2013 Acura MDX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
29 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
49,760 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 29 complaints (31.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 17.2% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 17.2% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 10.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 6.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 9 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
Engine: 9; Electrical System: 8; Unknown Or Other: 5; Power Train: 4; Exterior Lighting: 3; Steering: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Air Bags: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 11 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 4; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 4; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking 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 10515905 · 2013-06-09 (June 9, 2013)
THE VEHICLE SHOWS ALL TROUBLE CODES, VSA STABILITY, TRAILER STABILITY, ALL WHEEL DRIVE, ENGINE SYSTEM. ERROR. ONCE CODE COMES ON LOSS OF POWER AND STABILITY CONTROL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 124 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10532687 · 2013-07-30 (July 30, 2013)
BACK-UP CAMERA VIDEO / NAVIGATION MODULE, AND STEREO / CLOCK SCREENS REMAINED BLANK AFTER STARTING ENGINE, PLACING CAR IN REVERSE GEAR AND MOVING SLOWLY DOWN DRIVEWAY IN AN APPROXIMATE TIME FRAME OF 3-4 MINUTES. ALL SCREENS CONTINUED TO BE BLANK AFTER EXITING DRIVEWAY, STOPPING, THEN PLACING CAR IN DRIVE AND TRAVELING 5-7 MPH ON STREET. STOPPED VEHICLE AT STOP SIGN AFTER TRAVELING 200 YARDS. RE-ENGAGED REVERSE, THEN DRIVE GEARS WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. BOTH SCREENS FINALLY ACTIVATED, SHOWING CORRECT TIME AND BLUETOOTH CONNECTION STATUS ON STEREO SCR…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,086 miles reported. Look up ODI 10532687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10560389 · 2014-01-17 (January 17, 2014)
A 2013 ACURA MDX VEHICLE (ADVANCE MODEL) WAS BOUGHT IN THE ACURA DEALER ON JULY 27, 2013. STARTING ON OCTOBER 2013, STRONG SMELL OF FUMES HAS SPORADICALLY BEEN SENSED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, MAKING IT UNCOMFORTABLE TO BREATHE. SINCE NOVEMBER 5, 2013, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP (THREE TIMES) TO TARGET THE CAUSE OF THE FUMES. THE SMELL OF FUMES INSIDE THE CABIN ARE SENSED NOT ONLY WHILE DRIVING AT 10MPH, 40MPH, OR 60MPH BUT ALSO ON SHORT DISTANCE RIDES, DURING RAINY DAYS AND WHILE WAITING FOR A LIGHT TO CHANGE (THE SMELL WAS ALSO …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,272 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10604829 · 2014-06-20 (June 20, 2014)
MY 4 YEAR OLD WAS IN A BOOSTER SEAT IN THE BACK SO SEAT BELT WAS ON HIM. WHEN WE WENT TO UNBUCKLE THE SEATBELT IT LOCKED. WE ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO UNLOCK IT, WE TESTED ALL THE OTHER SEATBELTS WHICH DID LOCK AND UNLOCK. WE COULD NOT GET IT UNLOCKED AND HAD TO GO INTO A LOCAL RESTAURANT AND BORROW SCISSORS TO GET HIM OUT. WE TRIED FOR 15 MINS AT LEAST TO GET THE SEAT BELT UNLOCKED AND EVERY TIME IT SEEMED TO GET TIGHTER. MY 4 YEAR OLD HAD NIGHTMARES THAT EVENING ABOUT THE SEAT BELTS AND RED MARKS ON HIS SHOULDER. IT IS SCARY TO THINK W…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,567 miles reported. Look up ODI 10604829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10627877 · 2014-08-24 (August 24, 2014)
I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE, THE IGNITION ON, WHEN IT SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN AND DECELERATED. I MANAGED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ONTO MY STREET, ALTHOUGH THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTARTED IT WITH NO PROBLEM. I DID HAVE A SMALL WALLET (DIMENSIONS WERE @ 4IN BY 5IN, WEIGHT @ 3 OZ) ATTACHED TO THE KEY WHILE IT WAS IN THE IGNITION. I CONTACTED THE ACURA DEALERSHIP THE SAME DAY AND WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT HE WAS UNA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10627877 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10640928 · 2014-10-02 (October 2, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REBOOTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,800. UPDATED 12/01/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STAED A NON-ACURA DEALER IDENTIFED THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY AS DEFECTIVE. UPDATED 01/20/15
Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10640928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10680786 · 2015-02-03 (February 3, 2015)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10680786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10693695 · 2015-03-11 (March 11, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED UPWARDS INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,200.
Owner-reported narrative. 68,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10693695 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
23V858000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2023-12-18 (December 18, 2023)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
NHTSA campaign record ↗