Car Defect Radar
Get the report
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated October 26, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.
Confirm 3 recalls before you buy.

Ask the seller for proof the repair was completed, or run the free VIN check. Recall repairs are done at no cost by a dealer.

Recalls

3 total · 3 to confirm

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

Airbags recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 26V332000 · May 2026

Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

Remedy
Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Brakes recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 25V391000 · Jun 2025

A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are FLX and XLY.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Safety recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 25V032000 · Jan 2025

A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will replace the center information display unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is RKZ.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Owner complaints by system

104 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Minor
56

Most reports here involve sudden stalling.

sudden stalling 53software faults 2unintended acceleration 1
A recent report: The engine shut off at a red light via Auto-Stop and failed to restart, leaving the vehicle stranded in active rush hour traffic until a manual restart of the engine was performed. This issue has…
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The engine shut off at a red light via Auto-Stop and failed to restart, leaving the vehicle stranded in active rush hour traffic until a manual restart of the engine was performed. This issue has occurred multiple times now.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764819 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Minor
35

Most reports here involve sudden stalling.

sudden stalling 31software faults 2
A recent report: Auto Start/Stop At stop light car wouldn’t start after engaging Auto Start/Stop, had to turn on hazards, turn car off and restart with cars bearing down on me Monday 9/14, before entering traffic I…
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Auto Start/Stop At stop light car wouldn’t start after engaging Auto Start/Stop, had to turn on hazards, turn car off and restart with cars bearing down on me Monday 9/14, before entering traffic I stopped and Auto Start/Stop engaged but car wouldn’t start Got a jump and brought to dealership and they replaced starter motor

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764541 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Minor
3

Most reports here involve loss of braking.

loss of braking 2software faults 1
A recent report: Brakes are too soft . Hard to bring the car to a halt without crashing unless you are at very long distance . Brakes engage at a very low level . Dealer says everything is OK and can't do anything…
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Brakes are too soft . Hard to bring the car to a halt without crashing unless you are at very long distance . Brakes engage at a very low level . Dealer says everything is OK and can't do anything about it . Car is dangerous to drive.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11746076 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Worth reading
4

Most reports here involve loss of steering. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 4 mention an injury.

loss of steering 1unintended acceleration 1
A recent report: Hello! I am writing to report an urgent and serious safety failure involving my 2025 Acura MDX A-Spec and to request immediate investigation and action. The vehicle’s driver-assist systems -…
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Hello! I am writing to report an urgent and serious safety failure involving my 2025 Acura MDX A-Spec and to request immediate investigation and action. The vehicle’s driver-assist systems - specifically the lane departure warning and forward collision warning - failed to operate. In addition, both the steering wheel and the accelerator became stuck, causing my vehicle to collide head‑on with oncoming traffic. These failures placed my life and the lives of others in immediate danger. I previously opened a case with Acura Contact and Client Relations (Case #16550271). To investigate my vehicle failures that caused this major accident, the response I received was inadequate and deeply concerning. During my conversation with Acura representatives, I was told verbally without any willingness to provide this statement in writing that Acura “has nothing to do with inspecting their own car.” Instead, I was instructed to have my vehicle inspected by my insurance company, despite the fact that they are not certified to evaluate Acura safety systems and do not possess the diagnostic equipment required to assess failures of this nature. Given the severity of the malfunction and the resulting collision, I am requesting that Acura immediately arrange a proper inspection by qualified Acura technicians and provide a written explanation of how such critical safety and control systems could fail simultaneously.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11757146 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
1

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

airbags not deploying 1
A recent report: (1) My airbag's did not deploy when an another car drove into the front of my car causing extensive damage. It has been deemed a total loss by Liberty Mutual (claim #[XXX]) and will be towed in a day…
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(1) My airbag's did not deploy when an another car drove into the front of my car causing extensive damage. It has been deemed a total loss by Liberty Mutual (claim #[XXX]) and will be towed in a day or two to their salvage yard from the auto body shop. (2) Based on what I was told by the claim adjuster, body shop and police they didn't understand why they didn't deploy, especially since one of the air bag sensors was directly in front of the impact. (3) No - Acura has not been easy to communicate with and assigned me a case #[XXX] but after I answered their questions by email a few days ago they have stopped communicating with me. (4) The car has been inspected by the body shop and Liberty Mutual. (5) No INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11662340 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Worth reading
3

Most reports here involve loss of steering. Of these, 1 mention an injury.

loss of steering 1
A recent report: The vehicle developed repeated front‑end structural and steering problems shortly after purchase. During normal driving, it produced loud popping, creaking, and clunking noises when turning, entering…
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The vehicle developed repeated front‑end structural and steering problems shortly after purchase. During normal driving, it produced loud popping, creaking, and clunking noises when turning, entering driveways, or driving over small inclines. Steering felt inconsistent and the front suspension felt unstable. These symptoms created a serious risk of loss of control. A dealer confirmed the problem multiple times and replaced several major components, including the left front strut, the left front lower control arm, and the front shock absorber fork. The most serious finding was cracked welds in the front subframe, requiring the entire subframe to be replaced. A cracked subframe weld is a structural failure that can affect steering stability and crashworthiness. The issues were reproduced and documented by the dealer on multiple visits. The manufacturer’s engineering team was involved due to the severity and difficulty of diagnosis. Despite repeated repairs and extended time out of service, the same steering and suspension symptoms continued, and the vehicle was returned multiple times with ongoing issues. There were no warning lights or messages before the failures. The defects occurred during low‑speed maneuvering and normal driving conditions. The vehicle did not perform like a safe, structurally sound new vehicle, and the repeated structural and steering failures pose a safety risk to occupants and others on the road.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11751959 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
2

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 2
A recent report: I am leasing a 2025 Acura MDX with approximately 16,000 miles, acquired new in June 2025. The A/C system has failed and only blows hot air. The vehicle is available for inspection. I first noticed…
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I am leasing a 2025 Acura MDX with approximately 16,000 miles, acquired new in June 2025. The A/C system has failed and only blows hot air. The vehicle is available for inspection. I first noticed reduced cooling Thursday evening, August 20, 2026. By Friday, August 21, when it was approximately 89°F, the A/C was no longer producing cold air. I restarted the vehicle twice and repeatedly turned the climate controls and A/C on and off, but only hot air came from the vents. No warning lights or messages appeared. I contacted Cerritos Acura on Friday and spoke with the Service Director. I explained the failure, but the earliest appointment offered was approximately a week and a half later. I asked if they could arrange service elsewhere or contact another Acura dealer for an earlier appointment, but both requests were declined. On Monday, August 24, I had to commute approximately two hours to work without A/C during heat advisory conditions. I became extremely overheated and was concerned I was approaching a heat-related medical emergency. I consider this a serious safety concern, especially for a nearly new vehicle. The problem has not yet been diagnosed because the dealer has not inspected the vehicle.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11759382 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 104 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2024 and 2026, roughly 51 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.

How does it compare with other years? The 2025 has 104 complaints on file, more than the 2024 (39). Of the 15 model years of the Acura MDX we cover, the 2016 has the most (373). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.