Control Acura RDX 2018 Manual Online
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164
Controls
Adjusting the Seats
Adjusting the Seat Positions
Adjust the driver’s seat as far back as possible 
while allowing you to maintain full control of 
the vehicle. You should be able to sit upright, 
well back in the seat and be able to 
adequately press the pedals without leaning 
forward, and grip the steering wheel 
comfortably. The passenger’s seat should be 
adjusted in a similar manner, so that it is as far 
back from the front airbag in the dashboard 
as possible.
■Adjusting the front power seats
1Adjusting the Seats
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
and Transport Cana da recommend that drivers allow 
at least 10 inches (25 cm)  between the center of the 
steering wheel and the chest.
Always make seat adjustments before driving.
3WARNING
Sitting too close to a front airbag can result 
in serious injury or death if the front 
airbags inflate.
Always sit as far back from the front 
airbags as possible  while maintaining 
control of the vehicle.
Move back.
Allow sufficient 
space.
Horizontal Position 
Adjustment
Height Adjustment
*
Seat-back Angle 
Adjustment Lumbar Support 
Adjustment
*
* Not available on all models 
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uuAdjusting the Seats uAdjusting the Seat Positions
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Adjust the driver’s seat -back to a comfortable, 
upright position, leaving ample space 
between your chest and  the airbag cover in 
the center of the steering wheel.
The front seat passenger should also adjust 
their seat-back to a comfortable, upright 
position.
Reclining a seat-back so that  the shoulder part of the belt no longer rests against the 
occupant’s chest reduces the protective capa bility of the belt. It also increases the 
chance of sliding under the belt in a crash and being seriously injured. The farther a 
seat-back is reclined, the gr eater the risk of injury.
■Adjusting the Seat-Backs1Adjusting the Seat-Backs
Do not put a cushion, or  other object, between the 
seat-back and your back. Do ing so may interfere with 
proper seat belt  or airbag operation.
If you cannot get far e nough away from the steering 
wheel and still reach th e controls, we recommend 
that you investigate whether some type of adaptive 
equipment may help.
3WARNING
Reclining the seat-back  too far can result in 
serious injury or death in a crash.
Adjust the seat-back to  an upright position, 
and sit well back in the seat. 
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uuAdjusting the Seats uAdjusting the Seat Positions
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Controls
Your vehicle is equipped with head restraints 
in all seating positions.
Head restraints are most effective for 
protection against whiplash and other rear-
impact crash injuries when the center of the 
back of the occupant’s head rests against the 
center of the restraint. The tops of the 
occupant’s ears should be level with the 
center height of the restraint.
■Adjusting the front and rear ou ter head restraint positions
To raise the head restraint:  Pull it upward.
To lower the head restraint:  Push it down 
while pressing the release button.
■Adjusting the Head Restraints1 Adjusting the Head Restraints
For the head restraint system to work properly:
•Do not hang any items on  the head restraints, or 
from the restraint legs.
•Do not place any object be tween an occupant and 
the seat-back.
•Install each restraint in its proper location.
3WARNING
Improperly positioning head restraints 
reduces their effectiveness and increases 
the likelihood of serious injury in a crash.
Make sure head restraints are in place and 
positioned properly before driving.
Position head in the center 
of the head restraint. 
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A passenger sitting in a center back seating 
position should adjust the height of their head 
restraint to an appropriate position before the 
vehicle begins moving.
To raise the head restraint:
Pull it upward.
To lower the head restraint:
Push it down while pressing the release 
button.
Head restraints can be removed for cleaning or repair.
To remove a head restraint:
Pull the restraint up as far as it will go. Then push the release button, and pull the 
restraint up and out.
To reinstall a head restraint:
Insert the legs back in place,  then adjust the head restraint to an appropriate height 
while pressing the release button. Pull up on  the restraint to make sure it is locked 
in position.
■Changing the Rear Center Seat Head Restraint Position
■Removing and Reinstalling the Head Restraints1 Removing and Reinstalling the Head Restraints
3WARNING
Failure to reinstall, or  correctly reinstall, the 
head restraints can result in severe injury 
during a crash.
Always replace the he ad restraints before 
driving. 
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Controls
After all occupants have adjusted their seats and head restraints, and put on their 
seat belts, it is very important that they  continue to sit upright, well back in their 
seats, with their feet on the  floor, until the vehicle is safely parked and the engine is 
off.
Sitting improperly can increase the chance of  injury during a crash. For example, if 
an occupant slouches, lies down, turns si deways, sits forward, leans forward or 
sideways, or puts one or both feet up, the chance of injury during a crash is greatly 
increased.
In addition, an occupant who is out of position in the front seat can be seriously or 
fatally injured in a crash by striking interior  parts of the vehicle or being struck by an 
inflating front airbag.
■Maintain a Proper Sitting Position1 Maintain a Proper Sitting Position
3WARNING
Sitting improperly or  out of position can 
result in serious injury or death in a crash.
Always sit upright, well back in the seat, 
with your feet on the floor. 
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uuAdjusting the Seats uRear Seats
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Controls
Rear Seats
Separately fold down the left and right ha lves of the rear seat to make room for 
cargo.
■To fold down the seat
1. Store the center seat belt first. Insert the la tch plate into the slot on the side of the 
anchor buckle.
2. Retract the seat belt into the holder on the ceiling.
2 Seat Belt with Detachable Anchor  P. 36
3.Lower the center head restraint to its lo west position. Put the armrest back into 
the seat-back.
4.Pull the release lever.
4. Pull the release lever.
■Folding Down the Rear Seats1Folding Down the Rear Seats
Remove any items from th e rear seat cushion and 
floor before you fold down the rear seat.
When you fold down one side  of the rear seats and 
use the non-recessed part of  the cargo area, make 
sure to secure the cargo. Loose items can fly forward 
and cause injury if you have to brake hard.
The front seats must be far enough forward so they 
do not interfere with the rear seats as they fold 
down.
Make sure all items in the cargo area or items 
extending to the rear seats are properly 
secured. Loose items can fly forward if you have 
to brake hard.
Pull
From the rear door side
Lever
From the cargo area side 
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uuAdjusting the Seats uArmrest
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Controls
■To return the seat to the original 
position
Pull up the seat-back  in the upright position.
Armrest
Pull down the armrest in the center seat-back.
1To return the seat to the original position
Make sure the seat-back, head restraints and seat 
cushion are securely latche d back into place before 
driving. Also, make sure  all rear shoulder belts are 
positioned in front of the  seat-back, and the center 
shoulder belt is re-posit ioned in the holding slot.
■Using the Rear Seat Armrest 
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Controls
Interior Lights/Interior Convenience Items
Interior Lights
■ON
The interior lights come on regardless of 
whether the doors are open or closed.
■Door activated
The interior lights come on in the following 
situations:
• When any of the doors are opened.
• You unlock the driver’s door.
• When the power mode is set to VEHICLE 
OFF (LOCK).
■OFF
The interior lights remain off regardless of 
whether the doors are open or closed.
The map lights can be turned on and off by 
pressing the   button.
■Interior Light Switches1 Interior Light Switches
In the door activated position,  the interior lights fade 
out and go off about 30 se conds after the doors are 
closed.
The lights go off after 30 seconds in the following 
situations:
•When you unlock the driver’s door but do not open 
it.
•When you set the power mode to VEHICLE OFF 
(LOCK) but do not open a door.
You can change the interi or lights dimming time.
2 Customized Features  P. 102, 108
The interior lights go off i mmediately in the following 
situations:
•When you lock the driver’s door.
•When you close the driver’s door in ACCESSORY 
mode.
•When you set the power mode to ON.
If you leave any of the doors open in VEHICLE OFF 
(LOCK) mode, the interior  lights go off after about 15 
minutes.
Door Activated 
Position
Off
Front
Door Activated Position
On
Off
Rear
On
■Map Lights
1
Map Lights
When the interior light swit ch is in the door activated 
position and any door is open,  the map light will not 
go off when you press the button. 
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uuInterior Lights/Interior Convenience Items uInterior Lights
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■ON
The light comes on when you open the 
tailgate, and goes off when closed.
■OFF
The light stays off with or without opening the 
tailgate.
■Cargo Area Lights
Off
On 
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Controls
Interior Convenience Items
Press the button to open the glove box. You 
can lock the glove box  with the built-in key.
■Removable shelf
The shelf in the glove box is detachable. To 
remove it, disengage the tabs.
The removed shelf can be stored upside down 
in the glove box.
■Glove Box1 Glove Box
3WARNING
An open glove box can cause serious injury 
to your passenger in a crash, even if the 
passenger is wearing the seat belt.
Always keep the glove box closed while 
driving.
Glove BoxTo Lock
Shelf Tab