2010 Acura MDX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2010 Acura MDX has 63 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (17% of all complaints), specifically: exhaust entering cabin while under acceleration or under load. the exhaust entered cabin especially when the hvac system was in "recirc" the dealer and acura were unable to find the problem after multiple visits. i documented that carbon monoxide was building up inside to alarming levels using a re. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 6 crash reports 6 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

11 complaints

17%

• EXHAUST ENTERING CABIN WHILE UNDER ACCELERATION OR UNDER LOAD. THE EXHAUST ENTERED CABIN ESPECIALLY WHEN THE HVAC SYSTEM WAS IN "RECIRC" THE DEALER AND ACURA WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AFTER MULTIPLE VISITS. I DOCUMENTED THAT CARBON MONOXIDE WAS BUILDING UP INSIDE TO ALARMING LEVELS USING A RE
• I AM WRITING WITH RESPECT TO A DEFECT IN A 2010 ACURA MDX (VEHICLE ID #: [XXX]) THAT I PREVIOUSLY LEASED. ON AUGUST 27, 2012, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING SAID VEHICLE ON THE MERRITT PARKWAY IN CT. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND MY WIFE
• I WANTED TO REPORT A RECENT INCIDENT ON AUG 23RD IN WHICH THE ENGINE OF MY MDX CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 7:30 PM. I HAD TO PULL THE CAR OVER AND DIALED 911. SUBSEQUENTLY THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED WITHIN THE SPACE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“EXHAUST ENTERING CABIN WHILE UNDER ACCELERATION OR UNDER LOAD. THE EXHAUST ENTERED CABIN ESPECIALLY WHEN THE HVAC SYSTEM WAS IN "RECIRC" THE DEALER AND ACURA WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AFTER MULTIPLE VISITS. I DOCUMENTED THAT CARBON MONOXIDE WAS BUILDING UP INSIDE TO ALARMING LEVELS USING A RE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

9 complaints

14%

• IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHEN ENGINE IS TURNED OFF BUT CAR IN IS IN A GEAR OTHER THAN PARK. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST MONTH AND THE DEALER SERVICE TECH WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE IT TODAY. I WAS QUOTED A REPAIR COST OF OVER $550 TO REPLACE KEY CYLINDER AND REKEY THE DOOR CAR TO MA
• RECEIVE "BATTERY CHARGE LOW" WARNING MESSAGE ON CONSOLE ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS AS SOON AS I OPEN THE CAR DOOR. TOOK TO ACURA DEALER AND HAD CORPORATE INVOLVED AND WAS TOLD THAT ITS THE DESIGN OF THE CAR AND DEEMED THE ISSUE AS A STANDARD LOGIC FEATURE WITH NO ACTION REQUIRED. THIS YEAR MODEL HAS A
• I AM WRITING WITH RESPECT TO A DEFECT IN A 2010 ACURA MDX (VEHICLE ID #: [XXX]) THAT I PREVIOUSLY LEASED. ON AUGUST 27, 2012, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING SAID VEHICLE ON THE MERRITT PARKWAY IN CT. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND MY WIFE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHEN ENGINE IS TURNED OFF BUT CAR IN IS IN A GEAR OTHER THAN PARK. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST MONTH AND THE DEALER SERVICE TECH WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE IT TODAY. I WAS QUOTED A REPAIR COST OF OVER $550 TO REPLACE KEY CYLINDER AND REKEY THE DOOR CAR TO MA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

6 complaints

10%

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING 65MPH CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF HER VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HER IN, AND HER FACE HIT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CAUSING LACERATIONS TO HER EYES AND TWISTING OF HER BACK. THE AMBULANCE TO
• ON 2 DIFFERENT TIMES MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON OR ABOUT MAY 24, 2011. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE OF AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. IT WAS AROUND 5:30 PM. I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY (BETWEEN 2-3 MPH) AS THERE WAS A CONSTRUCTION CREW WORKING DIRECTLY
• PARTIALLY CLOSED DRIVERS DOOR ON SEAT BELT. OPENED DOOR REMOVED SEAT BELT. THEN AFTER DRIVING HOME I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR WITH OR WITHOUT THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS NOR FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OR WITH A KEY. HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE CAR OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE OR OUT THE WINDOW. THIS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING 65MPH CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF HER VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HER IN, AND HER FACE HIT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CAUSING LACERATIONS TO HER EYES AND TWISTING OF HER BACK. THE AMBULANCE TO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

6 complaints

10%

• IN THE MIDDLE OF MY ROADTRIP FROM TAMPA TO BUFFALO, IN ONE OF THE REST AREAS CLOSE TO FLORENCE, SC ON I-95 MY STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN, REALIZED THAT THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY DUE TO A LEAK IN MY NEW ACURA MDX 2011( ~7000 MILES). FILLED IT UP WITH POWER STEERING FLUID AND DROV
• BEGAN LEAKING FLUID, THE ACURA DEALERSHIP SAID IT IS THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. REPAIR COST $1800!!! THIS IS AFTER HAVING THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED X3. I AM NOT IMPRESSED WITH ACURA AT ALL AND WILL PROBABLY TRADE THIS MONEY PIT IN :( I DO NOT KNOW HOW ACURA HAS SUCH A REPUTATION FOR BEING
• WHILE MAKING LEFT TURN INTO A ROAD AT A SIGNAL TRAVELING AT 30 MPH - 35 MPH IN MOTION, ENGINE RUNNING - ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE STEERING LOCKED AND COULDN'T STRAIGHTEN AGAIN. MY WIFE ENDED UP CRASHING INTO A ROAD DIVIDER LUCKILY IT WAS AROUND 10:30 PM IN THE NIGHT AND DIDN'T HAVE VEHICLES EITHER ONC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“IN THE MIDDLE OF MY ROADTRIP FROM TAMPA TO BUFFALO, IN ONE OF THE REST AREAS CLOSE TO FLORENCE, SC ON I-95 MY STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN, REALIZED THAT THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY DUE TO A LEAK IN MY NEW ACURA MDX 2011( ~7000 MILES). FILLED IT UP WITH POWER STEERING FLUID AND DROV”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

6 complaints

10%

• EXHAUST ENTERING CABIN WHILE UNDER ACCELERATION OR UNDER LOAD. THE EXHAUST ENTERED CABIN ESPECIALLY WHEN THE HVAC SYSTEM WAS IN "RECIRC" THE DEALER AND ACURA WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AFTER MULTIPLE VISITS. I DOCUMENTED THAT CARBON MONOXIDE WAS BUILDING UP INSIDE TO ALARMING LEVELS USING A RE
• ON 2 DIFFERENT TIMES MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON OR ABOUT MAY 24, 2011. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE OF AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. IT WAS AROUND 5:30 PM. I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY (BETWEEN 2-3 MPH) AS THERE WAS A CONSTRUCTION CREW WORKING DIRECTLY
• PARTIALLY CLOSED DRIVERS DOOR ON SEAT BELT. OPENED DOOR REMOVED SEAT BELT. THEN AFTER DRIVING HOME I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR WITH OR WITHOUT THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS NOR FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OR WITH A KEY. HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE CAR OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE OR OUT THE WINDOW. THIS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 63 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: EXHAUST ENTERING CABIN WHILE UNDER ACCELERATION OR UNDER LOAD. THE EXHAUST ENTERED CABIN ESPECIALLY WHEN THE HVAC SYSTEM WAS IN "RECIRC" THE DEALER AND ACURA WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AFTER MULTIPLE VISITS. I DOCUMENTED THAT CARBON MONOXIDE WAS BUILDING UP INSIDE TO ALARMING LEVELS USING A RE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHEN ENGINE IS TURNED OFF BUT CAR IN IS IN A GEAR OTHER THAN PARK. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST MONTH AND THE DEALER SERVICE TECH WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE IT TODAY. I WAS QUOTED A REPAIR COST OF OVER $550 TO REPLACE KEY CYLINDER AND REKEY THE DOOR CAR TO MA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING 65MPH CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF HER VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HER IN, AND HER FACE HIT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CAUSING LACERATIONS TO HER EYES AND TWISTING OF HER BACK. THE AMBULANCE TO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: IN THE MIDDLE OF MY ROADTRIP FROM TAMPA TO BUFFALO, IN ONE OF THE REST AREAS CLOSE TO FLORENCE, SC ON I-95 MY STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN, REALIZED THAT THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY DUE TO A LEAK IN MY NEW ACURA MDX 2011( ~7000 MILES). FILLED IT UP WITH POWER STEERING FLUID AND DROV
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)