Acura Mdx Years to Avoid
Based on CarWhere's analysis of 1,969 NHTSA complaints, the Acura Mdx years to avoid are 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2025 — the worst logged up to 4.1× the model's median severity-weighted complaint rate, driven by engine failures. Updated August 2026.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of August 2026 · How we rate model years
No year rated caution
Year-by-year verdict
| Model year | Complaints | Severe | Recalls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 49 | 18 | 1 | BEST |
| 2009 | 50 | 26 | 0 | BEST |
| 2010 | 45 | 30 | 1 | BEST |
| 2011 | 70 | 45 | 0 | BEST |
| 2012 | 75 | 43 | 1 | SOLID |
| 2013 | 29 | 16 | 1 | BEST |
| 2014 | 168 | 111 | 9 | AVOID |
| 2015 | 69 | 34 | 8 | SOLID |
| 2016 | 357 | 280 | 7 | AVOID |
| 2017 | 244 | 176 | 8 | AVOID |
| 2018 | 158 | 97 | 10 | AVOID |
| 2019 | 182 | 120 | 9 | AVOID |
| 2020 | 209 | 128 | 8 | AVOID |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2022 | 129 | 87 | 2 | AVOID |
| 2023 | 34 | 19 | 2 | SOLID |
| 2024 | 35 | 21 | 2 | SOLID |
| 2025 | 66 | 51 | 3 | AVOID |
"Severe" = complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury, or a safety-critical component. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume; verdicts compare each year against the rest of the Acura Mdx. Full methodology.
Common Acura Mdx problems
Across the federal record, the most-reported problem areas on the Acura Mdx are engine, transmission, electrical. The confirmed and owner-reported issues below include owner mileage and repair-cost ranges where available.
Engine loss of power and stalling
· Acura Mdx 2008–2020Corroborated by 11 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 452 engine complaints across 2008–2020, typically 87,000 miles.
Transmission shift malfunction and loss of motive power
· Acura Mdx 2015–2017Corroborated by 5 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 186 transmission complaints across 2015–2017.
Forward-facing camera/multipurpose camera failure
· Acura Mdx 2018–2020Corroborated by 13 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 101 electrical complaints across 2018–2020, typically 36,160–105,254 miles. Owner-reported repair cost $1,700–$2,319.
Why these years stand out
2014 Acura Mdx: 168 owner complaints on federal record, 111 of them severe, plus 9 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Acura Mdx.
2016 Acura Mdx: 357 owner complaints on federal record, 280 of them severe, plus 7 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Acura Mdx.
2017 Acura Mdx: 244 owner complaints on federal record, 176 of them severe, plus 8 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Acura Mdx.
2018 Acura Mdx: 158 owner complaints on federal record, 97 of them severe, plus 10 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Acura Mdx.
2019 Acura Mdx: 182 owner complaints on federal record, 120 of them severe, plus 9 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Acura Mdx.
2020 Acura Mdx: 209 owner complaints on federal record, 128 of them severe, plus 8 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Acura Mdx.
2022 Acura Mdx: 129 owner complaints on federal record, 87 of them severe, plus 2 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Acura Mdx.
2025 Acura Mdx: 66 owner complaints on federal record, 51 of them severe, plus 3 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Acura Mdx.
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FAQ
What years of the Acura Mdx should you avoid?
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall data, the Acura Mdx years to avoid are 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2025 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by engine issues. See the year-by-year table for the full picture. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the best years for the Acura Mdx?
The 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013 Acura Mdx show the cleanest federal records among years with enough time on the road to judge — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates for the model.
How is the Acura Mdx verdict calculated?
Each model year's NHTSA owner complaints are weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries, and safety-critical components count more), converted to a rate per year on the road, and compared against the rest of the Acura Mdx's own history, then adjusted for recalls. Full method at /research/years-to-avoid/methodology.
How do I check a specific Acura Mdx before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for that exact VIN plus a market price check from verified buyers.
Is the Acura Mdx reliable?
The Acura Mdx's reliability depends heavily on the model year. Across 1,969 NHTSA owner complaints, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2025 rate "avoid", while 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013 show the cleanest federal records — see the year-by-year verdicts above. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the Acura Mdx?
The most-reported problem area for the Acura Mdx is engine, followed by transmission and electrical. Confirmed failures include engine loss of power and stalling, transmission shift malfunction and loss of motive power, forward-facing camera/multipurpose camera failure. See the common-problems section above for owner-reported mileage and repair costs where available.
Sources & data notes
All figures are drawn from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Defects Investigation — owner-filed complaints and recall campaigns — covering the Acura Mdx across every model year on record. Retrieved August 2026. Counts are raw federal filings and are not adjusted for the number of vehicles sold or registered; a verdict compares each model year against the rest of the Acura Mdx, not against other vehicles. Full scoring at the methodology page.
Verdicts are computed from federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, refreshed monthly. Read the full methodology.