We are looking to purchase an RDX, but are concerned about the rear seat safety. I'm hoping that someone in this forum is a mechanic or may have otherwise come across this information.

The Honda CR-V had rear seat injuries reported in the IIHS Moderate Overlap Front Updated Test. IIHS has not performed this test on the RDX yet. Since the RDX is on the same chassis, we are concerned that it may have the same issue with that type of collision.

Does anyone have access to the service manual for the 2022 Honda CR-V and the service manual for the 2022 Acura RDX? Would it be possible to post pictures of the illustrations that show the mechanisms that fasten the rear seat to the seat backs and to the vehicles.

I'm hoping that the method of attachment for the CR-V and the RDX are not identical so that we can assume the RDX would not have the same issue as the CR-V in the Moderate Overlap Front Updated Test. IIHS says that the bracket that connects the rear seat to the rear seat back bent and caused the movement of the rear seat during that collision test.

 

Hmmm, not sure I'm seeing anything related to your concerns in the NHTSA Safety 2022 CR-V or the NHTSA Safety 2022 RDX AWD

 

Hi John,
I guess I should have posted this in the original post. Check here, you can't miss the red mark:
https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle...-door-suv/2024

 

If you use that link you provided and change to a 2024 Acura RDX the vehicle seems to have a clean bill of health. See IIHS 2024 Acura RDX

 

Hi John,
I have already read all of the IIHS safety tests and you are correct, the 2024 Acura Performs well on the tests it was given. The issue is that the RDX has not been tested with the "Moderate overlap front: UPDATED TEST"

I don't want to wait for an unspecified period of time until IIHS does that UPDATED test on the RDX. Therefore, since the 2023 Honda CR-V tested Poorly on that test because the rear seats shifted on impact, I am trying to see if the 2022 RDX uses different mechanical hardware to connect the rear seats to the seat backs and the chassis. I realize that it is not an apples to apples comparison; however, if I find that they both use the same brackets and hardware to connect the seats together and to the chassis, then I would not feel comfortable buying the used 2022 RDX. If they use different hardware, then at least I can feel comfortable that the rear seat movement during impact issue may not occur.

Hopefully that clarifies things

Thanks,
Brett

 

In another century I worked as a mechanical engineer in the testing of air bags. I can tell you that these testing protocols are constantly undergoing evolution. From the gov't side of things it is to insure relaible test methods that can relate to safety. From the OEM side of things, safety of course is a concern but economics also is a concern.

The particular test you are concerned with I believe is only a few years old and has been changing virtually year by year. You may want to read the content at Moderate overlap test