At the shop, Acura engine issues have a recognizable signature. 740 documented complaints across 40 year-model entries from 2005 to 2025 is consistent with what we see come in. 2016 Acura MDX tops the list, but the pattern repeats across years. Multiple generations are affected. 12 fire reports on the federal record — not common in this category but documented and worth weight. Across the 175 complaints reporting odometer mileage, the median failure lands at about 66,171 miles. Repair exposure averages $3,100, which is meaningful money outside warranty. Budget for a real pre-purchase inspection — compression and leakdown test, not just a code scan. Both are cheap and tell you what is left in the engine.
ProblemsByVin ACURA / ENGINE
40 model-year entries · 2005–2025
Acura engine problems
740 owner complaints filed with NHTSA against Acura vehicles for engine issues. 1 active recall campaign. See engine across all makes →
Complaints
740
Recalls
1
Year-models
40
Avg fix
$3,100
4crashes
12fires
2injuries
Worst-affected Acura model-years for engine Top 25 by complaint volume
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
2016 Acura MDX
110 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate
2017 Acura MDX
67 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate
2020 Acura MDX
58 complaints · 1 recall · ~$3,100 moderate
2019 Acura RDX
46 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate
2019 Acura MDX
44 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate
2015 Acura TLX
43 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate
2019 Acura TLX
31 complaints · ~$3,100 severe
2016 Acura TLX
31 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate
2020 Acura RDX
29 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate
2018 Acura MDX
28 complaints · ~$3,100 severe
2018 Acura TLX
28 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate
2011 Acura MDX
22 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate
2017 Acura TLX
21 complaints · ~$3,100 severe
2009 Acura TSX
19 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate
2020 Acura TLX
18 complaints · ~$3,100 severe
2012 Acura MDX
18 complaints · ~$3,100 severe
2012 Acura TL
14 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate
2005 Acura MDX
10 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate
2025 Acura MDX
9 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate
2014 Acura MDX
9 complaints · ~$3,100 severe
2008 Acura TL
7 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate
2005 Acura TL
7 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate
2009 Acura MDX
6 complaints · ~$3,100 severe
2007 Acura MDX
6 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate
2017 Acura RDX
5 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate
Active recalls — Acura engine 2 on file
Honda is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Acura TSX vehicles originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia
A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners and Acura dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any damaged ECU, free of charge. All vehicles will have a waterproof cover installed onto the ECU, free of charge. The recall began during April 2013. Owners may contact Acura Client Relations at 1-800-382-2238 and select option 4 or go to www.recalls.acura.com.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co
A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Fix: 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.
Common questions
How many Acura engine complaints are on file with NHTSA?
740 complaints across 40 model-year entries from 2005 to 2025. 1 active recall campaigns cover engine issues across the Acura lineup.
Which Acura model has the most engine complaints?
The 2016 Acura MDX leads with 110 complaints in this category. Next: 2017 MDX (67) and 2020 MDX (58).
What does it cost to fix Acura engine problems?
Independent shops average $3,100 for engine repairs across the Acura lineup. Dealer pricing tends to run twenty to forty percent higher. Specific cost depends on the failure mode and parts availability.
Are there Acura engine recalls?
Yes — 2 active recall campaigns cover engine on Acura vehicles. Recall fixes are free regardless of mileage or warranty status. The list below shows current campaigns with their NHTSA numbers.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database.
Editorial commentary written by Shop Foreman, an independent contributor to ProblemsByVin
and not affiliated with Acura.
Severity ratings derive from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities on the NHTSA complaint and recall record.
Repair cost averages reflect independent-shop pricing and may differ in your area.