Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
150–25K
625–50K
550–75K
1175–100K
6100–150K
4150K+
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
15,100 miles · Oct 7, 2013
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*LJ 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. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10547132
7,000 miles · Aug 5, 2013
Electrical SystemSeats
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2012 ACURA MDX (1 YEAR AND 2 WEEKS OLD). IT HAVE ONLY 7000 MILES ON IT RIGHT NOW. THE POWER DRIVER SEAT IS NOT WORKING AND ALSO, THE MEMORY #1 AND #2. THE SEAT IT ALL THE WAY UP POSITION CLOSE TO STEERING WHEEL IT HARD FOR ME TO DRIVE. I WORK ANN ARBOR, MI THE ACURA DEALER ARE IN TROY, MI. IT MORE T…
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I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2012 ACURA MDX (1 YEAR AND 2 WEEKS OLD). IT HAVE ONLY 7000 MILES ON IT RIGHT NOW. THE POWER DRIVER SEAT IS NOT WORKING AND ALSO, THE MEMORY #1 AND #2. THE SEAT IT ALL THE WAY UP POSITION CLOSE TO STEERING WHEEL IT HARD FOR ME TO DRIVE. I WORK ANN ARBOR, MI THE ACURA DEALER ARE IN TROY, MI. IT MORE THAN ONE HOUR DRIVE ONE WAY. IF I TAKE MY ACURA MDX TO THE DEALER, I HAVE TO TAKE TIME OFF FROM WORK WHICH I DO NOT TO .................. WHY IT COST MONEY ....................... I'M NOT HAPPY. I OWN HONDA ACCORD 10 YEARS, ACURA 3.2 TL 8 YEARS, TOYOTA HIGHLANDER MORE THAN 5 YEARS NEVER HAVE ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THIS ONE ...................... NOW WHAT............... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10533591
6,000 miles · Mar 19, 2013
SteeringStructureCrash
I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL SIDE STREET AT ABOUT 15 MPH WHEN I HEARD A SNAP AND SUDDENLY MY CAR SWERVED INTO A PARKED CAR CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FENDER OF MY CAR AND THE DRIVER SIDE REAR FENDER OF THE PARKED CAR. I HAD A WITNESS, A BYSTANDER, WHO ALSO SAID HE HEARD A SNAP BEFORE MY CAR SWERVED. MY CAR WAS…
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I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL SIDE STREET AT ABOUT 15 MPH WHEN I HEARD A SNAP AND SUDDENLY MY CAR SWERVED INTO A PARKED CAR CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FENDER OF MY CAR AND THE DRIVER SIDE REAR FENDER OF THE PARKED CAR. I HAD A WITNESS, A BYSTANDER, WHO ALSO SAID HE HEARD A SNAP BEFORE MY CAR SWERVED. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO AN ACURA DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THE CAR HAD A BROKEN TIE ROD. I DID NOT HIT ANY POT HOLES. THE ROADS WERE CLEAR AND MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN TOWED BEFORE. IT IS 6 MONTHS OLD WITH 6000 MILES. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE.THERE IS NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE EXCEPT A SCRAPE WHERE THE TIE ROD SNAPPED. THERE IS NO BENT WHEEL EITHER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10503611
14,900 miles · Feb 26, 2013
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND. A FEW MOMENTS LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WOULD EMIT A CLICKING SOUND WHEN IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHOR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND. A FEW MOMENTS LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WOULD EMIT A CLICKING SOUND WHEN IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,900.
NHTSA ODI #10500178
7,400 miles · Feb 23, 2013
Back Over PreventionElectrical SystemEquipment Adaptive/mobility
HONDA ACURA MDX, THE VEHICLE PROVIDES A BACKUP CAMERA TO DISPLAY THE REAR VIEW WHEN THE VEHICLE BACKS UP. HOWEVER THE CAMERA SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK AT NIGHT UNDER STREET LIGHT. THE DRIVER BARELY SEES ANYTHING AT REAR THROUGH THE VIDEO DISPLAY EVEN IT IS SET AT NIGHT MODE AND IT IS TURNED TO MAX. BRIGHT LEVEL. I ALMOST HIT A CH…
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HONDA ACURA MDX, THE VEHICLE PROVIDES A BACKUP CAMERA TO DISPLAY THE REAR VIEW WHEN THE VEHICLE BACKS UP. HOWEVER THE CAMERA SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK AT NIGHT UNDER STREET LIGHT. THE DRIVER BARELY SEES ANYTHING AT REAR THROUGH THE VIDEO DISPLAY EVEN IT IS SET AT NIGHT MODE AND IT IS TURNED TO MAX. BRIGHT LEVEL. I ALMOST HIT A CHILD WHEN I TRIED TO BACKUP THE CAR WITH THE REAR VIEW THOUGH THE CAMERA AND I THOUGHT IT WAS CLEAR BUT IT IS NOT. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND IT COULD KILL A CHILD. ACURA SHOULD NEVER INSTALL SUCH POOR QUALITY CAMERAS ON ITS HIGH END VEHICLES. OR ACURA SHOULD PUT A CLEAR WARNING MARK BESIDE THE DISPLAY WHICH WARNS DRIVER NEVER USE IT AT NIGHT. COMPARING TO THE OTHER BRAND REAR VIEW CAMERAS I NEVER HEARD SUCH STORIES THAT THEY ARE NOT BE ABLE TO WORK AT NIGHT. THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB AND MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE ACURA WILL REPLACE THE CAMERA AND PREVENT IT FROM AN ACCIDENT REALLY HAPPENED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10499759
1,000 miles · Jan 29, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
THE REAR BACK UP CAMERA DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE BRIGHTNESS AT NIGHT. WITH THE SCREEN BRIGHTNESS SET TO MAX, I AM UNABLE TO DISCERN OBJECTS BEHIND ON THE SCREEN AT NIGHT ESPECIALLY IN RAIN. THE CAMERA LENS IS CLEAN. THIS IS SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE COMPARED TO MY PRIOR 2008 ACURA MDX, AND COMPARED TO OTHER VEHICLES THAT I OWN AND …
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THE REAR BACK UP CAMERA DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE BRIGHTNESS AT NIGHT. WITH THE SCREEN BRIGHTNESS SET TO MAX, I AM UNABLE TO DISCERN OBJECTS BEHIND ON THE SCREEN AT NIGHT ESPECIALLY IN RAIN. THE CAMERA LENS IS CLEAN. THIS IS SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE COMPARED TO MY PRIOR 2008 ACURA MDX, AND COMPARED TO OTHER VEHICLES THAT I OWN AND HAVE DRIVEN WITH SIMILAR CAMERAS. THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS A FREQUENT COMPLAINT. *TR
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.
2012 Acura Mdx Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year