UsedScore

2025 Acura MDX: Too new to judge

The 2025 Acura MDX has been on the road for 23 months, short of the five years we need to rate it. Owners have filed 105 complaints with NHTSA so far. That's 6.2× the rate other MDX years drew in their first 23 months, per vehicle sold.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the engine (60% of complaints).

Complaint index
6.2×
partial: first 23 months
Rank
Not ranked
rated after five years
Complaints
105
in 23 months so far
Recalls
4
campaigns
4th generation, 2022–today · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2022 Acura MDX A-Spec

Photo: 2022 Acura MDX A-Spec · Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Engine60% · 63 complaints
  2. Electrical46% · 48 complaints
  3. Driver assistance8% · 8 complaints
  4. Fuel and propulsion12% · 13 complaints
  5. Brakes5% · 5 complaints
  6. Steering3% · 3 complaints
  7. Powertrain4% · 4 complaints
  8. Air bags1% · 1 complaints
  9. Suspension2% · 2 complaints
  10. Wheels and tires2% · 2 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Electrical

Owners of the 2025 Acura MDX widely report the engine cutting off, especially when the auto idle stop feature activates at a light, and then struggling or failing to restart. This leaves them stopped in traffic while dealers often replace batteries or starters, though the problem frequently comes back.

Warning signs:
Many report dash warnings to press brake and push the start button, clicking or sluggish starting sounds, dark or flashing dash screens, and no prior warning before the stall.
What shops did:
Dealers have replaced batteries, starters, and relays and performed software updates, but many owners say the stalling and no-restart issue returned afterward or was never diagnosed.

“it turned off completely, all lights on the dash came on and it and wouldn't restart”

“the vehicle drops out of the auto-restart sequence entirely, shifts itself out of drive”

Engine

Owners describe their MDX's engine shutting off at stops when the auto idle-stop feature activates and then refusing to restart, sometimes for a minute or more while stuck in traffic. Dealers have replaced batteries, starters, or updated software, but many owners say the stalling kept happening afterward.

Warning signs:
Many say there was no warning light beforehand, though some noticed slow or sluggish starting, clicking sounds, or a dash message telling them to press the brake and start button.
What shops did:
Dealers most often replaced the battery or starter, sometimes updated software, but many owners report the problem returned or could not be reproduced or resolved.

“the vehicle suddenly lost automotive power. The message, "Transmission System Failure - Apply Parking Brake while Parked - See Dealer," was displayed.”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (4)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 26V332000May 202698,892 vehicles

    Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 25V391000June 2025259,033 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages

    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."

    Risk: 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.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 25V031000January 2025294,612 vehicles

    Electrical system: software · Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type-S, 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type-S vehicles. A software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) may cause an engine stall or a loss of power.

    Risk: An engine stall or loss of power can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

    Fix: Dealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 25V032000January 20259,221 vehicles

    Back over prevention: software · Equipment: electrical: infotainment: video (TOUCH)screen/monitor/unit

    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."

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

    Fix: Dealers will replace the center information display unit, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Acura sent NHTSA 29 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2025 MDX. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • BTI&05122026901 · May 2026Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
  • BTI&04292026901 · April 2026Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
  • BTI&04202026901 · April 2026Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
  • BBTS30565 · April 2026Tech Line Summary - The vehicle's infotainment system displays previously viewed SMS messages upon each ignition cycle, when the customer's Android phone is connected via Bluetooth.
  • BB28518 · March 2026Over The Air System Updates - Vehicles equipped with the System Updates application are capable of downloading and installing Over the Air System updates (OTA).
  • B28518 · January 2026Over the Air System Update - System updates contain upgrades that fix operational errors and/or provide a variety of enhancements, which adds new functionality.
  • BB29050 · August 2025Tech Line - Customers may experience error code S001 with their audio unit.
  • BTI&07312025903 · August 2025Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

All 2025 MDX bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2025 Acura MDX reliable?
The 2025 Acura MDX has been on the road for 23 months, short of the five years we need to rate it. Owners have filed 105 complaints with NHTSA so far. That's 6.2× the rate other MDX years drew in their first 23 months, per vehicle sold. Ratings compare MDX years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2025 MDX problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the engine (60%), the electrical system (46%) and driver-assistance features and cameras (8%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2025 Acura MDX been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2025 Acura MDX, the most recent in May 2026 (air bags). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Acura. The 2025 Acura MDX on NHTSA.gov · How we rate