2012 Acura MDX

SUV · 2010–2027

2010–2013 Acura MDX — 2010–2013 pictured. Photo: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Which year to buy

Best bet2023Fewest serious problems: 0.4× usual Newest we'd buy2024The latest year rated a good buy AvoidNoneNo year stands out as bad Be careful2025More problems; check the recalls were done

Too new to judge: 2026. Give a new year a year or two of owner reports.

usual

’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’26

Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year per car on the road, against this model's usual year.

2012GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.3× usual Extended coverage

55 serious complaints of 76, the most about engine (23) and power train (13); per car on the road, 0.3× this model's usual year. 1 recall.

What owners report

“I have a 2012 MDX and it burns an extreme amount of oil. We took our MDX back to the dealership where we purchased it and had the oil issue fixed. Or so we thought. The problem was supposed to be fixed 3 months ago but the car is still burning a lot of oil. We have to add oil every 2 weeks.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the engine, Jul 2026

“The engine consistently consumes too much oil between service events. The low oil light comes on. I had this problem for over 8 years and the dealership said it was not a problem until now and they want me to pay for it. The oil control rings have been clogged since 2016 and progressively gotten worse.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the power train, Jan 2024

Fixes and extended coverage

Extended coverage Today, May 24, 2018, Acura is announcing a warranty extension for 2002-17 Acura vehicles. (BBOM05242018901, May 2018)
Extended coverage The oil control rings may become clogged with carbon deposits. To increase client confidence, American Honda is extending the engine warranty related to oil consumption to 8 years from the original date of purchase or 125,000 miles, whichever comes first. (B19-006, Feb 2019)
Extended coverage Today, January 16, 2019, Acura is announcing a warranty extension for certain 2009-14 Acura vehicles equipped with the 3.7L V6 engine to address client concerns related to excessive oil consumption. Acura is extending the powertrain warranty coverage to cover engine issues related to excessive oil… (BBOM01162019901, Jan 2019)
Extended coverage On January 16, 2019, Acura announced a warranty extension for certain 2009-14 Acura vehicles equipped with a 3.7L V6 engine to address client concerns related to excessive oil consumption. Acura extended the powertrain warranty coverage to address engine issues related to excessive oil consumption… (BBOM08312019, Aug 2019)
Extended coverage Due to high demand for repairs under this warranty extension, pistons and rings required to complete this repair are currently backordered. (B19-052, Oct 2019)
Extended coverage Warranty Extension: 2007?13 MDX and 2010?12 ZDX Front Active Damper - cold areas, the front active dampers may be susceptible to leaking. (B16021, Nov 2016)

From the manufacturer's bulletins filed with NHTSA. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.

76 owner complaints · 1 recall (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 18 mpg · NHTSA: 4 of 5 stars · 2012 trims and features

Every MDX year's verdict →

Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. Cars on the road from New York State registrations. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.

Trims and features

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027

Engines: 3.7L 6-cyl · Drive: AWD

2012 MDX trims

	Advance	Advance Ent.	Base	Tech	Tech Ent.

base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Acura reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Acura aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.

Year by year

Year	Engines	Drive	Fuel economy	Crash rating	Recalls	Owner complaints	Most-reported problem	CarPlay
2027	—	—	—	5 of 5	0	0	—	—
2026	3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 355 hp 3.5L 6-cyl, 290 hp	AWD, FWD	19–22 mpg	5 of 5	1	7	Lane departure (2)	—
2025	3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 355 hp 3.5L 6-cyl, 290 hp	AWD, FWD	19–22 mpg	5 of 5	3	107	Engine (65)	Yes
2024	3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 355 hp 3.5L 6-cyl, 290 hp	AWD, FWD	19–22 mpg	5 of 5	3	42	Electrical system (13)	Yes
2023	3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 355 hp 3.5L 6-cyl, 290 hp	AWD, FWD	19–22 mpg	5 of 5	3	44	Power train (15)	Yes
2022	3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 355 hp 3.5L 6-cyl, 290 hp	AWD, FWD	19–22 mpg	5 of 5	3	176	Power train (85)	Yes
2020	3.0L 6-cyl hybrid, 257 hp 3.5L 6-cyl, 290 hp	AWD, FWD	21–27 mpg	5 of 5	8	227	Engine (84)	Yes
2019	3.0L 6-cyl hybrid, 257 hp 3.5L 6-cyl, 290 hp	AWD, FWD	21–27 mpg	5 of 5	9	196	Engine (47)	Yes
2018	3.0L 6-cyl hybrid, 257 hp 3.5L 6-cyl, 290 hp	AWD, FWD	21–27 mpg	5 of 5	10	169	Engine (35)	Yes
2017	3.0L 6-cyl hybrid, 321 hp 3.5L 6-cyl, 290 hp	AWD, FWD	21–27 mpg	5 of 5	9	264	Engine (79)	No
2016	3.5L 6-cyl	AWD, FWD	21–23 mpg	5 of 5	7	374	Engine (161)	No
2015	3.5L 6-cyl	AWD, FWD	21–23 mpg	5 of 5	8	71	Electrical system (15)	No
2014	3.5L 6-cyl	AWD, FWD	21–23 mpg	5 of 5	9	171	Steering (38)	No
2013	3.7L 6-cyl	AWD	18 mpg	4 of 5	1	30	Engine (9)	No
2012	3.7L 6-cyl	AWD	18 mpg	4 of 5	1	76	Engine (23)	No
2011	3.7L 6-cyl	AWD	18 mpg	5 of 5	0	70	Engine (28)	No
2010	3.7L 6-cyl	AWD	18 mpg	Not rated	1	45	Engine (11)	No

Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.

Which years have…

Third row (7+ seats)Lane centering Blind-spot monitoring

Apple lists CarPlay for: MDX 2018–2025 (Apple).

Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints

Year	Version	Stars	Forward collision warning	Lane departure warning	Recalls	Complaints
2027	ACURA MDX SUV ICE FWD	5	No	No	0	0
2027	ACURA MDX SUV ICE AWD	Not Rated	No	No	0	0
2026	ACURA MDX SUV N/A AWD	Not Rated	Standard & Optional	Standard & Optional	1	7
2026	ACURA MDX SUV N/A FWD	5	Standard & Optional	Standard & Optional	1	7
2025	Acura MDX SUV AWD	Not Rated	Standard & Optional	Standard & Optional	3	107
2025	Acura MDX SUV FWD	5	Standard & Optional	Standard & Optional	3	107
2024	Acura MDX SUV AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	2	40
2024	Acura MDX SUV FWD	5	Standard	Standard	2	40
2023	Acura MDX SUV AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	2	39
2023	Acura MDX SUV FWD	5	Standard	Standard	2	39
2022	Acura MDX SUV AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	2	153
2022	Acura MDX SUV FWD	5	Standard	Standard	2	153
2020	Acura MDX SUV AWD	5	Standard	Standard	8	222
2020	Acura MDX SUV FWD	5	Standard	Standard	8	222
2020	Acura MDX SPORT HYBRID SUV AWD	5	Standard	Standard	1	5
2019	Acura MDX SUV AWD	5	Standard	Standard	9	188
2019	Acura MDX SUV FWD	5	Standard	Standard	9	188
2019	Acura MDX Sport Hybrid SUV AWD	5	Standard	Standard	2	8
2018	Acura MDX SUV AWD	5	Standard	Standard	10	168
2018	Acura MDX SUV FWD	5	Standard	Standard	10	168
2018	Acura MDX Sport Hybrid SUV AWD	5	Standard	Standard	2	1
2017	Acura MDX SUV FWD	5	Standard	Standard	8	256
2017	Acura MDX SUV AWD	5	Standard	Standard	8	256
2017	Acura MDX Sport Hybrid SUV AWD	5	Standard	Standard	3	8
2016	Acura MDX SUV FWD	5	Optional	Optional	7	374
2016	Acura MDX SUV AWD	5	Optional	Optional	7	374
2015	Acura MDX SUV AWD	5	Optional	Optional	8	71
2015	Acura MDX SUV FWD	5	Optional	Optional	8	71
2014	Acura MDX SUV AWD	5	Optional	Optional	9	171
2014	Acura MDX SUV FWD	5	Optional	Optional	9	171
2013	Acura MDX SUV 4WD	4	Optional	No	1	30
2012	Acura MDX SUV 4WD	4	Optional	No	1	76
2011	Acura MDX SUV AWD	5	Optional	No	0	70
2010	Acura MDX 4-DR. w/SAB	Not Rated	Optional	No	1	45

Source: NHTSA.

Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg

Year	EPA model	Engines	Combined
2026	MDX AWD	Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	21
2026	MDX AWD Type-S	Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo	19
2026	MDX FWD	Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	22
2025	MDX AWD	Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	21
2025	MDX AWD Type-S	Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo	19
2025	MDX FWD	Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	22
2024	MDX AWD	Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	21
2024	MDX AWD Type-S	Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo	19
2024	MDX FWD	Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	22
2023	MDX AWD	Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	21
2023	MDX AWD Type-S	Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo	19
2023	MDX FWD	Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	22
2022	MDX AWD	Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	21
2022	MDX AWD Type-S	Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo	19
2022	MDX FWD	Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	22
2020	MDX AWD	Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	22
2020	MDX AWD A-SPEC	Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	21
2020	MDX FWD	Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	23
2020	MDX Hybrid AWD	Auto (AM-S7), 6 cyl, 3.0 L	27
2019	MDX AWD	Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	22
2019	MDX AWD A-SPEC	Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	21
2019	MDX FWD	Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	23
2019	MDX Hybrid AWD	Auto (AM-S7), 6 cyl, 3.0 L	27
2018	MDX AWD	Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI; Stop-Start Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI	21–22
2018	MDX FWD	Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI; Stop-Start Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI	22–23
2018	MDX Hybrid AWD	Auto (AM-S7), 6 cyl, 3.0 L	27
2017	MDX AWD	Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI; Stop-Start Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI	21–22
2017	MDX FWD	Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI; Stop-Start Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI	22–23
2017	MDX Hybrid AWD	Auto (AM-S7), 6 cyl, 3.0 L	27
2016	MDX 2WD	Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI; Stop-Start Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI	22–23
2016	MDX 4WD	Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI; Stop-Start Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI	21–22
2015	MDX 2WD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	23
2015	MDX 4WD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	21
2014	MDX 2WD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	23
2014	MDX 4WD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	21
2013	MDX 4WD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L	18
2012	MDX 4WD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L	18
2011	MDX 4WD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L	18
2010	MDX 4WD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L	18

Source: fueleconomy.gov.

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