vent Acura RDX 2018 Owner's Manual

California Proposition 65 Warning
Event Data Recorders
This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder (EDR).
The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near
crash-like situations, such as an air bag deployment or hitting a
road obstacle, data that will assist in understanding how a vehicle’s
systems performed. The EDR is designed to record data related
to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of
time, typically 30 seconds or le ss. The EDR in this vehicle is
designed to record such data as:
• How various systems in your vehicle were operating;
• Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were
buckled/fastened;
• How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator
and/or brake pedal; and,
• How fast the vehicle was traveling.
These data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur. NOTE: EDR data
are recorded by your vehicle only if a non-trivial crash situation
occurs; no data are recorded by the EDR under normal driving
conditions and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and
crash location) are recorded. Howe ver, other parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type of
personally identifying data r outinely acquired during a crash
investigation.
WARNING: This product contains or emits
chemicals known to the state of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other reproductive
harm.
To read data recorded by an ED R, special equipment is required,
and access to the vehicle or the ED R is needed. In addition to the
vehicle manufacturer, other parties, such as law enforcement, that
have the special equipment, can re ad the information if they have
access to the vehicle or the EDR.
The data belongs to the vehicle ow ner and may not be accessed by
anyone else except as legally requir ed or with the permission of the
vehicle owner.
Service Diagnostic Recorders
This vehicle is equipped with serv ice-related devices that record
information about powertrain perfo rmance. The data can be used
to verify emissions law requirem ents and/or help technicians
diagnose and solve service problems. It may also be combined with
data from other sources for res earch purposes, but it remains
confidential. Some diagnostic and maintenance information is
uploaded to Acura upon vehicle start up.
California Perchlorate Contamination Prevention Act
The airbags, seat belt tensioners , and CR type batteries in this
vehicle may contain perchlorate materials - special handling may
apply. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate/
As you read this manual, you will find information that is preceded
by a symbol. This information is intended to help you avoid
damage to your vehicle, othe r property, or the environment.
NOTICE

Visual Index
6
Quick Reference Guide❙Power Window Switches (P 142)
❙Rearview Mirror (P 161)
❙Parking Brake (P 320)
❙Hood Release Handle (P 354)
❙Shift Lever Automatic
Transmission
(P 277)
❙Driver’s Front Airbag (P 42)
❙Fuel Fill Door Release Handle (P 342)
❙Interior Fuse Box (P 427)
❙Glove Box (P 173)
❙Passenger’s Front Airbag
(P 42)
❙Memory Buttons (P 159)
❙SET Button (P 159)
❙Power Door Lock Master Switch (P 131)
❙Door Mirror Controls (P 162)
❙Seat Heater Switches (P 179)
❙Seat Ventilation Switches*
(P 180)

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Quick Reference Guide
Wipers and Washers (P 153)
AUTO should always be turned OFF before
the following situation in order to prevent
severe damage to the wiper system:
● Cleaning the windshield
● Driving through a car wash
● No rain present
Wiper/Washer Control Lever
Adjustment Ring
(-: Low Sensitivity*1
: Lower speed, fewer sweeps*2
(+: High Sensitivity*1
: Higher speed, more sweeps*2
MIST
OFF
AUTO
*1: Wiper speed varies automatically
INT*2: Low speed with intermittent
LO : Low speed wipe
HI: High speed wipe Pull toward
you to spray
washer fluid.
*1 : Models with automatic intermittent wipers
*2 : Models without automatic intermittent
wipers
Models with automatic intermittent wipers
Steering Wheel (P 160)
● To adjust, pull the adjustment lever
towards you, adjust to the desired
position, then lock the lever back in place.
Unlocking the Front Doors
from the Inside
(P 130)
● Pull either front door inner handle to
unlock and open it at the same time.
Tailgate (P 133)
● Press the tailgate release button to
unlock and open the tailgate.
● Press the power tailgate button on the
instrument panel or the remote
transmitter to open and close the power
tailgate.

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Quick Reference Guide
Climate Control System (P 182)
● Press the AUTO button to activate the climate control system.
● Press the button to turn the system on or off.
● Press the button to de frost the windshield.
The climate control system is voice operable. See the navigation system manual for complete details.
Models with navigation system
Driver’s Side Temperature
Control Dial / (Fan Control) Buttons
(Windshield Defroster) Button
A/C
(Air Conditioning) Button
Air flows from floor and
windshield defroster vents. Air flows from floor vents. Air flows from floor and
dashboard vents. Air flows from dashboard
vents.
SYNC (Synchronized) Button
(Recirculation) Button
AUTO Button Passenger’s Side Temperature
Control Dial
MODE Control Button (On/Off) Button

uuFor Safe Driving uYour Vehicle’s Safety Features
30
Safe DrivingFor the safety of you and your passenge rs, make a habit of checking these items
each time before you drive.
• After everyone has entered the vehicle, be sure all doors and the tailgate are
closed and locked. Locking the doors and the tailgate helps prevent an occupant
from being ejected and an outsider from unexpectedly opening a door or the
tailgate.
2 Locking/Unlocking the Doors from the Inside P. 130
•Adjust your seat to a position suitable for driving. Be sure the front seats are
adjusted as far to the rear as possible while allowing the driver to control the
vehicle. Sitting too close to a front airbag can result in serious or fatal injury in a
crash.
2 Adjusting the Seats P. 164
•Adjust head restraints to the proper posi tion. Head restraints are most effective
when the center of the head restraint alig ns with the center of your head. Taller
persons should adjust their head restraint to the highest position.
2 Adjusting the Head Restraints P. 166
•Always wear your seat belt, and make sure you wear it properly. Confirm that any
passengers are properly belted as well.
2 Fastening a Seat Belt P. 34
•Protect children by using seat belts or chil d seats according to a child’s age, height
and weight.
2 Child Safety P. 52
■Safety Checklist1Safety Checklist
If the door and tailgate open indicator
* is on and a
message appears on the multi-information display, a
door and/or the tailgate is not completely closed.
Close all doors and the ta ilgate tightly until the
message disappears. 2 Door and Tailgate Open Indicator
* P. 74
2 Multi-Information Display Warning and
Information Messages P. 89
Models with
full color displayModels without
full color display
*
* Not available on all models

38
uuSeat Belts uSeat Belt Inspection
Safe Driving
Seat Belt Inspection
Regularly check the condition of your seat belts as follows:
• Pull each belt out fully, and look for frays, cuts, burns, and wear.
• Check that the latch plates and buckles work smoothly and the belts retract
easily.
u If a belt does not retract easily, cleaning the belt may correct the problem. Only
use a mild soap and warm water. Do not use bleach or cleaning solvents. Make
sure the belt is completely dry before allowing it to retract.
Any belt that is not in good condition or working properly will not provide proper
protection and should be replaced as soon as possible.
A belt that has been worn during a crash may not provide the same level of
protection in a subsequent crash. Have your seat belts inspected by a dealer after
any collision.1 Seat Belt Inspection
3WARNING
Not checking or maintaining seat belts can
result in serious injury or death if the seat
belts do not work properly when needed.
Check your seat belts regularly and have
any problem corrected as soon as possible.

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uuAirbags uAirbag System Components
Safe Driving
The front, front side, and side curtain
airbags are deployed according to the
direction and severity of impact. Both side
curtain airbags are deployed in a rollover.
The airbag system includes:
aTwo SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
front airbags. The driver’s airbag is stored
in the center of the steering wheel; the
front passenger’s airbag is stored in the
dashboard. Both are marked SRS
AIRBAG.
bTwo side airbags, one for the driver and
one for a front passenger. The airbags are
stored in the outer edges of the seat-
backs. Both are marked SIDE AIRBAG .
cTwo side curtain airbags, one for each
side of the vehicle. The airbags are stored
in the ceiling, above the side windows.
The front and rear pillars are marked
SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG.
dAn electronic control unit that, when the
vehicle is on, continually monitors
information about the various impact
sensors, seat and buckle sensors, rollover
sensor, airbag activators, seat belt
tensioners, and other vehicle
information. During a crash event the
unit can record such information.
eAutomatic front seat belt tensioners. In
addition, the driver’s and front
passenger’s seat belt buckles incorporate
sensors that detect whether or not the
belts are fastened.
fA driver’s seat position sensor. If the seat
is too far forward, the airbag will inflate
with less force.
gWeight sensors in the front passenger’s
seat. The front passenger’s airbag will be
turned off if the weight on the seat is 65
lbs (29 kg) or less (the weight of an infant
or small child).
hImpact sensors that can detect a
moderate-to-severe front or side impact.
iAn indicator on the dashboard that alerts
you that the front passenger’s front
airbag has been turned off.
jAn indicator on the instrument panel that
alerts you to a possible problem with your
airbag system or seat belt tensioners.
kA rollover sensor that detects whether
the vehicle is about to roll over.

41
uuAirbags uAirbag System Components
Safe DrivingAirbags can pose serious hazards. To do their job, airbags must inflate with
tremendous force. So, while airbags help sa ve lives, they can cause burns, bruises,
and other minor injuries, and sometimes even fatal ones if occupants are not
wearing their seat belts properly and sitting correctly.
What you should do: Always wear your seat belt properly, and sit upright and as
far back from the steering wheel as possibl e while allowing full control of the
vehicle. A front passenger should move thei r seat as far back from the dashboard as
possible.
Remember, however, that no safety system ca n prevent all injuries or deaths that
can occur in a severe crash, even when s eat belts are properly worn and the airbags
deploy.
Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and a front airbag.
Carrying hard or sharp objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp
object in your mouth, can result in in juries if your front airbag inflates.
Do not attach or place objects on the front airbag covers. Objects on the
covers marked SRS AIRBAG could interfere with the proper operation of the airbags
or be propelled inside the vehicle an d hurt someone if the airbags inflate.
■Important Facts About Your Airbags1Important Facts About Your Airbags
Do not attempt to deactivate your airbags. Together,
airbags and seat belts pr ovide the best protection.
When driving, keep hands and arms out of the
deployment path of the fro nt airbag by holding each
side of the steering wheel. Do not cross an arm over
the airbag cover.

44
uuAirbags uFront Airbags (SRS)
Safe Driving
■When front airbags should not deploy
Minor frontal crashes: Front airbags were designed to supplement seat belts and
help save lives, not to prevent minor scrapes, or even broken bones that might occur
during a less than moderate-to-severe frontal crash.
Side impacts: Front airbags can provide protection when a sudden deceleration
causes a driver or front passenger to move towards the front of the vehicle. Side
airbags and side curtain airb ags have been specifically designed to help reduce the
severity of injuries that can occur during a moderate-to-severe side impact which
can cause the driver or passenger to move towards the side of the vehicle.
Rear impacts: Head restraints and seat belts are your best protection during a rear
impact. Front airbags cannot provide any si gnificant protection and are not designed
to deploy in such collisions.
Rollovers: Seat belts and, in vehicl es equipped with a rollover sensor, side airbags
and side curtain airbags offer the best prot ection in a rollover. Because front airbags
could provide little if any protection, th ey are not designed to deploy during a
rollover.
■When front airbags deploy with little or no visible damage
Because the airbag system senses sudden deceleration, a strong impact to the
vehicle framework or suspension might caus e one or more of the airbags to deploy.
Examples include running into a curb, the edge of a hole, or other low fixed object
that causes a sudden deceleration in th e vehicle chassis. Since the impact is
underneath the vehicle, damage may not be readily apparent.
■When front airbags may not deploy, even though exterior damage
appears severe
Since crushable body parts absorb crash energy during an impact, the amount of
visible damage does not always indicate proper airbag operation. In fact, some
collisions can result in severe damage but no airbag deployment because the airbags
would not have been needed or would not have provided protection even if they
had deployed.

46
uuAirbags uSide Airbags
Safe Driving
Side Airbags
The side airbags help protect the upper to rso of the driver or a front passenger
during a moderate-to-severe side impact.
The side airbags are housed in the outside
edge of the driver’s and passenger’s seat-
backs.
Both are marked SIDE AIRBAG.
When the sensors detect a moderate-to-
severe side impact, the control unit signals the
side airbag on the impact side to immediately
inflate.
■Housing Locations
1 Side Airbags
Do not attach accessories on or near the side airbags.
They can interfere with the proper operation of the
airbags, or hurt someone if an airbag inflates.
Do not cover or replace the front seat-back covers
without consulting a dealer.
Improperly replac ing or covering front seat-back
covers can prevent your si de airbags from properly
deploying during a side impact.
Housing
Location
■Operation
When
inflated
Side
Airbag