MODELYEARINDEX

Which Acura MDX years to avoid

Across 11 scored model years, the 2016, 2020 and 2014 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Acura MDX Full report
F
Grade 2010–2020
2016 vs model median 2.9×
Model median3× median
Drivetrain 68
Engine 25
Electrical 21
Avoid

2016 · 2020

Best

2010 · 2013

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.35× 17 A
2011
0.46× 27 A
2012
0.40× 25 A
2013
0.33× 22 A
2014
2.26× 151 F
2015
1.00× 70 C
2016
2.91× 207 F
2017
1.85× 114 F
2018
0.86× 61 C
2019
1.62× 96 F
2020
2.06× 129 F
2022 P
2.41× 198 F
2023 P
0.73× 56 B
2024 P
0.85× 62 B
2025 P
2.32× 129 F

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2016 F 207 reports · median 24,000 mi

  1. Drivetrain 68

    I got my 2016 acura mdx in july. Since then, I AM having transmission problems. Off-the-line shifts are erratic, depending on how much throttle I give the engine. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 25

    Very similar to NHTSA id number: 10762375. After 3-4 days of driving the check engine light came on along with transmission system u0401, vsa problem, hill start assist problem etc etc etc. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 21

    On 9/3/15, I was pulling into my garage when all the warning lights on the dashboard went off - transmission, check engine, lane detection light etc. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

11 crash · 2 fire · 6 injuries

2020 F 129 reports · median 13,400 mi

  1. Engine 38

    The contact owns a 2020 acura mdx. The contact stated while driving 30-35 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond and would not move. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 16

    My car was stopped at a light with idle auto on. The car shut off and switched into neutral with check engines lights on the dash. I was not able to switch the car to drive. I had to restart the car. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Fuel System 13

    I have experienced sudden acceleration problem numerous times( 5 to six times. The latest one was march 1,2021. The vehicle would accelerate (RPM rapidly ) suddenly when driving at low speeds(around 10 to 15mph to a… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

5 crash · 2 injuries

The best year for the MDX

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2013 is the best-scoring MDX model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 89.3 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2013 0.33× 22 A
2010 0.35× 17 A
2011 0.46× 27 A

Recalls

23 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
23V858000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2013–2020 2,490,460
26V365000 STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS 2014–2020 880,514
24V064000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER 2020, 2022 750,114
21V215000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2019, 2020 624,552
19V060000 FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2016–2018 437,032
19V256000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS 2014–2019 322,897
25V391000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES 2023–2025 259,033
23V751000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL 2016–2020 248,999
25V259000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2014–2020 152,800
23V458000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER 2020 124,077
15V417000 EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER 2014, 2015 106,439
26V332000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER 2017–2025 98,892

+ 11 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2016 were reported at a median of 24,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Acura MDX years should you avoid?
2016, 2020, 2014 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Acura MDX model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Acura MDX?
2013 is the best-scoring Acura MDX model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 89.3 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Acura MDX have?
23 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Acura MDX model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2016 MDX
Complaints in window
207
Severity-weighted
301.5
Model median (weighted)
104
vs model median
2.91×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
7
Open investigations
2
Score 5.5 F