2011 Acura RDX ground clearance

Your RDX has higher ground clearance than a passenger vehicle designed for use only on pavement. Higher ground
clearance has many advantages for off-highway driving. It allows you to travel over bumps, obstacles, and rough
terrain. It also provides good visibility so you can anticipate problems earlier.
These advantages come at some cost. Because your vehicle is taller and rides higher off the ground, it has a high
center of gravity. This means your vehicle can tip or roll over if you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles have a
significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly
more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. As a reminder, make sure you and your passengers always wear
seat belts.
For information on how to reduce the risk of rollover, read‘‘Driving Guidelines’’ on page 372 of this manual and theOff-Highway Driving Guidelines
section on page 405. Failure to operate your vehicle correctly might result in loss of
control or an accident.
Important Handling Informationiv10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu

Modifying Your Vehicle
Removing parts from your vehicle, or
replacing components with non-
Acura components could seriously
affect your vehicle's handling,
stability, and reliability.
Here are some examples:●Lowering the vehicle with a non-
Acura suspension kit that
significantly reduces ground
clearance can allow the
undercarriage to hit speed bumps
or other raised objects, which
could cause the airbags to deploy.●Raising your vehicle with a non-
Acura suspension kit can affect the
handling, stability, and reliability.
●Non-Acura wheels, because they
are a universal design, can cause
excessive stress on suspension
components and will not be
compatible with the tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS).●Larger or smaller wheels and tires
can interfere with the operation of
your vehicle's anti-lock brakes and
other systems.●Modifying your steering wheel or
any other part of your vehicle's
safety features can make the
systems ineffective.
If you plan to modify your vehicle,
consult your dealer.
Accessories and Modifications
363
Before Driving
10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu

Your vehicle has higher ground
clearance that allows you to travel
over bumps, obstacles, and rough
terrain. It also provides good
visibility so you can anticipate
problems earlier.
Because your vehicle rides higher off
the ground, it has a high center of
gravity that can cause it to roll over if
you make abrupt turns. Utility
vehicles have a significantly higher
roll over rate than other types of
vehicles.To prevent rollovers or loss of
control:
●Take corners at slower speeds
than you would with a passenger
vehicle.●Avoid sharp turns and abrupt
maneuvers whenever possible.●Do not modify your vehicle in any
way that would raise the center of
gravity.●Do not carry heavy cargo on the
roof.Your vehicle is equipped with a super
handling-all wheel drive (SH-AWD)
system. When the system senses a
loss of one or more wheel traction, it
automatically transfers some power
to the other wheels. This gives you
better traction and mobility.
You still need to exercise the same
care when accelerating, steering, and
braking that you would in a two-
wheel drive vehicle.
See page 405 for off-highway driving
guidelines.
Driving Guidelines37210/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu

General Information
Your vehicle has been designed
primarily for use on pavement. But
its higher ground clearance and
super handling-all wheel drive
(SH-AWD) system allow you to
occasionally travel on unpaved roads,
to campgrounds, picnic sites, and
similar locations. It is not designed
for trailblazing, mountain climbing,
or other challenging off-road
activities.
If you decide to drive on unpaved
roads, you will find that it requires
somewhat different driving skills.
Your vehicle will also handle
somewhat differently than it does on
pavement. So be sure to read this
owner's manual, pay special attention
to the precautions and tips in this
section, and get acquainted with your
vehicle before you leave the
pavement.
Improperly operating this
vehicle on or off pavement can
cause a crash or rollover in
which you and your passengers
could be seriously injured or
killed.●Follow all instructions and
guidelines in this owner's
manual.●Keep your speed low, and
don't drive faster than
conditions permit.Important Safety Precautions
To avoid loss of control or rollover,
be sure to follow all precautions and
recommendations.
●Be sure to store cargo properly,
and do not exceed your vehicle
cargo load limits (see pages 365
and 397).●Wherever you drive, make sure
you and your passengers always
wear seat belts.●Keep your speed low, and never go
faster than the conditions allow.●It's up to you to continually assess
the situation and drive within the
limits.
CONTINUED
Off-Highway Driving Guidelines
405
Driving
10/06/08 17:42:32 11 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK640 enu