Acura Halts RDX Production, Prompting Dealer Backlash

Acura confirms a pause in RDX production due to parts shortages, as reported by Autoblog. Dealers warn of lost sales ahead of the next-generation hybrid.

Acura’s decision to pause RDX production has sent shockwaves through its dealer network and become one of the brand’s most controversial moves in recent years. Introduced in 2007, the compact luxury crossover has long been a cornerstone of Acura’s lineup, yet it is now set to leave the assembly line later this year despite strong demand and its position as the brand’s second-best-selling model in the United States.

Officially, Acura cites multiple parts shortages as the reason for the suspension. Production at the East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio is expected to stop in the spring, with remaining inventory projected to last dealers through the summer or possibly into early fall. The situation appears especially puzzling given that the Honda CR-V, built at the same facility, is not affected. Acura has not disclosed which specific components are unavailable or why the issue applies only to the RDX.

The timing makes the decision particularly sensitive. In 2025, the RDX ranked second in Acura sales behind the MDX and accounted for more than a quarter of the brand’s U.S. volume. For dealers, its absence creates a significant gap in the highly competitive premium compact crossover segment. Several retailers have warned that customers are unlikely to wait years for a replacement and may instead defect to rivals such as Lexus.

Acura frames the pause as part of a broader transition. The company has confirmed that the fourth-generation RDX will debut within the next couple of years as Acura’s first model to use a two-motor hybrid-electric powertrain, a key step in its plan to balance gasoline, hybrid, and electric vehicles. Until then, however, the brand’s showroom offering shrinks considerably. With the TLX sedan discontinued and the ZDX electric crossover effectively sidelined, dealers are left with just the Integra, ADX, and MDX.

To limit customer losses, Acura has introduced a loyalty program aimed at current RDX owners, offering financial incentives to move into other models in the lineup, with the largest credits applied toward the MDX. Dealers acknowledge the effort but caution that higher prices and monthly payments may still push many buyers away.

In the short term, Acura plans to lean on increased availability of the MDX and ADX, while preparing for the launch of the RSX electric crossover in the second half of 2026. Even so, retailers stress that without the RDX, Acura temporarily lacks a true contender in one of the market’s most important segments. How damaging that absence proves to be should become clear soon, as showroom traffic and customer retention are put to the test.