In April 2025, my 2019 Acura RDX experienced a catastrophic failure when it stalled on the road, with fire actually coming from the exhaust that required fire department assistance. The vehicle, which has only 58,000 miles and has been meticulously maintained with all scheduled service performed on time, had to be towed to the Acura dealership.

The dealership's initial diagnosis identified a broken engine head/piston requiring complete engine replacement. Given the vehicle's maintenance history and relatively low mileage, Acura agreed to partially cover the repair costs and sent the necessary parts to the dealership. My cost is around $3k

Now, more than a month later and approximately 10 days beyond the originally promised completion date, I've been informed by a newly assigned service representative that the vehicle suddenly requires a new alternator at an additional cost of $1,500. This issue was never mentioned in the initial diagnosis.

Throughout my ownership of the vehicle, I've only needed to replace the battery once after five years and have never experienced any electrical or starting issues that would suggest alternator problems. This leads me to believe that something may have been damaged during the engine replacement process.

Any thoughts on how i go about addressing this? $1500 estimate to replace alternator seems pretty high as well but not sure. I have lost confidence in the dealership and Acura's reliability in general.

 

^
Just an FYI, the below 'red' price, $569.44, is the amount you can purchase a new Denso OEM Alternator online from an Acura parts vendor before shipping/handling/taxes.
The crossed through price, $813.25, displayed would be closer to the stealerships walk-in 'retail' parts department price & most likely what they would charge plus labor of $686.75.
As you can see there is a $243.81 difference just between the retail & online price..
You can also google search the part number and perhaps find a good used alternator instead of buying new or remanufactured?


You can always get an aftermarket replacement from rockauto below & hand it to them to replace while finishing up your rebuild?
Though, I'd get the old alternator, in hand, so that you can get the core charge back.


Or fight like h3!! and have them explain what the failure is with the original 58K unit and get a 'goodwill' replacement?
Good Luck.

 

If you have a voltmeter measure the voltage across the battery terminals with the engine at about 1500 to 2000 RPM.

 

Thanks for your suggestions. My first approach is to get the dealership to own up. I suspect they messed something up during the engine install. I have asked them to go back to Acura and see if they can replace the Alternator given that it is pretty low mileage. I will try and get them to price the replacement but will insist on getting the old part back.

 

Thanks, waiting on the dealership to get back to me on replacing it,

 

Any updates or still waiting?

 

The dealer is applying a "Discount". Still waiting on the part. It is still about 20% more than the non-dealer option, but I don't have the time to fight it. I will take it up directly with Acura after the fact.

 

I get it and wish you be the best of luck with Acura after the fact, but feel that will be an uphill battle.

 

Congrats!
Sometimes making a little 'noise' gets you where you need to be.
Just for giggles, when you finally get sorted, if possible, take a pic of the invoice line item specifying the 'discounted' alternators part number.
Just want to compare it to the above data on whether you receive a new discounted OEM Denso or the lower cost reman.

 

Acura/Honda America was not particularly helpful. A lot of miscommunication from the dealership/advisor. I did get a new Denso alternator. Ended up selling the car and got CPO 2025 RDX Aspec

 

Glad you are back on the road, but that doesn't sound inexpensive.