2008 Acura MDX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
49 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
40,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 35 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 49 complaints (16.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 18.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 18.4% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Structure:Body | 7 |
| Suspension | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
Electrical System: 8; Structure:Body: 7; Suspension: 6; Air Bags: 5; Steering: 4; Engine: 3; Power Train: 3; Service Brakes: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 14 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2008: 4; 2009: 5; 2010: 7; 2012: 1; 2013: 6; 2014: 2; 2015: 7; 2016: 3; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10235789 · 2008-07-25 (July 25, 2008)
2008 ACURA MDX - TOOK DELIVERY OF THIS NEW VEHICLE ON JULY 1, 2008 FROM SUNNYSIDE ACURA DEALERSHIP IN NASHUA NH. VEHICLE HAD 14 MILES ON IT. AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES BRAKES FAILED. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID IN RESERVOIR AND ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED. AS RESTITUTION, ACURA REPLACED MY VEHICLE WITH A NEW ONE. DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THAT OTHER NEW ACURA VEHICLES ON LOT CONTAINED CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID. DUE TO ACURA'S DECISION TO REPLACE VEHICLE WITHOUT COMPLAINT A…
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235789 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10290572 · 2009-11-02 (November 2, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA MDX. WHILE SHE WAS REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVE-WAY SHE STOPPED BECAUSE SHE RAN OVER SOME SMALL TOYS. HOWEVER HER FOOT SLIPPED OFF OF THE BRAKES, AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS. CONSEQUENTLY SHE RAN OVER MORE TOYS AND RECEIVED $3000.00 OF DAMAGE. SHE WAS AFRAID TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE AN UNBIASED APPROACH WHEN OFFERING HER RECOURSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,610. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,610 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290572 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10361015 · 2010-10-18 (October 18, 2010)
WHEN DRIVING MY 2008 ACURA MDX IN THE RAIN, SPECIFICALLY IF I HAVE GONE THRU A PUDDLE, SIMULTANEOUSLY A MESSAGE WILL APPEAR "CHECK BATTERY CHARGE" AND I WILL LOOSE MY POWER STEERING FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS, MAKING IT NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I GOT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT HAS BEEN CORRECTED IN NEWER MODELS. AT PRESENT THE ONLY SOLUTION IS DRIVE SLOWER THRU PUDDLES SO THE CABLES THAT ARE EXPO…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10361015 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10679849 · 2015-01-29 (January 29, 2015)
*****ACURA MDX 2008 BATTERY IS DRAINING AND CAR WILL NOT START DUE TO HFL UNIT.******** ***CONSUMERS SHOULD KNOW SO THEY CAN ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PREVENT BEING STRANDED SOMEWHERE WITH A DEAD BATTERY*** THIS HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE 1) FEBRUARY 2013, VEHICLE @ 35,000 MILES- BATTERY REPLACED AT ACURA 2) OCTOBER 2014, VEHICLE @ 48,000 MILES- TOLD BY ACURA BATTERY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN 3) JANUARY 2015, VEHICLE @ 49,000 MILES- I FOUND ONLINE FORUM WHERE ACURA MDX OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND THE CONCLUSION IS A DEFECTIVE HFL (HANDS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10679849 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10256472 · 2009-01-27 (January 27, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS STICKING OUT AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER STEERING LINKAGE FAILED. THE DEALER SPECULATED THAT THE FAILURE RESULTED FROM A CRASH WITHOUT EVEN PROPERLY INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER FURTHER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS. AS OF JANUARY 27, 2009, THERE ARE NO KNOWN CRASHES WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND IS WAITING FOR A RES…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10451829 · 2012-03-15 (March 15, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A GRINDING NOISE AND HESITATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR AND THE GRINDING NOISE WAS CAUSED BY THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451829 at NHTSA ↗