AutoDefect IQ

2005 Acura Mdx problems, complaints & recalls

Most-reported problem areas: Power Train:automatic Transmission (42) · Power Train (38) · Air Bags (27)

🧭 Reliability snapshot

77 /100
⚠ Buy with caution

Compared against other Acura Mdx model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →

🛣️ Complaints by mileage

<25k miles: 10 complaints <25k 25–50k miles: 13 complaints 25–50k 50–75k miles: 36 complaints 36 50–75k 75–100k miles: 21 complaints 75–100k 100–125k miles: 31 complaints 100–125k 125–150k miles: 9 complaints 125–150k 150k+ miles: 19 complaints 150k+

139 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.

180
Complaints
11
Recalls
98
Service bulletins
15
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Deaths

Safety recalls (11)

Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal 2019-10-10 · campaign 19E068000 · 3,744 vehicles

Defect: Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain Accelerator Pedal Assemblies part numbers 699-114 and 825-5029-1, sold as replacement parts for 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2004-2008 Acura TL and TSX, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2007-2011 Honda Element, 2005-2008 Honda Pilot and 2006-2014 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The rotating portion of the accelerator pedal assembly may bind. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (

Risk: If the accelerator pedal binds, the engine may not quickly return to idle after the pedal is no longer pressed, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dorman will notify owners, and qualified service facilities will replace the affected accelerator pedal assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2019. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, using option 5. Dorman's number for this recall is AS1019XXXX.

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2019-06-27 · campaign 19V499000 · 3,947 vehicles

Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term e

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2019-06-27 · campaign 19V501000 · 1,657,752 vehicles

Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2019-03-06 · campaign 19V182000 · 1,101,534 vehicles

Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator

Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2017-01-10 · campaign 17V029000 · 308,884 vehicles

Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2011 Honda Element vehicles, 2005-2012 Acura RL vehicles, 2006-2012 Honda Ridgeline vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2005-2008 Honda Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, o

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall bagan March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KD9 and KE0.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2016-05-23 · campaign 16V344000 · 1,790,894 vehicles

Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2011 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A."

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KA0, KA1, KA2, and KA3.

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2015-05-28 · campaign 15V320000 · 6,281,043 vehicles

Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238, select option 4. Note: Vehicles that have had their driver frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy prior to September 12, 2014 need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Vehicles that, on or a

Air Bags 2014-11-04 · campaign 14V700000 · 0 vehicles

Defect: American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

Air Bags 2014-06-20 · campaign 14V353000 · 133,207 vehicles

Defect: American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in California, and equipped with Takata-brand air bag inflators. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

Traction Control System 2013-03-14 · campaign 13V092000 · 183,576 vehicles

Defect: Honda is recalling certain model year 2005 Pilot vehicles manufactured July 29, 2004, through August 29, 2005; model year 2005-2006 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured September 16, 2004, through September 22, 2005; and model year 2005 Acura RL vehicles manufactured March 1, 2004, through June 29, 2005. An electrical capacitor may have been damaged during the manufacturing of the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) control module causing intermittent, automatic, minor brake application. However, if the

Risk: Sudden inadvertent braking, especially without illumination of the brake lights, may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Fix: Owners will be notified and instructed to take their vehicles to a dealer of their respective brand. The dealer will install a partial wiring harness containing a capacitor for the VSA modulator, free of charge. The affected model year 2005 Pilots will have their ground connection tightened. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Honda owners may contact Honda Automobile Customer Service at 1-800-999-1009, and select option 4 or go to www.recalls.honda.com; Acura owners may contact 1-800-382-22

Electrical System:ignition:switch 2012-12-11 · campaign 12V573000 · 807,161 vehicles

Defect: Honda is recalling certain model year 2003 and 2004 Pilot and Odyssey and 2003 through 2006 Acura MDX passenger vehicles manufactured from November 26, 2001, through August 30, 2006. The interlock lever of the ignition switch may deform, which can allow the interlock function of a vehicle with an automatic transmission to be defeated.

Risk: Removal of the ignition key when the gear selector of a vehicle with an automatic transmission has not been shifted to the park position can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated shift interlock lever and, if necessary, replace any necessary part of the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on February 22, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

Service bulletins (98)

Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.

Air Bags 2026-06-30 · B18-023 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

service bulletin - warranty extension: customer support program for front passenger's airbag inflator.

Electrical System 2023-05-17 · B23040A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

service news - the navigation clock and date are incorrect. this is due to a limited gps receiver capacity resulting in rollover of internal chip memory. the rollover occurred on january 1, 2022 at 12:00am local time

Electrical System 2022-01-25 · B21120A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

servicenews article - the clock shows the incorrect time. this issue is due to a limited gps receiver capacity resulting in "rollover" of the internal chip memory; the "rollover" will occur on january 1, 2022, at 12:00am local time. as a result, the navigation date and time will be incorrect.

Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor 2020-06-03 · DOR-M3J3F-07 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

these skus are exhaust manifolds with catalytic converters. the customer communication requested return of unsold inventory due to a loss of carb certification. these skus can no longer be sold as they do not meet carb standards, but parts on vehicles are not effected.

Equipment 2020-03-10 · B20-010 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

service bulletin - this bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. american honda is offering a customer support program (warranty extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passenger's airbag inflator only.

Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2020-03-10 · B20-007 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

service bulletin - this bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. american honda is offering a customer support program (warranty extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.

Showing the 6 most recent of 98 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.

What owners report

2025-07-31 · Power Train

“the contact owns a 2005 acura mdx. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. the vsa (vehicle stability assist) warning light was illuminated. the contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. the vehicle wa…”

2024-05-31 · Unknown Or Other

“vsa light came on and my braking system halts and make a weird vibration when i press brake to stop at stop light it like it make a grabbing noise. not sure if it happen prior to light engaging. it has happen a handful of time since initial notice could have been onset from around 2019-2020 can’t remember as i looked up any recall but there were …”

2024-04-03 · Seat Belts

“the contact owns a 2005 acura mdx. the contact stated that after the battery had been replaced, both the front driver and front passenger seat belts failed to extend far enough to buckle an occupant into the seat. the vehicle was then taken to a dealer where the failure was acknowledged, and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. the …”

2023-10-16 · Seat Belts · 209,638 mi

“the contact owns a 2005 acura mdx. the contact stated that the passenger’s side air bag warning light was flashing with an occupant seated in the seat. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and she was informed that the front driver’s and passenger’s side air bags and seat belt pretensioners were defective and needed to be replaced. the…”

2021-12-23 · Air Bags

“we have been the original owners of our 2005 mdx. on december 12/18/21 at 630. we were wearing our seat belts. we were driving in clear weather on a new street at 35 miles an hour. the passenger side seat airbag and the right side curtain deployed. my wife was sitting in the front passenger seat. there was no collision or hazard. the airbag just e…”

2021-08-02 · Wheels

“when making a sharp turn on hot days the car makes a grinding noise like something is grabbing the tire. it slows the car, hands the steering wheel and then the vsa hazard light comes on. it is a recurring issue and mechanics have not been able to diagnose. …”

2021-07-16 · Unknown Or Other · 💥 crash

“i have a 2005 mdx. it allows me to take out my key without putting it in park. being unaware, i turned it off while it was still in drive and it rolled back into another parked vehicle november of 2019. there is a report with the police department and my insurance covered the other vehicle's repair costs. it has rolled several times in the last cou…”

2021-07-14 · Power Train

“vehicle suddenly brakes at freeway speeds and sways to one side. vsa light and warning light comes on. after couple of seconds, vehicle resumes freeway speed. this has happened few times in last 2 weeks. it causes the suv to sway and can easily lose control or drift into adjacent lane causing accident. after stopping and restarting the warning …”

2021-02-08 · Visibility:windshield · 75,000 mi

“tl* the contact owns a 2005 acura mdx. the contact stated the front windshield was replaced by safelite glass after a tree limb had fallen onto the windshield. the contact stated that the view from the replacement windshield was distorted. additionally, the contact stated the gear shifter failed to operate as designed. the windshield was replaced b…”

2021-01-23 · Unknown Or Other · 197,000 mi · 💥 crash

“i purchased this vehicle from a private auction in hesperia, ca around august of 2020 and i am currently the registered owner as of today. about a month into the purchase i notice the car jerk and brake unusually while in motion. i didn't know what exactly happened at the time so i ignored it for the moment. then about another month after that inc…”

Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.

Other Acura Mdx years