Acura MDX: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
3,334 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Acura MDX, model years 2001 to 2026. 12 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2016 (engine 17×, transmission 11×); 2017 (engine 9.7×, transmission 6.5×); 2020 (engine 10×); 2001 (transmission 13×). Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2013, 2010, 2008. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 MDX | 223 | transmission 13× | 4 | |
| 2002 MDX | 204 | transmission 13× | 4 | |
| 2003 MDX | 205 | transmission 10× | 13 | |
| 2004 MDX | 171 | transmission 7.7× | 10 | |
| 2005 MDX | 180 | transmission 8.7× | 13 | |
| 2006 MDXFEW REPORTS | 87 | — | 11 | |
| 2007 MDXFEW REPORTS | 99 | — | 1 | |
| 2008 MDXFEW REPORTS | 49 | quiet: 3 of 19 | 1 | |
| 2009 MDXFEW REPORTS | 52 | quiet: 4 of 19 | 0 | |
| 2010 MDXFEW REPORTS | 45 | quiet: 2 of 19 | 1 | |
| 2011 MDXFEW REPORTS | 70 | quiet: 5 of 19 | 0 | |
| 2012 MDXFEW REPORTS | 76 | quiet: 7 of 19 | 1 | |
| 2013 MDXFEW REPORTS | 30 | quiet: 1 of 19 | 1 | |
| 2014 MDX | 171 | — | 9 | |
| 2015 MDXFEW REPORTS | 71 | quiet: 6 of 19 | 8 | |
| 2016 MDX | 378 | engine 17×, transmission 11× | 7 | |
| 2017 MDX | 261 | engine 9.7×, transmission 6.5× | 8 | |
| 2018 MDX | 169 | engine 5.4× | 10 | |
| 2019 MDX | 193 | engine 7.8× | 9 | |
| 2020 MDX | 227 | engine 10× | 8 | |
| 2022 MDX | 162 | transmission 7.4× | 2 | |
| 2023 MDXFEW REPORTS | 44 | — | 2 | |
| 2024 MDXFEW REPORTS | 41 | — | 2 | |
| 2025 MDXFEW REPORTS | 117 | engine 7.3× | 3 | |
| 2026 MDXFEW REPORTS | 9 | — | 1 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Acura models
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Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 200120022003200420052014201620172018201920202022