Is the 2014 Acura MDX a bad year?
171 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other MDX years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2014 Acura MDX are in line with other MDX years.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2014 MDX owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 18,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 37 (22%) | 6k–70k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical system | 27 (16%) | 3k–55k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 27 (16%) | 2k–54k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 25 (15%) | 4k–50k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 26 (15%) | 2k–16k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 19 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 14 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 13 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 11 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 18,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 171 complaints: 10 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 5 report an injury · 1 says the car was towed.
11 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2014 Acura MDX: 9
The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure. Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
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, license plate lights and taillights. Vehicle lights that fail to illuminate can decrease visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Moisture may enter the tailgate lid lights, possibly causing a loss of the tailgate lid lights and the taillights. Loss of the taillights reduces the vehicle's visibility, increasing the risk of crash.
The affected vehicles have air conditioning compressor clutch drive bolts that may not have received the proper anti-corrosion coating. If a bolt was not coated, it may corrode and break as a result. If the bolt breaks, the compressor clutch plate may separate from the vehicle, possibly becoming a road hazard.
In certain driving conditions, the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) may incorrectly interpret certain roadside objects such as metal fences or metal guardrails as obstacles and unexpectedly apply the brakes. If the CMBS unexpectedly applies emergency braking force while driving, there is an increased risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the driver and front passenger seat belt may not extend or retract in low temperatures. A seatbelt that does not function increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The bolts that attach the drive shaft to the automatic transmission transfer assembly may not have been properly tightened. As a result, the bolts could loosen possibly allowing the shaft to detach. If the drive shaft detaches while driving it could cause excessive noise and possibly damage the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 supplied to an accessory trailer brake controller. If the trailer brake controller is not powered, when towing a trailer, longer stopping distances could be required, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Acura: 162
Repair instructions Acura sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2014 Acura MDX. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The timing belt area makes a chirping noise after the engine warms up
After the software update, some vehicles, based on how they are driven (extreme conditions)…
During assembly, a transmission case bolt was not properly torqued allowing ATF to leak
The high pressure fuel pump area chirps after the engine is warm
Neighbouring years
2013 MDX: 30 complaints, keep it · 2015 MDX: 71 complaints, keep it.
Every Acura MDX year
2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All MDX years side by side
Other Acura models: Acura CL · Acura ILX · Acura Integra · Acura RDX · Acura RL · Acura RSX · Acura TL · Acura TLX · Acura TSX. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2014 Acura MDX a bad year?
171 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other MDX years. At 18,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Acura MDX?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (37), electrical system (27), transmission and drivetrain (27), engine (25), brakes (26).
How many recalls does the 2014 Acura MDX have?
9 recall campaigns list this model year: Suspension (NHTSA 26V-365), Interior lighting (NHTSA 25V-259), Fuel system (NHTSA 23V-858), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 19V-256) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.