Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 RDX.
The 2020 Acura RDX uses an Automatic (S10) transmission and requires 5.0 quarts of 0W-20 API engine oil, with EPA ratings of 21/27/23 mpg. Across the model’s 2007-2025 complaint history, the 2020 model year accumulated 338 owner complaints, a total that falls below the 2019 peak of 431 yet remains well above the 2024 low of 10, while logging five recalls and recording Unknown Or Other as the top complaint area. That volume situates it as a year of meaningful, though not maximum, owner-reported concern within the RDX’s documented run.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 650 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (S10) |
| Overall length | 186.6 in |
| Overall width | 74.8 in |
| Overall height | 65.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.3 in |
| Curb weight | 4034 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 64.2 / 64.6 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 57/43 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 21 / 27 / 23 mpg |
| Drivetrain | All-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the RDX of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | A-Spec Package 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 6.40 sec | 14.80 sec | 272 hp | AWD |
| 2019 | A-Spec Package 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 6.60 sec | 15.20 sec | 272 hp | AWD |
| 2019 | Advance Package 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 6.60 sec | 15.10 sec | 272 hp | AWD |
| 2019 | Advance Package 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 7.10 sec | 15.50 sec | 272 hp | AWD |
| 2021 | A-Spec PMC Edition 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 6.40 sec | 14.90 sec | 272 hp | AWD |
| 2022 | A-Spec Advance 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 6.20 sec | 14.90 sec | 272 hp | AWD |
| 2023 | SH-AWD A-Spec 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 7.00 sec | 15.40 sec | 272 hp | AWD |
| 2025 | SH-AWD A-Spec Advance 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 6.70 sec | 15.10 sec | 272 hp | AWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 5.0 qt of 0W-20 API engine oil, Acura All-Wheel Drive Fluid in the differential, Dot 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | ATF |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 5.1 |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | ATF |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 4.5 |
| Brake Fluid | Dot 3 |
| Differential Gear Oil | Acura All-Wheel Drive Fluid |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 1.76 qt |
| Engine Coolant | Honda Type 2 antifreeze/coolant |
| Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s) | 9.0 ft-lbs |
| Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s) | 9.0 ft-lbs |
| Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs | 85.0 ft-lbs |
| Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs | 120.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs |
| Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s) | 9 ft-lbs |
| Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s) | 33.0 ft-lbs |
| Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s) | 16.0 ft-lbs |
| Flex or Driveplate Bolts | 55.0 ft-lbs |
| Differential Fill Plug | 35.0 ft-lbs |
| Differential drain Plug | 35.0 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 80 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 80 ft-lbs |
| Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts | 44.0 ft-lbs |
| Transfer Case Fill Plug | 32.0 ft-lbs |
| Transfer Case Drain Plug | 32.0 ft-lbs |
| Automatic Transmission Drain Plug | 32.0 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-3-4-2 |
| Curb Idle Speed (No Load) | 720 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load) | 50 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load) | 720 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load) | 50 rpm |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | Acura |
| Spark Plug Gap | 0.028–0.030 in |
| Spark Plug Torque | 16.0 ft-lbs |
| Refrigerant | R1234yf |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 1.11-1.22 lbs |
| Oil Type | ND-14 POE Oil or equivalent. |
| Oil Capacity | 2.38-2.88 oz |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 48 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 650 cca |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 48 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 650 AGM VRLA Battery is required. cca |
| Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum) | 72.5－79.8 psi |
| Engine Oil Pressure | 14.5 |
| Intake Valve Lash | 0.00315 in |
| Exhaust Valve Lash | 0.00315 in |
| Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque | Front: 37; Rear: 18 |
| Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque | Front: 101; Rear: 80 |
| ABS Sensor Torque | Front: 6.6; Rear: 6.6 |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | Front: 0.063; Rear: 0.079 in |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement | Front: 1.204; Rear: 0.315 |
| Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation | 0.00059 |
| Maximum Rotor Runout | 0.0016 |
| 1 | 44.0 inch lbs., Step 2: 29.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 120° | 44 in |
| 1 | 37 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 degrees. Only if you are using a new pulley bolt or new crankshaft, tighten the bolt to 133 ft. lbs. with a torque wrench, loosen the bolt and tighten it to 37 ft. lbs. Tighten the pulley bolt an additional 90 degrees. | 37 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 26.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 41°, Step 3: 8mm Bolts: 16.0 | 26 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 8mm Bolts | 16 ft. lbs |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2020 Acura RDX sits squarely at the peak of a third-generation launch surge, with 338 complaints, 5 recalls, and 234 TSBs — actually a modest improvement over 2019's 431 complaints but still the second-highest volume of the entire 18-year record. Looking at the generational arc, this is a familiar pattern for the model: each new generation (2013–2015 peaking at 406 complaints, and now 2019–2020) has produced a complaint spike that fades quickly, with 2021 dropping to 102 complaints and subsequent years falling into the teens and twenties as the platform matured. The 2020 complaint mix is led by an "Unknown or Other" category (80) and Visibility/Wiper issues (65), with Engine (24) and Structure (18) trailing well behind, while fire and crash complaints remain low at 1 and 4 respectively. Five recalls and zero open investigations suggest the issues were largely addressed through formal campaigns and technical service bulletins rather than escalating to NHTSA scrutiny. In context, 2020 is a worst-case-in-generation year for complaints but not a crisis year — buyers should verify the recall work has been performed and the wiper/visibility concerns are resolved, but the sharply declining complaint count in 2021–2024 indicates the model sorted itself out quickly. A pre-purchase inspection focused on recall completion and the visibility/wiper system is wise, but 2020 is a defensible buy if priced accordingly.
All 338 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2020 CR-V, 2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019 Insight, and 2019-2020 Acura RDX vehicles. A manufacturing issue with the front seat… Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed…
Showing 5 of 234 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B21673 | 2026-05-18 | Electrical System | Over The Air Update - Vehicles equipped with the System Updates application are capable… |
| B23-004 | 2025-10-17 | Structure | "Service Bulletin - A pop noise can occur from the rear roof area when turning into… |
| B25-049 | 2025-09-16 | Engine | Service Bulletin - Oil leak at the cam chain tensioner inspection cover due to and… |
| B19-053 | 2025-05-30 | Service Brakes | Service Bulletin - The front and/or rear brakes make a high-pitched squeal when the… |
| B19-053 | 2025-05-16 | Service Brakes | Service Bulletin - The front and/or rear brakes make a high-pitched squeal when the… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
5.0 qt of 0W-20 API, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 21 city / 27 highway / 23 combined mpg.