2005 Acura MDX
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.
- Complaints
- 180
- Recalls
- 13
- Investigations
- 5
- Top problem
- Power train
Campaigns on file for 2005
Opened by NHTSA
48% of complaints
Complaints per year
2005: 180 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 224 |
| 2002 | 205 |
| 2003 | 206 |
| 2004 | 171 |
| 2005 | 180 |
| 2006 | 87 |
| 2007 | 99 |
| 2008 | 49 |
| 2009 | 52 |
| 2010 | 45 |
| 2011 | 70 |
| 2012 | 76 |
| 2013 | 30 |
| 2014 | 170 |
| 2015 | 71 |
| 2016 | 375 |
| 2017 | 260 |
| 2018 | 168 |
| 2019 | 189 |
| 2020 | 223 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 159 |
| 2023 | 44 |
| 2024 | 40 |
| 2025 | 115 |
| 2026 | 8 |
Known problem areas
Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.
Power train
48% · 87 reportsMost commonly citing automatic transmission and torque converter.
Air bags
22% · 40 reportsMost commonly citing occupant classification and sensor/control module.
Show complaint excerpts
I purchased this vehicle from a private auction in hesperia, ca around August of 2020 and I am currently the registered owner as of today. About a month into the purchase I notice the car jerk and brake unusually while in motion.
NHTSA ODI report, 2021-01-23
Driving at highway speed 60MPH right side curtain airbag,right front seat airbag and right side front seat belt pre tensioner deployed. When the air bag deployed a piece of the right side grab bar hit the driver in the face.
NHTSA ODI report, 2020-02-03
Also filed under Seat belts
The contact owns a 2005 Acura MDX. The contact stated that the passengerâs side air bag warning light was flashing with an occupant seated in the seat.
NHTSA ODI report, 2023-10-16
Also filed under Seat belts
Electrical system
10% · 18 reportsMost commonly citing ignition and 12v/24v/48v battery.
Show complaint excerpts
Vehicle ignition lock failed. Vehicle rolled and caused catastrophic injury to the leg of an elderly woman.
NHTSA ODI report, 2013-02-13
Service brakes
8% · 15 reportsMost commonly citing hydraulic and electric.
Electronic stability control (esc)
6% · 11 reportsShow complaint excerpts
I am writing because I just received a safety recall notice from Acura relating to: NHTSA action number : EA13002.
NHTSA ODI report, 2013-04-29
Safety timeline
13 recalls · 5 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
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2004-11-10Fuel system, gasoline04V541000 On certain sport utility vehicles, some fuel tanks were improperly manufactured.
Remedy: Dealers replaced the fuel tank. All owners were notified by telephone on November 10, 2004.
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2005Complaint volume 180 complaints filed for this model year.
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2012-10-02Preliminary evaluationClosed 2013-01-14 Ignition Interlock Failure - Rollaway
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2013-02-21Engineering analysisClosed 2013-03-29 Vehicle Stability Assist Malfunction
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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…
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2013-04-22Service brakes, hydraulic, traction control system13V092000 Honda is recalling certain model year 2005 Pilot vehicles manufactured July 29, 2004, through August 29, 2005; model year 2005-2006 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured September 16, 2004, through…
Remedy: Owners will be notified and instructed to take their vehicles to a dealer of their respective brand. The dealer will install a partial wiring harness containing a capacitor for the VSA modulator…
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2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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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.
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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.
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2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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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.
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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.
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2017-02-27Air bags17V029000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2011 Honda Element vehicles, 2005-2012 Acura RL vehicles, 2006-2012 Honda Ridgeline vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2005-2008 Honda...
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall bagan March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KD9 and KE0.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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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.
Buy-smart checklist
2005 Acura MDX — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Power train: 87 reports on file for this year.
- Air bags: 40 reports on file for this year.
- Electrical system: 18 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 08E013000 · Equipment
- Recall 04V541000 · Fuel system, gasoline
- Recall 12V573000 · Electrical system
- Recall 13V092000 · Service brakes, hydraulic, traction control system
- Recall 14V353000 · Air bags
- Recall 14V700000 · Air bags
- Recall 15V320000 · Air bags
- Recall 16V344000 · Air bags
- Recall 17V029000 · Air bags
- Recall 19V182000 · Air bags
- Recall 19V499000 · Air bags
- Recall 19V501000 · Air bags
- Recall 19E068000 · Vehicle speed control
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →FAQ
- Is the 2005 Acura MDX reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2005 Acura MDX is rated "worse than typical".
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Acura MDX?
- The most-reported component is power train, accounting for 48% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 2005 Acura MDX have?
- 13 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.