We have had a 2007 RDX with only around 100,000 km. And now we are getting a bunch of warning signs on the dash with the VSA popping, Turbo is blown and no power anymore. Also the Oil computer in the Car is very inaccurate. Personally it was a waste of money buying the car. With unreliabilty and over $200-$300 just to bring it in for there "Service checks" is not worth it. Just a great way to make more money off people.
There are good things about the car Like the handling of the Chassis and the AWD. But I wouldn't recomend it.
Here goes another 2 grand for a turbo.

 

Wow, sorry to hear but I havent come across many threads about the RDX and it's reliability issues. I assume the car's warranty has expired?

 

Unfortunately it has. I'm not an Honda/ Acura hater. I have owned them in the past. I have had nothing but problems with the car. We don't drive it hard or anything. And we know because it has a turbo before we shut off the car, we let it idle for a minute to cool down.
We have also had BMW's and I currently own a VW and Acura. BMW has handles the best, and Service was great. VW was the same for service. We really liked the Acura when we first leased it. And I defiantly thought the looks were very good. Then everything seemed to be a rip off.
The Inner door trim came off
Everytime I get an oil change is over $200
the Turbo has now gone
And the Oil Consumption is not accurate

 

Well, maybe you can look to doing the oil change yourself if you have a garage. I cant imagine it being that difficult. For 200 bucks you can use premium oil. As for the turbo, most turbocharged cars nowadays I believe are watercooled which means you dont have to let the car idle when you park it.

 

Its just a habit we have for having turbocharged cars. And thats the way we have all been taught.
We just don't have the right tool to reset the computer. Else we would. I just don't see why its super expensive for an Oil change, or why the Turbo would go on such low Mileage

 

Im sure if you look around on the forum for "RDX oil change" you can figure out how to reset the oil indicator yourself. I've seen it for TL's on the forum. Let me see if I can find it for you and I will post the link to the thread.

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...RDX+oil+change

try that link

 

Thank you very much

 

you're welcome

 

So the turbo doesn't work at all? Like it won't spool? I don't have much experience with turbocharged engines (this RDX being my first) but what failures do turbos usually suffer? I've seen people who have had their turbos crack, but other than that I'm not too experienced in this area.

Are you going to replace the turbo or call it quits for this car?

 

Blown turbo? always a possibility in ANY turbo-charged vehicle. So it blew. o well. given that the OP is probably one of the maybe, i actually cannot recall a recent post reporting turbo-related problems, so maybe a HANDFUL of turbo-related issues for the RDX since it was released and Acurazine has been around - those are good odds, and even better reliability. Sorry to hear, but given the rarity of your story, its almost a good thing.

 

OP, Acura said the Turbo is blown????

 

OP, how about some backround info. It sounds like there was some trouble with the oil change intervals and resetting the computer.

What warnings are you getting?

How often did the oil get changed? Who did it? Did they use HTO-06?

What do you mean the oil computer is "very inaccurate"? Was it being reset?

 

Turbo blew and flux capacitor fell off?

 

I have a bad habit of not checking my oil between my 5,000 mile services on my RDX and TSX. Maybe the low oil or low oil pressure caused the turbo to overheat and jacked up the turbo bearings?

or

The the wrong type of oil was used and the high heat of the turbo broke the oil down and it did not protect the turbo? (pervious owner of the RDX did this?)

or

Unlucky

 

I'm betting the wrong oil type was used. The oil change on the RDX is soo easy, everyone should be able to DIY including your mom.

I hate handing my vehicles over to goons to get the service done, because 98% (arbitrary number) it doesn't get the TLC an owner would put in to their vehicle.

I'm at 72000 KM now and no issues, mines also an 07 but I've stayed on top of oil changes with Pennzoil Platinum. Only thing I've changed off track is the transmission and rear difff fluids, always changed every 25K.

OP, what is the Acura Stealership saying? How much would it cost to repair?

 

Agreed. ^Need more information from OP!
Goons! Not to get off topic, but you should have seen the dirt smudges in my headliner after the dealer fixed a leak from the roof rack. Wash those mitts!

 

Turbos rarely fail--the systems around them do. I'd get a second opinion if I were the OP. There are lots of things that cause no boost other than a turbo failure. Vacuum lines, boost control solenoid, wiring, wastegate arm mechanism, etc. etc. etc. Pretty much all of these things are more likely to fail than the turbo itself under normal circumstances.

The predicted reliability of the RDX has risen from above average to much above average in CR. "Major engine" category has been red circle in CR for all 4 complete model years (2007-2010). I think this is the first time a failure like this has been reported here from what I can remember. Unfortunately for the OP, it's an isolated incident, possibly contributed to by mechanic error.

 

sorry to hear that OP. is your stealership capable in the first place based on your initial assessment? [sometimes even the "goons" as mau points it, are the ones creating the havoc - wrong oil, inadequate oil, etc - this is the only turbo in acura/honda north am line up so they could screw up filling engine oil].

they dunno how to reset the oil change interval monitors - if theyre a dealer they shld know right?

im sure there's not a lot of data for the turbo reliability yet so maybe we will hear more of it. for now, ill continue to enjoy the vehicle as much as i can. if the turbo fails prematurely, by that time, i prolly would want to get rid of my rdx anyway (5 yrs time or so at the rate im driving and assuming 100k failure). if indeed it happens, ill be sure to downgrade to honda (no need to pay for the acura name )

 

Sorry for the late post. I was on Vacation to Banff, Alberta.
Wrong oil would not cause a turbo failure. Turbo's use exhaust gases to create extra power. And there has never been a Low Oil pressure warning on the car. I would never let that happen.
And if the wrong oil was used then maybe I should be doing some deeper digging into the Acura Dealership. They have told me they use Synthetic Oil in the RDX.
So oil causes a turbo problem is very unlikely. I have also talked to other Motorsport teams about the issue and Oil being a problem for Turbo's

 

well we found an engine cheaper then the turbo itself. It has 35k on it for about $3400 cnd. Which is a bit of a releif. And it was the turbo that was shot

 

Yours is the absolute first turbo problem I have ever read about the RDX in over 4 years.

Sorry that it happened to you... Glad it is an anomoly though...

 

^^ good luck with everything! that defintely SUCKS! try and see if you can get the turbo/engine analyzed to see wat caused the failure...if possible.

 

+1

I think we'd all like to know what was wrong with the turbo; bearings, cracked housing, etc, and what they think caused it.

 

Was it blowing smoke or oil out of the exhaust?
Was there an loud whine when getting into boost?? Those are signs of turbo failures.

 

I had a Saab 9000 Turbo that blew the turbo after 70,000 km. The bearing and seal overheated and failed allowing cooling oil to blow right into the exhaust pipe. Blue smoke and no power. $4,000 to fix.

 

In some cases that i have seen, not on RDX but cars that have a simmilar turbo setups, The oil feed line or whats connected to the feed line would have a little filter screen on it that would get cloged. some subarus are cursed with this and it was typical to just remove it. i havent dug into the RDX too much since I just picked one up a few days ago. but it maybe something to look into expecially if your on a extended OCI

 

If you are from London, Ontario and there is only one acura dealer (Acura West)--how come they charge my brother (2011 MDX) and myself (2009 RDX) $90 for an oil change. How are you paying over $200.

Most of the time I use a Mobil one oil filter/Pennzoil Platinum synthetic at my awesome Acura mechanic in London and it is $65.

 

I got that beat! my oil change costs about $32 (DIY). 5 bucks for Bosch Premium oil filter, 25-26 bucks for Pennzoil on sale, 15 minutes of my life and it's done! (while the oil is draining I usually go in with silicon spray and spray down the rubber boots/bushings while I'm under there)

any updates on turbo failure or is the op long gone ?

 

correct me if i am wrong, but isn't it supposed to be covered under warranty? it is 6 years/70k miles for drivetrain... and turbo is part of engine. 100k killometers is less than 70k miles...

also, 3200 CAD for a used Turbo? brand new BW/Garrett/Tial Turbos go for $1200-2500...
and RDX uses a smal one - so has to be somehwere in the middle. Talk to dealer first find out how much a new one is. 3200 is way too much for a used one.

 

Lol, ic. New turbos for the rdx is about the same price. Used, as the someone quoted, may indirectly mean that the part may be a reman. A turbo is a turbo, may have to find out the ar / trim to find a aftermarket replacement from any turbo designer. And honestly I think the "variable flow" is a neutered turbo and any turbo upgrade would be better.

Honda probably wanted a OEM turbo to play with for development for racing and or other motorsports

Edit: (lol: honda-tech reference) IF you know the right people they can get you a better price than 1100 lol. Vtach yo!!!!

 

um im sure he is talking about the engine. not the turbo. if you paid that much even for the biggest of turbos that can eat shrek alive then you deserve to be kicked in the nuts.

 

Lol 3000 is (bob marley)high, but may include r&r.

Nah, look at any of the Acura parts online dealers, price of a new is turbo is retarded. $2850-2000 new. Eat shrek alive and ro'sham-bo, lol no... more like open up and gobble down free willy's big ole Acura branded penis.

The precision turbo I've got ran $1100 iirc there are other places to buy from at lower prices

 

*facepalm* im starting to regret buying this car now.. but on that other note.. just though the dude was talkin about the engine since the price was so close.

 

That turbo is a peice a poo... The car is awesome. With mild potential.

If my turbine goes out, I'll be swapping in a real non neutered(non variable flow) turbo

 

Resetting the oils indicator is quite simple. I own a 2007 Acura RDX. I've never had problems with it, it's also under warranty. I do the oil changes myself. Acura recommends Mobil1 full synthetic oil. Replacing the filter is also quite simple.

The oil indicator can be reset by simply pressing the nob right next to the display in your dash. It will also clear up your service due warning and set the oil usage back to 100%.

I spent about $50 with oil and filter, the process is quite simple. Just make sure you get the right oil and the right amount.

 

if you have turbo problems i feel bad for you son I've got 99 problems but my turbo aint 1

seriously use quality oil (AMSOIL cough cough) and filters also i know a good place to get them rebuilt.

 

I wish we had some hard data on RDX turbo failure. Many seem nervous about it, but there aren't many reports of failure to be found online.

 

Ha! And if you had Jay-Z money you'd have 99 fewer problems too.

How crazy though that this 6 yr old thread popped back to life.

With a timely but brief how-to on "oils indicator resetting"

 

i just get a kick out of people not getting the design and intent of the design of this turbo. I'm thinking they were like.... hmmm i want a turbo with no lag how can i do that??? then the safety guy said ok now make it have 125 ft lbs tq less and 100 hp less cause the trans guy said no chance it makes it out of warranty. then they said ok sell it.

mean while I'm over here like hmmm wonder how i can make a cummins 4bt look like a bitch??? I'd be happy right after i make a stock rod into a smiley face.