VehicleVerdict

2025 Acura MDX problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2025 Acura MDX carries two red flags at once: 112 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages). It is one of the MDX years to avoid.

Engine leads the complaint categories with 40 reports (36% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

112

NHTSA complaints

3

Recalls

1

Investigations · 1 open

2

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2025 compare to other MDX years?

MDX NHTSA complaints by model year, 2025 highlighted510 complaints2001: 266 complaints2002: 242 complaints2003: 259 complaints2004: 243 complaints2005: 244 complaints2006: 121 complaints2007: 126 complaints2008: 62 complaints2009: 74 complaints2010: 63 complaints2011: 87 complaints2012: 97 complaints2013: 46 complaints2014: 247 complaints2015: 97 complaints2016: 510 complaints2017: 370 complaints2018: 268 complaints2019: 304 complaints2020: 342 complaints2021: 0 complaints2022: 191 complaints2023: 52 complaints2024: 61 complaints2025: 112 complaints2026: 6 complaints
MDX NHTSA complaints by model year, 2025 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all MDX years to avoid →

What are the most common 2025 Acura MDX problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Engine4036%
Electrical System2825%
Other1715%
Fuel System109%
Driver Assistance76%
Brakes33%
Transmission22%
Tires & Wheels22%
Suspension11%
Airbags11%
Steering11%

Does the 2025 Acura MDX have recalls?

3 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

26V332000AirbagsMay 21, 2026 · 98,892 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

Consequence

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 are expected to be mailed July 6, 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.

25V391000BrakesJune 12, 2025 · 259,033 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Consequence

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.

25V032000Electrical SystemJanuary 23, 2025 · 9,221 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2025 Acura MDX vehicles. The touchscreen in the center console may go blank, resulting in the rearview camera image not displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence

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.

Open NHTSA investigations

EA25004

No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“the car shuts off at a red light, fails to auto-restart, forces the car into Park, and requires a full manual reboot or jumpstart while stuck in moving traffic. It also struggles to turn on at times mimicking a drained battery. I am needing to deactivate the auto start/stop feature in order for the…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 17, 2026

“Autostart (stop/start) stopped engine but failed to restart car. Had to shut down computer and restart computer and then car started. Cars were coming around blind corner serving to avoid us. Has since happened multiple times just starting up vehicle (not involving autostart). Taken to Acura…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · October 8, 2025

“I was at a red light. My auto idle kicked in. I went to turn it off and Either simultaneously or right before I hit the idle off button my car stalled. It took several attempts to turn back on and a bunch of codes threw. I almost got rear ended. This is a known problem. Ive contacted acura / honda…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · December 18, 2025

“My Vehicle is having an issue with the idle stop feature. Multiple times when stopped at a red light or when idle the car stops and will not turn back on. I have to turn the car off completely open the door to simulate leaving the car, wait a minute then start the car again to be able to move. ”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · May 8, 2026

“(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…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Driver Assistance · May 9, 2025 · crash

2025 Acura MDX — common questions

Is the 2025 Acura MDX reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 112 complaints put the 2025 model at #15 of 26 MDX years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the MDX years to avoid.

What are the most common 2025 MDX problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are engine (40 complaints), electrical system (28 complaints), other (17 complaints).

Does the 2025 Acura MDX have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns affecting the 2025 Acura MDX. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2025 Acura MDX under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — an investigation remains open (No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.

Which Acura MDX years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the MDX years to avoid are 2016, 2017, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2001, 2003, 2014, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2022, 2006, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2021. The cleanest record among MDX years belongs to 2026.

How safe is the 2025 Acura MDX?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2025 Acura MDX earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.