Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Acura MDX problems

Owners filed 180 complaints about the 2005 Acura MDX with NHTSA between Aug 2005 and Jul 2025. The most-cited component is power train (87).

Complaints
180
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
15
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
15
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train87
  2. Air bags39
  3. Electrical system18
  4. Electronic stability control (esc)11
  5. Service brakes11
  6. Steering9
  7. Vehicle speed control9
  8. Engine and engine cooling9
  9. Seat belts7
  10. Engine7
  11. Equipment5
  12. Visibility4
  13. Traction control system4
  14. Structure4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20054
20064
20073
20083
20098
201039
201116
20129
201314
201414
20159
201615
20178
201810
20198
20205
20217
20220
20231
20242
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

87 reports2 crashes
“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 was able to restart after several attempts; however, the failure recurred after driving a short distance. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the OG sensor and the PMP sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had progressively worsened, and the 4WD warning light was constantly illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and approaching a traffic light recently, the vehicle unintendedly downshifted and nearly stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be repaired for the most recent failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 31, 2025Electrical system, Power trainODI 11677517

Air bags

39 reports5 crashes8 related recalls
“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 dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 209,638.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 16, 2023Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11550244

Electrical system

18 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“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 INCIDENT MY WIFE, KIDS AND I WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 70 MPH ON THE 15FWY HEADED SOUTH AND THIS TIME IT HAPPENED ONCE AGAIN AND MORE AGGRESSIVELY DUE TO IS TRAVELING AT A MUCH GREATER SPEED AND DID JERK A LOT HARDER ALMOST MAKING MY WIFE LOSE CONTROL. LUCKILY SHE WAS ALERT AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER RIGHT AWAY AND THAT'S WHEN WE NOTICED A NEW LIGHT ON THE I DASH HAD ILLUMINATED. WE SEE THE ACRONYM (VSA) ILLUMINATE AND I HAD NEVER SEEN THIS PARTICULAR LIGHT BEFORE SO I THEN START TO RESEARCH IT. I FIND OUT IT'S PART OF AN ANTI LOCK FEATURE AND IT'S SUFFICE WHEN DEALING WITH CURVY ROADS AND HELPS WITH TRACTION WHICH GIVES SMOOTHER TURNS WHILE DRIVING AND GIVES BETTER CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I ALSO READ IT'S BEST TO KEEP THIS FEATURE OFF WHILE COMMUTING IN YOUR REGULAR EVERYDAY TRANSIT. SO AS MONTHS GO BY IT HAPPENED TO ME…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 23, 2021Electrical system, Air bags, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 11389579

Electronic stability control (esc)

11 reports1 crash
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2021Steering, Wheels, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11427469

Service brakes

11 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR BRAKES ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY WITH THE VSA (VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V092000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM) AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 28, 2020Traction control system, Service brakesODI 11312083

Steering

9 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, ON OTHER OCCASIONS IT WAS HARD FOR THE CONTACT TO MAKE TURNS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IT WAS VERY SELDOM WHEN THE STEERING FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BARBER FORD (640 E 8TH ST, HOLLAND, MI 49423 (616) 396-2361) WHERE THE MECHANICS STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE AND HAD NO FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000. THE VIN WAS NOT VALID.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 14, 2019SteeringODI 11207517
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.