10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
45,478 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Acura MDX electrical problems

electrical problem

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2012 Acura MDX Owner Comments

problem #12

Nov 202021

MDX

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Stone Mountain, GA, USA

problem #11

Oct 282020

MDX

  • 202,236 miles
While driving down the highway my check airbag system indicator light came on. I reached my destination and turned off my vehicle, I then restarted my vehicle and the light was still on. I took a picture of the light for proof. Still on for 3 weeks now. I checked and my VIN is not on the recall list for the airbag.

- Windsor, CT, USA

problem #10

Feb 272020

MDX

  • 56,000 miles
Windshield wiper doesn't work, electronic steering failed

- Ozberg, DC, USA

problem #9

Dec 232019

MDX

  • 106,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After driving the vehicle, I parked it, turned it off and it caught on fire.

- Hamden, CT, USA

problem #8

Jan 272017

MDX

  • 48,900 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Acura MDX. After camping, the vehicle was taken to a dealer for an oil change where it was discovered that rodents chewed on several wires. The dealer did not diagnose the failure and no repairs were made. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 48,900.

- Chino Hills, CA, USA

problem #7

Dec 282016

MDX

  • 33,000 miles
Power door locks were all defective, became non-responsive to transmitter and driver master switch in year 4. locks also began cycling open and closed at highway speeds. [major safety hazard!] all 4 actuators had to be replaced over the course of three trips to dealer. I am reporting only the most recent occurrence date as this happened throughout the course of 2017

- Scarsdale, NY, USA

problem #6

Dec 272016

MDX

  • 33,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Power door locks were all defective, became non-responsive to transmitter and driver master switch in year 4. locks also began cycling open and closed at highway speeds. All 4 actuators had to be replaced over the course of three trips to dealer. I am reporting only the most recent occurrence date as this happened throughout the course of 2017

- Scarsdale, NY, USA

problem #5

Mar 192012

MDX

  • 200 miles
When driving using acc, the vehicle brakes (not consistently) when approaching a large truck in the lane next to lane I am driving in. This has happened since new and has been reported at least 10 times to dealer and they say they can't reproduce the issue. Gas mileage is 12mpg in town and 19mpg on freeway, sticker was 16/23. I have complained about this since new and they drive the car and say they are getting correct mileage, then they told me the brakes needed to be replaced and the rotors needed grinding. I was assured by the service writer that my mileage would be much better, with a wink of an eye. I left the next day for 600 mile drive and my mileage was 20mgp in town and 27mpg on freeway, this lasted for about two months. Temperature guage for outside temp has never worked. On hot days it will read 64 when it is 105 outside. I am told I have to drive at least 20mph for thirty seconds for the temp to increase each degree. Absurd, however, even this tactic does not work.

- Mission Viejo, CA, USA

problem #4

Mar 282016

MDX

  • 51,000 miles
My wife, who had been driving, exited the SUV to go shopping, leaving me on the passenger side. Unaware, she presssed the "lock" button on the key remote as she walked away.. after a moment, I attempted to open my car door, which triggered the panic alarm. The issue was that it was impossible to exit the vehicle which couyld have resulted in a dangerous event had the car been on fire. It was later shown to me a manual lock/unlock swiitch that I could have operated. Buildings have exits that require no experience to use in case of emergency. Why cannot a vehicle be exitedhurriedly, even though the panic alarm will be activated in that type of an emergency?

- Colorado Springs, NN, USA

problem #3

Aug 042013

MDX

  • 7,000 miles
I purchased a brand new 2012 Acura MDX (1 year and 2 weeks old). It have only 7000 miles on it right now. The power driver seat is not working and also, the memory #1 and #2. the seat it all the way up position close to steering wheel it hard for me to drive. I work ann arbor, mi the Acura dealer are in troy, mi. It more than one hour drive one way. If I take my Acura MDX to the dealer, I have to take time off from work which I do not to.................. why it cost money....................... I'm not happy. I own Honda Accord 10 years, Acura 3.2 TL 8 years, Toyota highlander more than 5 years never have any problems like this one...................... now what...............

- Canton, MI, USA

problem #2

Feb 222013

MDX 6-cyl

  • 7,400 miles
Honda Acura MDX, the vehicle provides a backup camera to display the rear view when the vehicle backs up. However the camera system does not work at night under street light. The driver barely sees anything at rear through the video display even it is set at night mode and it is turned to max. Bright level. I almost hit a child when I tried to backup the car with the rear view though the camera and I thought it was clear but it is not. It is a very dangerous and it could kill a child. Acura should never install such poor quality cameras on its high end vehicles. Or Acura should put a clear warning mark beside the display which warns driver never use it at night. Comparing to the other brand rear view cameras I never heard such stories that they are not be able to work at night. There are complaints on the web and many people are experiencing this problem. I hope Acura will replace the camera and prevent it from an accident really happened.

- Bethesda, MD, USA

problem #1

Nov 052012

MDX 6-cyl

  • 1,000 miles
The rear back up camera does not provide adequate brightness at night. With the screen brightness set to max, I am unable to discern objects behind on the screen at night especially in rain. The camera lens is clean. This is significantly worse compared to my prior 2008 Acura MDX, and compared to other vehicles that I own and have driven with similar cameras. The dealer says that it is a frequent complaint.

- Solon, OH, USA

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