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2012 Acura Mdx

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Acura Mdx do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

47 reports with mileage · 29 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

13 reports
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159,000 miles · Apr 22, 2025
Electrical System

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 126,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mile…

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Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 126,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 159,000.

NHTSA ODI #11656007

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2022
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

DONE everything Dealer suggested and still having problems with random misfires in 1,2 and 3 cylinders, changed spark plugs, fuel injectors, ignition coils and compression test and changed rear CAT. Still check engine light come on sometime then the SUV driving good, and sometimes it drive ruff, check engine light come on then …

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DONE everything Dealer suggested and still having problems with random misfires in 1,2 and 3 cylinders, changed spark plugs, fuel injectors, ignition coils and compression test and changed rear CAT. Still check engine light come on sometime then the SUV driving good, and sometimes it drive ruff, check engine light come on then go off then come back on with same codes: random misfire.

NHTSA ODI #11471653

202,236 miles · Nov 2, 2020
Air BagsElectrical System

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I REACHED MY DESTINATION AND TURNED OFF MY VEHICLE, I THEN RESTARTED MY VEHICLE AND THE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I TOOK A PICTURE OF THE LIGHT FOR PROOF. STILL ON FOR 3 WEEKS NOW. I CHECKED AND MY VIN IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST FOR THE AIRBAG.

NHTSA ODI #11372629

56,000 miles · Mar 26, 2020
Electrical SystemVisibility/wiperFire

WINDSHIELD WIPER DOESN'T WORK, ELECTRONIC STEERING FAILED

NHTSA ODI #11319352

106,000 miles · Dec 31, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFire

AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I PARKED IT, TURNED IT OFF AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #11292235

48,900 miles · Jan 30, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA MDX. AFTER CAMPING, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT RODENTS CHEWED ON SEVERAL WIRES. THE DEALER DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,900.

NHTSA ODI #10948491

33,000 miles · Jan 3, 2017
Electrical System

POWER DOOR LOCKS WERE ALL DEFECTIVE, BECAME NON-RESPONSIVE TO TRANSMITTER AND DRIVER MASTER SWITCH IN YEAR 4. LOCKS ALSO BEGAN CYCLING OPEN AND CLOSED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. [MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD!] ALL 4 ACTUATORS HAD TO BE REPLACED OVER THE COURSE OF THREE TRIPS TO DEALER. I AM REPORTING ONLY THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE DATE AS THIS …

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POWER DOOR LOCKS WERE ALL DEFECTIVE, BECAME NON-RESPONSIVE TO TRANSMITTER AND DRIVER MASTER SWITCH IN YEAR 4. LOCKS ALSO BEGAN CYCLING OPEN AND CLOSED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. [MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD!] ALL 4 ACTUATORS HAD TO BE REPLACED OVER THE COURSE OF THREE TRIPS TO DEALER. I AM REPORTING ONLY THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE DATE AS THIS HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF 2017

NHTSA ODI #10939152

33,000 miles · Jan 3, 2017
Electrical System

POWER DOOR LOCKS WERE ALL DEFECTIVE, BECAME NON-RESPONSIVE TO TRANSMITTER AND DRIVER MASTER SWITCH IN YEAR 4. LOCKS ALSO BEGAN CYCLING OPEN AND CLOSED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALL 4 ACTUATORS HAD TO BE REPLACED OVER THE COURSE OF THREE TRIPS TO DEALER. I AM REPORTING ONLY THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE DATE AS THIS HAPPENED THROUGHOU…

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POWER DOOR LOCKS WERE ALL DEFECTIVE, BECAME NON-RESPONSIVE TO TRANSMITTER AND DRIVER MASTER SWITCH IN YEAR 4. LOCKS ALSO BEGAN CYCLING OPEN AND CLOSED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALL 4 ACTUATORS HAD TO BE REPLACED OVER THE COURSE OF THREE TRIPS TO DEALER. I AM REPORTING ONLY THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE DATE AS THIS HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF 2017

NHTSA ODI #10939148

200 miles · Jul 16, 2016
Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

WHEN DRIVING USING ACC, THE VEHICLE BRAKES (NOT CONSISTENTLY) WHEN APPROACHING A LARGE TRUCK IN THE LANE NEXT TO LANE I AM DRIVING IN. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE NEW AND HAS BEEN REPORTED AT LEAST 10 TIMES TO DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. GAS MILEAGE IS 12MPG IN TOWN AND 19MPG ON FREEWAY, STICKER WAS 16/23. …

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WHEN DRIVING USING ACC, THE VEHICLE BRAKES (NOT CONSISTENTLY) WHEN APPROACHING A LARGE TRUCK IN THE LANE NEXT TO LANE I AM DRIVING IN. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE NEW AND HAS BEEN REPORTED AT LEAST 10 TIMES TO DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. GAS MILEAGE IS 12MPG IN TOWN AND 19MPG ON FREEWAY, STICKER WAS 16/23. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SINCE NEW AND THEY DRIVE THE CAR AND SAY THEY ARE GETTING CORRECT MILEAGE, THEN THEY TOLD ME THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS NEEDED GRINDING. I WAS ASSURED BY THE SERVICE WRITER THAT MY MILEAGE WOULD BE MUCH BETTER, WITH A WINK OF AN EYE. I LEFT THE NEXT DAY FOR 600 MILE DRIVE AND MY MILEAGE WAS 20MGP IN TOWN AND 27MPG ON FREEWAY, THIS LASTED FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS. TEMPERATURE GUAGE FOR OUTSIDE TEMP HAS NEVER WORKED. ON HOT DAYS IT WILL READ 64 WHEN IT IS 105 OUTSIDE. I AM TOLD I HAVE TO DRIVE AT LEAST 20MPH FOR THIRTY SECONDS FOR THE TEMP TO INCREASE EACH DEGREE. ABSURD, HOWEVER, EVEN THIS TACTIC DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA ODI #10885234

51,000 miles · Mar 30, 2016
Electrical System

MY WIFE, WHO HAD BEEN DRIVING, EXITED THE SUV TO GO SHOPPING, LEAVING ME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. UNAWARE, SHE PRESSSED THE "LOCK" BUTTON ON THE KEY REMOTE AS SHE WALKED AWAY.. AFTER A MOMENT, I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN MY CAR DOOR, WHICH TRIGGERED THE PANIC ALARM. THE ISSUE WAS THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHICH COUYLD …

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MY WIFE, WHO HAD BEEN DRIVING, EXITED THE SUV TO GO SHOPPING, LEAVING ME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. UNAWARE, SHE PRESSSED THE "LOCK" BUTTON ON THE KEY REMOTE AS SHE WALKED AWAY.. AFTER A MOMENT, I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN MY CAR DOOR, WHICH TRIGGERED THE PANIC ALARM. THE ISSUE WAS THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHICH COUYLD HAVE RESULTED IN A DANGEROUS EVENT HAD THE CAR BEEN ON FIRE. IT WAS LATER SHOWN TO ME A MANUAL LOCK/UNLOCK SWIITCH THAT I COULD HAVE OPERATED. BUILDINGS HAVE EXITS THAT REQUIRE NO EXPERIENCE TO USE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. WHY CANNOT A VEHICLE BE EXITEDHURRIEDLY, EVEN THOUGH THE PANIC ALARM WILL BE ACTIVATED IN THAT TYPE OF AN EMERGENCY?

NHTSA ODI #10852351

Official recalls

1

12V063000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Feb 17, 2012

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 PILOT AND ACURA MDX VEHICLES. THE VENT SHUT FLOAT (VSF) VALVE CASE IN THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY DOES NOT MEET THE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AS A RESULT, FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE TANK, INCREASING THE RISK OF FIRE.

Remedy: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VSF ASSEMBLY DATE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 13, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-999-1009.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.