2008 Acura MDX
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 49 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 20th highest complaint count among 24 MDX model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 2 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 1 person was injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Equipment, mechanical, carrier/rackFeb 5, 2008
HONDA IS RECALLING 2,032 HITCH STYLE BIKE RACKS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE ON MY 2003-2007 AND SOME MY 2008 HONDA PILOT, RIDGELINE, AND ACURA MDX VEHICLES. A PINCH BOLT EXISTS BETWEEN THE BIKE ARM BRACKET AND THE UPRIGHT ASSEMBLY OF THE "HITCH" STYLE BICYCLE RACK.
WHEN MOVING THE BIKE ARM BRACKET TO ITS DOWN POSITION, THIS PINCH BOLT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING SEVERE LACERATION OR AMPUTATION TO THE USER'S FINGERTIPS OR HAND.
OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT THULE AT 800-THULE91 (800-848-5391) TO OBTAIN A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS OR OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
Campaign 08E013000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
49 reports, newest first.
Structure, Jan 18, 2026
My car exterior paint has poor quality. It has been for years. It clear coat peeling and bubbling due to poor factory adhesion between paint layers, Fading & Chalking. This happens for so many years ago but I don’t know this happened because the manufacturers problem until recently a friend told me this
Other or unspecified, Apr 30, 2025
About maybe 2 months ago my tailgate open light comes on. When the exterior light is left on when I get in the car. .. it will go out but the tailgate light open will come on while driving and you will a ding then the light comes on while drive ng. As a result the car alarm.goes.off several times. I have checked the tailgate and it is closed I have taken it in but they can't find the reason why this happening. I have been on other forums and this appears to have been a problem.with.other Acura 2008 MDX,s.
Electrical system, May 14, 2023
The clock in the 2008 Acura MDX stopped working over 18 months ago. This occurred after an Acura Day-light-Savings time update. In order to check the time now you have to take your eyes off the road. There are thousands of Acura vehicles with this problem. ACURA REFUSES TO HELP. They state there is no solution to the problem. They caused the problem!
Air bags, Mar 26, 2023
I was at stoplight waiting to make a right turn and the Check Air Bag System turned on. No accident, just the error came on for no reason. This is safety issue and it should have lifetime warranty! I called the dealer and they told me that its will cost me $295 just to diagnose the error. I feel like this should be recall. I understand that it’s an electronic device and could failed. But it should have lifetime warranty.
Air bags, Apr 11, 2022, crash
Had front collision with another vehicle and hit their passenger side of the vehicle and their Airbags Deployed on that side but my Airbags didn’t Deploy in the Front. I suffered injuries because it didn’t work.
Structure, Engine, Mar 5, 2021, fire
MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING, IT SEAMS TO SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE.
Air bags, Jul 22, 2020
AN AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE WHEN I TURNED MY PARKED 2008 ACURA MDX ON IN MY DRIVEWAY. MY CAR HAD/HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HIT. IT SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE POLICY FOR AN ACURA DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM FOR FREE BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD I'LL BE CHARGED FOR A DIAGNOSIS. PLEASE ADVISE.
Air bags, May 29, 2020
"CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM" LIGHT CAME ON. NO ACCIDENTS, NOTHING THAT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE LIGHT TO COME ON. IT WAS STATIONARY WHEN IT CAME ON, PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. *TR
Electrical system, Service brakes, May 28, 2019
THIS VEHICLE IS HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUE IN WHICH IS AFFECT VARIOUS PARTS, INCLUDING THE DECELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE TIMES IN WHICH THE BRAKE IS PRESSED AND INSTEAD OF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO START TO SLOW DOWN. THE BRAKES ON THE TRUCK HAVE REPLACED ALONG WITH TIRES AND YET THE PROBLEM DOES CONTINUES. THIS A DAILY THING THAT HAPPENS IT IS MORE NOTICIBLE WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED ABOVE 65 AND ABOVE MILES. I HAVE ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS.
Electrical system, Jan 9, 2019
MY 2008 MDX'S BATTERY WOULD DRAIN OUT OFTEN AND HAD TO REPLACE 2-3 NEW BATTERIES DURING THAT TIME FRAME AND NUMEROUS JUMP START. RECENTLY, I JUST CHANGED BATTERY AND HAD TO JUMP START AGAIN WITHIN A MONTH. I REALLY GOT FRUSTRATED AND TOOK THE CAR TO CAR DEALER AND HE SAID IT'S AN HFL ISSUE WHICH DRAINS YOUR BATTERY OUT, SO I HAVE TO PAY $200 TO DISCONNECT THE SYSTEM OR PAY $4000 TO PUT A NEW HFL SYSTEM. THEIR IS ALSO A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND ANOTHER CUSTOMER AT THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE SAME ISSUE ON HIS 2008 TL. WHY DOESN'T ACURA RECALL AND FIX THE ISSUE??? THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW. I EVEN EMAILED ACURA WITH A COMPLAINT AND NO RESPONSE FROM THEM YET. ..! THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND WOULD NEVER BUY ACURA OR HONDA CARS AGAIN..!
Electrical system, Engine, Jun 2, 2018
ON SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2018, I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON INTERSTATE 95 AND MY CONSOLE LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING AND THE CAR JUST TURNED OFF. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND WATCHED AS THE CONSOLE LIGHTS BLINKED--VSA, BRAKE, INFORMATION LIGHT NAVIGATION SYSTEM SCREEN TURNED ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY, AND SPEEDOMETER AND RMP GAUGES WENT CRAZY. I SAT ON THE SHOULDER AND THE CONSOLE LIGHTS AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM LIGHTS CONTINUED TO BLINK ON AND OFF, AND THEN I SAW THAT THE SYSTEM RESET AS IF THE BATTERY HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED. THE SCREEN TO ENTER THE CODE TO RESET YOUR RADIO SYSTEM APPEARED. THEN IT ALL STOPPED AND WENT BLANK. I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE AND IT CONTINUED ON UNTIL I REACHED MY EXIT. HOWEVER, DURING THE DRIVE MY CONSOLE LIGHTS CONTINUED TO BLINK ON AND OFF AND THE CAR DROVE SLOWLY AND THERE WAS A DRAGGING SOUND AS IF THE ENGINE WAS OVERWORKING. I HAD TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR, AND MY WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO UP TO CLOSE.
Other or unspecified, Feb 22, 2018
THE SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY
Electrical system, Sep 4, 2017
BATTERY WAS REPLACED IN FEBRUARY 2017 (ABOUT 7 MONTHS AGO). TODAY, EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL JUST DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THANK GOD MY CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR & THAT I WAS 1 MINUTE FROM HOME. THE INTERNAL LIGHTS FLICKERED AND THEN ALL LIGHTS, THE RADIO, AND ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL PORTION WENT DEAD. THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT SENSING SOMETHING WAS WRONG, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY HUSBAND AND TOLD HIM TO MEET ME. AFTER I STOPPED THE CAR, IT WENT DEAD AND NEVER TURNED ON. WE HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS APPROACHES TO FIX AND HAVING FOUND THE SOLUTION YET. PER RESEARCH, MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR DANGEROUS ISSUES. SEE HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/ACURA/MDX/2007/ELECTRICAL/ELECTRICAL_SYSTEM.SHTML. MY ABSOLUTE FEAR IS THAT MY CAR WILL STOP COMPLETELY WHILE ON ON A FAST ROAD, WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR, AND AT NIGHT. WHILE WE DON'T YET KNOW IF IT'S AN HFL ISSUE (IT'S NOT A BATTERY ISSUE AS WE JUST HAD IT CHECKED LESS THAN AN HOUR AGO), I'M VERY FEARFUL. IF IT IS A HFL ISSUE, ACURA SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED THIS A LONG TIME AGO.
Electrical system, Feb 6, 2017
THE HANDS FREE LINK CONSTANTLY DRAINS THE BATTERY, EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN USE. I HAVE REPLACED 3 BATTERIES. THIS ISSUE LEAVES YOU STRANDED AND THE REPAIR COST BY DEALERS ARE RIDICULOUS WHEN THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE. MY LOCAL DEALER EXPLAINED THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE ISSUE WAS TO REMOVE THE HFL MODULE. WHY INSTALL SOMETHING ON A VEHICLE IF IT'S NOT CAPABLE OF PERFORMING THE FUNCTION IT IS MEANT TO. ALSO THE CD CHANGER CONSTANTLY GET STUCK AND WILL NOT WORK. DUE TO THIS ISSUE I GET AN ERROR MESSAGE OR A BUSY MESSAGE WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE A CD. THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED IN MY ACURA MULTIPLE TIMES AND I HAVE GOTTEN IT OUT HOWEVER THIS TIME WHEN THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED DUE TO THE HFL MODULE THE CD GOT STUCK DUE TO THE BATTERY ISSUE AND WILL NOT COME OUT AT ALL NOW. SO MY CD PLAYER IS NON-FUNCTIONING AT THIS POINT. SO ONE ISSUE HAS LEAD TO THE OTHER.
Suspension, Jun 4, 2016
I HAVE A MDX WITH SPORT SUSPENSION. I RECENTLY VISITED MY MECHANIC TO DISCOVER THAT BOTH OF MY REAR SHOCKS ARE BLOWN. AFTER LOOKING INTO FIXING IT, I NOTICED THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE PREMATURELY. NOT ONLY IS IT A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE TRIM, THE PARTS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS. WITH SO MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE, IT SEEMS THE CORE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM MAY BE A FAULTY DESIGN OF THE SHOCKS. MY CONCERN IS REPLACING A FAULTY PRODUCTS WITH ANOTHER FAULTY PRODUCTS, AND EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE ALL OVER AGAIN SHORTY.
Air bags, May 9, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA MDX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Suspension, Mar 12, 2016
THE ADS SENSOR HAS GONE BAD ON MY 2008 MDX. SOME HAVE BEEN RECALLED IN COLORADO BECAUSE SALT PUT ON THE ROADS FOR SNOW CONDITIONS HAS CARRIED THEM. I LIVE IN UTAH WHERE WE ALSO HAVE SALT PUT ON SLICK ROADS. BUT NONE IN UTAH WERE RECALLED. IT IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX AND PARTS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH ACURA. MY LOCAL MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE PRICE THEY ARE CHARGING WAS REDICULIUS AND HE HAS NEVER SEEN SUCH AN EXPENSIVE STRUT FIX.
Visibility, Aug 13, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Other or unspecified, Jun 27, 2015
IF THE CAR PARKED FOR 2 OR MORE DAYS IT WILL NOT START. THERE IS DRAIN IN THE SYSTEM. APPARENTLY THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH ACURA. DEALER SAID THAT HE COULD TRY TO DISCONNECT BLUETOOTH (HANDSFREE LINK) FOR $150-200. MY FAMILY WAS STUCK IN COLD WINTER NIGHTS IN THE PARKING LOT WITH NO PEOPLE, WHICH WAS NOT PLEASANT. I THINK ACURA SHOULD HAVE A RECALL AND DISCONNECT OR REPLACE DEFECTIVE UNITS FOR FREE. WE REPLACED BATTERY A COUPLE OF TIMES WITHOUT ANY AFFECT.
Electrical system, Structure, Engine, Jun 12, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HOOD WAS VIBRATING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST, TCS, ABS AND VTM MAY NOT OPERATE WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOOD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
Suspension, Jun 11, 2015
SPORTS SUSPENSION IN VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK OVERTIME. I BELIEVE THEY ARE DEFECTIVE, EVERY BUMP I GO OVER, TINY OR BIG IT MAKES A SOUND FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME ITS 2300 TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES. REASON I BELIEVE THEY ARE DEFECTIVE OR NOT OF HIGH QUALITY, HEARD AND READ MANY PEOPLE WITH MDX SPORTS SUSPENSION GETTING THEM REPLACED ONCE TO SEVERAL TIMES IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Apr 22, 2015
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR GOING ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE CAR, STOP THE CAR, ACCELERATE AND CUT ON MY BLINKERS. NOTHING IN THE CAR WORKED. I WAS DESPERATE TO GET OUT OF THE TRAFFIC FLOW WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED BACK ON. IT DID THIS OFF AND ON AS I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. ONCE THERE THEY STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS THE ISSUE. BATTERY WAS REPLACED. VARIOUS INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE CAR STARTED TO FALL APART (SEAT BELTS, AIRBAGS, CAR LIGHTS, CAR KEY, WINDOW SENSORS, DOOR LOCKS, ALARM, NAVIGATION). FOR A TIME THE CAR DROVE BUT WITH VERY STIFF HANDLING. CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN ISSUE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A WHIRRING SOUND AT START-UP. EVERYTHING WAS REPLACED TO FIX THE ISSUE WITH THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DOING A HAIL MARY ATTEMPT AT OFFERING RESOLVE. I FINALLY RECEIVED MY CAR BACK TWO WEEKS LATER. THEN HERE WE GO AGAIN, I AM ON THE FREEWAY WITH A BRAND NEW BATTERY INSTALLED BY ACURA WHEN EVERYTHING POWERS OFF YET AGAIN. CAR EVEN BRAKED ITSELF AND I SAW MY LIFE FLASH BEFORE MY EYES. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND TRAFFIC FLOW WAS THICK. I TOOK MY CAR TO ACURA AND CURRENTLY THEY HAVE HAD IT FOR OVER A WEEK. THEY TELL ME IT IS MY BATTERY AGAIN WHICH THEY WILL REPLACE FOR FREE BUT THEY WANT TO KEEP FOR FURTHER TESTING. I WORK FROM HOME AND DRIVE MY CAR EXTENDED DISTANCES WHEN NEEDED AND I NEED RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. THIS CAR IS PROVING UNRELIABLE. I AM NOT GETTING STRAIGHT ANSWERS FROM ANYONE AND IN 4 YEARS I HAVE REPLACED MY BATTERY 3 TIMES! I PARK IN THE GARAGE! THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY THE NEXT TIME THE POWER GOES OUT ON THE CAR AND EVERYTHING STOPS WORKING! I SEE THIS CONCERN IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND I NEED HELP! *TR
Structure, Feb 2, 2015
I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED IN OCTOBER 2014. EVER SINCE I HAD THE CAR I NOTICE THAT THE HOOD STARTS VIBRATING AS IF IT IS GOING TO OPEN. I HAVE PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES TO CHECK THAT THE HOOD IS NOT OPEN. I HAVE CONTACTED ACURA HEADQUARTERS AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME TO GO TO THE DEALER. WHAT I HAVE NOTICE IS THAT THE LATCH MOVES BACK AND FORTH EASILY AND THE HOOD FLEXES WHEN YOU OPEN IT AND PULL ON IT. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND PEOPLE GO TO THE DEALERSHIPS AND WE GET TOLD THE SAME THING. EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CAR HOOD VIBRATE THE WAY THIS HOOD VIBRATES. *TR
Electrical system, Jan 29, 2015
*****ACURA MDX 2008 BATTERY IS DRAINING AND CAR WILL NOT START DUE TO HFL UNIT.******** ***CONSUMERS SHOULD KNOW SO THEY CAN ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PREVENT BEING STRANDED SOMEWHERE WITH A DEAD BATTERY*** THIS HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE 1) FEBRUARY 2013, VEHICLE @ 35,000 MILES- BATTERY REPLACED AT ACURA 2) OCTOBER 2014, VEHICLE @ 48,000 MILES- TOLD BY ACURA BATTERY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN 3) JANUARY 2015, VEHICLE @ 49,000 MILES- I FOUND ONLINE FORUM WHERE ACURA MDX OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND THE CONCLUSION IS A DEFECTIVE HFL (HANDS FREE LINK) UNIT DRAINING THE BATTERY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS OFF. 4) JANUARY 2015, VEHICLE @ 49,000 MILES - I TELL ACURA SERVICE ADVISOR AT INTAKE ABOUT ONLINE DISCUSSIONS AND THAT I BELIEVE THE HFL UNIT IS DRAINING MY BATTERY. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AGREES THE ISSUE IS DEFINITELY THE HFL UNIT AND THE HFL UNIT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED OR UNPLUGGED BUT HE WILL HAVE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE TO CONFIRM . I HAD ACURA REPLACE THE HFL UNIT AND THE BATTERY HAS NOT DIED SINCE EVEN AFTER NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR THREE STRAIGHT DAYS. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AS I BELIEVE DRIVING HANDS-FREE IS SAFER THAN DRIVING WITH A PHONE IN ONE'S HAND. IT IS ALSO ILLEGAL TO DRIVE AND TALK ON A HAND-HELD PHONE IN THE STATE IN WHICH I LIVE SO UNPLUGGING THE HFL UNIT IS NOT AN OPTION FOR ME. I BELIEVE ACURA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AND ALL THE MANY ONLINE FORUMS WHERE CONSUMERS WITH DIFFERENT ACURA MODELS, MAKES AND YEARS ARE DISCUSSING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE HFL AND GIVING THEIR FEEDBACK ABOUT THEIR CONTACT WITH ACURA. INSTEAD OF DOING A THOROUGH DIAGNOSTIC CHECK I WAS TOLD TWICE I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. IT WAS MY THIRD VISIT ALONG WITH THE INFORMATION I FOUND ONLINE THAT I GOT ACURA'S ATTENTION HOWEVER BY THEN THE HFL WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Power train, Oct 15, 2014
RATTLING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATED AT LOW SPEEDS APPROX 15 TO 30 MPH...NOISE NOT NOTICEABLE AT HIGHER CRUISING SPEEDS. *TR