2025 Acura MDX: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
94 NHTSA owner complaints · 3 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
Avoid the 2016 to 2020 MDX, where the 2016 scores 49 on 367 complaints and the 2020 scores 47 on 215, with the 2017 to 2019 CAUTION at 58, 66 and 59, and avoid the 2025 at 39 on 94 complaints in its first year. Buy a 2011 to 2013, which score 95, 92 and 94 on 70, 76 and 29 complaints, or a 2015 at 80. Read the full note on the model page. 2025 specifically: this is one of the years the note above says to approach with care — 94 complaints on record, verdict AVOID.
Read the guide
Used Acura MDX, RDX and TLX: the years to avoid, including 2025 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 94 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 94.0
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
I have a 2025 Acura MDX SH-AWD. Several times while stopped in traffic, the Auto Idle Stop system shut the engine off and the vehicle displayed ‘RESTART ENGINE.’ The vehicle did not restart automatically. I'm concerned that this could cause a safety hazard if it happens in traffic. I want to file a safety complaint.
When at a red light the engine cuts off and does not restart when foot comes off the brake. Sometimes it takes several minutes to start. We were stuck in an intersection and almost were rear ended. Took it ti the dealership. had a new battery up in. By the time we got home, it did it again. Took it back to the dealership, they replaced the started. No problems for 4 months. Now it is doing the same thing again, alon…
The auto shutoff and restart system has failed multiple times causing the car to shutoff in the middle of traffic. This has happened in traffic on the interstate, on surface streets and in the drive thru line. Safety was put at risk as had to restart car in middle of traffic multiple times; once car would not restart at stop light. This could have caused an accident as vehicle was at a full stop with cars coming …
Recalls: 3 campaigns (2 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 25V391000 | 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. |
| 26V332000 | 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… |
| 25V032000 | Back Over Prevention:Software | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size premium car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 21 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,600
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine60 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System40 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other25 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Fuel/Propulsion System10 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Forward Collision Avoidance5 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
- Power Train4 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
Other Acura MDX years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2025 Acura MDX?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (60 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2025 Acura MDX a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 39/100, computed from 94 NHTSA complaints and 3 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2025 Acura MDX's most common problem?
60 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2025 Acura MDX sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2025 Acura MDX cost to run per year?
About $6,196 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $30,980 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2025 Acura MDX have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for the 2025 Acura MDX, 2 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 12/06/2025. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other luxury midsizes of about the same age.
What will a 2025 Acura MDX really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 94 complaints, 3 recalls on record
- 94 NHTSA complaints on record (94.0/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (19.8/yr)
- 3 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems