2019 Acura MDX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2019 Acura MDX has 299 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: while driving approx. 40 mph and slowing to turn into gas station, the car completely turned off. i was unable to put car in neutral or get off of road. tow truck called and had to be drug onto flatbed. garage replaced battery and still unable to start. needed to replace timing belt, tensioner pulle. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 5 crash reports 6 injuries

299

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

76 complaints

25%

• WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 40 MPH AND SLOWING TO TURN INTO GAS STATION, THE CAR COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. I WAS UNABLE TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL OR GET OFF OF ROAD. TOW TRUCK CALLED AND HAD TO BE DRUG ONTO FLATBED. GARAGE REPLACED BATTERY AND STILL UNABLE TO START. NEEDED TO REPLACE TIMING BELT, TENSIONER PULLE
• THE ENGINE AUTO STOP OR IDLE STOP IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF PREVENTING A QUICK ACCELERATION FROM AN INTERSECTION OR OTHER HAZARD. THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD OFFER A METHOD TO PERMANENTLY DISABLE THIS HAZARD.I WAS NEARLY T-BONED WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A LH TURN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION BECAUSE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITH SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE IN LIMP MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN T

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

“WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 40 MPH AND SLOWING TO TURN INTO GAS STATION, THE CAR COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. I WAS UNABLE TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL OR GET OFF OF ROAD. TOW TRUCK CALLED AND HAD TO BE DRUG ONTO FLATBED. GARAGE REPLACED BATTERY AND STILL UNABLE TO START. NEEDED TO REPLACE TIMING BELT, TENSIONER PULLE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

41 complaints

14%

• THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE SPONTANEOUSLY IN THE PARKING AREA. WE CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE BRIGADE TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR TO GET THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL. WE HAD GONE TO CHICKFILA (ABOUT 6 MILES TOTAL DISTANCE) AND THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR MAYBE 5 MINUTES WHEN WE SAW A FIRE ENGULF THE FRONT PORTION. I PUT WATER
• I think this recall needs to be expanded: Honda and Acura have recalled 2019 and 2020 vehicles including the CR-V and Accord for fuel pumps which can malfunction and cause the engine to lose power. My wife recently had her 2019 MDX stall on her in an intersection and she had to turn off the car and
• On several occasions when auto start/stop is engaged the vehicle will shift into neutral on its own upon restart. The engine will just rev and not go back into drive until you put it in park and then drive again. This has caused us to stall in front of a semi and 2 other vehicles. The dealer has

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

“THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE SPONTANEOUSLY IN THE PARKING AREA. WE CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE BRIGADE TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR TO GET THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL. WE HAD GONE TO CHICKFILA (ABOUT 6 MILES TOTAL DISTANCE) AND THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR MAYBE 5 MINUTES WHEN WE SAW A FIRE ENGULF THE FRONT PORTION. I PUT WATER”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

37 complaints

12%

• WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 40 MPH AND SLOWING TO TURN INTO GAS STATION, THE CAR COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. I WAS UNABLE TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL OR GET OFF OF ROAD. TOW TRUCK CALLED AND HAD TO BE DRUG ONTO FLATBED. GARAGE REPLACED BATTERY AND STILL UNABLE TO START. NEEDED TO REPLACE TIMING BELT, TENSIONER PULLE
• THE AUTOMATIC COLLISION MITIGATION SYSTEM HAD A COMPLETE 100% LOCK UP OF MY BRAKES DURING A CROSS OF AN INTERSECTION . ALTHOUGH I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT THE FORCE OF THE STOP THREW MY HEAD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS A COMPLETE MIRACLE THAT THE CAR BEHIND ME DID NOT REAR-END ME. THIS SYSTEM
• WHILE DRIVING MY 2019 MDX I NOTICED THAT THE BACK-UP CAMERA WAS ON REMAINING ON, AND I COULD SEE THE ROAD BEHIND BY VEHICLE. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTARTED THINKING THIS WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM; HOWEVER IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE LIGHT

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

32 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, WITHOUT WARNING THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED MOST OFTEN WITH A PASSING VEHICLE O
• The contact owns a 2019 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the Forward Collision-Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking suddenly activated causing the vehicle to abruptly stop in the middle of the road. During the failure, the dashboard warning lights and messages
• Forward Collision Mitigation braking randomly activates and slams on the brakes despite no cars/obstacles/items in front of it. I have luckily not been rear-ended, but I've had several close calls when driving in traffic (car noses dipping behind me). The dealership has so far been unable to replica

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, WITHOUT WARNING THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED MOST OFTEN WITH A PASSING VEHICLE O”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

30 complaints

10%

• TRANSMISSION IS CONSTANTLY SLAMMING INTO 4TH GEAR AND HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. CORPORATE HAS EVEN EVALUATED IN AND HAS DEEMED IT TO BE "WITHIN SPECIFICATION". THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO BREAK DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND POSE A SAFETY HAZARD. IT FEELS AS IF THE MOUNTS ARE GOING TO BREAK OF
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITH SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE IN LIMP MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN T
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL SECONDS LATER THE JERKED AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON ONE OCCASION, THE

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

“TRANSMISSION IS CONSTANTLY SLAMMING INTO 4TH GEAR AND HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. CORPORATE HAS EVEN EVALUATED IN AND HAS DEEMED IT TO BE "WITHIN SPECIFICATION". THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO BREAK DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND POSE A SAFETY HAZARD. IT FEELS AS IF THE MOUNTS ARE GOING TO BREAK OF”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~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 299 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 40 MPH AND SLOWING TO TURN INTO GAS STATION, THE CAR COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. I WAS UNABLE TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL OR GET OFF OF ROAD. TOW TRUCK CALLED AND HAD TO BE DRUG ONTO FLATBED. GARAGE REPLACED BATTERY AND STILL UNABLE TO START. NEEDED TO REPLACE TIMING BELT, TENSIONER PULLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE SPONTANEOUSLY IN THE PARKING AREA. WE CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE BRIGADE TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR TO GET THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL. WE HAD GONE TO CHICKFILA (ABOUT 6 MILES TOTAL DISTANCE) AND THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR MAYBE 5 MINUTES WHEN WE SAW A FIRE ENGULF THE FRONT PORTION. I PUT WATER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 40 MPH AND SLOWING TO TURN INTO GAS STATION, THE CAR COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. I WAS UNABLE TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL OR GET OFF OF ROAD. TOW TRUCK CALLED AND HAD TO BE DRUG ONTO FLATBED. GARAGE REPLACED BATTERY AND STILL UNABLE TO START. NEEDED TO REPLACE TIMING BELT, TENSIONER PULLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, WITHOUT WARNING THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED MOST OFTEN WITH A PASSING VEHICLE O
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)