5 Common Acura MDX Problems

A list of some of the most common issues MDX owners have to deal with.

  1. Acura's Very Uncomfortable Seats

    The seat design in certain Acura vehicles has been described as crippling. Owners complain that their legs fall asleep after 30 minutes of driving, and any long trips result in stiff backs, sore thighs, or messed up necks. Acura has been si…

    Continue reading article "Acura's Very Uncomfortable Seats" A beige interior featuring the headrest of an unnamed Acura vehicle.
  2. Takata Airbag Inflator Recall

    A large number of Acura vehicles have been recalled because they contain dangerous airbag inflators made by Takata. The shrapnel-hurling inflators have been recalled in over 37 million vehicles (and counting).

    Continue reading article "Takata Airbag Inflator Recall" Crash ttest dummy about to slam into an airbag with a super-imposed Takata logo
  3. HandsFreeLink Drains Battery

    Acura's parent company Honda was one of the first to offer a hands-free system called HandsFreeLink. In their rush to beat the competition, however, they missed a defect that allows the system to stay on at all times. Yes, even after the ca…

    Continue reading article "HandsFreeLink Drains Battery" The blue user interface of HandsFreeLink is shown making a call via a BlackBerry.
  4. Excessive Oil Consumption

    Changed your oil recently? I'm guessing you think you’re good to go for another 3,000 to 5,000 miles depending on the oil you’re using. Acura owners with V6 J-Series engines better think again.

    Continue reading article "Excessive Oil Consumption" A gauge cluster with an orange wrench warning light labeled 'Service Due Now'
  5. Denso Fuel Pump Failure

    The impellers inside of Denso branded fuel pumps may have been excessively exposed to a drying agent during manufacturing. This leads to them cracking, absorbing fuel, and deforming so badly that they stop sending fuel to the engine. Honda …

    Continue reading article "Denso Fuel Pump Failure"

What MDX Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

MDX Generations

The MDX has 3 generations, each with their own issues. Using the same PainRank™ system we've determined that you're better off avoiding the 1st generation (2001–2006).

MDX Key Numbers

  1. 314 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  2. 919 service bulletins

    Documenting the process of troubleshooting common problems.

  3. 35 recall campaigns

    Time-sensitive, free repairs for widespread safety problems.

MDX Class-Action Lawsuits

The MDX has been named as a class vehicle in the following lawsuits.

Recent MDX News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. Acura's parent company, Honda, wants to settle up a decade-old lawsuit about downshifting transmissions

    with an offer so low it's borderline insulting. A 2009 lawsuit says 5-speed automatic transmissions in some 2002-2004 Honda and Acura vehicles have a defect in the 3rd clutch. That defect can cause the transmission to suddenly downshift from 5th to 2nd gear. That's one way to reach your heart rate goal on your FitBit.…

    keep reading article "5-Speed Transmission Settlement for Some California Acura Owners"
  2. A lawsuit says Acura is ignoring a significant and immediate safety threat with the 3rd generation MDX and RDX transmissions.

    The 9-speed ZF transmission has numerous acceleration defects and can even throw itself into neutral if the throttle malfunctions while interpreting messages from various input modules.

    The lawsuit points to TSB #PU-15-34 where Acura says a driver may not be able to select any other gears until the vehicle is restarted due to an open circuit in the actuator supply. Acura said a simple software update would fix the problem.

    But according to the plaintiffs it didn't work.

    keep reading article "MDX and RDX Owners Sue Acura Because Their Transmissions Keep Shifting into Neutral"
  3. Any hope of a proposed class-action lawsuit for faulty window regulators in certain Acure vehicles has fizzled after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals shot down the proposal in a 2-to-1 ruling.

    The plaintiff argued that Honda, parent company of Acura, installed window regulators that are insufficiently strong and insufficiently durable to withstand the forces required to perform [their] intended function. Functions like making sure the dang window doesn't fall into the door, for example.

    The lawsuit originally included the 2000-2011 Acura MDX, Acura TSX, Acura RL and Acura CL but those vehicles were dropped in a last-ditch effort to save the suit.

    It didn't work.

    keep reading article "Window Regulator Class-Action Lawsuit Stopped in Appeals Court"
  4. Acura's parent company, Honda, has reluctantly agreed to settle an oil consumption lawsuit for vehicles with 3.7-liter J37 engines.

    I emphasize reluctant because the automaker says they're closing the book on this case to "avoid the time and expense of ongoing litigation" and says only a small number of customers have filed complaints.

    Despite that rousing show of support for its customers, the settlement will provide relief for out-of-pocket expenses related to consumption issues if the owner can show documentation like oil change receipts. Honda has also agreed to extend its powertrain warranty. CarComplaints.com has a great breakdown of the settlement details in further detail.

    keep reading article "Acura Agrees to Oil Consumption Settlement for J37 Engines"
  5. A lawsuit filed in California says newer MDX and RDX SUVs have issues with rapid deceleration, stalled engines, hesitation while accelerating, and transmissions that shift themselves into neutral randomly.

    The alleged problems are caused by miscommunications among the computers and software which control the engines, throttles and transmissions.

    Sounds like a joy to drive.

    keep reading article "MDX and RDX SUVs Suffer From a Number of Acceleration Issues, According to Lawsuit"
  6. A lawsuit alleges that the 2016-2020 MDX and RDX continue to randomly lose engine power, nearly a year after a possibly related fuel pump recall.

    And proving it to a mechanic is nearly impossible as the power almost always comes back on and the vehicle acts like nothing ever happened.

    The plaintiffs believe Acura should expand the scope of previous fuel injection engine control unit software updates.

    keep reading article "MDX and RDX Lawsuit Says SUVs Can Suddenly Lose Power"

See All MDX News

What Owners Say About Their MDX

Why Do Acura Engines Use an Excessive Amount of Oil?

One day when I checked it with about 40% oil life remaining, the oil level on the dip stick barely registered. I topped it off, and just made a mental note to keep an eye on it. From that day forward, I was having to add oil every 2 - 3 weeks, just to keep it in the proper range. This was ridiculous in my opinion because the vehicle only had 30,XXX miles on it at the time, and the car was not hammered on every take-off.

2011 MDX Owner in IN