2014 Acura MDX Reliability
The 2014 Acura MDX has 172 owner complaints and 9 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and powertrain / transmission. Compared with other MDX model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the MDX's typical year, while the 2013 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
172
NHTSA owner complaints
9
Recall campaigns
10
Complaints citing a crash
3
Complaints citing a fire
2014 Acura MDX complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 model year, filed between 2013 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 38 | 22% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 27 | 16% |
| Electrical system | 27 | 16% |
| Engine | 26 | 15% |
| Service brakes | 26 | 15% |
| Speed control / throttle | 19 | 11% |
| Body structure | 14 | 8% |
| Exterior lighting | 13 | 8% |
2014 Acura MDX recalls
9 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2014 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13E040000 | Jul 22, 2013 | Electrical system | American Honda Motor Co. is recalling certain Trailer Hitch Harness Kits, Part Number 08L91-TZ5-200. These kits are for use in 2014 model year Acura MDX vehicles. The trailer hitch kit has a subharness that is incorrectly wired such that there may be no power… |
| 13V571000 | Nov 14, 2013 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission | American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014 Acura MDX AWD vehicles manufactured May 6, 2013, through October 14, 2013. The bolts that attach the drive shaft to the automatic transmission transfer assembly may not have been… |
| 14V639000 | Oct 10, 2014 | Seat belts | American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured April 23, 2013, to August 25, 2014, and 2014 Acura RLX vehicles manufactured November 5, 2012, to November 25, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the… |
| 15V301000 | May 20, 2015 | Forward collision avoidance — crash imminent braking | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Acura MDX 2WD and AWD, RLX and 2014 Acura RLX Hybrid vehicles. In certain driving conditions, the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) may incorrectly interpret certain roadside… |
| 15V417000 | Jul 1, 2015 | Equipment — appliance / air conditioner | American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Acura MDX and MDX AWD vehicles manufactured April 23, 2013, to December 16, 2014. The affected vehicles have air conditioning compressor clutch drive bolts that may not have received… |
| 19V256000 | Mar 28, 2019 | Exterior lighting — tail lights | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Acura MDX and 2017-2019 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid lights, possibly causing a loss of the tailgate lid lights and the taillights. |
| 23V858000 | Dec 19, 2023 | Fuel system — delivery / fuel pump | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda… |
| 25V259000 | Apr 18, 2025 | Exterior lighting | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid light assembly and wiring harness, which can cause the interior and exterior lights to fail, including the lid lights, position lights,… |
| 26V365000 | Jun 5, 2026 | Body structure — frame and members | American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine,… |
How the 2014 compares with nearby MDX years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year MDX analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 76 | 1 | Engine | Solid |
| 2013 | 30 | 1 | Engine | Better year |
| 2014 (this page) | 172 | 9 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2015 | 71 | 8 | Electrical system | Solid |
| 2016 | 378 | 7 | Engine | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2014 Acura MDX on the used market
- 34 of 486 2014 Acura MDX listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2014 Acura MDX
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 9 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2014 Acura MDX can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2014 Acura MDX reliability FAQ
Is the 2014 Acura MDX reliable?
The 2014 Acura MDX has 172 owner complaints and 9 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and powertrain / transmission. Compared with other MDX model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the MDX's typical year, while the 2013 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2014 Acura MDX problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2014 Acura MDX are steering (38), powertrain / transmission (27), electrical system (27), engine (26). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2014 Acura MDX have recalls?
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2014 Acura MDX, including 13E040000 (electrical system) and 13V571000 (powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2014 Acura MDX compare with the 2013 and 2015 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2013 has 30 complaints and 1 recall (better year); the 2015 has 71 complaints and 8 recalls (solid). The 2014 has 172 complaints and 9 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2014 Acura MDX?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Acura MDX research
Other Acura MDX model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2014 MDX, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.