2016 Acura RLX FWD
Showing the 2016 RLX FWD: as EPA lists it. NHTSA's overall rating for that drive: 5 stars (FWD). Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
- Fuel economy
- 23 mpgcombined; city 20, highway 30; the FWD
- Five years of fuel
- $17,500U.S. average; Ohio $16,490 at local prices; the FWD; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- 5 starslowest across the versions NHTSA tested
- Recall campaigns
- 0none on file
- Owner complaints
- 8filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales
Versions
NHTSA's VIN data lists no trims for the 2016 RLX, so these are the versions EPA tested, by its names. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
- FWD 23 mpg combined
- Hybrid AWD 30 mpg combined
Problems owners report
Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 RLX. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
| Part | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Air bags | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Traction control system | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
Recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2016 RLX. NHTSA's recall lookup checks a specific VIN.
Service bulletins and investigations
Carmakers sent NHTSA 110 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2016 RLX, the latest on Sep 4, 2024. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (27), electrical system (22), steering (14), power train (13), engine and engine cooling (12).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
| Investigation | Part | Opened | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defect petition DP22005 Pedestrian alert sounds · covers 43 makes | Electrical system | Jan 27, 2023 | Closed Aug 7, 2023 Petition withdrawn NHTSA's record and documents |
| Engineering analysis EA21002 Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture · covers 37 makes | Air bags | Sep 17, 2021 | Open NHTSA's record and documents |
| Engineering analysis EA19001 Electrical overstress · covers 11 makes | Air bags | Apr 19, 2019 | Closed Sep 19, 2024 NHTSA's summary names recall 16V668000, 18E043000, 18V137000, 18V363000, 20V024000 NHTSA's record and documents |
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2016 RLX.
Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5
Specs
EPA class: midsize cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 5–7 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Fuel | City / hwy / comb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RLX Front-Wheel Drive | 3.5 L, 6 cyl | Automatic (S6) | Premium Gasoline | 20 / 30 / 23 |
| RLX Hybrid All-Wheel Drive | 3.5 L, 6 cyl | Automatic (AM7) | Premium Gasoline | 28 / 31 / 30 |
Sources and dates
- U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
- NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data