Reliable Auto DB

2013 Acura MDX reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2013 Acura MDX holds 29 complaints after 14 years, a rate of 3 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most MDX years here — under the median of the other years, which is 11. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Fuel pump.

2012 Acura MDX
Photo by Navigator84, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0
Complaints

29

Per year

3

Recalls

1

Years on the road

14

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (9 of 29), then Electrical system (8) and Powertrain (4). Those filings include 3 that report a fire.

Next to 2012 and 2014

The 2012 MDX has 76 complaints, 3 per year, and the 2014 has 170 complaints, 28 per year. The 2013 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2012. The 2013 has fewer complaints per year than the 2014.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2013 Acura MDX. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall Fuel pump 2023-12-18 · NHTSA campaign 23V858000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.

Complaints by component (29 total)

Engine
9
Electrical system
8
Powertrain
4
Exterior lighting
3
Speed control
3
Steering
3
Forward collision avoidance
2
Air bags
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Engine and engine cooling
1
Equipment
1
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Seat belts
1
Seats
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 7 more Show less
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

3

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

22013420143201542016120171201812019120204202132022220232202512026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The car is giving external right head light issue. The light turns off suddenly at night which we need to turn on again after 2 minutes. This happens frequently and we have to turn on the lights very often. The dealer…"
    Exterior lighting, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-06-14
  • "Warning message appeared 1/17/25. Inspected by Price Acura service department 1/20/25. Checked online recall for airbags. Multiple airbag recalls are mentioned for Acura, including my make and model. This vehicle has…"
    Air bags · filed 2025-01-21
  • "The contact owns a 2013 Acura MDX. The contact stated that he was about to drive the vehicle when he noticed the front passenger-side headlight was flickering. The contact stated he decided not to drive the vehicle. The…"
    Electrical system · filed 2023-11-07
  • "The 2013 Acura MDX has a problem with the pistons in the engine which causes excessive oil consumption. This was the subject matter of a class action suit described in the website entitled Acura Oil Consumption…"
    Powertrain, Engine · filed 2023-05-24

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2013 Acura MDX SUV 4WD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
MDX four-wheel drive 3.7L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 16 21 18 MPG $4450

Specs and fitment

2nd generation (YD2), 2012–2013
Body styles SUV
Oil 0W-20 (3.5L V6) , 4.5 qt capacity
Tire size 255/55R18
Towing capacity 5,000 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 23V858000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that 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. Remedy: 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.

Compare

Previous year 2012 Acura MDX Next year 2014 Acura MDX See every Acura MDX model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Acura MDX reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2013 Acura MDX holds 29 complaints after 14 years, a rate of 3 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most MDX years here — under the median of the other years, which is 11. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Fuel pump.

What are common problems with a 2013 Acura MDX?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (9 of 29), then Electrical system (8) and Powertrain (4). Those filings include 3 that report a fire.

Is the 2013 Acura MDX more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2012 MDX has 76 complaints, 3 per year, and the 2014 has 170 complaints, 28 per year. The 2013 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2012. The 2013 has fewer complaints per year than the 2014.

Has the 2013 Acura MDX been recalled?

The 2013 Acura MDX has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2013 Acura MDX?

Owners have filed 29 complaints about the 2013 Acura MDX with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2013 Acura MDX get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2013 Acura MDX is 18 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a Acura MDX use?

US MDX manuals specify 0W-20 for recent V6 engines unless another grade is listed for your model year.

What generation is the 2019 Acura MDX?

3rd generation / YD3 (2014-2020).

What tire sizes does an Acura MDX use?

Sizes vary by generation and trim; examples include 255/55R18, 245/60R18, and 255/50R20.