2020 Acura MDX
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 221 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 24 MDX model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 4 involved a crash. 2 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Structure, frame and membersJun 4, 2026
American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.
Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.
Campaign 26V365000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, sensor, occupant classification, front passengerMay 21, 2026
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Campaign 26V332000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingApr 17, 2025
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid light assembly and wiring harness, which can cause the interior and exterior lights to fail, including the lid lights, position lights, license plate lights and taillights.
Vehicle lights that fail to illuminate can decrease visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect the wiring and install a fuse harness, replace the lid light, and repair the body dust sealer, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2025. Owners may contact Acura's customer service at 1-800-382-2238. Acura's number for this recall is FLI. Vehicles included in this recall that were previously repaired under NHTSA recall number 19V-256 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Campaign 25V259000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, sensor, occupant classification, front passengerFeb 1, 2024
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
Campaign 24V064000 on NHTSA.gov
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
Engine and engine cooling, engine, hard parts internal/mechanicalNov 13, 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.
Campaign 23V751000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, master cylinderJun 29, 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.
Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are VEU, AEV, and ZET.
Campaign 23V458000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpMar 25, 2021
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-314.
Campaign 21V215000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
221 reports, newest first.
Forward collision avoidance, Lane departure, Aug 13, 2025
Failed Component: Front camera system controlling adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and other safety features. Safety Risk: Loss of these systems increases risk of collision, lane drift, and reduced driver reaction time. Date Issue Began: August 12, 2025. Confirmation: Problem reproduced and confirmed by authorized Acura dealership. Inspections: Inspected by Acura dealership only. Symptoms: Dashboard alerts immediately after startup stating adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assist are unavailable; warnings remain active while driving.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 10, 2025
On Aug 8th at 3:32pm (81F and sunny), I stopped at a red light with the auto idle engine feature on. When I lifted my foot off the brake to drive the car, the car shifted into neutral and completely shut down and would not restart immediately. I attempted approximately 8 times to restart the car for 3 minutes before it successfully restarted. This poses a significant safety hazard for myself, my children, and others on the road. This is the 6th time this has happened and I have previously filed a NHTSA report # 11533671 with the same issue. Acura has been unable to diagnose and recreate the problem and is refusing to do any further work. It has been brought into their dealership on 3 separate occasions (July 2023, September 2024, August 2025). Prior to this occurring, there were no warning symbols, the car started fine without issue, and the battery has been checked and confirmed in working order.
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 19, 2025
I own a 2020 Acura MDX. On two separate occasions, the Auto Engine Idle Stop system failed to operate while depressing the accelerator pedal while at a stop. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle shuts off and the I had to manually restart the vehicle after the failure. I have not contacted the dealer yet but based on what I have found here I am not the only one that this is happening too. It is awful to be stopped in rush hour traffic and having people honking at me and potentially be the cause of an accident. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000 and 38,000 miles.
Exterior lighting, Jul 19, 2025
There is moisture and water droplets inside outer left taillight
Other or unspecified, Jul 14, 2025
I been having deceleration problem and shut down unexpectedly problem with my Acura MDX 2020 truck. I can be driving my truck normally and out of no where my truck would lose power slow down and eventually shut off completely. I avoided like 5 car accidents with this incident happened to me. I have bring the truck to Acura and they are not fixing my problem.i am scared to dead to drive my own truck. I always drive with my kids in my truck. Please help I don’t know what else to do. This truck is going to get me in a nasty car accident and I can even lost my life. Back in 2024 in September I was driving on 78 on my way to Jersey City, I was driving like 65 miles, my truck slow down lose power and eventually turned off. Someone almost hit me from behind. On Wednesday July 02/2025 I was driving like 20 miles approaching a red light to stop once I press the break pedal my truck completely shuts off. I needed to wait like 1 minute or 2 to turn on. Also on Thursday July 3/2025. I was on my way to the hospital with my kids and my truck turn off completely on a Burger King drive through. That day I took my truck again to Acura to check on it. They told me nothing was wrong with my truck.
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact stated that on three separate occasions, the Auto Engine Idle Stop system failed to operate while depressing the accelerator pedal while at a stop. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the vehicle shut off and the contact had to manually restart the vehicle after the failure. The contact called and informed the dealer of the failure. The contact was then referred to the manufacturer for assistance with the repair. The contact was provided a case number and referred to the dealer to order the part for the repair. The contact made multiple attempts to reach the dealer but had not received a response. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.
Exterior lighting, Interior lighting, Jun 24, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V259000 (Exterior Lighting, Interior Lighting); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Jun 18, 2025
MALFUNCTION: ROAD MITIGATION SYSTEM FAILED (RDM), LANE KEEPING ASSIST SYSTEM (LKAS) FAILED, and CRUSE CONTROL FAILED, after investigating the issue this is happening with multiple vehicles. SAFETY: YES, these all failed at the same time, poses significant safety issues for the diver, passengers, and other drivers due to nature of failure. CONFORMATION: at this time no inspection of the vehicle has transpired. NO OTHER WANING LAMPS OR MESSAGES, prior to suddenly showing up today 6/18/25
Engine, Jun 15, 2025
When idle stop is on and I come to a stop, the car shuts off and switches to neutral. It has to be put in park to start it back up. This is a safety concern because the vehicle is essentially stalled until you're able to put it in parked and restart it, which could cause an accident. The dealer is aware of the problem as it's been discussed the last two times that I've taken my vehicle in for recalls. According to the dealer, there is a recall for this issue but it's not for 2020 MDX, it's for 2022-2025.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 11, 2025
I am writing to formally express my concern regarding a recurring issue with the Auto Start/Stop feature in my 2020 Acura MDX. This feature, which is intended to improve fuel efficiency, has instead caused unexpected and unsafe engine shutoffs while the vehicle is in operation. On multiple occasions, the vehicle has failed to restart promptly after the engine shuts off at a stoplight or in traffic, creating a serious safety hazard. The delay or failure to restart can leave the car temporarily disabled in active traffic, placing both myself and other drivers at risk.
Engine, Jun 10, 2025
At 101,841 miles, noticed ticking coming from the engine as it was idling. Acura of Limerick dealership diagnosed the issue coming from the bottom of the engine as a rod knock. They feel the problem is internal to the engine and suggest replacing the engine at my, I the owner's cost. After reviewing blogs and information on recalls on the internet, this issue seems in line with other rod bearing issues with this 3.5L V6 engine. But my Vin is not identified as having the recall issue? This seems incorrect as my Vin should be covered as it seems to be the same problem.
Engine, Jun 10, 2025
Auto Idle Stop issue where engine did not restart. Occurred multiple times in April/May of 2024 and Vehicle Stability Assist Code U3006-16 appeared on the Infotainment screen. Taken to dealer who was unable to replicate the problem. The U3006-16 code appeared again in February 2025 but the car did not experience the restart issue at that time. The U3006-16 code appeared again on April 6, 2025 while exiting a freeway after a 20 minute drive and the engine did not restart after Auto Idle Stop engaged at the second intersection. Taken to dealer and unable to replicate the problem and supposedly cleared the codes. On May 21, 2025 the U3006-16 code appeared again while exiting a freeway after a one hour drive but the car did not experience the restart issue at that time. Took car to dealer who checked a bunch of things and cleared the code,
Forward collision avoidance, Lane departure, Jun 1, 2025
I am reporting a failure of the multipurpose front windshield camera in my vehicle, which resulted in the loss of multiple safety systems including Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Auto High-Beam, and Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS). These features are critical to safe driving, and their sudden deactivation poses a serious safety risk to both the driver and others on the road. This issue required costly repairs. I believe this represents a safety defect that should be investigated by NHTSA.
Engine and engine cooling, May 30, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 29, 2025
My car has been going into neutral when in the autostop. The only way to get out of it is to turn it off and back on. It's incredibly dangerous. I almost got into a horrible accident. It happens suddenly and without warning.
Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, May 24, 2025
2020 acura mdx tech package with 31600 miles, I purchased this vehicle first owner in march of 2021 and about 3 days ago 5/22/25 I get a fault reading for collision mitigation system problem, lane keep assist problem, road departure mitigation system problem, adaptive cruse control problem and auto high-beam problem, all safety feature issues, I brought vehicle to Acura dealership and they scanned for error codes which produced error code#u3000-49 for faulty multipurpose camera unit millimeter wave radar internal electronic failure recommend to replace the wave radar, dealership states vehicle is no longer under warranty and would cost a total of $1500 to get repaired and replaced , this issue should be looked into further for faulty acura part if repair is done what are the chances of it happening again with normal usage of vehicle.
Other or unspecified, May 2, 2025
I was in traffic on a major highway during rush hour, and my car went into neutral on its own in the middle of the highway. I was unable to put it in drive, restart it, turn it off or do anything else. The car truck behind me almost hit me and other cars were honking their horns as they changed lanes and drove past me. It was extremely frightening and unsafe as my car sat there without moving, on a major highway, in the middle of rush hour, at 5:35 pm. This happened before and I reported it to the dealership in 2024, and took my car in on three different occasions. In November 2024, less than a year after I purchased the certified pre owned car, it shifted into neutral twice within 20 minutes while I was driving intown, and again later than day as I exited a highway. The third time, I was able to get a video of it on my phone. The dealer said they could not reproduce the problem but fortunately, I sent them the video that shows the oil, battery, ABS, ACC, brake, road departure system, tire pressure, LKAS, brake system and other lights were all on. They said they addressed the issue then. This time around, in April 2025, they told me that they were unable to reproduce the issue but that it was because my battery tested low. Nothing was mentioned about a battery in November when the battery was still under warranty. Now they are saying it is the battery. There were no warnings before the car stalled. This is concerning and very unsafe. I cannot upload videos to this report so I have uploaded a few screenshots from it.
Forward collision avoidance, Lane departure, Apr 19, 2025
Faulty Windshield camera. which fails due to overheating. and sets off problem lights on the dashboard. lane keep assist , lane departure, brake problem. this seems to be a common problem with this faulty design. to replace this part is $2,000 which who knows if it will fail again. so know one is forced to drive around with the constant problem lights and the uneasy feeling of not having brake assistance when and if needed. this puts not only the driver and passengers lives at risk but the lives of the public.
Power train, Electrical system, Apr 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving in Comfort Mode at approximately 40 MPH and attempting to accelerate to change lanes, the vehicle stalled for several minutes before accelerating. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle hesitated to start intermittently, and the failure was more frequent over time. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the battery had failed. The battery was replaced, and the vehicle was remedied under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V031000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Electrical System). The failure reoccurred. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, and the contact stated that the vehicle was shaking abnormally while accelerating; however, the dealer had not diagnosed the vehicle a second time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,193.
Forward collision avoidance, Lane departure, Apr 7, 2025
### 1. **What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?** The rearview camera system in my 2020 Acura MDX has malfunctioned. The camera, which is integral to several safety systems in the vehicle, has failed, causing significant safety concerns. The vehicle is available for inspection by an Acura dealership or independent service center upon request. ### 2. **How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?** The malfunction of the rearview camera directly impacts the **Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)**, **Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)**, and **Lane Departure Warning (LDW)** systems. These systems rely on cameras and sensors to detect obstacles, maintain a safe following distance, and alert the driver when switching lanes. Without the proper function of the rearview camera, these safety systems become unreliable, increasing the risk of head-on collisions, rear-end accidents, or unintended lane changes, which could lead to a serious crash. Furthermore, the area surrounding the malfunctioning camera becomes dangerously hot, posing a burn risk when touched, which adds another safety hazard. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes I have taken the vehicle to a dealership for a formal inspection, I have confirmed the issue through the consistent malfunctioning of the camera. The overheating and failure of the camera have been present since the issue began, and I have communicated this to Acura's customer service. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer beyond the initial communication with Acura’s customer service. No inspection has been conducted by the police or insurance representatives. However, I have made Acura aware of the problem, and the customer service team, led by Account Manager Monica
Engine, Apr 7, 2025
Email Acura did an update to software for vehicle stalling, but the problem isn't fixed. I have notified the dealer twice and no return call. I am a widow, travel alone and am afraid this vehicle will fail when I'm alone. I was slowing to stop at a stop sign and the car just shut off.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 6, 2025
I stopped at a red light and when I went to pull of the car cut off. I had to restart the car to pull off. This is the second time that this has happened.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 6, 2025
My Acura MDX 2020 had an issue in which the automatic start-stop system sometimes not manage to start the engine after stopping.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 1, 2025
When using the a/c while the Auto Idle Stop is engaged, the engine will shut off and not restart. This issue does not happen immediately, at the first cycle of being activated, it's after 3 or more cycles of the AIS being in use, like driving in stop and go traffic for instance. The issue reminds me of a low/dying battery when it happens. Now when I turn off the A/C, the car starts right up like normal. Also if I don't use the A/C, the AIS cycles like normal, like in traffic, l'll have no problems with its performance.
Power train, Electrical system, Apr 1, 2025
Start n stop button not working right shuts off and hard to start