Acura MDX problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 981 owner complaints and 16 safety recalls for the Acura MDX. That averages 26.6 complaints per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical (index 0.66 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Luxury SUVs segment it ranks #9 of 9 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 14.2.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is flat. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models are within 18% of the 2018 and 2019 models (19 early complaints per model year versus 26).
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (61.0 complaints per year) and the 2023 model year the lowest (12.4). The 2025 model year runs at least 50% above this model's average of 26.6 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. Model years 2023 and 2024 run at least 40% below this model's average of 26.6 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (32.3% of complaints), followed by Transmission / powertrain (15.3%) and Electrical (12.4%). 30 complaints (3.1%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 24 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 376 complaints versus 216 in the previous 12 months — up 74%. The 2022 model year generated the most recent reports (95). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 49 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 16 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (4). 5 NHTSA investigations have covered this model, 2 still open; the latest is “All wheel drive allegation” (defect petition, opened 2026-03-06, closed 2026-08-04).
Every other tracked model among Luxury SUVs has fewer complaints per year, including Lexus NX, Audi Q7, Lexus RX and Mercedes-Benz GLE.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 170 | 19.3 | 0.48 | 41 | 10 | Engine | View › |
| 2019 | 198 | 25.4 | 0.63 | 37 | 9 | Engine | View › |
| 2020 | 228 | 33.6 | 0.83 | 59 | 8 | Engine | View › |
| 2022 | 177 | 37.0 | 0.92 | 95 | 3 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2023 Fewest complaints | 47 | 12.4 | 0.31 | 24 | 3 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2024 | 43 | 15.4 | 0.38 | 18 | 3 | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 ▲50%+ | 109 | 61.0 | 1.51 | 94 | 3 | Engine | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 9 | 9.0 | 0.22 | 8 | 1 | Engine | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 376 · Previous 12 months: 216 Rising
Problem areas
Engine ›
317 · 32.3% · 1.45 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Transmission / powertrain ›
150 · 15.3% · 1.31 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Electrical ›
122 · 12.4% · 0.79 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Driver-assist systems ›
80 · 8.2% · 1.42 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Unspecified or other ›
79 · 8.1% · 0.9 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Fuel system ›
50 · 5.1% · 1.18 vs. all vehicles · Falling
Brakes ›
46 · 4.7% · 0.78 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Body & structure ›
45 · 4.6% · 0.5 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
23 · 2.3% · 1.27 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
22 · 2.2% · 0.89 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
21 · 2.1% · 0.33 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Airbags & seat belts
14 · 1.4% · 0.38 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
12 · 1.2% · 0.79 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 49 months
What owners report
The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while accelerating.
Hello! I am writing to report an urgent and serious safety failure involving my 2025 Acura MDX A-Spec and to request immediate investigation and action.
Faulty and auto-stop/start system glitch where the engine fails to turn back on. This issue frequently occurs while driving in traffic or at a stop light.
My vehicle developed a leak at the seal between the transfer case and transmission. I was informed that, due to the original design, this seal cannot be replaced independently.
The vehicle is showing LOW SPEED BRAKING CONTROL and BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEMS, it is also throwing DTC Codes B2600-97; B2627-96; B2630-96; B2637-11; P2583-76 and P2583-97, as I consider the vehicle unsafe to drive or operate and it is a leased vehicle I took it…
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Luxury SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexus NX | 237 | 6.7 | 0.17 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 9 | Electrical |
| 2 | Audi Q7 | 364 | 6.8 | 0.17 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 20 | Engine |
| 3 | Lexus RX | 441 | 11.7 | 0.29 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 12 | Airbags & seat belts |
| 4 | Mercedes-Benz GLE | 498 | 12.4 | 0.31 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 2 | Engine |
| 5 | Audi Q5 | 575 | 12.8 | 0.32 | Stable | Rising | 19 | Electrical |
| 6 | Mercedes-Benz GLC | 529 | 13.3 | 0.33 | Worsening | Rising | 8 | Engine |
| 7 | BMW X3 | 665 | 15.9 | 0.39 | Improving | Rising | 40 | Electrical |
| 8 | BMW X5 | 825 | 22.8 | 0.56 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 44 | Electrical |
| 9 | Acura MDX | 981 | 26.6 | 0.66 | Stable | Rising | 16 | Engine |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 16
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (10) · 2019 (9) · 2020 (8) · 2022 (3) · 2023 (3) · 2024 (3) · 2025 (3) · 2026 (1)
Investigations
- Engine failure Open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 414 reports of connecting rod bearing failures in the 3.5L V6 engine used in the following vehicles: Model Years (MY) 2018-2020 Acura TLX, MY2016-2020 Acura MDX, MY2016-2020 Honda Pilot, MY2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, and MY2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline. The subject engine failures were analyzed as part of a Recall Query (RQ24013). It was determined…
- No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages Open
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject …
- All wheel drive allegation Closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has completed its review of a Petition dated January 9, 2026, requesting an investigation into the loss of the optional all-wheel drive capability in model year (MY) 2021-2023 Acura TLX and MY 2022-2023 Acura MDX vehicles. The Petition alleges failures in the interfacing splines between the front wheel drive transaxle and the rear wheel drive power take of…
- Engine failure Closed
On November 8, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ24013 to assess the scope of Honda recall 23V-751 after receiving complaints that alleged connecting rod bearing failures in vehicles that were not within the scope of recall 23V-751. In November 2023, Honda recalled 248,999 various Model Year (MY)2016–2020 Honda and Acura vehicles equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine…
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…