2005 Acura MDX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
58/100
#9 most-complained of 20 MDX years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2005 Acura MDX has a complaint index of 58, ranking 9th worst out of 20 model years, with a Caution verdict. Transmission & Powertrain issues drove 48% of its 180 complaints, and it carries 11 recalls, mostly airbag inflator campaigns.
- Complaints
- 180
- Recalls
- 11
- Crashes / fires
- 15 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 15 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 17
- 15 city / 21 hwy
Top 2005 Acura MDX problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain87 (48%)
- Airbags39 (22%)
- Engine25 (14%)
- Brakes23 (13%)
- Electrical System18 (10%)
- Other11 (6%)
- Steering9 (5%)
- Seat Belts7 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (3%)
- Structure & Body5 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners report sudden unintended reverse-to-drive surges that caused the vehicle to strike objects without warning.
- Brake pedal reportedly failed to stop the vehicle, with the car continuing to move even with the pedal pushed to the floor.
- Steering has been described as seizing up at low speed while the vehicle also stalled.
- Airbags deployed and reportedly burned a driver's hand during a low-speed crash.
- Seat belt sensors and airbags reportedly triggered incorrectly on an unoccupied seat during a minor collision.
- A seat heater reportedly overheated and smoked, leaving a hole in the driver's seat.
2005 Acura MDX recalls
11 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V499000Jun 27, 2019Airbags3,947 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.
- NHTSA 19V501000Jun 27, 2019Airbags1,657,752 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.
- NHTSA 19V182000Mar 6, 2019Airbags1,101,534 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
2005 Acura MDX fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15 MPG
- Highway
- 21 MPG
- Combined
- 17 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,700
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2005 compared with other MDX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Acura MDX reliable?
- Compared with other MDX model years, 2005 ranks 9th worst out of 20 with a complaint index of 58, earning a Caution verdict. Transmission & Powertrain problems account for 48% of its 180 NHTSA complaints.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2005 Acura MDX?
- Transmission & Powertrain issues are the top problem area, making up 48% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 79,828 miles.
- Does the 2005 Acura MDX have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2005 Acura MDX, nearly all related to airbag inflator replacements.
- How does the 2005 MDX compare to other years?
- With a complaint index of 58, the 2005 MDX is worse than most other years like 2007 (11), 2008 (5), and 2013 (0), but better than higher-complaint years like 2016 (95) and 2025 (100).