AcuraRDX2010Overview/acura/rdx/2010/base/

2010 Acura RDX

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2010 RDX.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S5)

The 2010 Acura RDX is a five-speed automatic SUV that returns an EPA-estimated 19 city and 24 highway mpg, relying on a powertrain that requires 5.0 quarts of 5W-30 engine oil. When evaluating its long-term viability, researchers will find this model year benefits from a relatively clean track record, logging just 22 total owner complaints and two recalls, with air bags being the primary concern. This low volume places the 2010 RDX near the bottom of the model's broader 2007-2025 complaint spectrum—vastly removed from the problematic 2019 peak of 431 complaints—meaning it stands as a notably stable and reliable iteration in the nameplate's history.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192010

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30OEM · verified
Lug nut torque80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy19/24/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 440 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.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 440 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235-55R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S5)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length181.9 in
Overall width73.6 in
Overall height65.4 in
Wheelbase104.3 in
Curb weight3946 lb
Track (front / rear)62.2 / 62.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 24 / 21 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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.

6.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.40 sec — 2010 2.3L Technology Package
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
20102.3L Technology Package 2.3L Turbo I-46.40 sec15.10 sec240 hpFWD
20072.3L Technology Package 2.3L Turbo I-46.50 sec15.10 sec240 hpAWD
20072.3L Technology Package 2.3L Turbo I-46.50 sec15.10 sec240 hpAWD
20072.3L Technology Package 2.3L Turbo I-46.70 sec15.30 sec240 hpAWD
20072.3L Technology Package 2.3L Turbo I-47.00 sec15.50 sec240 hpAWD
20072.3L Technology Package 2.3L Turbo I-47.10 sec15.60 sec240 hpAWD
20072.3L Technology Package 2.3L Turbo I-47.30 sec15.60 sec240 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.0 qt of 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.3
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.1
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil Capacity5.3 Pints

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs8mm Bolts: 16 ft-lbs, 6mm Bolts: 9 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts54 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts33 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts33 ft-lbs
Main BearingsExcept 8mm bolts, Step
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug33.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug33.0 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub242 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub181 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)720 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug Gap0.028-0.031 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing14 degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance2 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity.99-1.10 lbs
Oil TypePAG 46
Oil Capacity2.50-2.83 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance440 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature169-176 °F
Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature169-176 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)47
Engine Compression135 minimum PSI. 28 maximum variation PSI.

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket37 ft-lbs / 17 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle101 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.060 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0016 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.094 in / 0.35 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.106 in / 0.358 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.024 in / 0.295 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9022 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
136 ft. lbs., step 2: 9036 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

At 160,000 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2010 Acura RDX sits in the middle of the first-generation run (2007–2012), a period that shows a clear downward trend in complaints from a peak of 53 in 2007 to 15 in 2009, before a modest uptick to 22 in 2010. With only 2 recalls and 53 TSBs, the 2010 model aligns closely with the 2009 and 2011–2012 years, all of which had 2 recalls and similar TSB counts, indicating stable service history without the spike in complaints and recalls seen in the second generation starting in 2013. The top complaint area for 2010 is air bags (12 complaints), but the data does not specify a root cause, and the total of 1 crash and 2 fire complaints is low relative to later years. Overall, the 2010 RDX is a good year to buy within its generation, as it benefits from the first-gen’s relatively low complaint and recall record, though buyers should verify any air bag-related TSBs or recalls have been addressed.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
53
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
22
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 22 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags12
Power Train2
Air Bags,Seat Belts,Wheels1
Electrical System,Engine1
Engine1
Electrical System1
Seat Belts1
Engine & Engine Cooling,Fuel System, Gasoline1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V182000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 06/03/2019

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may…

16V061000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 03/02/2016

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 53 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
B18-0202026-02-28Air BagsService Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag…
B23040A2023-05-17Electrical SystemService News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect. This is due to a limited GPS…
BPO050220229012022-05-02EquipmentDealer message - American Honda is investigating a potential quality concern with RDX…
B18-0202022-04-08Air BagsService bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating…
B18-0202022-03-01EquipmentService Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific RDX. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2010 RDX take?

5.0 qt of 5W-30. ONLY USE MOTOR OIL MEETING ACURA SPECIFICATION HT0-06 OR EQUIVALENT, per the factory manual.

Does the 2010 RDX have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the RDX get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 24 highway / 21 combined mpg.