The 2016 Acura RDX is one of the vehicles caught up in the Takata airbag recall. The popular vehicle was one of the top 10 crossover SUVs in America when it debuted. If you own a 2016 Acura RDX, you should take the recall notices related to the driver’s airbag seriously and get the airbag replaced as soon as parts are available. There have been two safety recalls on the 2016 Acura RDX, and both are related to the Takata-produced airbags. In this article, we’ll explain the recall notices and the problems with Takata’s airbags, and then walk you through the process of getting your Acura RDX repaired under a safety recall notice.
Recall #1: Takata Driver’s Side Airbag
The first recall involving the 2016 Acura RDX occurred after it as discovered that the Takata-built driver’s side airbag was faulty. The seals on the airbag were allowing moisture to seep in, which in turn caused a serious problem in the event of a crash. After moisture seeped into the dual-stage frontal airbag, the inflator could rupture (explode, basically) when attempting to inflate the airbag during a crash.
The resulting explosion could send shards of shrapnel flying in the front cabin of the vehicle, causing serious injury or even death to the driver or a front seat passenger. Because the problem was initially thought to be related to the inflator in the driver’s front airbag, Honda handled this recall by installing a new Takata inflator in the airbags of 2016 Acura RDX vehicles.
Obviously, this did not fix the actual problem. If you own a 2016 Acura RDX, you can ignore the initial safety recall from March of 2017, which was assigned National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) number 16V061000. Instead, skip to the next recall on the Acura.
Recall #2: Takata Driver’s Side Airbag (Again)
Upon further investigation, Honda and the NHTSA determined that it wasn’t simply a faulty inflator in the Takata-designed airbags; it was a major manufacturing defect. None of the driver’s side airbags were safe. The exact same catastrophic problem – an exploding inflator sending shrapnel into the interior of the vehicle and its occupants – was occurring on Takata airbags that had no moisture seepage.
Drivers who had already had their airbag inflators replaced during the initial recall had to bring their vehicles in once again. During the second and ongoing recall, the Takata inflator is replaced with an alternate, non-Takata branded inflator.
The second airbag-related recall, which was initiated in April of 2019, was assigned NHTSA recall number 19V182000.
The Takata Airbag Recall
The ongoing Takata airbag recall has been described as the biggest and most complicated recall in world history by the NHTSA. Multiple auto manufacturers relied on parts manufacturer Takata to provide airbags in vehicles from 1999 through 2016. Major problems were identified with Takata airbags in 2013, but automakers continued using the parts for an additional three years.
To date, more than 41 million cars, SUVs and trucks have had safety recalls initiated against them as a result of faulty airbags manufactured by Takata. The airbags have been tied to 24 deaths and 300 injuries worldwide, including 16 fatalities in the United States. Takata entered into bankruptcy in 2017 as a result of the airbag scandal, and the company is now under new ownership after being purchased by Key Safety Systems.
How to Check Your Acura RDX Against a Safety Recall
To determine whether your 2016 Acura RDX is affected by the Takata airbag recall or any subsequent safety recall, first locate your vehicle’s 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). This can easily be located in one of four locations: inside the driver’s door panel, on the driver’s side dashboard, on your title paperwork for the vehicle, or on your auto insurance card. Then, enter the VIN number on the Acura Recall website to see whether your specific vehicle is part of the recall.
