The Acura RDX high beam headlight uses a 9005 bulb size, while low beam headlight applications utilize H11 or D2S bulb sizes depending on configuration. The replacement chart covers 2007 through 2015 model years with corresponding bulb size specifications.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The 9005 bulb serves as the high beam headlight across all Acura RDX model years covered in the specifications, spanning 2007-2015. It is an ANSI-standard single-filament halogen type rated at 12V and 65W, fitted with a P20d base.
The H11 is a single-filament halogen bulb operating at 12V and 55W, built to ECE standards and also approved for use in the United States. It uses a PGJ19-2 base, which is physically incompatible with the P20d base of the 9005, making the two bulbs non-interchangeable despite both being halogen types.
The D2S is a high-intensity discharge xenon bulb rated at 85V and 35W, fitted with a P32d-2 base. It is designed specifically for projector-type housings and requires an external ignitor to initiate the arc discharge, distinguishing it operationally from the halogen bulbs listed in the specifications.
For the Acura RDX (2013-2015), two distinct low beam bulb types are listed depending on the headlamp system installed. Vehicles equipped with halogen capsule headlamps use the H11, while those equipped with HID headlamps use the D2S. These two bulb types are not interchangeable.
The 2007-2012 RDX low beam position is served exclusively by the D2S bulb, with no halogen alternative listed for those years.
The 9005 and H11 share the same operating voltage of 12V, consistent with standard automotive electrical systems, while the D2S operates at 85V and relies on a ballast and ignitor circuit to reach that voltage from the vehicle's 12V supply.
The wattage difference between the D2S at 35W and the halogen bulbs at 55-65W reflects a characteristic of HID technology, which produces significantly greater luminous output per watt than halogen filament bulbs.
The P32d-2 base of the D2S is specific to discharge bulbs and is physically distinct from the bases used by both the 9005 and H11, reinforcing that no cross-substitution between the HID and halogen bulb types in these specifications is possible.