOST RECENT EXPERIENCE IT WAS RAINING. THE WET ROAD MADE THE REAR END OF THE CAR FEEL LIKE IT WAS SLIDING OUT OF MY CONTROL. THERE IS A LOCAL RATHER LARGE ROUNDABOUT WITH 4 LANES AND HIGHER THAN USUAL SPEEDS FOR A ROUNDABOUT. IN THESE INSTANCES, THE REAR WHEEL STEERING SHOULD BE DISABLED FOR SAFETY REASONS.