ACURA MDX · model year

2012 ACURA MDX

94 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

4 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2012ACURAMDX carries 94 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 5 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 4/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2012 MDX is engine with 20 filings, followed by electrical system (12) and power train (12). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2012 MDX, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

94
Complaints
5
Crashes
5
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
2012 ACURA MDX - NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2012 ACURA MDX. Overall composite: 4.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 4.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 4.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 4.0 ★
NHTSA overall 4.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

94 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 4/5 - Strong NCAP rating · Front: 4/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE20
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12
POWER TRAIN12
AIR BAGS9
UNKNOWN OR OTHER8
STRUCTURE:BODY3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY2
STEERING2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
SERVICE BRAKES2
VISIBILITY/WIPER2
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT1

Recalls (1)

12V06300017/02/2012

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

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.

Recent Complaints

20250827ENGINE

Oil consumption/burning Cylinder rings

20250422ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

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.

Mileage: 159,000

20250322Other/I am not sure

Does not have anchor for the seat. A recall was placed by NHTSA

20250212ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

See attached document for complaint.

20250203ENGINE

On 11/30/24 I heard a slight whirling sound while driving. On 12/1/24 I drove from Point A towards my home. Along the way the oil light flashed. I stopped at Advance Auto Parts, 15 miles from Point A. I checked the oil and it read as it should on the dip stick. No oil was needed. I drove straight home, a distance of 30 miles, and parked the car. When my son arrived home he started the car and there was a knocking sound. He shut it off. He stated that he felt it to be the rod bearings. He then changed the oil as previously planned as supplies were already in the car. He checked the oil and found a slight glitter in it indicating the rod bearing issue. The car remained parked until 12/26/24 when it was taken to an independent service center, round trip of 18 miles, who confirmed that the rod bearings were the issue. The car was parked again and only started to move about 50 feet into the garage prior to a snow storm. It has not been started since. My safety was put at risk as the engine

20240124ENGINE

The engine consistently consumes too much oil between service events. The low oil light comes on. I had this problem for over 8 years and the dealership said it was not a problem until now and they want me to pay for it. The oil control rings have been clogged since 2016 and progressively gotten worse. The clogged rings cause restriction of oil to return to the crankcase. This causes a decrease in available oil and may cause overheating that could lead to engine fire. Acura should fix the oil control rings to function properly. They have identified this in the past, through a service bulletin (19-006). I have performed 97% of my oil changes at Acura dealerships.

20240124POWER TRAIN

The engine consistently consumes too much oil between service events. The low oil light comes on. I had this problem for over 8 years and the dealership said it was not a problem until now and they want me to pay for it. The oil control rings have been clogged since 2016 and progressively gotten worse. The clogged rings cause restriction of oil to return to the crankcase. This causes a decrease in available oil and may cause overheating that could lead to engine fire. Acura should fix the oil control rings to function properly. They have identified this in the past, through a service bulletin (19-006). I have performed 97% of my oil changes at Acura dealerships.

20221027ENGINE

Consistently getting low oil notification shortly after getting oil changes. This has been happening since 2017. Dealer does a oil consumption test and says it is not a problem. However I cannot go between oil changes without getting the notification. I have no oil leaks. Furthermore, I have had 'oil' services done over the past 5 years that never fix the problem. I'm afraid this is doing damage to the vehicle and can put us in danger if oil level is too low. Dealer continues to say it isn't a problem. And when they try to fix it, it doesn't work. This began in 2017

20220918UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THIS VEHICLE BURNS SO MUCH OIL. I USE 5 QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES IN THIS VEHICLE. UNREAL! SO DISAPPOINTED IN HONDA.

20220918ENGINE

This vehicle unrealistically burns oil. 5-6 quarts of oil is added to engine between oil changes.

20220906ENGINE

S25 S25 recall fuel system 2012 Campaign Number 12V063000

20220906FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

S25 S25 recall fuel system 2012 Campaign Number 12V063000

20220629ELECTRICAL 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 go off then come back on with same codes: random misfire.

20220629FUEL/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 go off then come back on with same codes: random misfire.

20220629ENGINE

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.

20220627UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My Sunroof exploded.

20210808UNKNOWN OR OTHER

11/17/2020 Acura battery of our 2012 Acura MDX failed & was replaced under manufacturer warranty, via comp was provided. 6/29/2021 Acura battery failed again. Dealership did not honor warranty claiming manufacturer Acura would not pay for replacement. Dealership said I needed to contact Acura Client Relationship which I did. ACR initially said dealership was at fault & the battery should be replaced under warranty. I asked for a client number & was placed on 10 minute hold. When agent returned she changed her story saying battery was not under warranty even though it had been replaced under warranty in November 2020. Their reason was I ‘did not pay for the battery.’ This is not true as I did pay a prorate portion of the replacement in November & the original battery I purchased with the certified vehicle purchase. The ACR agent declined to provide me a claim number. I talked to the dealer service manager Andrew Jackson & the service tech writer Tevin Jackson. I requested

20210715AIR BAGS

The airbag light is on I went to have the airbag replaced. I was told I couldn't get my airbag replaced because it was a CANADIAN vehicle and they couldn't get the part etc. to replace it. So I have a Canadian vehicle that was not disclosed to me at the time of purchase. What can I do to resolve this issue? I purchased the Suv from Walt Sweeny 6315 Harrison Avenue Cincinnati Ohio 45247Auto Center 877- 300-3930. I spoke with the owner once and other person. No resolution has come about yet.

20210505AIR BAGS

MY AIRBAG LIGHT WON'T GO OFF. SHOWING AN ERROR WHEN HOOKED UP TO THE MACHINE

Mileage: 14,300

20210331ENGINE

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

Mileage: 109,000

Compare 2012ACURAMDX to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2012 ACURA MDX have?
The 2012 ACURA MDX has 94 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 5 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2012 ACURA MDX?
The 2012 ACURA MDX received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 4/5, front crash rating of 4/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2012 ACURA MDX?
Yes, the 2012 ACURA MDX has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 ACURA MDX?
The most-complained component for the 2012 ACURA MDX is ENGINE with 20 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2012 ACURA MDX safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2012 ACURA MDX has an NHTSA safety rating of 4/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.