The best MDX years to buy are 2013 and 2015. Avoid the 2016 and 2017: engine rod bearing failures and the nine-speed transmission give them the most complaints.
Best years: 20132015 Years to avoid: 20162017
Every MDX year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known MDX problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 43 | - | 3 | Electrical | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 49 | - | 3 | Transmission and drivetrain | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 185 | 398 | 3 | Transmission and drivetrain | Average |
| 2020 | 231 | 483 | 8 | Engine | Average |
| 2019 | 200 | 384 | 9 | Engine | Average |
| 2018 | 170 | 330 | 10 | Fuel System | Average |
| 2017 | 269 | 490 | 9 | Engine | Skip this year |
| 2016 | 378 | 681 | 7 | Engine | Skip this year |
| 2015 | 71 | 122 | 8 | Electrical | Good buy |
| 2014 | 172 | 262 | 9 | Steering | Average |
| 2013 | 30 | 57 | 1 | Engine | Good buy |
| 2012 | 76 | 149 | 1 | Engine | Good year |
About the MDX
The MDX is Acura's three-row luxury SUV. The 2014-2015 cars have few complaints, but the 2016 update brought a nine-speed automatic that drew many rough shifting complaints, and the 3.5-liter V6 had connecting rod bearing failures on 2016-2018 cars. The 2023-2024 cars are back to low complaint levels.
- 2007-2013: Second generation. Few complaints.
- 2014-2020: Third generation. Nine-speed transmission and rod bearing failures on 2016-2018.
- 2022 on: Fourth generation. Higher early complaints in 2022, low by 2023.
MDX warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Acura files with NHTSA. 962 MDX bulletins are on file in total.
Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque.
Warranty Extension - Warranty Extension reimbursement form for engine idle stop repairs made before the warranty extension notice date.
Warranty Extension - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart.
American Honda is extending the warranty on the 9-speed transmission warmers to 10 years from the original date of purchase with unlimited mileage.
Today, May 24, 2018, Acura is announcing a warranty extension for 2002-17 Acura vehicles.
Today, September 22, 2017, Acura is announcing four product updates and two warranty extensions on certain model year 2015-16 TLX and 2016 MDX vehicles to address vehicles with a possible leaking transmission warmer.
The exterior paint on the roof and/or tailgate may peel off.
Today, June 1, 2019, Acura is announcing a warranty extension for certain 2014-16 MDX vehicles with White Diamond Pearl paint to address client concerns with peeling paint.
In the last few weeks, American Honda has issued a paint warranty extension service bulletins on the MDX model due to paint defects under S/B# 19-029.
Owner Notification Letter - On some 2014-16 MDX models, the exterior paint on the roof and tailgate may peel off.
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the MDX
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Defect petition DP26001 · 2022, 2023 · opened Mar 2026, closed Aug 2026
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.
Preliminary evaluation PE25008 · 2016–2020 · opened Aug 2025
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.
Engineering analysis EA25004 · 2016–2024 · opened Mar 2025
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.
Recall query RQ24013 · 2016–2020 · opened Nov 2024, closed Aug 2025
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.
Defect petition DP22005 · 2017–2020 · opened Jan 2023, closed Aug 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
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.
MDX vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the Acura MDX?
2013 and 2015. The best MDX years to buy are 2013 and 2015. Avoid the 2016 and 2017: engine rod bearing failures and the nine-speed transmission give them the most complaints.
Which Acura MDX years should I avoid?
2016, 2017. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Acura MDX average.
Does the Acura MDX have engine problems?
Some 2016-2018 MDX V6 engines suffered connecting rod bearing failures, causing knocking and engine failure. Acura recalled or extended coverage on some vehicles. Check by VIN at a dealer.
Based on 1,874 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.