Just a question to everyone.. I have a 2008 RDX base with just under 30,000 miles. I've had no mechanical problems whatsoever and performance has been excellent. However over the last 12 months I have more consistently noticed a high pitch "whine" sound coming from under the hood. It can occur at any time, seems to be more apparent when cold, but I also hear it after the car has been warm for a while too. It seems to be consistent, in that it can occur while at idle (as a constant hissing whine) or when accelerating (moreso prevalent when cold). I can hear the whining picking up with acceleration and it seems to become less loud when not accelerating and the car is sitting at idle. Sometimes after the car warms up, the whining seems to go away. It is NOT apparent at high speed or when pushing the turbo at high speed on the highway.

I brought this to the attention of the dealer (whose service department I generally trust) and they think it is a normal sound probably coming from the turbo. I have never had a turbocharged vehicle before, so not too familiar with what's normal and what's not.

Has anyone noticed this before? I do not think that this is the transmission, because the whine occurs while idling or accelerating, regardless of whether the transmission is engaged in drive or park, or disengaged in neutral.

Any ideas? Should I be concerned? Reason I'm curious is that I'm approaching lease end, thinking of keeping the car after lease since it's in great shape, and don't want to be saddled with a major problem down the road when the warrranty has expired-- especially since we all don't have a lot of long term data yet on the longevity of the turbo in this vehicle.

That being said has anyone had any other long term mechanical issues with this vehicle yet? Could affect my decision to buy the car out or not.

Thanks everyone... really appreciate it..

I have a stock intake with a K&N filter and I barely notice the whine from the turbo. I wouldn't be alarmed. The only other whining I've experienced (in any car) was from my supercharger in the old Accord and when the alternator in the Accord was dying. I doubt it's your alternator because you said you've been noticing this for the last year...your alternator would have died in that time if that was the culprit.

I feel that the turbo in my 07 "whines" from time to time.....meaning it sounds "funny". Having said that, there is no smoke, oil consumption, or anything else out of the ordinary with my car, the performance has not been affected at all, so I can only assume that this is "normal".

I have had the exact same problem as Seekup41. Has anyone else? It seems to happen when it is cold the most. The whine seems to be coming from the front right of the engine near the power steering fluid container. If i turn the car off for a few minutes it goes away or sometimes goes away just from driving. I have an 07 RDX.

Could it be the serpentine belt, or one of the component pulleys (A/C, water pump, power steering, alternator)? Might explain the whining even though everything works as expected.