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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

Engine complaints

23 reports
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109,000 miles · Mar 31, 2021
Engine

ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, MY SUV HAD A MESSAGE ALERT COME ON WHILE I WAS SITTING STILL AFTER JUST STARTING MY VEHICLE IN WALMART PARKING LOT AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING, SAYING TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL; OIL LEVEL LOW. ALSO, JUST RECENTLY, MARCH 27TH I HAD TO ADD OIL TO MY VEHICLE AGAIN; 3/4 OF A QUART LOW ON OIL. THE VERY NEXT MORNING, I HAD…

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ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, MY SUV HAD A MESSAGE ALERT COME ON WHILE I WAS SITTING STILL AFTER JUST STARTING MY VEHICLE IN WALMART PARKING LOT AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING, SAYING TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL; OIL LEVEL LOW. ALSO, JUST RECENTLY, MARCH 27TH I HAD TO ADD OIL TO MY VEHICLE AGAIN; 3/4 OF A QUART LOW ON OIL. THE VERY NEXT MORNING, I HAD ANOTHER ALERT COME ACROSS MY MESSAGE BOARD SAYING TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL- OIL LEVEL LOW. SO I CHECKED IT AGAIN, IT SHOWED AT THE TOP OF THE HASH MARKS ON THE DIPSTICK AS IT SHOULD. SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON THERE UNLESS IT'S A MALFUNCTION OF SORTS OR A SENSOR ISSUE. I CHECK MY OIL WHEN I FILL UP MY GAS TANK. ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY SUV WAS BURNING/ USING OIL. I HAVE TO KEEP PUTTING OIL IN DUE TO A LOW OIL LEVEL LOOK ENTIRELY TOO OFTEN. I'VE HAD TO PUT OIL IN MY ENGINE AT LEAST TWICE A MONTH. AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST ENOUGH TO TOP IT OFF, I'M TALKING ANYWHERE FROM 3/4 OF A QUART TO 3 QUARTS OR MORE AT TIMES. THERE ARE NO LEAKS, NO PUDDLES OR OIL SPLATTER ON THE BOTTOM OF MY TRUCK OR IN MY DRIVEWAY. MY TRUCK IS HAVING A SEVERE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM. I KNOW THERE WAS AN EXTENDED VEHICLE WARRANTY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THIS THAT EXPIRED APRIL OF 2021-I DID NOT GET THIS VEHICLE UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 2020. ALSO, I DID DO THE THOUSAND MILE TEST AND IT FAILED MISERABLY. NO ONE CAN TELL ME IF IT WAS FIXED OR NOT, BUT OBVIOUSLY, EITHER WAY, IT DID NOT GET FIXED OR THE FIX DID NOT WORK. IT IS A COSTLY FIX AND IT IS A MANUFACTURER FAIL, NOT MINE. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE IT CREATES ANY FUTURE PROBLEMS OR YEARS UP THE PISTONS IN MY ENGINE OR LOCKS UP. ANY HELP OR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #11405875

90,000 miles · Dec 30, 2020
Engine

MY 2012 ACURA MDX HAS AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE THAT ACURA IS AWARE OF BEING A PROBLEM, HOWEVER IT IS NOT OFFERING TO COVER THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH FIXING THE ISSUE. MY VEHICLE BURNED THROUGH MORE THAN 2 QUARTS OF OIL IN A MATTER OF 1 MONTH. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AS IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. LACK…

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MY 2012 ACURA MDX HAS AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE THAT ACURA IS AWARE OF BEING A PROBLEM, HOWEVER IT IS NOT OFFERING TO COVER THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH FIXING THE ISSUE. MY VEHICLE BURNED THROUGH MORE THAN 2 QUARTS OF OIL IN A MATTER OF 1 MONTH. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AS IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. LACK OF OIL COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL.

NHTSA ODI #11385644

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2020
Engine

MY 2012 MDX MODEL IS CONSUMING EXCESSIVE MOTOR OIL, AFTER 3000 MILES DRIVING , I'M DOWN TO 1 1/4 QUARTS. THE TEST WAS DONE AND OIL CHANGED ON TWO OCCASIONS ON 3K MILES AND 2K MILES . ALL THIS IS HAPPENED DURING 8 MONTH OF THE MY OWNERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI #11311015

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

157,420 miles · Oct 28, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA MDX. FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED AND DISCOVERED THAT THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) NUMBER: B19-006 ON MAY 18, 2019. THE TSB WAS A WARRANTY EXTENSION TITLED 'ENGINE OIL EXCEEDS CLIENT EX…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA MDX. FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED AND DISCOVERED THAT THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) NUMBER: B19-006 ON MAY 18, 2019. THE TSB WAS A WARRANTY EXTENSION TITLED 'ENGINE OIL EXCEEDS CLIENT EXPECTATIONS'. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CROWN ACURA RICHMOND (8704 W BROAD ST, HENRICO, VA 23294) FOR AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND WAS INFORMED TO COME BACK WHEN THE OIL WAS LOW AFTER DRIVING 3,000 MILES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER ON OCTOBER 17, 2019 AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE SINCE IT WAS CLOSE TO 3,000 MILES. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE OIL CONSUMPTION FAILURE OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS AND FELT LIKE THEY AND THE DEALER WERE NOT HELPFUL ONCE THE OIL CONSUMPTION FAILURE WAS DISCOVERED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED FOLLOW-UP CALLS TO ADDRESS THE FAILURE AND WAS NOT ALERTED OF THE TSB WHEN IT WAS ISSUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,420.

NHTSA ODI #11271629

82,000 miles · Jun 7, 2019
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THEIR SPOUSE ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE OF THEIR DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING AND THEY HEARD AN ABNORMAL WHISTLING SOUND. AFTER THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PRODUCE SMOKE. THE CONTACT'S WIFE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THEY HEARD AN ABNORMAL CR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THEIR SPOUSE ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE OF THEIR DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING AND THEY HEARD AN ABNORMAL WHISTLING SOUND. AFTER THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PRODUCE SMOKE. THE CONTACT'S WIFE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THEY HEARD AN ABNORMAL CRACKING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT MADE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE. THE CONTACT CALLED MUNGENAST ACURA OF ST.LOUIS (13720 MANCHESTER RD, MANCHESTER, MO 63011 (314) 822-2872) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE TEST READ THAT A NEW ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ODI #11218497

85,000 miles · Apr 15, 2019
Engine

THE CAR USES EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL. I HAVE TO ADD AT LEAST TWO QUARTERS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGE.

NHTSA ODI #11196434

3,000 miles · Apr 9, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering

WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGH AT HIGH SPEEDS 80 MPH THEN I GO TO GET OFF AN EXIT THE STEERING WHEEL VEHICLE SHAKES AND VIBRATES THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND TIRES.

NHTSA ODI #11195252

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2019
Engine

I RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM ACURA FOR REGARDING ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. THIS COULD AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ENGINE. ACURA IS AWARE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE REGARDING THIS, HOWEVER THEY ARE REQUIRING THAT AN OIL CHANGE BE DONE THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE FOR THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. ACURA SHOULD PREFORM TH…

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I RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM ACURA FOR REGARDING ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. THIS COULD AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ENGINE. ACURA IS AWARE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE REGARDING THIS, HOWEVER THEY ARE REQUIRING THAT AN OIL CHANGE BE DONE THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE FOR THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. ACURA SHOULD PREFORM THE INSPECTION EITHER IN ANOTHER MANNER, OR THEY SHOULD PROVIDE THE OIL CHANGE AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE IF THAT IS THE ONLY OPTION TO CHECK IF THIS IS AN ISSUE. THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AT ANOTHER SERVICE CENTER THAT MAY BE LESS EXPENSIVE THAN WHAT THE DEALER CHARGES. IT SEEMS THAT ACURA IS TRYING TO BENEFIT FROM THEIR OWN ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11182732

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion System

ACURA MDX 2012 - PERSISTENT SLOW START OF THE ENGINE; ENGINE IS STRAINING TO TURN OVER/START. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY 4 TIMES, CHECKED ALL POSSIBLE PROBLEMS (STARTER, SPARK PLUGS ETC.) BUT SAME RANDOM, PERIODIC PROBLEM OF THE ENGINE STRUGGLING TO START. RELATED PROBLEM: FUEL TANK APPEARS TO BE SOMEWHAT LOOSE; WHEN I BUY GAS…

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ACURA MDX 2012 - PERSISTENT SLOW START OF THE ENGINE; ENGINE IS STRAINING TO TURN OVER/START. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY 4 TIMES, CHECKED ALL POSSIBLE PROBLEMS (STARTER, SPARK PLUGS ETC.) BUT SAME RANDOM, PERIODIC PROBLEM OF THE ENGINE STRUGGLING TO START. RELATED PROBLEM: FUEL TANK APPEARS TO BE SOMEWHAT LOOSE; WHEN I BUY GASOLINE, I CAN SEE THE GAS TANK MOVE. IN ADDITION, IT IS DIFFICULT TO FILL UP THE CAR WITH GAS; THE GAS PUMP CUTS OFF BEFORE THE GAS TANK IS TO THE "FULL" LEVEL. MY GUT TELLS ME THAT THESE 2 PROBLEMS ARE SOMEHOW AFFECTING MY CAR STARTING. MY CAR HAS ONLY 51,000 MILES ON IT. I TAKE GOOD CARE/MAINTAIN IT. I HAVE READ OTHERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM!!! ACURA SHOULD FIX THIS! TOO EXPENSIVE OF A CAR; WHERE IS THE QUALITY??? THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM OF MY 2012 ACURA MDX . PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI #11166545

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.