YearToAvoid

Acura Best and Worst Years by Model

11 Acura models, 8,250 NHTSA owner complaints and 137 recall campaigns for model years 2005–2025. Pick a model to see which years to avoid and which are the safest bets.

Acura models ranked by owner complaints

Sorted by popularity. Years to avoid / best years come from each model’s own Complaint Index.

Verdicts are based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, compared within each model. This is not a reliability rating. How the Complaint Index works.

ModelYearsComplaintsRecallsYears to avoidBest yearsTop issue
Acura MDX2005–20252,466342016, 2017, 2020, 2022, 20252012, 2013Engine
Acura RDX2007–20252,151162014, 2015, 2019, 2020, 20212010, 2011, 2012Electrical System
Acura TLX2012–2025886132015, 2019, 20212024Engine
Acura ILX2013–2022269112013, 2016, 20192015, 2020Airbags
Acura TL2005–20141,218102005, 2006, 20122011, 2013, 2014Airbags
Acura TSX2005–2014529112009, 2010, 20122013, 2014Steering
Acura Integra2023–20252804——Steering
Acura RL2005–2015213142005, 2006, 2009—Electrical System
Acura RLX2014–202011272014, 2016—Steering
Acura RSX2005–20085822006—Suspension, Wheels & Tires
Acura ZDX2010–202468152010, 2024—Collision Avoidance & Cameras

Acura model years with the most complaints

Raw complaint counts (not adjusted for age or sales). Click through for the breakdown.

  1. 2019 Acura RDX · 438 complaints · 5 recalls Avoid
  2. 2015 Acura RDX · 411 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  3. 2005 Acura TL · 388 complaints · 5 recalls Avoid
  4. 2016 Acura MDX · 374 complaints · 7 recalls Avoid
  5. 2020 Acura RDX · 345 complaints · 5 recalls Avoid
  6. 2015 Acura TLX · 342 complaints · 6 recalls Avoid
  7. 2017 Acura MDX · 255 complaints · 8 recalls Avoid
  8. 2006 Acura TL · 247 complaints · 4 recalls Avoid
  9. 2014 Acura RDX · 242 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  10. 2020 Acura MDX · 221 complaints · 8 recalls Avoid

How we rank Acura years

For each model we compare its own model years using the Complaint Index: complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and “Do Not Drive” recalls reported to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. The top quarter of a model’s years is marked Avoid, the bottom quarter Best. Because NHTSA publishes no sales data, models are not ranked against each other. Full details in the methodology.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.