Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 45 safety complaints
about the 2010 Acura MDX with the US government. Of those, 6 describe a crash, 4 mention a fire, 8 people were injured and no death is recorded. One recall campaign is open against it, covering the air bags.
The most complained-about system is the engine,
named in 11 complaints, 24% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 67,000 miles,
the median across the 30
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers March 2010 to July 2025 · How this is counted
What is on file
45 complaints on file
45
Complaints
6
Describe a crash
4
Mention fire
8
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free.
Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can
answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a
model year.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
ENGINE 11 · 24%
11 24%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9 · 20%
9 20%
STEERING 6 · 13%
6 13%
STRUCTURE 6 · 13%
6 13%
POWER TRAIN 5 · 11%
5 11%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 · 11%
5 11%
SEAT BELTS 4 · 9%
4 9%
AIR BAGS 3 · 7%
3 7%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2 · 4%
2 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 · 4%
2 4%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2 · 4%
2 4%
SEATS 2 · 4%
2 4%
0815
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 45.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2019 at 6.
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2010 to 2025.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2010 Acura MDX, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
4-DR. w/SAB
Overall
Not rated
Frontal crash
Not rated
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Not rated
Side barrier
Not rated
Side pole
Not rated
Rollover
Chance of rollover
14.0%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
NHTSA made its frontal crash test harder for the 2011 model year, and says ratings from before that change should not be compared with ratings after it.
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
Recall campaigns
1 on file
AIR BAGS
10V002000 · January 4, 2010
The defect
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR ACURA 2010 MDX VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN OCTOBER 7, 2009 AND NOVEMBER 14, 2009. A BOLT USED TO ATTACH AN INTERIOR TRIM PIECE TO EITHER THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE A-PILLAR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED DURING MANUFACTURING.
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH RESULTING IN SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, THE TRIM PIECE MAY NOT REMAIN PROPERLY SECURED TO THE A-PILLAR, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND/OR FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE INTERIOR TRIM PIECE OF THE A-PILLAR AND IF A BOLT IS MISSING IT WILL BE INSTALLED FREE OF CHARGE. FOUR VEHICLES WERE PURCHASED BEFORE THE STOP-SALE WAS ISSUED AND ALL THE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND REPAIRED IF NECESSARY.
HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) · up to 644 vehicles across all model years covered
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
STRUCTURE:BODY
4 injured
This is in reference to Acura Service Bulletin 14-032, Rear Side Body Plug is missing. Both my right and left side body plugs were missing, causing myself and family to experience symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning for at least a year. I had the exhaust system checked by Acura and and independent garage and they found no issues. I would not have know about the cause if I had not found it in a chat thread in an Acura online community. All owners need to be notified. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY SAFETY RECALL for Acura MDX for 2010-2013.
NHTSA complaint 11595518. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
2 injured · crash · towed · 100,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED PINCHED NERVE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BODY AND TWO BULGED DISCS IN THE BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT LEG AND A DISLOCATED DISC IN THE BACK THAT ALSO REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint 10944333. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SEAT BELTS
1 injured · crash · 500 miles
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING 65MPH CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF HER VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HER IN, AND HER FACE HIT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CAUSING LACERATIONS TO HER EYES AND TWISTING OF HER BACK. THE AMBULANCE TOOK HER TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.
NHTSA complaint 10317024. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
1 injured
CPSC: 2010 ACURA MDX: CONSUMER STATED THE CHILD CHOKED ON THE HANGING STRAP FROM THE CEILING WHICH CAUSED HIM TO BE HOSPITALIZED. *SS
NHTSA complaint 10838343. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
184,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while attempting to open the door, the contact’s grandson exited the vehicle, and the door closed independently. The contact stated that his daughter had experienced the door closing independently onto her right hand while exiting the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was diagnosed over the phone by the dealer, and the contact was informed that the door check strap needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred by the manufacturer to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The …
NHTSA complaint 11673735, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
SO my car had a torque converter recall at some point i was not notified of it to get it fixed. as such i drove it across the us and ended up making the transmission slip so bad that it would not go into gear anymore. since this i have taken it a dealership where the recall was performed after the fat and now they want me to buy a new transmission.
NHTSA complaint 11655948. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
VISIBILITY
fire · 240,000 miles
The contact's wife owned a 2010 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while parked in his garage, the passenger's low beam headlamp was removed after it stopped illuminating. The contact observed then observed the driver's low beam heal lamp blinking. The contact stated after 10 minutes, he and his family observed a smokey odor in the house and retreated to the garage to inspect the origin of the odor. The contact then observed flames emanating from the passenger headlamp. The fire spread and within 45 minutes the entire house was engulfed in flames and the vehicle remained trapped under a collapsed roof. The fire was extinguished by the Fire Department and a police report was filed. The Fire …
NHTSA complaint 11615437, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
Massive consumption of oil2 qts every 1000 miles
NHTSA complaint 11583911. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE OIL ISSUE. WE BOUGHT A 2010 ACURA MDX FROM ANOTHER PERSON, UNAWARE THAT NO MATTER HOW MUCH OIL YOU PUT IN IT, IT DOES NOT LAST VERY LONG. I TRAVEL 60 MILES/DAY BETWEEN WORK AND PICK-UP KIDS AND HOME. THE OIL LASTS MAYBE 2 DAYS SAYS EMPTY AND WE NEVER NEED TO ADD MUCH FOR IT TO BE FULL. WE HAVE A TOYOTA SEQUOIA THAT IS BIGGER AND WE HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE. HAD A HONDA DIDN'T HAVE THIS ISSUE, AND HAD A FEW PICK-UPS WITH OUT THIS ISSUE. ALL OLDER THAN THE ACURA.. THIS IS EXPENSIVE AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO FIX THIS??
NHTSA complaint 11560634. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed January 4, 2010.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst