Last updated: 2026-03-04

76
GoodReliability score: 76 out of 100, rated Good
2025 Acura MDX

2025 Acura MDX Reliability Score & Common Problems

The 2025 Acura MDX scores 76/100 ("Good"). With 2 recalls and 32 owner complaints, reliability is acceptable but not class-leading.

Recalls

2

Complaints

32

Complaint Rate

8.1

per 10k sold

Above avg

Est. Annual Cost

$571

Below avg

Major Repair Risk

8%

NHTSA Rating

5/5

Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity35%
67/100 (Good)

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs30%
80/100 (Excellent)

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact20%
80/100 (Excellent)

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity15%
84/100 (Excellent)

Breadth of reported problem categories

Consider

Acceptable reliability — worth considering with a pre-purchase inspection.

Top Issues

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (11)UNKNOWN OR OTHER (7)ENGINE (5)

2 recalls on record

Should You Buy the 2025 Acura MDX?

The 2025 Acura MDX scores 76/100 ("Good"), placing it in acceptable but not class-leading territory.

Its complaint rate (8.1 per 10k sold) is above the SUV segment average of 4.1. The most common reports involve electrical system (11).

A pre-purchase inspection is recommended for used examples, with particular attention to electrical system (11). An extended warranty may provide additional peace of mind.

Compared to the 2026 Acura MDX. See also the 2024 Acura MDX for an earlier comparison.

Pros

  • Acceptable reliability score
  • $236 cheaper to maintain than avg luxury midsize SUVs
  • Low major repair risk (8%)
  • Low recall count

Cons

  • Above-average complaint rate for SUV
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM issues reported (11 complaints)
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER issues reported (7 complaints)

Compare 2025 Acura MDX With

Common Problem Categories

Safety

  • 2 manufacturer recalls issued

Other

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (11)
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER (7)
  • ENGINE (5)
  • POWER TRAIN (1)
  • BACK OVER PREVENTION (1)
  • FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1)
  • FUEL SYSTEM (1)
  • EQUIPMENT (1)
  • TIRES (1)
  • AIR BAGS (1)
  • SERVICE BRAKES (1)
  • SUSPENSION (1)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

2

recalls on record

The 2025 Acura MDX has 2 recalls on record. This is a low count. Recalls are manufacturer-initiated fixes for safety or compliance issues and are repaired at no cost to the owner at authorized dealerships.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

8.1

per 10k sold

Segment avg: 4.1

LowAvgHigh
Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

1

Deaths

0

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2025 Acura MDX Recall Details

2 recalls have been issued for the 2025 Acura MDX. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

25V3910002025-06-12

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Consequence

A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are FLX and XLY.

25V0320002025-01-23

BACK OVER PREVENTION, EQUIPMENT

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2025 Acura MDX vehicles. The touchscreen in the center console may go blank, resulting in the rearview camera image not displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence

A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the center information display unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is RKZ.

2025 Acura MDX NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 4/5Passenger: 4/5

Rollover risk: 15.1%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Driver, Front Passenger)Additional Air Bags (N/A)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Standard)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, Roof)
View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Acura MDX Repair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

4Maintenance rating: 4 out of 5

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$571

vs $807 avg for luxury midsize SUVs

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.4

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

8%

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

MDX
$571
Category Avg
$807
All Vehicles
$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

When Buying a Used 2025 Acura MDX

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing, based on the most common reported issues.

  • Test auto idle-stop system for failure to restart
  • Inspect front parking sensors for secure mounting
  • Check moonroof operation for motor and sunshade issues
  • Verify infotainment system functionality for freezing or connectivity problems
  • Ensure brakes engage smoothly without excessive pedal travel

Check Any 2025 Acura MDX's History Before You Buy

Reliability scores tell you what to expect from the 2025 MDX in general — but every car has its own story. Uncover past accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and service records for a specific Acura MDX with a free VIN lookup.

Powered by VINExposed.com — free vehicle history reports using public title and safety data.

2025 Acura MDX Common Problems by Component

32 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

11
7
5
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (11)UNKNOWN OR OTHER (7)ENGINE (5)POWER TRAIN (1)BACK OVER PREVENTION (1)FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1)FUEL SYSTEM (1)EQUIPMENT (1)Other (4)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

11 complaints

Owners report that the 2025 Acura MDX frequently experiences issues with the auto idle stop/start system, where the vehicle fails to restart after the system engages, often requiring a full shutdown and restart to resume driving. Symptoms include the vehicle shutting down completely at stoplights or in traffic, with some owners noting the car automatically shifts into park and displays multiple error messages. Complaints often describe these incidents occurring in potentially hazardous situations, such as busy intersections or highways, posing safety risks due to the sudden loss of power and control. These issues appear to occur regardless of mileage, with some owners experiencing them shortly after purchasing the vehicle. Additionally, a few reports mention problems with the moonroof motor and unexpected braking behavior, though these are less common.

11 complaints total

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

7 complaints

Owners of the 2025 Acura MDX frequently report issues with the auto start-stop function, where the engine fails to restart after stopping, leaving the vehicle immobilized, particularly at stoplights and in traffic. Symptoms include the engine shutting off unexpectedly and difficulty restarting, often requiring multiple attempts, without any warning lights or error messages. One incident involved a sunroof explosion that led to an injury, while another report describes a sudden unintended acceleration in a dealership loaner vehicle. The complaints suggest these issues occur intermittently and are not easily replicated by dealerships, which complicates diagnosis and resolution. Safety implications are noted, as these malfunctions can occur in traffic, potentially leading to hazardous situations.

7 complaints total1 injury

ENGINE

5 complaints

Owners report recurring issues with the automatic idle stop-start system in the 2025 Acura MDX, where the engine fails to restart after idling at stoplights or in traffic, leaving the vehicle stalled. Typical symptoms include the engine shutting down and not restarting upon releasing the brake, with some owners experiencing delays before the vehicle can be restarted. Complaints frequently mention these issues occur at low mileages, often under 10,000 miles. Safety implications are evident, as several owners describe being stalled in traffic, posing a risk of rear-end collisions. Multiple owners note the need to turn the vehicle completely off and back on to continue driving, and some report a delay or struggle in starting the vehicle even outside idle-stop scenarios.

5 complaints total
POWER TRAIN (1 complaints)

POWER TRAIN

1 complaint
2025-07-30

The auto start/stop system failed to restart at a stop light. This was an issue on the older MDX and TLX vehicles with the 3.5L V6 which resulted in a large recall. The recall has not been extended to cover the 2025 MDX and the dealership is refusing to fix the issue or acknowledge it despite having a video to prove it occurred. Acura is knowingly selling these vehicles with a dangerous safety defect that will occur at random. Please consider investigating this matter further as I am concerned for my safety and the safety of my passengers.

BACK OVER PREVENTION (1 complaints)

BACK OVER PREVENTION

1 complaint
2025-12-02

I am a three-time Acura owner currently leasing a 2025 Acura MDX through Honda/Acura. On or about 12/02/2025, at approximately 16,297 miles, a front parking sensor fell out of the front bumper while I was driving. I am concerned that this reduces the reliability of the front parking/safety system and could put safety at risk if a driver relies on the sensors to detect obstacles at low speeds (parking, maneuvering, etc.) while the hardware is no longer properly secured. There was no crash or injury in this incident, but the failure affected a safety-related system on a low-mileage vehicle. Before I noticed the sensor was missing, the front alert on the dashboard began going off repeatedly while I was driving, even though there was nothing in front of the vehicle. That was the first indication that something was wrong with the system. Only after I parked and inspected the front of the vehicle did I see that the front parking sensor had come out of the bumper, which confirmed the source of the problem. The problem was inspected and confirmed by an authorized Acura dealer, who diagnosed broken internal mounting clips on the front sensor. The dealer and manufacturer attributed the failure to “outside influence” (implying that I must have hit something), but no impact damage or other physical evidence was found on the front of the vehicle. The front remains normal and pristine with no dents, cracks, gouges, chips, or distortion of the bumper, paint, grille, or sensor area. I am concerned that a likely part or installation failure on a low-mileage vehicle is being dismissed as “outside influence” based purely on assumption rather than documented physical evidence. In effect, an unproven assumption is being treated as fact, which could allow similar front sensor or mounting failures on other vehicles to be written off as external damage instead of being investigated as a potential durability or design issue with the front sensor mounting.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1 complaints)

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint
2025-11-23

When the car comes to a stop, the engine will shut down after idling. This is by design. The problem is that the engine shuts off and does not start up again. This is very dangers when turning across traffic. I took the car in for maintenance and they said this is a known issue but there is no fix. The internet has many complaints and some people are having their starters replaced. This problem has occurred in other model years of this car. Please issue a recall and make Acura accountable for this known issue.

FUEL SYSTEM (1 complaints)

FUEL SYSTEM

1 complaint
2025-09-21

The contact owns a 2025 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended, causing the vehicle to decelerate unintendedly. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed, and determined that the throttle body was damaged and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified on the failure and suggested that the vehicle be taken to the dealer for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 6,000.

EQUIPMENT (1 complaints)

EQUIPMENT

1 complaint
2024-08-21

The contact owns a 2025 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse(R), the rear-view camera display failed to function as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond while shifted into reverse (R). The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure or determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V032000 (Back Over Prevention, Equipment); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.

TIRES (1 complaints)

TIRES

1 complaint
2025-07-10

Tires have 3k miles . For the past 2 weeks, we have had a slow leak. Must refill air every 3 days. Spent one day at Tire Kingdom, but they could not detect anything. Then the Acura Dealer says there is a leak, but can't find it. We have no choice but to purchase a new tire. This is wrong - th I am retired on a fixed income and must buy a tire for a 3-month-old vehicle!

AIR BAGS (1 complaints)

AIR BAGS

1 complaintSafety-related
2025-05-09Crash reported

(1) My airbag's did not deploy when an another car drove into the front of my car causing extensive damage. It has been deemed a total loss by Liberty Mutual (claim #[XXX]) and will be towed in a day or two to their salvage yard from the auto body shop. (2) Based on what I was told by the claim adjuster, body shop and police they didn't understand why they didn't deploy, especially since one of the air bag sensors was directly in front of the impact. (3) No - Acura has not been easy to communicate with and assigned me a case #[XXX] but after I answered their questions by email a few days ago they have stopped communicating with me. (4) The car has been inspected by the body shop and Liberty Mutual. (5) No INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

When Do 2025 Acura MDX Problems Start?

Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.

0–10,000 milesEngine idle-stop failures
16,000–17,000 milesFront parking sensor issues

Best & Worst Acura MDX Years

Best Acura MDX Years to Buy

The best Acura MDX year is 2024 with a reliability score of 79/100, rated good. Other strong picks include 2023 (79/100) and 2025 (76/100).

Acura MDX Years to Avoid

The worst Acura MDX year is 2020 with a score of 62/100, primarily due to engine (38) issues. Also avoid 2019 (64/100).

See full Acura MDX years-to-avoid analysis →

Acura MDX Reliability Score Trend

Acura MDX reliability has improved in recent years, with newer models scoring an average of 77/100 compared to 63/100 for older years.

avg 71
18
19
20
22
23
24
25

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Acura MDX reliability scores by year
YearScoreRating
201864/100Good
201964/100Good
202062/100Good
202273/100Good
202379/100Good
202479/100Good
202576/100Good

Acura MDX Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
YearScorevs Prior YearRatingRecallsComplaints
202678/100 (predicted)Predicted04
2025(selected)76/100-3Good232
202479/1000Good130
202379/100+6Good129
202273/100+11Good190
202062/100-2Good7188
201964/1000Good9175
201864/100Good10144

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2025 Acura MDX reliable?
The 2025 Acura MDX has a "Good" reliability rating with a score of 76/100. It is reasonably reliable with 2 recalls and 32 owner complaints, though some issues have been reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2025 Acura MDX?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2025 Acura MDX include: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (11 complaints), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (7 complaints), ENGINE (5 complaints), POWER TRAIN (1 complaints), BACK OVER PREVENTION (1 complaints). These issues were identified from owner complaints analyzed by Auto Reliability Index.
How many recalls does the 2025 Acura MDX have?
The 2025 Acura MDX has 2 recalls on record. Recalls are safety or compliance fixes issued by the manufacturer and repaired at no cost at authorized dealerships.
Is the 2025 Acura MDX expensive to maintain?
The 2025 Acura MDX has estimated annual repair costs of $571/year, which is $236 less than the luxury midsize SUVs average of $807. With a reliability score of 76/100, some repairs may be needed, but overall ownership costs are manageable.

How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

1

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

2

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

3

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

4

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

  • 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
  • 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
  • 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
  • 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

See incorrect data? Report an issue