2006 Acura MDX Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2006 Acura MDX has a complaint index of 16 with 87 complaints and 9 recalls, mostly airbag inflator campaigns. NHTSA data ranks it 17th worst among 20 model years, and its verdict is Caution because of the nine recall campaigns despite a relatively low complaint index.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 16/100
- #17 of 20 MDX years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 87
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 9
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 10
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 6
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 17
- 15 city / 21 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 0
Top 2006 Acura MDX problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain38 (44%)
- Airbags15 (17%)
- Engine15 (17%)
- Brakes13 (15%)
- Electrical System9 (10%)
- Other8 (9%)
- Structure & Body6 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (3%)
- Seat Belts2 (2%)
- Steering2 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report the vehicle rolling backward on its own after the key was removed from the ignition, in some cases crashing into objects or nearly hitting bystanders.
- Some drivers describe a sudden loud popping or abnormal engine noise followed by the vehicle lurching forward or backward unexpectedly while parking.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in at least one collision with an animal despite a hard impact.
- Owners describe brake pedal application not stopping the vehicle, with the vehicle jerking and rear-ending another car.
- One owner reported a front seat fracturing and the seat belt detaching after being rear-ended, with the airbag deploying.
- Reports mention windshield cracking from the edge in a hook shape shortly after purchase, attributed to possible installation or design stress.
2006 Acura MDX recalls
9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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 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 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.
2006 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.
2006 compared with other MDX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Acura MDX reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2006 MDX a complaint index of 16 and 87 complaints, which is moderate. Its verdict is Caution mainly because of nine recall campaigns, not because of an unusually high complaint volume.
- What is the biggest problem area for the 2006 Acura MDX?
- Transmission and Powertrain complaints make up 44% of reports, with a median failure mileage of 76,000 miles for the vehicle overall and 69,450 miles for that system specifically.
- Does the 2006 Acura MDX have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists six separate airbag-related recall campaigns for the 2006 MDX, most involving replacement of the driver or passenger frontal airbag inflator.
- How does the 2006 MDX compare to other MDX model years?
- The 2006 MDX ranks 17th worst out of 20 model years by complaint index, better than 2005 (complaint index 58) and 2016 (complaint index 95, rated Avoid), but capped to Caution due to its recall count.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Acura MDX?
- EPA rates the 2006 MDX at 17 mpg combined (15 city / 21 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,700.