The subjects says it all...the rear hatch area of my RDX is super dirty compared to the rest of the vehicle. It's like there's some aerodynamic vacuum created that attracts road debri and dirt.

Anyone else have a similar observation? Think it would go away if the rear spoiler was removed or a roof rack is installed?

 

Most all cars do this.

and you are right; aerodynamics plays a part.

 

It sounds like you're used to driving a sedan or coupe, where a smaller area of vertical surface is exposed. With SUVs, vans and wagons, where the rear window is on the same plane as the other rear surfaces, this effect is much more noticeable.

 

Mine stays clean unless I exceed 80MPH on the dirt roads.

 

Yes to the seems to get very dirty but no to removing the spoiler or having a roof rack installed. On my previous SUV I rarely had to use the wiper and the back was actually less dirty than the rest of the car(to a very small degree though). I noticed this in the first month of ownership and pretty much chalk it up to the slope of the rear hatch. My previous SUV window and hatch door were much more vertical versus the slanted window and hatch of the RDX. I'm hoping the RDX rear slant helps in aerodynamically improving MPG and not just a "looks" thing. Personally, I would rather have a little more squared off in back which would give a little more storage room and maybe a little less dirt would be attracted as well. If the slant really is part of improving MPG than I guess it's just part of getting better MPG that we all have to deal with just like electric power steering, etc.

 

Our old 1G RDX the back was always dirty, as stated aerodynamics and the vacuum created at the back of the car causes things to be sucked in to the draft area.

 

Yup, my rear hatch gets very dirty too - especially when roads and highways are wet, slushy, etc. I don't mind it too much - except for the impact pn the rear-view camera, which also becomes unusable when the lens is too dirty.

Don't have an easy answer - except that I've started hosing off the RDX, short of a complete washjob, after exposure to so much crud.

 

I imagine the spoiler actually helps keep dirt and debris away from the hatch, as opposed to attracting it. It extends the airflow away from the rear window, whereas without it the airflow would collapse as it passed over the rear edge of the roof and wash right down the window and hatch.

 

My last vehicle was a 4Runner. I'm not sure how much of it was because the back window was much more vertical, and how much was because the spoiler was designed to guide air down the back of the car, but the back stayed much cleaner than with the RDX. I was shocked the first time I drove the Acura on wet roads - between the window and how much water and grime sticks to the backup camera...

 

Well, our '96 Jeep Grand Cherokee, '87, '92 and '02 Chrysler minivans, and '83 Toyota Tercel 4WD wagon all had this 'issue'. I take it for granted that when the window is on about the same plane as the rear of the car, this effect will result.

On the '06 TL, the back window stayed reasonably clean while the vertical surface behind the trunk got dirty quite quickly.

 

If we don't get the rain "they're" promising for Tuesday/Wednesday, it won't matter what body shape your vehicle has ...it WILL be covered in Oak pollen! (Still better than Atlanta, where I'm sure darned near EVERYthing is covered in yellow pine pollen about now). Those spring rains are a blessing AND a curse!

 

Pretty typical situation for these kind of vehicles. Most of all my SUV types had this issue....due to the angle of the back and the "suction" created...or "dead space" that allows the dirt and grime to stick. I did have one SUV type that it didn't happen so badly....and I'm not positive which one....but, I think it was the 2000 Toyota 4-Runner I had. Limited Edition with a "hood" on the back that moved the air briskly across the glass and back area.