AI Damage2019 Acura MDX: common problems
Owners of the 2019 Acura MDX filed 190 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. The maker issued 112 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 190
- involving a crash
- 4
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 112
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 25% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 22% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 16% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 16% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 12% of all complaints
- 6 Forward collision avoidance 12% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel/propulsion system 11% of all complaints
- 8 Lane departure 7% of all complaints
- Engine: 48 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Electrical system: 41 complaints (22% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 17.
- Powertrain: 31 complaints (16% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Engine and cooling: 30 complaints (16% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 29.
- Fuel system: 22 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 22.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 3 L · hybrid · 6 cyl
- automatic, 9-speed
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speed
Drive: AWD, FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 190 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 48 | 0 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 41 | 1 | 17 |
| Powertrain | 31 | 1 | 4 |
| Engine and cooling | 30 | 0 | 29 |
| Fuel system | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 21 | 0 | 1 |
| Lane departure | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 9 | 2 | 25 |
| Visibility | 9 | 0 | 14 |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 0 | 10 |
| Steering | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 0 | 3 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact indicated that during the incident four vehicles were crashed into and the vehicle's collision avoidance system did not activate as intended. The contact sustained an injured back which later required medical treatment. A second motorist sustained an undisclosed eye injury.
There was no reported injuries, fire or air bag deployment. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.
I was in a drive through was asked to pull forward and park at curb as I braked my vehicle accelerated on its own striking the curb and damaging my left front wheel at the time of the false acceleration I was in drive ideling forward
16, 2025, took Acura into the dealership because Check Engine light kept coming on. They did a full inspection and said I needed to have the purge valve replaced and that it was nearing time to have other services: transmission service, front transfer case, rear differential, brake fluid, timing belt, spark plugs,…
the camera system located above the rear view mirror failed and caused a warning light for the lkas system. adaptive cruise control, lane keeping did not work because of it. the unit had to be replaced. this seems to be a fairly common issue with this mdx version, based on forums
car stalls on occasion trying to restart, goes into neutral, even though battery is new and in good condition. hard to replicate and occurs randomly. car has to be turned off and on again. this is the 4th time this has happened over the course of 3 years. seems to be happening to others based on forums as well.
The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to drive to the residence after the failure. An independent mechanic was contacted and attributed the failure to the fuel pump.
The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was notified of the issue and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 346 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 16% most complained about).
On average one model year of the MDX has 143 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 190, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Owner Notification Letter - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature…
Owner Notification Letter - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engaging, the vehicle may not automatically restart. Acura is providing a product update with a new PGM-FI…
- Service Bulletin - An uneven sealing surface allows moisture to enter the inner taillight(s), causing one…
Service Bulletin - An uneven sealing surface allows moisture to enter the inner taillight(s), causing one or both of the inner taillights not to work.
- Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop the vehicle…
Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque. Typically, the…
- Owner Notification Letter - An uneven sealing surface allows moisture to enter the inner taillight(s),…
Owner Notification Letter - An uneven sealing surface allows moisture to enter the inner taillight(s), causing one or both of the inner taillights not to work.
- Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on with one or more AWD DTCs having been set due to water…
Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on with one or more AWD DTCs having been set due to water intrusion into the electric oil pump motor connector area corrodes the terminals.
- Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into the rear…
Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into the rear differential pump motor connector area that corrodes the terminals.
- Service Bulletin - Client complaint of A/C not blowing cold air due to oil/refrigerant leak from the A/C…
Service Bulletin - Client complaint of A/C not blowing cold air due to oil/refrigerant leak from the A/C compressor shaft seal.
- Service News - Due to On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) regulation change starting with 2019 vehicles, American…
Service News - Due to On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) regulation change starting with 2019 vehicles, American Honda’s Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) On-Board Diagnostic monitors are now included in…
- Service Bulletin - Customers have complained that the air conditioning system is not blowing cold air due…
Service Bulletin - Customers have complained that the air conditioning system is not blowing cold air due to Oil/Refrigerant leaking from the A/C compressor shaft seal.
- Service Bulletin - The MIL comes on during vehicle operation due to variations in the purge control…
Service Bulletin - The MIL comes on during vehicle operation due to variations in the purge control solenoid valve spring, the valve wears unevenly and intermittently sticks. This may result in setting DTC P0441…
- Service Bulletin - Due to variations in the purge control solenoid valve spring, the valve wears unevenly…
Service Bulletin - Due to variations in the purge control solenoid valve spring, the valve wears unevenly and intermittently sticks. This may result in setting DTC P0441 (Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System Purge Flow…
- Service Bulletin - Client complaint of A/C not blowing cold air due to a Oil/Refrigerant leak from the A/C…
Service Bulletin - Client complaint of A/C not blowing cold air due to a Oil/Refrigerant leak from the A/C compressor shaft seal.
NHTSA lists 112 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Acura MDX?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 190. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (23%), stalls while driving (14%), fuel system, fuel smell (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 Acura MDX?
NHTSA lists 112 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2019 Acura MDX from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2019 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.