Complaints about the 2020 Acura MDX peaked in 2025, with 68 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
SUV, gasoline, 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Jan 8, 2021 to Oct 1, 2026.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V-365 | Jun 4, 2026 | Rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure | Structure | 880,514 | Part replacement |
| 26V-332 | May 21, 2026 | Front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash | Airbags | 98,892 | Part replacement |
| 25V-259 | Apr 17, 2025 | Moisture may enter the tailgate lid light assembly and wiring harness, which can cause the interior and exterior lights to fail, including the lid… | Lighting | 152,800 | Part replacement |
| 24V-064 | Feb 1, 2024 | Front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended | Airbags | 750,114 | Part replacement |
| 23V-858 | Dec 18, 2023 | Fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail | Fuel system | 2,490,460 | Part replacement |
| 23V-751 | Nov 13, 2023 | Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine | Engine and cooling | 248,999 | Part replacement |
| 23V-458 | Jun 29, 2023 | Tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can… | Brakes | 124,077 | Repair or modification |
| 21V-215 | Mar 25, 2021 | Low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail | Fuel system | 624,552 | Part replacement |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
222 complaints on file, page 1 of 12.
On multiple occasions while my car is stopped at a light or stop sign the idle restart stalls and the car shuts off. I need to give it a few minutes and restart the car. It mainly happens when the auto shut off for idling restarts. I have had it happen more than 10X with my kids in the car. I have done all required work - timing belt & water pump replacement, transmission fluid flush, new times and new suspension. It continues to get worse.
NHTSA complaint 11768242The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while accelerating. The contact stated that later, while parking the vehicle, the vehicle unintended accelerated and drove over a curb and crashed into a tree. The vehicle crashed into the tree, and the front wheels continued spinning without the accelerator pedal being depressed, and the engine was turned off. During the crash, the front end was severely damaged, but the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was driven to the residence and examined by an independent mechanic, and it was determined that the PCM had malfunctioned and there was a computer miscommunication between the engine and the transmission. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer. The failure mileage was 45,000.
NHTSA complaint 11764060LKAS, forward collision, high beam all alerts are going off and have been told it's a camera system that gets over heated. This is not a easy fix and needs to be recalled to clear up the codes and alerts.
NHTSA complaint 11763916The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while idling and driving on several occasions at various speeds, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic determined that there was internal engine rod bearing failure, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact believed that the failure was associated with Manufacturer Recall Number: 24-001. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,128.
NHTSA complaint 11763569The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the oil light illuminated. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, while driving, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate, with a ticking and knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed and metal shavings from the engine bearings were found in the engine oil. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 85,000.
NHTSA complaint 11763037Engine seized multiple times. Completely broken now. Online it says many people have these problems.
NHTSA complaint 11762319My 2020 Acura MDX has experienced repeated Auto Idle Stop system malfunctions. When the system activates at a stop, the engine shuts off and does not return to normal operation as expected. The incidents are becoming more frequent and create a safety concern when the vehicle is stopped in traffic. This problem has been reported by telephone on multiple prior occasions. The 12-volt battery has also been replaced multiple times because we believed the battery was causing the problem, but the condition has continued.
NHTSA complaint 11762152Multiple errors Lane departure and advanced driver support, ACC LKAS, auto high beam, and braking system. Looking into this more i see lots of people with the same issue failing front facing camera and not a cheap fix. Is there any current investigations into this problem or a software upgrade? I clear the errors and they come back once car is turned off and back on. If no fix to the current system there should be a way to disable LKAS and ACC without spending $2000 to replace the system.
NHTSA complaint 11759085The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The maintenance warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was towed to the residence. The local dealer was contacted to schedule an appointment, but the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 60,541.
NHTSA complaint 11757385The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact stated that on six occasions the vehicle stalled and failed to restart immediately. The contact stated that while the idle button was on, the failure occurred. The contact was concerned about being in a crash. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and two batteries were replaced, and a software update was performed. The dealer would be checking the software to be sure that it was operating as intended. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was opened. The manufacturer provided a refund for the battery. The failure mileage was approximately 48,300.
NHTSA complaint 11757014Engine turns off while in drive or stopped at a red light/stop sign. It has happened 7-10 times withing the last couple of months, but 3-4 times within the last week. Out of the four times it happened, my family's safety was at risk, because the car was in drive, and could've caused us to get into an accident. During the other occasions, we were moving in reverse and stopped at a stop sign. Complaint was made with Acura of Bay Shore in Long Island, NY, at which time an update of computer engine was performed but issue wasn't fixed due to back-order part that needs to be replaced. Unfortunately, just yesterday (August 13, 2026) car turned off at light causing a road hazard to vehicles and my family stuck in a large intersection. Multiple engine lights turned on, but I was unable to turn the car on or move it. approximately 10 min later, I was able to turn the car on and move it to safe location. I spoke to Acura of Bay Shore, and it is a known issue but till this date, isn't fixed. Vehicle is a hazard and can cause serious bodily harm/or death. thank you
NHTSA complaint 11756994While driving on a residential street under normal daylight conditions, the forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking system failed without warning. A dashboard message appeared instructing me to clean the windshield and stating that collision avoidance services were unavailable. The windshield was clean and unobstructed. There was no precipitation, glare, or debris. The failure occurred while the vehicle was in motion. I had no indication of whether the vehicle was safe to continue driving or whether I should stop immediately, and no way to know whether the fault was limited to the camera or whether other systems were affected. There was no prior warning, no gradual degradation, and no fault indication before this event. I purchased this vehicle in part for its advanced driver assistance systems and rely on forward collision prevention in daily driving. That protection is now unavailable, and I am driving without a crash avoidance system I was sold and expected to have. I took the vehicle to an authorized dealer for diagnosis. The dealer determined that the forward facing camera module must be replaced and recalibrated, and quoted $2,700. No recall or technical service bulletin was identified. I believe this constitutes a safety defect. A primary crash avoidance system failed spontaneously under normal operating conditions on a vehicle marketed on its safety technology. The repair cost is also high enough that many owners will defer or decline it, leaving vehicles on public roads with disabled collision avoidance. I request that NHTSA investigate the failure rate of this camera module and consider a safety recall.
NHTSA complaint 11756689A federal safety recall was performed on the vehicle to install a rear subframe reinforcement kit. Before the recall repair, the vehicle operated normally and had no vibration at highway speeds. Immediately after the recall repair, a new vibration developed above approximately 60 mph. The vibration is felt primarily from the rear of the vehicle, occurs only while accelerating, becomes most noticeable between 60 and 80 mph, and disappears immediately when the accelerator is released while maintaining the same speed. The condition is repeatable and remains unresolved. The vibration creates concern for loss of vehicle stability and control at highway speeds because it occurs while the drivetrain is under load. No warning lights or diagnostic messages appeared before or after the repair. The vehicle has been inspected by both the dealership that performed the recall repair and an independent repair facility. To eliminate other possible causes, the front hub and bearing assembly were replaced and all four tires were remounted and dynamically balanced. Those repairs did not eliminate the rear vibration. The dealership attributed the condition to unrelated maintenance items, including tires, wheels, and brakes, but did not identify a defect with the recall repair or determine whether the rear subframe installation, rear differential mounting, driveshaft, or other components disturbed during the recall procedure contributed to the new vibration. The timing of the failure is significant because the vibration began immediately after completion of the federal recall repair and was not present beforehand. The component is available for inspection upon request. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether the recall remedy or repair procedure may have introduced a drivetrain or rear suspension condition affecting vehicle safety.
NHTSA complaint 11750239The car had several warnings lights come on and immediately stalled out and stoped right in the middle of the road. The engine would turn over but would sputter like it was out of gas and would die after a few seconds. It stoped in the middle of a busy state highway in a curve. Luckily no one got hurt. I towed it to an auto service center. The 2020 Acura MDX suffered an in-tank fuel pump failure causing a low fuel pressure code (P0087). This model year is under a massive 2.6-million vehicle safety recall, but my specific VIN was omitted. It likely should be included before someone gets hurt.
NHTSA complaint 11749098See attached document for complaint.
NHTSA complaint 11747720The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 - 25 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the passenger’s side of the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine warning light and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle stalled and was towed to dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer determined that the engine had seized. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
NHTSA complaint 11746661Collision Mitigation, Automatic Cruise Control, and Lane Keep Assist features disabled. Safety equipment failure.
NHTSA complaint 11746074Good morning, Out of nowhere my dashboard lit up after 5+ years of having no issues with the vehicle. I believe there are a total of 5 safety features that are linked to the ADAS camera in this MDX but i am not 100%, it may be 4 safety features. I am not here to whine about a repair on a 6 year old vehicle but this particular issue has become extremely common with this vehicle. I believe (along with all the other owners) that the ADAS issue with certain year Acura & Honda is happening way to often way too soon. my MDX does not even have 70k on it! after doing some research between Facebook, Reddit & many other Acura/Honda forums this appears to be all too common. when that camera shits the bed you lose many of the main safety features that may have brought you to purchase that vehicle. My local Acura dealer in Wilmington, NC told me he is replacing this part once a month and none of them are under warranty I'm not sure why he shared that with me but he did. that is an alarming number considering where i live and how few MDX's there probably are in my area. Where i live everyone drives either a full size pickup or suv and theyre all American brands. the dealer wants $1800 for the repair. I'm getting it done because i have the money to do it but I am not happy at all. normal wear and tear repairs i get, this one however i have a major issue with it. many people are not having the repair done because the car is driveable. any help with this would be greatly appreciated & thank you for your time. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11741211My cruise control, automatic lane changing indicator light indicator, brake indicator light, high beam light indicator lights all keep coming off and on. Researching it on YouTube states that it’s the camera on my windshield getting too hot and it’s a known issue. It’s $1800 To fix but others have stated they get fixed and it doesn’t resolve the problem. Asking for your help.
NHTSA complaint 11741032While sitting stopped at a red light, the brake pedal suddenly became soft and the vehicle began moving. As I rushed to depress the pedal further (all the way to the floorboard - which did not stop the car) the car rolled forward and collided with the car in front of us causing damage to both vehicles. If the other car had not been in front of us we would have rolled directly into heavy active cross traffic which would have caused significant harm to all inside. My daughter, niece, and 8 month old grand-niece were with me in the car.
NHTSA complaint 11740691Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall; the 60 most recent are listed.