2013 Acura MDX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Acura MDX has 46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: a 2013 acura mdx vehicle (advance model) was bought in the acura dealer on july 27, 2013. starting on october 2013, strong smell of fumes has sporadically been sensed inside the vehicle, making it uncomfortable to breathe. since november 5, 2013, the vehicle has been in and out of the shop (three . ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

10 complaints

22%

• A 2013 ACURA MDX VEHICLE (ADVANCE MODEL) WAS BOUGHT IN THE ACURA DEALER ON JULY 27, 2013. STARTING ON OCTOBER 2013, STRONG SMELL OF FUMES HAS SPORADICALLY BEEN SENSED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, MAKING IT UNCOMFORTABLE TO BREATHE. SINCE NOVEMBER 5, 2013, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP (THREE
• I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE, THE IGNITION ON, WHEN IT SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN AND DECELERATED. I MANAGED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ONTO MY STREET, ALTHOUGH THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK A
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FL

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

“A 2013 ACURA MDX VEHICLE (ADVANCE MODEL) WAS BOUGHT IN THE ACURA DEALER ON JULY 27, 2013. STARTING ON OCTOBER 2013, STRONG SMELL OF FUMES HAS SPORADICALLY BEEN SENSED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, MAKING IT UNCOMFORTABLE TO BREATHE. SINCE NOVEMBER 5, 2013, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP (THREE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

8 complaints

17%

• BACK-UP CAMERA VIDEO / NAVIGATION MODULE, AND STEREO / CLOCK SCREENS REMAINED BLANK AFTER STARTING ENGINE, PLACING CAR IN REVERSE GEAR AND MOVING SLOWLY DOWN DRIVEWAY IN AN APPROXIMATE TIME FRAME OF 3-4 MINUTES. ALL SCREENS CONTINUED TO BE BLANK AFTER EXITING DRIVEWAY, STOPPING, THEN PLACING CAR IN
• A 2013 ACURA MDX VEHICLE (ADVANCE MODEL) WAS BOUGHT IN THE ACURA DEALER ON JULY 27, 2013. STARTING ON OCTOBER 2013, STRONG SMELL OF FUMES HAS SPORADICALLY BEEN SENSED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, MAKING IT UNCOMFORTABLE TO BREATHE. SINCE NOVEMBER 5, 2013, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP (THREE
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“BACK-UP CAMERA VIDEO / NAVIGATION MODULE, AND STEREO / CLOCK SCREENS REMAINED BLANK AFTER STARTING ENGINE, PLACING CAR IN REVERSE GEAR AND MOVING SLOWLY DOWN DRIVEWAY IN AN APPROXIMATE TIME FRAME OF 3-4 MINUTES. ALL SCREENS CONTINUED TO BE BLANK AFTER EXITING DRIVEWAY, STOPPING, THEN PLACING CAR IN ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

6 complaints

13%

• BACK-UP CAMERA VIDEO / NAVIGATION MODULE, AND STEREO / CLOCK SCREENS REMAINED BLANK AFTER STARTING ENGINE, PLACING CAR IN REVERSE GEAR AND MOVING SLOWLY DOWN DRIVEWAY IN AN APPROXIMATE TIME FRAME OF 3-4 MINUTES. ALL SCREENS CONTINUED TO BE BLANK AFTER EXITING DRIVEWAY, STOPPING, THEN PLACING CAR IN
• TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM...... I BOUGHT A USED 2012 MDX WITH 4300 MILES 5 MONTHS LATER I HAD THIS ISSUE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A ACURA DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT BUT I DID FEEL SAFE SO I TRADED IT IN FOR A NEWER MODEL THINKING IT WOULD BE BETTER...LONG BEHOLD THE 2013 MDX I GOT DID THE SAME THING 5 MONTH
• I PURCHASED A 2013 ACURA MDX FROM HONDA OF BOWIE ON JULY 1, 2O16. THAT SAME DAY I HAD TO BRING IT BACK BECAUSE THE AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK. ON FRIDAY, JULY 9 I HAD TO BRING IT BACK BECAUSE THE NAVIGATION DOES NOT WORK, THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE UNDER THE CAR AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

4 complaints

• THE VEHICLE SHOWS ALL TROUBLE CODES, VSA STABILITY, TRAILER STABILITY, ALL WHEEL DRIVE, ENGINE SYSTEM. ERROR. ONCE CODE COMES ON LOSS OF POWER AND STABILITY CONTROL. *TR
• HAVING PROBLEMS WITH DELAYED ACCELERATION MAINLY WHEN I ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC. WHILE DRIVING MAINLY ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR WILL RANDOMLY AND RHYTHMICALLY START ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING BETWEEN 1500-2000RPMS
• TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM...... I BOUGHT A USED 2012 MDX WITH 4300 MILES 5 MONTHS LATER I HAD THIS ISSUE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A ACURA DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT BUT I DID FEEL SAFE SO I TRADED IT IN FOR A NEWER MODEL THINKING IT WOULD BE BETTER...LONG BEHOLD THE 2013 MDX I GOT DID THE SAME THING 5 MONTH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE VEHICLE SHOWS ALL TROUBLE CODES, VSA STABILITY, TRAILER STABILITY, ALL WHEEL DRIVE, ENGINE SYSTEM. ERROR. ONCE CODE COMES ON LOSS OF POWER AND STABILITY CONTROL. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

4 complaints

• PURCHASED THIS A AT A USED CAR FROM ACURA OF LOS GATOS AN PICKED THE CAR UP LATE ON JAN 27TH 2016. AT NOON ON FEB 5TH (JUST ABOUT 7 DAYS) THE CAR SUDDENLY STOP WHEN TRYING TO PULL UP TO THE DRIVE WAY OF MY FRIEND HOUSE. THE ENTIRE CAR IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A SMALL STREET, BLOCKING CARS FROM MOVING. C
• TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM...... I BOUGHT A USED 2012 MDX WITH 4300 MILES 5 MONTHS LATER I HAD THIS ISSUE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A ACURA DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT BUT I DID FEEL SAFE SO I TRADED IT IN FOR A NEWER MODEL THINKING IT WOULD BE BETTER...LONG BEHOLD THE 2013 MDX I GOT DID THE SAME THING 5 MONTH
• I have a 2013 Acura MDX with an estimated 87k miles. Over the past 3 months, the engine will cut off while I'm driving and the steering wheel and brakes lock up. This has happened about 5 times in a three-month period. There are no warning lamps on my dashboard and no codes appeared during the diagn

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“PURCHASED THIS A AT A USED CAR FROM ACURA OF LOS GATOS AN PICKED THE CAR UP LATE ON JAN 27TH 2016. AT NOON ON FEB 5TH (JUST ABOUT 7 DAYS) THE CAR SUDDENLY STOP WHEN TRYING TO PULL UP TO THE DRIVE WAY OF MY FRIEND HOUSE. THE ENTIRE CAR IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A SMALL STREET, BLOCKING CARS FROM MOVING. C”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 46 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: A 2013 ACURA MDX VEHICLE (ADVANCE MODEL) WAS BOUGHT IN THE ACURA DEALER ON JULY 27, 2013. STARTING ON OCTOBER 2013, STRONG SMELL OF FUMES HAS SPORADICALLY BEEN SENSED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, MAKING IT UNCOMFORTABLE TO BREATHE. SINCE NOVEMBER 5, 2013, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP (THREE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: BACK-UP CAMERA VIDEO / NAVIGATION MODULE, AND STEREO / CLOCK SCREENS REMAINED BLANK AFTER STARTING ENGINE, PLACING CAR IN REVERSE GEAR AND MOVING SLOWLY DOWN DRIVEWAY IN AN APPROXIMATE TIME FRAME OF 3-4 MINUTES. ALL SCREENS CONTINUED TO BE BLANK AFTER EXITING DRIVEWAY, STOPPING, THEN PLACING CAR IN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: BACK-UP CAMERA VIDEO / NAVIGATION MODULE, AND STEREO / CLOCK SCREENS REMAINED BLANK AFTER STARTING ENGINE, PLACING CAR IN REVERSE GEAR AND MOVING SLOWLY DOWN DRIVEWAY IN AN APPROXIMATE TIME FRAME OF 3-4 MINUTES. ALL SCREENS CONTINUED TO BE BLANK AFTER EXITING DRIVEWAY, STOPPING, THEN PLACING CAR IN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: THE VEHICLE SHOWS ALL TROUBLE CODES, VSA STABILITY, TRAILER STABILITY, ALL WHEEL DRIVE, ENGINE SYSTEM. ERROR. ONCE CODE COMES ON LOSS OF POWER AND STABILITY CONTROL. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)