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2012 Acura Mdx

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Acura Mdx do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

47 reports with mileage · 29 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

76 reports
69,000 miles · Jan 9, 2018
Power Train

RPM'S FLUCTUATE ON THE TACHOMETER WHILE ACCELERATING. THEY JUMP UP AND DOWN AND YOU CAN FEEL THE VEHICLE HESITATE. BASED ON WHAT I AM READING, THIS APPEARS TO BE A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH PROGRAMMING AND WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER THAT CAN RESULT IN TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. EVEN IF THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS REPLACED, WHICH IS AN EXPENSIV…

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RPM'S FLUCTUATE ON THE TACHOMETER WHILE ACCELERATING. THEY JUMP UP AND DOWN AND YOU CAN FEEL THE VEHICLE HESITATE. BASED ON WHAT I AM READING, THIS APPEARS TO BE A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH PROGRAMMING AND WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER THAT CAN RESULT IN TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. EVEN IF THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS REPLACED, WHICH IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR, THIS APPEARS TO BE A RE-OCCURRING ISSUE. OUR 2012 MDX HAS 79,365 MILES ON IT WHICH IS JUST OUTSIDE THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY AND WELL BEFORE A TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE GOING ON AN ACURA VEHICLE. THIS STARTED HAPPENING A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND NOW IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE. BEING THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEEDS AND WHILE MOVING AND IS DIRECTLY TIED TO THE COMPUTER, THIS COULD LEAD TO FAILURE ON A BUSY ROAD AND A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. BEING A COMMON ISSUE THAT IS WELL DOCUMENTED, I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY AND FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ODI #11061527

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2017
Engine

2012 ACURA MDX 3.7 LITER ENGINE HAS VERY HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION. THE ACURA DEALER HAS TESTED THE CONSUMPTION IN THREE TESTS TO BE ABOUT ONE QUART EVERY 1500 MILES. THE ENGINE MILEAGE IS 86,321. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED AT REQUIRED INTERVALS BY THE DEALER. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER.

NHTSA ODI #11015605

10 miles · Jul 21, 2017
Suspension

WE HAVE A 2012 MDX 4 DR AWD ACURA IT HAS OVER 49,000 MILES ON IT. RECENTLY, WE STARTED NOTICING CLUNKING NOISE ORIGINATING FROM THE LEFT FRONT AREA WHENEVER WE HIT A SLIGHT BUMP ESPECIALLY ON A SLOWER RIDE LIKE GETTING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. IT IS SUSPECTED TO BE THE STRUT ISSUE WHICH WILL COST US PRETTY SIGNIFICANT COST TO REPLACE…

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WE HAVE A 2012 MDX 4 DR AWD ACURA IT HAS OVER 49,000 MILES ON IT. RECENTLY, WE STARTED NOTICING CLUNKING NOISE ORIGINATING FROM THE LEFT FRONT AREA WHENEVER WE HIT A SLIGHT BUMP ESPECIALLY ON A SLOWER RIDE LIKE GETTING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. IT IS SUSPECTED TO BE THE STRUT ISSUE WHICH WILL COST US PRETTY SIGNIFICANT COST TO REPLACE IT AND WONDERING IF IT HAS ANY RECALLS FOR THIS TYPE OF ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11010017

75,600 miles · Jun 4, 2017
Structure

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 45 FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON ON MAY 25, 2017, GOING APPROX. 65 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD POP SOUND FROM THE SUNROOF. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE BUT MANAGED TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I SAW THAT THE SUNROOF GLASS WAS COMPLETED SHAT…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 45 FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON ON MAY 25, 2017, GOING APPROX. 65 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD POP SOUND FROM THE SUNROOF. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE BUT MANAGED TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I SAW THAT THE SUNROOF GLASS WAS COMPLETED SHATTERED AND BUBBLED OUTWARDS INSTEAD OF INWARDS. THERE WAS NO VEHICLES WITHIN AT LEAST 200 YARDS AHEAD OF OR BESIDES MY CAR. THERE WAS NO FALLING OBJECTS THAT I COULD FIND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVED THAT THE SUNROOF SHATTERED BY ITSELF. I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY FOR OVER THREE HOURS BEFORE THIS OCCURRED.

NHTSA ODI #10993109

Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2017
Power Train

VEHICLE HAS BEEN LUNGING AT STEADY RPM OF 1.6. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN INDICATING EARLY DEGRADATION OF TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUSED BY SOFTWARE ISSUE WAS CAUSING THE ISSUE. WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. TSA 16-044 ISSUED IN NOVEMBER OF 2016. CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY WHEN ACURA BEC…

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VEHICLE HAS BEEN LUNGING AT STEADY RPM OF 1.6. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN INDICATING EARLY DEGRADATION OF TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUSED BY SOFTWARE ISSUE WAS CAUSING THE ISSUE. WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. TSA 16-044 ISSUED IN NOVEMBER OF 2016. CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY WHEN ACURA BECAME AWARE OF ISSUE AND DID NOT NOTIFY CONSUMERS OF ISSUE. HAVE SPENT NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS WITH ACURA AND THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CANNOT PROVIDE A DATE WHEN SOFTWARE UPDATE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE. TEMPORARY SOLUTION WAS TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION FLUID, WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR. ACURA CANNOT TELL ME OF PERMANENT DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION DUE TO KNOWN ISSUE WITH SOFTWARE CAUSING EARLY DECAY OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.

NHTSA ODI #10954405

48,900 miles · Jan 30, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA MDX. AFTER CAMPING, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT RODENTS CHEWED ON SEVERAL WIRES. THE DEALER DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,900.

NHTSA ODI #10948491

33,000 miles · Jan 3, 2017
Electrical System

POWER DOOR LOCKS WERE ALL DEFECTIVE, BECAME NON-RESPONSIVE TO TRANSMITTER AND DRIVER MASTER SWITCH IN YEAR 4. LOCKS ALSO BEGAN CYCLING OPEN AND CLOSED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. [MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD!] ALL 4 ACTUATORS HAD TO BE REPLACED OVER THE COURSE OF THREE TRIPS TO DEALER. I AM REPORTING ONLY THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE DATE AS THIS …

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POWER DOOR LOCKS WERE ALL DEFECTIVE, BECAME NON-RESPONSIVE TO TRANSMITTER AND DRIVER MASTER SWITCH IN YEAR 4. LOCKS ALSO BEGAN CYCLING OPEN AND CLOSED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. [MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD!] ALL 4 ACTUATORS HAD TO BE REPLACED OVER THE COURSE OF THREE TRIPS TO DEALER. I AM REPORTING ONLY THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE DATE AS THIS HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF 2017

NHTSA ODI #10939152

33,000 miles · Jan 3, 2017
Electrical System

POWER DOOR LOCKS WERE ALL DEFECTIVE, BECAME NON-RESPONSIVE TO TRANSMITTER AND DRIVER MASTER SWITCH IN YEAR 4. LOCKS ALSO BEGAN CYCLING OPEN AND CLOSED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALL 4 ACTUATORS HAD TO BE REPLACED OVER THE COURSE OF THREE TRIPS TO DEALER. I AM REPORTING ONLY THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE DATE AS THIS HAPPENED THROUGHOU…

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POWER DOOR LOCKS WERE ALL DEFECTIVE, BECAME NON-RESPONSIVE TO TRANSMITTER AND DRIVER MASTER SWITCH IN YEAR 4. LOCKS ALSO BEGAN CYCLING OPEN AND CLOSED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALL 4 ACTUATORS HAD TO BE REPLACED OVER THE COURSE OF THREE TRIPS TO DEALER. I AM REPORTING ONLY THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE DATE AS THIS HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF 2017

NHTSA ODI #10939148

74,000 miles · Dec 7, 2016
Power Train

MY 2012 MDX SUFFERS FROM A TORQUE CONVERTER RUMBLING SOUND AND VIBRATION COMMON TO THE MDX SERIES. AS YOU ACCELERATE THE NOISE AND VIBRATION CAN BE FELT ALMOST LIKE A BEARING NOISE WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE A LOCKUP OR FAILURE POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES TO ANY DRIVERS OR PEDESTRIANS. THE DEALERS ARE SAYING THAT THIS NOISE …

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MY 2012 MDX SUFFERS FROM A TORQUE CONVERTER RUMBLING SOUND AND VIBRATION COMMON TO THE MDX SERIES. AS YOU ACCELERATE THE NOISE AND VIBRATION CAN BE FELT ALMOST LIKE A BEARING NOISE WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE A LOCKUP OR FAILURE POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES TO ANY DRIVERS OR PEDESTRIANS. THE DEALERS ARE SAYING THAT THIS NOISE IS INDIGENOUS TO THE INHERENT HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE . FACT: SO I'M NOT ALONE IN THIS AND I KNOW ANY VIBRATIONS IN THAT AREA WILL DEFINITELY LESSEN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE AND COST THE CAR OWNERS ! GOD FORBID ! THERE REFUSAL TO SIMPLY REPLACE THE CONVERTER IS A REFUSAL TO SELL GOOD VEHICLES AND THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ASAP ! UPDATED 10/22/13 ACURA CLIENT SERVICES INFORMED THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT ALL THE MDX VEHICLES NEAR THE SAME YEAR, HAVE AN INHERENT DOCUMENTED KNOCK ON ACCELERATION REGARDLESS OF WHAT PREMIUM FUEL IS USED.

NHTSA ODI #10933709

129,080 miles · Oct 31, 2016
StructureVisibility

THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED CAUSING SHATTERED GLASS TO FALL ON THE DRIVER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN WENT OFF. THERE WAS NOT ANY DEBRIS OR ROCK THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE SHATTERED GLASS. THE GLASS WAS LIFTED UPWARD, NOT DOWNWARD AS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CASE IF SOMETHING CAME FROM THE SKY OR AIR…

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THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED CAUSING SHATTERED GLASS TO FALL ON THE DRIVER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN WENT OFF. THERE WAS NOT ANY DEBRIS OR ROCK THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE SHATTERED GLASS. THE GLASS WAS LIFTED UPWARD, NOT DOWNWARD AS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CASE IF SOMETHING CAME FROM THE SKY OR AIR. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 55 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND THE TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 3:40. I HAD USED THE SUNROOF EARLIER IN THE MORNING WITHOUT A PROBLEM AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10920145

Official recalls

1

12V063000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Feb 17, 2012

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 PILOT AND ACURA MDX VEHICLES. THE VENT SHUT FLOAT (VSF) VALVE CASE IN THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY DOES NOT MEET THE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AS A RESULT, FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE TANK, INCREASING THE RISK OF FIRE.

Remedy: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VSF ASSEMBLY DATE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 13, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-999-1009.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.