Acura MDX: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Acura MDX problems by model year, from 1,891 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2016 (74%, 264 drivetrain complaints), 2017 (64%, 157 drivetrain complaints) and 2012 (58%, 37 drivetrain complaints). 12 of the 13 Acura MDX years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 2 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2015 (33%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2015 (33%) to 2016 (74%), up 41 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2016 drew the most drivetrain complaints (264 of 1,006 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Acura MDX year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 MDX | high | 43% | 16 | 45 | 10/13 | 1 |
| 2011 MDX | high | 54% | 34 | 70 | 7/13 | 0 |
| 2012 MDX | high | 58% | 37 | 76 | 3/13 | 1 |
| 2013 MDX | high | 44% | 11 | 30 | 9/13 | 1 |
| 2014 MDX | elevated | 36% | 56 | 171 | 12/13 | 9 |
| 2015 MDX | no elevated signal | 33% | 20 | 71 | 13/13 | 8 |
| 2016 MDX | very high | 74% | 264 | 374 | 1/13 | 7 |
| 2017 MDX | very high | 64% | 157 | 256 | 2/13 | 8 |
| 2018 MDX | high | 50% | 81 | 168 | 8/13 | 10 |
| 2019 MDX | high | 55% | 101 | 188 | 5/13 | 9 |
| 2020 MDX | high | 56% | 118 | 222 | 4/13 | 8 |
| 2022 MDX | high | 55% | 94 | 176 | 6/13 | 3 |
| 2023 MDX | elevated | 39% | 17 | 44 | 11/13 | 3 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Acura MDX years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Acura MDX engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns on the Acura MDX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 23 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2012 | 12V063000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2012 |
| Nov 2013 | 13V571000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2014 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V417000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2015–2016 |
| Jan 2019 | 19V060000 | fuel system, other: delivery: fuel pump | 2016–2018 |
| Apr 2019 | 19V298000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys | 2018–2019 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V215000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2019–2020 |
| Nov 2023 | 23V751000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical | 2016–2020 |
| Dec 2023 | 23V858000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2013–2020 |
| Jan 2025 | 25V031000 | fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system | 2022–2023 |
14 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2010 | 10V002000 | air bags | 2010 |
| Jul 2013 | 13E040000 | electrical system | 2014 |
| Oct 2014 | 14V639000 | seat belts | 2014–2015 |
| May 2015 | 15V301000 | forward collision avoidance: crash imminent braking | 2014–2015 |
| Jul 2015 | 15V417000 | equipment: appliance: air conditioner | 2014–2015 |
| Apr 2018 | 18V221000 | seats | 2018 |
| Nov 2018 | 18V777000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2017–2019 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V256000 | exterior lighting: tail lights | 2014–2019 |
| Jun 2023 | 23V458000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder | 2020 |
| Feb 2024 | 24V064000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2020–2022 |
| Apr 2025 | 25V259000 | exterior lighting | 2014–2020 |
| Jun 2025 | 25V391000 | service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages | 2023 |
| May 2026 | 26V332000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 |
| Jun 2026 | 26V365000 | structure: frame and members | 2014–2020 |
What the free pages leave out on the Acura MDX
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Acura MDX
What are the worst years for the Acura MDX?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Acura MDX years are the 2016 (74% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2017 (64% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2012 (58% of relevant complaints, high). 12 of 13 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Acura MDX?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Acura MDX years are the 2015 (33%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Acura MDX have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 13 scored years, 1,006 of 1,793 relevant NHTSA complaints (56%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Acura MDX reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 12 of 13 Acura MDX years we score have an elevated complaint share and 1 do not. Pooled across those years, 56% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Acura MDX?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Acura MDX years we track, out of 23 in total: 23V751000 (Nov 2023, 2016–2020), 23V858000 (Dec 2023, 2013–2020), 25V031000 (Jan 2025, 2022–2023), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.