2019 Acura MDX: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 175 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the engine, electrical, and transmission. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2019- Owner complaints
- 175
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes reported
- 4
- 3 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2019 Acura MDX: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which MDX is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2019 Acura MDX. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cylGas | AWD, FWD | 22–23 mpg |
| 3.0L 6-cylHybrid | AWD | 27 mpg |
- The 2019 Acura MDX was sold in two versions. Confirm which one this is from the window sticker, the engine cover, or the VIN report before you compare prices.
- On the hybrid, watch for the car moving off on electric power at low speed and for any hybrid system warning on the dash.
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A MDX that averages well under the EPA 22 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Jerky shifting and gear slipping
12,000–44,318 miles
Power loss or limp mode
42,000–67,150 miles
Stalling with fuel recall issues
88,000–90,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2019 Acura MDX, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Engine43No crashes
Most of these reports are about the connecting rod bearing recall and the wait for parts to fix it. Many owners say dealers had no parts and the delay went past a reasonable time. The fuel system recall is often open on the same car. Fewer reports describe actual failures: engine noise, a fuel smell, jerky shifting, stalling with a transmission failure message, and no restart after auto start/stop. One report describes smoke and flames under the hood while driving. A leaking timing belt tensioner turns up near 35,000 miles.
Sudden power loss and stalling lead these reports, sometimes on the highway with no warning light. Some cars drop into limp mode. One failure was traced to a rocker arm oil pressure switch. Engine knocking also shows up, and owners report replacing a cylinder head or the whole engine. Many complaints are about the connecting rod bearing and fuel pump recalls, with dealers saying parts have been unavailable for more than a year. Failure to restart after auto start/stop is another repeated complaint, and new batteries and software updates have not cured it.
Electrical28No crashes
After auto start/stop shuts the engine off, it may not restart. The transmission drops into neutral and leaves the car stuck at intersections. Dealers have tried a new battery, a software update, and a fuel pump without a lasting fix. Another common pattern is a burst of warning lights all at once for emissions, the electric parking brake, and SH-AWD, sometimes with a low-voltage code. Several owners report stalling while driving, including at highway speed, as power steering and other electronics cut out. Infotainment screens also go black. One report describes smoke coming from the dash.
Transmission281 crash
The most dangerous pattern here is a failed restart after auto start/stop. The transmission slips into neutral and the car sits dead in traffic, and one rear-end crash is reported. Other complaints describe jerky or hard shifts, gear slipping, and slow throttle response, with reports at 12,000 and 44,318 miles. Several owners report sudden power loss or stalling at highway speed, some with the connecting rod bearing recall still open. A timing belt that jumped time, a failed transfer case full of metal debris, and corrosion in the rear differential oil pump also appear.
Automatic emergency braking9No crashes
Automatic emergency braking slams on with nothing ahead, sometimes at highway speed. The car stops abruptly and drivers report close calls with traffic behind them. Dealers often cannot reproduce it, and one case appears at 41,000 miles. The second pattern is a failing front camera. It sets off warnings for adaptive cruise, lane keep assist, road departure mitigation, collision mitigation, and auto high beams, then shuts those systems off. Owners describe the camera as an out-of-pocket repair. One quote was $900 for the part and $1600 for installation and calibration.
Fuel system9No crashes
Nearly every report is about the fuel system recall, which other complaints tie to the fuel pump, and the lack of parts to complete it. Owners say dealers had no parts and the wait went past a reasonable time. A few reports describe real failures. One car stalled pulling away from a light near 90,000 miles. Another shifted into park while driving, with an EVAP leak near 88,000 miles, and the problem came back after the recall repair. One unrelated complaint describes a dimming instrument panel.
Wipers and visibility7No crashes
Optical distortion in the windshield near both front pillars dominates these reports. Through those areas, cars and pedestrians look wavy or bent. Owners say this causes dizziness, nausea, and trouble judging traffic at turns and intersections. Complaints come from buyers of new and just-purchased cars. Other reports describe a sunroof that shattered while driving with nothing hitting it. Another describes a rear camera image that turns blurry at night, which dealers could not reproduce in daylight.
Acceleration and cruise control61 crash
The most serious pattern is unintended acceleration, both at low speed in parking areas and while slowing for lights. One report describes the car speeding up despite braking and hitting several vehicles, with injuries. Other owners describe the opposite problem: no power when trying to pass, or adaptive cruise slowing hard with no car ahead. Some engines shut off at speed with no warning light, including one case near 42,000 miles. Dealers usually cannot duplicate these failures.
Brakes51 crash
Automatic braking that kicks in with no obstacle ahead appears repeatedly. Some owners say it happens more often over time, and one dealer called it normal behavior. Other reports describe a brake pedal that turns very stiff after the car sits for a few hours, and a pedal stuck down with a grinding noise and the brake light on. In one low-speed case the pedal did not respond and the car hit a pole, near 37,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints MDX owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
I was yielding to make a left hand turn , in the middle of the intersection, and my car turned off and wouldn’t turn back on. In addition the car occasionally jerks as I’m driving almost like if it changes gear. Sometimes I can’t get the car in park position I have to press the button multiple times. The recall going on right now can cause a fire crash or injury and they cannot replace the parts until April 2024 and I don’t feel safe driving my car.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2024
The back inner tail light on my car is not working, which is the following recall, however, according to acura, my vin does not apply and does not show a recall. I believe this is an error since I am having the exact issue and my vin should be included in this recall. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER:19V-256 MFR CAMPAIGN ID:M49 CAMPAIGN DESCRIPTION:2014-19 MDX Tailgate Inner Taillight Safety Recall RECALL DATE:03/28/2019 RECALL STATUS:17 Character VIN Required
Filed with NHTSA, November 2023
Acceleration has a very slow response after pressing gas pedel, transmission is very jerky only 12000 miles on car. It can lead into accidents at traffic or other
Filed with NHTSA, March 2022
Starting having an issue over the last few weeks where the car will shut off as it should with the idle start/stop enhanced but when I release the brake, the car goes into neutral and doesn’t start… have had this happen 4 times already and was finally rear ended today due to this fault.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2023
Forward Collision Mitigation braking randomly activates and slams on the brakes despite no cars/obstacles/items in front of it. I have luckily not been rear-ended, but I've had several close calls when driving in traffic (car noses dipping behind me). The dealership has so far been unable to replicate this issue and stated that unless they can replicate there is nothing they can/will do to fix the issue.
Filed with NHTSA, April 2024
Problems may occur intermittently, including during engine startup and while driving, with warning messages appearing on the dashboard： Auto High-Beam Problem, Road departure mitigation sysem problem,, Collsion mitigation system problem, Lane keeping assist problem and Adaptive cruise control problem. All of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems can't be used.
Filed with NHTSA, April 2024
How the 2019 compares with other MDX years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2019 ranks second for owner complaints among 8 MDX years, about 2.4 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Engine4312
- Electrical2812
- Transmission289
- Automatic emergency braking93
- Fuel system93
- Wipers and visibility71
Where the 2019 fits in the MDX's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2019 is the sixth model year of the MDX's third generation (2014–2020).
It includes the 2017 update.
What changed for 2017
- Diamond pentagon front grille introduced
- Front fenders switched to aluminum panel
- Standardization of AcuraWatch™ technologies
Recalls to confirm (7)
Recall repairs are free at any Acura dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
25V259000Exterior lightsApr 2025
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid light assembly and wiring harness, which can cause the interior and exterior lights to fail, including the lid lights, position lights, license plate lights and taillights.
Risk: Vehicle lights that fail to illuminate can decrease visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the wiring and install a fuse harness, replace the lid light, and repair the body dust sealer, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2025. Owners may contact Acura's customer service at 1-800-382-2238. Acura's number for this recall is FLI. Vehicles included in this recall that were previously repaired under NHTSA recall number 19V-256 will need to have the new remedy completed.
23V858000Fuel systemDec 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.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
23V751000EngineNov 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
Risk: A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.
21V215000Fuel systemMar 2021
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-314.
19V298000EngineApr 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura MDX and Honda Pilot vehicles and 2019 Acura RLX, RLX Sport Hybrid, TLX and Honda Odyssey and Ridgeline vehicles. The timing belt teeth may separate from the belt.
Risk: Teeth separation from the timing belt may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected timing belt free of charge. Vehicles receiving a replacement timing belt will also have the engine inspected and any damaged components will be replaced for free. The recall began June 7, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is L4M. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is Z4L.
19V256000Exterior lightsMar 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Acura MDX and 2017-2019 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid lights, possibly causing a loss of the tailgate lid lights and the taillights.
Risk: Loss of the taillights reduces the vehicle's visibility, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Acura will notify owners, and dealers will modify the tailgate lid lights and install updated gaskets and a wiring sub-harness or will replace both tailgate lid lights. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is M49.
18V777000BrakesNov 2018
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Acura MDX, 2017-2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda HR-V and Honda Odyssey, and 2016 Honda HR-V vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating, causing gas pockets to form, reducing brake performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems.".
Risk: A reduction of braking performance increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners will be notified, and Honda or Acura dealers will bleed the brakes, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are C31 and L30.
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