2008 Acura MDX: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10219057 · 2008-02-25 (February 25, 2008)
2008 ACURA MDX -ENTERTAINMENT PACKAGE REAR TAILGATE DOOR HAS TWO MODES OF CLOSING. AUTO AND MANUAL. AFTER LOADING CARGO SPACE I WANTED TO CLOSE TAILGATE MANUALLY VERY SLOWLY TO ENSURE THAT CARGO WOULD NOT DAMAGE DOOR, OR DOOR DAMAGE CARGO. I GRASPED THE TAILGATE DOOR ON LOWER EDGE AND BEGAN SLOWLY CLOSING TAILGATE DOOR TO MAKE SURE DOOR WOULD CLEAR ANY POSSIBLE OBSTRUCTIONS BEFORE ACTUALLY CLOSING DOOR SECURELY. WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS DESIGN IS AS YOU GET CLOSE TO THE POINT WHERE THE DOOR IS ALMOST ALL THE WAY DOWN, AN AUTOMATIC SENSOR IS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10219057 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10225759 · 2008-04-25 (April 25, 2008)
THE NEW HEAD RESTRAINTS THAT YOU REQUIRE BECAUSE OF THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY EVALUATIONS HAVE CREATED A HEAD RESTRAINT THAT IS NOT USABLE. I WENT TO SEE ABOUT PURCHASING A NEW VEHICLE BUT FOUND WITH THE NEW HEAD RESTRAINT I CAN NOT SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD OF THE VEHICLE, I CAN SEE THE HOOD BUT THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE HEAD RESTRAINT PREVENTS MY HEAD FROM MOVING TO A POSITION TO SEE OUT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY I COULD SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE SEAT POSITIONED WHERE I WANT IT WAS TO REMOVE THE INSURANCE INSTITU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10225759 at NHTSA ↗
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 10240759 · 2008-09-03 (September 3, 2008)
THE ISSUE IS A POSSIBLE DESIGN COMPATIBILITY WITH A LATCH ANCHOR SYSTEM AND MY RECENTLY PURCHASED ACURA 08 MDX. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2008, MAKE=ACURA, MODEL=MDX) *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10240759 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 10279005 · 2009-07-31 (July 31, 2009)
2008 ACURA MDX WITH 27,000 MILES. A HOLE HAS APPEARED IN THE CONDENSER REGULATING THE A/C UNIT INOPERATIVE. THE HOLE HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED SPEWING OUT LARGE AMOUNT OF FREON STEAM SCARING MY WIFE, THE DRIVER. SHE MADE AN EMERGENCY STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH A LAWSUIT INVOLVED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10279005 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 10293446 · 2009-11-24 (November 24, 2009)
AUTO DAMPER SYSTEM ON 2008 MDX STOPS WORKING DUE TO SENSOR PROBLEMS IN SHOCKS/ STRUTS. AUTO DAMPER SYSTEM ADJUSTS SHOCK SENSITIVITY TO ROAD CONDITIONS AND HAS TWO MODES, COMFORT AND SPORT. WHEN THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS THE SHOCKS/STRUTS DEFAULT TO A GIVEN SENSITIVITY. THE DANGER OCCURS IF THE DRIVER BELIEVES THAT HE/SHE IS IN SPORT MODE AND THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS WHILE DRIVING IT COULD CAUSE A WRONG INTERPRETATION OF THE ROAD AND POTENTIALLY HAMPER THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER/PASSENGERS. MY MDX HAS HAD REGULAR FAILURES IN THE SENSORS, I HAVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293446 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.