Acura MDX Problems by Year
NHTSA has 3,308 owner complaints and 42 safety recalls on file for the Acura MDX, across 26 model years (2001–2026). The 2016 model year has the most complaints (375). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
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Acura MDX years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical MDX year: 2001, 2016, 2017, 2020. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2016 MDX: 375 complaints, 7 recalls
- 2017 MDX: 259 complaints, 8 recalls
- 2001 MDX: 224 complaints, 4 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Acura MDX problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 986 | 25 | 30 |
| Engine problems | 664 | 25 | 8 |
| Electrical System problems | 526 | 25 | 14 |
| Air Bags problems | 230 | 23 | 43 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 181 | 17 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 181 | 23 | 29 |
| Service Brakes problems | 175 | 19 | 27 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance problems | 171 | 14 | 5 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 167 | 21 | 3 |
| Steering problems | 157 | 24 | 9 |
| Structure problems | 129 | 23 | 11 |
| Lane Departure | 99 | 10 | 0 |
| Suspension | 98 | 23 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 81 | 13 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 78 | 18 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 56 | 17 | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 56 | 18 | 12 |
| Seats | 43 | 21 | 3 |
| Visibility | 43 | 21 | 0 |
| Wheels | 40 | 20 | 6 |
| Visibility/wiper | 38 | 16 | 0 |
| Equipment | 32 | 14 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 27 | 11 | 3 |
| Tires | 27 | 17 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 17 | 10 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 11 | 8 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 9 | 5 | 2 |
| Traction Control System | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Child Seat | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Other/i Am Not Sure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Acura MDX problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2025: engine (66) · electrical system (52)
- 2022: power train (66)
- 2020: engine (84)
- 2017: engine (78) · power train (64)
- 2016: engine (162) · power train (112)
- 2007: electrical system (51)
- 2005: power train (87)
- 2004: power train (77)
- 2003: power train (104)
- 2002: power train (125)
- 2001: power train (131)
All Acura MDX model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 MDX | 9 | 1 | 5★ | Electrical System | |
| 2025 MDX | 109 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2024 MDX | 41 | 2 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2023 MDX | 42 | 2 | 5★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2022 MDX | 154 | 2 | 5★ | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2021 MDX | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| 2020 MDX | 223 | 8 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2019 MDX | 190 | 9 | 5★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2018 MDX | 169 | 10 | 5★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2017 MDX | 259 | 8 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2016 MDX | 375 | 7 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2015 MDX | 71 | 8 | 5★ | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2014 MDX | 172 | 8 | 5★ | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2013 MDX | 30 | 1 | 4★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2012 MDX | 76 | 1 | 4★ | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2011 MDX | 70 | 0 | 5★ | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2010 MDX | 45 | 1 | — | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 MDX | 52 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 MDX | 49 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2007 MDX | 99 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2006 MDX | 87 | 9 | — | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2005 MDX | 180 | 11 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2004 MDX | 171 | 8 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2003 MDX | 206 | 11 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 MDX | 205 | 4 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2001 MDX | 224 | 4 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Acura: all Acura models · Acura VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Acura MDX years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2001 (224), 2016 (375), 2017 (259), 2020 (223) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical MDX year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Acura MDX?
Power Train, with 986 complaints across 25 model years.
How many recalls does the Acura MDX have?
42 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.