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2005 Acura Mdx

The Verdict

58 Proceed with Caution

The 2005 Acura Mdx has 180 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are transmission (79 complaints) and electrical (43 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 58/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Acura Mdx, consider the 2013 model year which has 83% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2013 has 83% fewer complaints

View the 2013 Acura Mdx dashboard →

58

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 1

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

04V541000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, SOME FUEL TANKS WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED.

Risk

IN A CRASH, THE FUEL TANK COULD BE DAMAGED AND LEAK FUEL. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS REPLACED THE FUEL TANK. ALL OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE ON NOVEMBER 10, 2004.

Reported Apr 10, 2026

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20015022028124
20023152827129
2003219543097
20042210314563
20052714431779
2006167181135
200730046167
20082661052
200915018116
201016211115
201119212325
2012192182412
20138010101
20146218323223
201525619712
201664112517681
201750162410450
2018467177313
2019488199115
202059112610013
20224717111344
2023128627
20241410552
20251434450

By Category

Transmission
79
Electrical
43
Body
27
Engine
17
Brakes
14

By Severity

1
84
2
78
3
2
4
16

Worst Problems

Compare Against

See how the 2005 Acura Mdx stacks up against rivals.

Complaints

Transmission 2

The contact owns a 2005 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was able to restart after several attempts; however, the failure recurred after driving a short distance. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the OG sensor and the PMP sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had progressively worsened, and the 4WD warning light was constantly illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and approaching a traffic light recently, the vehicle unintendedly downshifted and nearly stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be repaired for the most recent failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

11mo ago
Body 2

VSA light came on and my braking system halts and make a weird vibration when I press brake to stop at stop light it like it make a grabbing noise. Not sure if it happen prior to light engaging. It has happen a handful of time since initial notice could have been onset from around 2019-2020 can’t remember as I looked up any recall but there were recall for this instance but no on my car which makes no sense for my VSA light to engage. I do not drive off road and I live in an island with no major freeways.

25mo ago
Body 2

The contact owns a 2005 Acura MDX. The contact stated that after the battery had been replaced, both the front driver and front passenger seat belts failed to extend far enough to buckle an occupant into the seat. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where the failure was acknowledged, and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

27mo ago
Electrical 1

The contact owns a 2005 Acura MDX. The contact stated that the passenger’s side air bag warning light was flashing with an occupant seated in the seat. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and she was informed that the front driver’s and passenger’s side air bags and seat belt pretensioners were defective and needed to be replaced. The dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 209,638.

33mo ago
Electrical 2

We have been the original owners of our 2005 MDX. on December 12/18/21 at 630. We were wearing our seat belts. We were driving in clear weather on a new street at 35 miles an hour. The passenger side seat airbag and the right side curtain deployed. My wife was sitting in the front passenger seat. There was no collision or hazard. The Airbag just exploded. We were not hit by any metal objects. The Mdx is in perfect working order and we are now told no one will cover the damage. Insurance and the Dealership. We are writing to find out how we can get a fair outcome from our car becoming unusable due to manufactures defect. We have not touched the airbag or the car since this happened. Would we be able to have it inspected?

55mo ago
Body 1

When making a sharp turn on hot days the car makes a grinding noise like something is grabbing the tire. It slows the car, hands the steering wheel and then the VSA hazard light comes on. It is a recurring issue and mechanics have not been able to diagnose.

60mo ago
Body 4

I have a 2005 MDX. It allows me to take out my key without putting it in park. Being unaware, I turned it off while it was still in drive and it rolled back into another parked vehicle November of 2019. There is a report with the police department and my insurance covered the other vehicle's repair costs. It has rolled several times in the last couple years but luckily not into other cars. I don't remember having this problem prior to the last couple years. It is a safety issue and dangerous to others and if I can't get it repaired I would need to get rid of it. The problem is it is still in very good shape otherwise and has many more miles to give. There is no warning to help me remember to put it in park. This started happening sometime in mid 2018. Do I have any recourse?

60mo ago
Transmission 1

Vehicle suddenly brakes at freeway speeds and sways to one side. VSA light and warning light comes on. After couple of seconds, vehicle resumes freeway speed. This has happened few times in last 2 weeks. It causes the SUV to sway and can easily lose control or drift into adjacent lane causing accident. After stopping and restarting the warning lights go away.

61mo ago
Transmission 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED BY SAFELITE GLASS AFTER A TREE LIMB HAD FALLEN ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIEW FROM THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD WAS DISTORTED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ACURA OF OCEAN (909 NJ-35, OCEAN TOWNSHIP, NJ 07712, (732) 776-5200) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

66mo ago
Electrical 4

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. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED AT THE TIME SO I IGNORED IT FOR THE MOMENT. THEN ABOUT ANOTHER MONTH AFTER THAT INCIDENT MY WIFE, KIDS AND I WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 70 MPH ON THE 15FWY HEADED SOUTH AND THIS TIME IT HAPPENED ONCE AGAIN AND MORE AGGRESSIVELY DUE TO IS TRAVELING AT A MUCH GREATER SPEED AND DID JERK A LOT HARDER ALMOST MAKING MY WIFE LOSE CONTROL. LUCKILY SHE WAS ALERT AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER RIGHT AWAY AND THAT'S WHEN WE NOTICED A NEW LIGHT ON THE I DASH HAD ILLUMINATED. WE SEE THE ACRONYM (VSA) ILLUMINATE AND I HAD NEVER SEEN THIS PARTICULAR LIGHT BEFORE SO I THEN START TO RESEARCH IT. I FIND OUT IT'S PART OF AN ANTI LOCK FEATURE AND IT'S SUFFICE WHEN DEALING WITH CURVY ROADS AND HELPS WITH TRACTION WHICH GIVES SMOOTHER TURNS WHILE DRIVING AND GIVES BETTER CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I ALSO READ IT'S BEST TO KEEP THIS FEATURE OFF WHILE COMMUTING IN YOUR REGULAR EVERYDAY TRANSIT. SO AS MONTHS GO BY IT HAPPENED TO ME A GOOD HANDFUL OF TIMES AFTERWARDS BUT AT SLOWER SPEEDS AND THIS TIME THE LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF WHEN I TRIED TURNING OFF THE VSA CONTROL BUTTON ON THE DRIVER SIDE DASH. I DIDN'T HAVE MEANS TO REPAIR THIS PART SO I PUT IT OFF ONCE AGAIN. WELL COMING TO A MORE RECENT EVENT WHICH RESULTED IN MYSELF LOSING CONTROL WHILE ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AT 11:30PM AT NIGHT AND TOTALING THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS FLIPPING THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT CAME TO A REST ON ITS SIDE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THE VSA FEATURE MALFUNCTIONED MADE ME LOSE CONTROL AT 62-65 MPH ALMOST CLAIMING MY LIFE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MY RECENT ACCIDENT WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING AND HAS CAUSED FINANCIAL STRESS UPON MY FAMILY.

66mo ago
Electrical 2

AS I AM DRIVING MY 5 YEAR OLD TO KARATE ON A LOCAL ROAD WITH 40 MILES PER HOUR, MY WHOLE LEFT SIDE AIR BAG CURTAIN DEPLOYED FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON. ( I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING AND NO ONE HIT ME EITHER). I GOT A BRUISED HAND, SMALL CONCUSSION AND A MASSIVE RASH ( FROM CHEMICALS IN THE AIR BACK). I CALLED ACURA AND WAS TOLD TO GO FOR DIAGNOSTIC AT LOCAL ACURA DEALERSHIP. I WAS CHARGED $99 AND WAS TOLD TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I ASKED WHY SINCE THERE WASN'T AN ACCIDENT INVOLVED AND THE ANSWER WAS ' I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE COME HERE AND CLAIMS THAT THIS HAPPENS TO THEM BUT HAVE NO PROOF'. I GUESS THE AIR BACK IN MY TRUNK AND NO DAMAGE TO THE REST OF MY CAR IS NOT PROOF ENOUGH!!! I WILL BE TALKING TO A LAWYER AT THIS POINT!

67mo ago
Electrical 1

WHEN CAR IS TURNED ON THE ICON FOR THE AIRBAGS TURN ON ON THE DASHBOARD. ICON ON IS DISPLAYED WHILE CAR IS ON AND IN MOTION.

72mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE OCCUPIED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 187,000.

73mo ago
Brakes 1

RECALL NOT FIXED IN TIMELY MANNER AT ALL NOW CAR ISN'T WORKING BRAKES STICKING JUST NOT SAFE AT ALL CAN'T DRIVE. *TR

74mo ago
Brakes 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR BRAKES ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY WITH THE VSA (VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V092000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM) AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

77mo ago
Electrical 3

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. THE FRONT PASSENGER HAD ABRASION ON HER FACE FROM THE AIRBAG HITTING HER. ON STAR CALLED RIGHT AWAY AND WE GAVE THEM INFO AND AFTER THEY WERE SURE WE WERE OK HUNG UP.WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SMITHTOWN ACURA SCANNED FOR CODES AND FOUND CODE F4-11. ACURA INFORMED ME THAT A REP FROM ACURA WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE REP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THEY SAID THAT THEY FOUND NO MANUFACTURER DEFECTS BUT THEY COULD NOT SAY WHY THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. AFTER A FEW WEEKS GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH CLIENT REALIONS FOR ACURA THEY SAID THERE LEGAL TEAM SAID THEY FIND NO MANUFACTURER DEFECTS AND TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY.THANKS FOR TAKING A LOOK AT THIS.

78mo ago
Electrical 2

GOING 65 MILES AN HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE BRAKES SUDDENLY VSA LIGHT COMES ON ALMOST THREW ME IN THE DITCH UNDER SNOWY CONDITIONS AIRBAG LIGHT ALSO CAME ON

81mo ago
Body 2

MY 2005 ACURA MDX HAS BEEN DRIVING GREAT SINCE WE PURCHASED IT OVER A YEAR AGO. RECENTLY THE VSA LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED VERY ABRUPTLY WHEN LIGHTLY APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE LIGHT GOES AWAY AND APPEARS TO RESET WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. NOW EVERY TIME THAT THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN I HAVE TO DRIVE EXTRA CAREFUL BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE VSA LIGHT WILL COME ON AGAIN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS OF THE LIGHT WERE TO COME ON AND THE WHEELS WERE TO LOCK UP LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN WOULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE SKIDDING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS.

85mo ago
Engine 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED REDUCED ENGINE POWER WITH THE POTENTIAL OF AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE STALLED MORE THAN ONCE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WERE NOT DISCLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN SAFELY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

85mo ago
Body 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, ON OTHER OCCASIONS IT WAS HARD FOR THE CONTACT TO MAKE TURNS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IT WAS VERY SELDOM WHEN THE STEERING FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BARBER FORD (640 E 8TH ST, HOLLAND, MI 49423 (616) 396-2361) WHERE THE MECHANICS STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE AND HAD NO FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000. THE VIN WAS NOT VALID.

87mo ago

180 total

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