Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical and engine. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2025Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2025 Acura MDX: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
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.
Nearby years usually share most parts, so their problems are worth checking on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2025 checks
Worth adding to your 2025 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2025 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | AWD | 19 mpg |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 21–22 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2025 Acura MDX, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
The engine shuts off at a stop under auto idle stop and does not restart when the brake is released. Some cars shift into park, light up the dash with error messages, and need a full power-down and several restart attempts. Many failures happen in traffic or on highways, with near rear-end collisions, and one report describes lost steering and braking assist. Dealers often cannot reproduce the fault, and battery tests or replacements have not stopped it from coming back. Some owners describe hard starts and clicking without idle stop. Others report moonroof motor failures and audio dropouts.
After auto idle stop shuts the engine off, it fails to restart when the driver lifts off the brake. The car stays stalled in traffic or on busy off-ramps until it is turned fully off and back on, sometimes after a delay of about five seconds. Owners report repeat failures, one of them at least 7 times before reaching 10,000 miles, and describe close calls with following cars. Some dealers say they do not know how to fix it, so owners switch off idle stop as a workaround.
Excerpts from complaints MDX owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Autostart (stop/start) stopped engine but failed to restart car. Had to shut down computer and restart computer and then car started. Cars were coming around blind corner serving to avoid us. Has since happened multiple times just starting up vehicle (not involving autostart). Taken to Acura dealership 3 times to fix, but they have been unable to resolve issue.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2026
Auto Idle Stop/Auto Start-Stop Issue- On multiple occasions, occurring randomly, the vehicle will not start at stoplights after auto-idle stop is engaged. Sometimes this happens after the vehicle has been running for over an hour. Currently, the vehicle must be completely powered down and then restarted to revive engine.
Filed with NHTSA, February 2026
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2025 ranks fifth for owner complaints among 8 MDX years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Recall repairs are free at any Acura dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems.".
Risk: A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are FLX and XLY.
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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility.".
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the center information display unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is RKZ.
Cars shoppers compare with the Acura MDX, with their own 2025 checklists.
2025 owner complaints, side by side
