ACURA MDX · model year

2014 ACURA MDX

241 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash reports, and 8 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

5 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2014ACURAMDX carries 241 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 18 crashes, 8 fires, 20 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 5/5 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 2014 MDX is steering with 37 filings, followed by power train (26) and service brakes (26). 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 8 active recall campaigns, 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 2014 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.

241
Complaints
18
Crashes
8
Fires
20
Injuries
0
Deaths
2014 ACURA MDX - NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2014 ACURA MDX. Overall composite: 5.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 5.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 5.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 4.0 ★
NHTSA overall 5.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

241 filings

Crashes Reported

18 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume, review patterns below.

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

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING37
POWER TRAIN26
SERVICE BRAKES26
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM26
ENGINE25
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL19
EXTERIOR LIGHTING13
UNKNOWN OR OTHER13
STRUCTURE:BODY10
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM6
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)5
SUSPENSION4
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY3
WHEELS3
AIR BAGS3

Recalls (8)

19V25600028/03/2019

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Acura MDX and 2017-2019 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid lights, possibly causing a loss of the tailgate lid lights and the taillights.

13E04000022/07/2013

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

American Honda Motor Co. is recalling certain Trailer Hitch Harness Kits, Part Number 08L91-TZ5-200. These kits are for use in 2014 model year Acura MDX vehicles. The trailer hitch kit has a subharness that is incorrectly wired such that there may be no power supplied to an accessory trailer brake c

15V30100020/05/2015

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: CRASH IMMINENT BRAKING

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Acura MDX 2WD and AWD, RLX and 2014 Acura RLX Hybrid vehicles. In certain driving conditions, the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) may incorrectly interpret certain roadside objects such as metal fences or metal gu

23V85800018/12/2023

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, F

25V25900017/04/2025

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid light assembly and wiring harness, which can cause the interior and exterior lights to fail, including the lid lights, position lights, license plate lights and taillights.

13V57100014/11/2013

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014 Acura MDX AWD vehicles manufactured May 6, 2013, through October 14, 2013. The bolts that attach the drive shaft to the automatic transmission transfer assembly may not have been properly tightened. As a result, the bolts c

14V63900010/10/2014

SEAT BELTS

American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured April 23, 2013, to August 25, 2014, and 2014 Acura RLX vehicles manufactured November 5, 2012, to November 25, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the driver and front passenger seat belt may

15V41700001/07/2015

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Acura MDX and MDX AWD vehicles manufactured April 23, 2013, to December 16, 2014. The affected vehicles have air conditioning compressor clutch drive bolts that may not have received the proper anti-corrosion coating.

Recent Complaints

20260201STRUCTURE:BODY

This car is consistently garaged. It was pulled out one morning and a large sheet of paint peeled off roof while it was sitting in the driveway. This is a major concern as I don't feel comfortable driving the car for fear more will come off, affecting another driver on the highway. I've had to borrow a car until it can be fixed. Spoke to ACURA and this is a KNOWN issue for this color paint but they will not stand by their product. We have received no information from ACURA regarding this issue as they claim.

20251217STEERING

my daughter drove the vehicle for an appointment. Parked it went in and upon return, started it but could not turn the steering wheel. It was nearly impossible to turn the wheel. When turned with force, it would vibrate. Message popped up stating "Power Steering System (EPS) Problem". I had it towed to my mechanic who identified the problem but wasn't able to obtain the parts due to non-availability. I had the vehicle towed to the dealership (McGrath Acura of Libertyville) where it still remains. It has been there for about two weeks as of Dec. 17, 2025 and still not updates on when the issue would be fixed. I made a phone call complaint to Honda of America three days ago. They left a message today asking me to call back stating a recall (I don't find any EPS recalls while I've found others who have had the same issue. The dealer did quote me a cost of $1247.25 to fix the problem the day after I dropped it with them. Since then absolutely no response. I called Honda of America to foll

20251125SERVICE BRAKES

Upon startup the following warning lights come on and remain active: Brake System Problem, Power Steering Problem, Hill Start Assist Problem, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) Problem, Anti-Lock Break System Problem. Additionally, intermittingly a loud grinding noise can be heard from the button of the vehicle.

20251125FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Upon startup the following warning lights come on and remain active: Brake System Problem, Power Steering Problem, Hill Start Assist Problem, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) Problem, Anti-Lock Break System Problem. Additionally, intermittingly a loud grinding noise can be heard from the button of the vehicle.

20251125STEERING

Upon startup the following warning lights come on and remain active: Brake System Problem, Power Steering Problem, Hill Start Assist Problem, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) Problem, Anti-Lock Break System Problem. Additionally, intermittingly a loud grinding noise can be heard from the button of the vehicle.

20250819EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Headlights somehow may be taking on moisture. The clarity is down to almost nothing. Driving at night is unsafe! The RPM’s have never been smooth or consistent. There is almost a micro-revving effect. I’ve had all of the fluids and filters changed…… dealership thought it was a recall.

20250819FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Headlights somehow may be taking on moisture. The clarity is down to almost nothing. Driving at night is unsafe! The RPM’s have never been smooth or consistent. There is almost a micro-revving effect. I’ve had all of the fluids and filters changed…… dealership thought it was a recall.

20250429EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The contact owns a 2014 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while approaching the vehicle after the vehicle had been started, the contact noticed that the taillights were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the taillights assemblies needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred approximately two months later. The contact received an email notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V259000 (Exterior Lighting, Interior Lighting), which the contact related to the failure; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.

Mileage: 99,000

20250429INTERIOR LIGHTING

The contact owns a 2014 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while approaching the vehicle after the vehicle had been started, the contact noticed that the taillights were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the taillights assemblies needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred approximately two months later. The contact received an email notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V259000 (Exterior Lighting, Interior Lighting), which the contact related to the failure; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.

Mileage: 99,000

20250426POWER TRAIN

The power train experiences jutters. Known issue and many torque converters have been replaced while under warranty. Our vehicle had minimal miles when warranty expired and now this problem has occurred. Have followed all of the recommended technical bulletins from Honda and the issue is not resolved. They now say to replace the torque converter at own expense.

20250314STRUCTURE:BODY

Large spot of paint has peeled off, exposing bare metal in front of the sunroof and above the windshield in the center of the roof.

20250306ENGINE

The car is un safe to drive, the RPM fluctuations, gos up and down at low speed, doesn’t potential problems with the torque converter clutch, is juddering and unstable RPMs, noticeable during acceleration or deceleration

20250306POWER TRAIN

The car is un safe to drive, the RPM fluctuations, gos up and down at low speed, doesn’t potential problems with the torque converter clutch, is juddering and unstable RPMs, noticeable during acceleration or deceleration

20250306STEERING

The car is un safe to drive, the RPM fluctuations, gos up and down at low speed, doesn’t potential problems with the torque converter clutch, is juddering and unstable RPMs, noticeable during acceleration or deceleration

20250113STEERING

The EPS system failed while driving on a major highway. I was in the passing (left) lane, and had to manually steer the vehicle. I had to have the vehicle towed to the dealership. The service department has had the vehicle for almost 2 weeks. They said that when they ran the diagnostic, there was a code. They cleared the code, and drove the vehicle. They were unable to duplicate the incident. The service advisor said it may have been a “glitch.” That’s an extremely dangerous “glitch.” I have read that many other people have had the same issue with the same vehicle. This may have fatal consequences. If I had not been strong enough to steer the vehicle, I may have experienced a relatively high-speed collision.

20250102ENGINE

I change my own engine oil every 3,000 miles. During the past year with three oil changes completed, I have observed aluminum pieces in the bottom of the oil change black pan. Because my wife's 2017 Acura TLX was the subject of the crankshaft and connecting rod campaign (the dealer had to replace the crankshaft and all of the connecting rod and main bearings) I am familiar with the issue of non-concentric crankshaft connecting rod journals, and so have been surprised that my 2014 MDX with the same 3.5 L V6 has not yet been included. I am pretty sure it does suffer from the same defect as evidenced by the aluminum in the engine oil. If it fails at hihway speeds, that would possibly cause a safety incident.

20241113POWER TRAIN

My vehicle has a hesitation and kick when it is at 35-40 mph about 1.8 to 2 on the tachometer. I took it in to the dealer and it needs transmission repair. I researched on the internet and it seems like thousands of others are having or have had the same problem. I purchased a lifetime powertrain warranty from Scott Clark Honda when i purchased the vehicle to cover these problems and the warranty company and Scott Clark Honda are trying to get out of repair. There are no lights or warning lamps on the vehicle. It just kicks and studders when you get to 35-40 mph which is the speed in the city limits. It is easy to get hit or run over when the vehicle does not go when you press the gas peddle. I would like to file a national case against Acura and Scott Clark Honda

20241112ENGINE

I'M seeing several reports where ACURA has a major recall on their MDX models from 2016-2020 however i have a 2014 model but I have suffered the same engine failure due to a connecting rod issue that has caused what they call a spun bearing I have tried to contact American Honda to file a complaint but they just keep denying me since my vehicle is not part of the recall but by sheer coincidence my engine has failed I had no warning signals that would of indicated this problem and I have had the car fully maintained by ACURA Dealerships since I bought the car in 2017 I see where several hundred other complaints have been filed due to ACURA's faulty issues - ACURA needs to expand their recall list to go back as far as possible since they seem to be having the same issues with previous models not included in the recall

20240903ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Upon engine start noticed vibration buzz noise and steering wheel locked, very difficult to steer. Turned off the ignition and waited 20 min, steering wheel was back to normal. Upon driving in the road for approximately 5-10 min, the wheel locked up with notification alert of "Electrical Power Steering Failure" It was very difficult to maneuver the steering wheel and manage to pull into a parking lot. Turned the ignition off and waited again another 5min and Upon restart, wheel was back to normal. As we were on our way home, the same alert came with steering wheel locked and difficult to turn. We managed to get home with difficulty turning. Car was towed to Acura Plesanton and was reported no recalls for this issue.

20240903STEERING

Upon engine start noticed vibration buzz noise and steering wheel locked, very difficult to steer. Turned off the ignition and waited 20 min, steering wheel was back to normal. Upon driving in the road for approximately 5-10 min, the wheel locked up with notification alert of "Electrical Power Steering Failure" It was very difficult to maneuver the steering wheel and manage to pull into a parking lot. Turned the ignition off and waited again another 5min and Upon restart, wheel was back to normal. As we were on our way home, the same alert came with steering wheel locked and difficult to turn. We managed to get home with difficulty turning. Car was towed to Acura Plesanton and was reported no recalls for this issue.

Compare 2014ACURAMDX to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2014 ACURA MDX have?
The 2014 ACURA MDX has 241 NHTSA complaints, 18 crashes, 8 fires, 20 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2014 ACURA MDX?
The 2014 ACURA MDX received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 5/5, front crash rating of 5/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2014 ACURA MDX?
Yes, the 2014 ACURA MDX has 8 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 ACURA MDX?
The most-complained component for the 2014 ACURA MDX is STEERING with 37 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 2014 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 2014 ACURA MDX has an NHTSA safety rating of 5/5. 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.