2013 Acura MDX

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Engine is the leading concern among 29 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 24th highest complaint count among 24 MDX model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 29

Of the 2013 reports, 3 involved a fire.

Primary concernEngine9 reports · 31% of complaints
Owner complaints29Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship1 safety recallNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Engine9
  2. Electrical system8
  3. Other or unspecified5
  4. Power train4
  5. Exterior lighting3
  6. Steering3
  7. Vehicle speed control3
  8. Forward collision avoidance2

Recalls and investigations

  1. Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpDec 18, 2023

    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, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

    Campaign 23V858000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints

29 reports, newest first.

  1. Seat belts, Jun 20, 2014

    MY 4 YEAR OLD WAS IN A BOOSTER SEAT IN THE BACK SO SEAT BELT WAS ON HIM. WHEN WE WENT TO UNBUCKLE THE SEATBELT IT LOCKED. WE ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO UNLOCK IT, WE TESTED ALL THE OTHER SEATBELTS WHICH DID LOCK AND UNLOCK. WE COULD NOT GET IT UNLOCKED AND HAD TO GO INTO A LOCAL RESTAURANT AND BORROW SCISSORS TO GET HIM OUT. WE TRIED FOR 15 MINS AT LEAST TO GET THE SEAT BELT UNLOCKED AND EVERY TIME IT SEEMED TO GET TIGHTER. MY 4 YEAR OLD HAD NIGHTMARES THAT EVENING ABOUT THE SEAT BELTS AND RED MARKS ON HIS SHOULDER. IT IS SCARY TO THINK WE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET HIM OUT IN AN EMERGENCY. *TR

  2. Electrical system, Engine, Jan 17, 2014

    A 2013 ACURA MDX VEHICLE (ADVANCE MODEL) WAS BOUGHT IN THE ACURA DEALER ON JULY 27, 2013. STARTING ON OCTOBER 2013, STRONG SMELL OF FUMES HAS SPORADICALLY BEEN SENSED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, MAKING IT UNCOMFORTABLE TO BREATHE. SINCE NOVEMBER 5, 2013, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP (THREE TIMES) TO TARGET THE CAUSE OF THE FUMES. THE SMELL OF FUMES INSIDE THE CABIN ARE SENSED NOT ONLY WHILE DRIVING AT 10MPH, 40MPH, OR 60MPH BUT ALSO ON SHORT DISTANCE RIDES, DURING RAINY DAYS AND WHILE WAITING FOR A LIGHT TO CHANGE (THE SMELL WAS ALSO SENSED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN THE WINDOWS WERE DOWN). ON THE SECOND SERVICE APPOINTMENT, THE SHOP VERIFIED THE A/C SYSTEM AND THE RECIRCULATION CASE OF THE AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) SYSTEM WAS SEALED; BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SPORADIC SMELL OF FUMES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE DECEMBER 23 AND NOT RETURNED SINCE THEY DO NOT FIND WHY THE VEHICLE EMITS SUCH STRONG FUMES THAT SURPASSED THE A/C SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS HARDLY BEEN USED DUE TO THE SAFETY AND HEALTH CONCERN. AS OF TODAY, THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DETECTED NOR CORRECTED. *TR

  3. Electrical system, Equipment, Jul 30, 2013

    BACK-UP CAMERA VIDEO / NAVIGATION MODULE, AND STEREO / CLOCK SCREENS REMAINED BLANK AFTER STARTING ENGINE, PLACING CAR IN REVERSE GEAR AND MOVING SLOWLY DOWN DRIVEWAY IN AN APPROXIMATE TIME FRAME OF 3-4 MINUTES. ALL SCREENS CONTINUED TO BE BLANK AFTER EXITING DRIVEWAY, STOPPING, THEN PLACING CAR IN DRIVE AND TRAVELING 5-7 MPH ON STREET. STOPPED VEHICLE AT STOP SIGN AFTER TRAVELING 200 YARDS. RE-ENGAGED REVERSE, THEN DRIVE GEARS WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. BOTH SCREENS FINALLY ACTIVATED, SHOWING CORRECT TIME AND BLUETOOTH CONNECTION STATUS ON STEREO SCREEN, AS WELL AS REAR CAMERA VIDEO PICTURE ON NAV MODULE SCREEN WHILE REVERSE GEAR ENGAGED. SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS SINCE PURCHASING THIS USED VEHICLE IN MAY 2012. *TR

  4. Steering, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 9, 2013

    THE VEHICLE SHOWS ALL TROUBLE CODES, VSA STABILITY, TRAILER STABILITY, ALL WHEEL DRIVE, ENGINE SYSTEM. ERROR. ONCE CODE COMES ON LOSS OF POWER AND STABILITY CONTROL. *TR