MYRModel Year Report

2004 Acura MDX

◆ Worse than typical
2004 Acura MDX
RENDERED 2026-11-01T12:41:00.996Z

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
171
Recalls
10

Campaigns on file for 2004

Investigations
4

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Power train

47% of complaints

Complaints per year

2001: 224 complaints 2001 2002: 205 complaints 2003: 206 complaints 2004: 171 complaints 2004 171 2005: 180 complaints 2006: 87 complaints 2007: 99 complaints 2008: 49 complaints 2009: 52 complaints 2009 2010: 45 complaints 2011: 70 complaints 2012: 76 complaints 2013: 30 complaints 2013 2014: 170 complaints 2015: 71 complaints 2016: 375 complaints 2017: 260 complaints 2017 2018: 168 complaints 2019: 189 complaints 2020: 223 complaints 2021: 0 complaints 2021 2022: 159 complaints 2023: 44 complaints 2024: 40 complaints 2025: 115 complaints 2025 2026: 8 complaints
2001: 224 complaints 2001 2002: 205 complaints 2003: 206 complaints 2004: 171 complaints 2004 171 2005: 180 complaints 2006: 87 complaints 2007: 99 complaints 2007 2008: 49 complaints 2009: 52 complaints 2009 2010: 45 complaints 2011: 70 complaints 2011 2012: 76 complaints 2013: 30 complaints 2013 2014: 170 complaints 2015: 71 complaints 2015 2016: 375 complaints 2017: 260 complaints 2017 2018: 168 complaints 2019: 189 complaints 2019 2020: 223 complaints 2021: 0 complaints 2021 2022: 159 complaints 2023: 44 complaints 2023 2024: 40 complaints 2025: 115 complaints 2025 2026: 8 complaints
2001: 224 complaints 2001 2002: 205 complaints 2003: 206 complaints 2003 2004: 171 complaints 2004 171 2005: 180 complaints 2005 2006: 87 complaints 2007: 99 complaints 2007 2008: 49 complaints 2009: 52 complaints 2009 2010: 45 complaints 2011: 70 complaints 2011 2012: 76 complaints 2013: 30 complaints 2013 2014: 170 complaints 2015: 71 complaints 2015 2016: 375 complaints 2017: 260 complaints 2017 2018: 168 complaints 2019: 189 complaints 2019 2020: 223 complaints 2021: 0 complaints 2021 2022: 159 complaints 2023: 44 complaints 2023 2024: 40 complaints 2025: 115 complaints 2025 2026: 8 complaints

2004: 171 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
2001224
2002205
2003206
2004171
2005180
200687
200799
200849
200952
201045
201170
201276
201330
2014170
201571
2016375
2017260
2018168
2019189
2020223
20210
2022159
202344
202440
2025115
20268

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Power train

47% · 80 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and differential unit.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

I pulled up my driveway which has uphill grade then a flat area and was in my garage when I noticed that I had the keys in my hand. I turned around and noticed my car was drifting back down the driveway.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-05-14

Also filed under Electrical system

Air bags

15% · 26 reports

Most commonly citing frontal.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

During a collision the passenger fell to the side window and air bags deployed, resulting in head injuries. Passenger was transported by ambulance to the hospital. Vehicle was towed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2004-09-17

Electrical system

12% · 21 reports

Most commonly citing starter assembly and cables.

CRASHFIRE
Show complaint excerpts

Electrical short

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-12-14

Also filed under Engine and structure

Engine

8% · 13 reports
CRASHFIREINJURY

Engine and engine cooling

8% · 13 reports

Most commonly citing manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe and catalytic convertor.

Safety timeline

10 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    2004Complaint volume 171 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. I
    2012-10-02Preliminary evaluationClosed 2013-01-14 Ignition Interlock Failure - Rollaway
  3. R
    2013-02-22Electrical system12V573000 Honda is recalling certain model year 2003 and 2004 Pilot and Odyssey and 2003 through 2006 Acura MDX passenger vehicles manufactured from November 26, 2001, through August 30, 2006. The interlock…

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated shift interlock lever and, if necessary, replace any necessary part…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. I
    2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  5. R
    2014-09-12Air bags14V353000 American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2015-01-26Air bags14V700000 American Honda Motor Co.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. I
    2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  8. R
    2015-07-01Air bags15V320000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2016-06-29Air bags16V344000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2011 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold,...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2019-04-10Air bags19V182000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2019-08-12Air bags19V499000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey,...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2019-08-12Air bags19V501000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey,...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    2019-12-09Vehicle speed control19E068000 Dorman Products, Inc.

    Remedy: Dorman will notify owners, and qualified service facilities will replace the affected accelerator pedal assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2019. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, using option 5.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  14. I
    2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  15. R
    Date not on fileEquipment08E013000 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.

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2004 Acura MDX — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Power train: 80 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 26 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 21 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 08E013000 · Equipment
  • Recall 12V573000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 14V353000 · Air bags
  • Recall 14V700000 · Air bags
  • Recall 15V320000 · Air bags
  • Recall 16V344000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V182000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V499000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V501000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19E068000 · Vehicle speed control
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2004 Acura MDX reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2004 Acura MDX is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Acura MDX?
The most-reported component is power train, accounting for 47% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2004 Acura MDX have?
10 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-31 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.