2010 Acura MDX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
14/100
#13 most-complained of 15 MDX years
The 2010 Acura MDX ranks 13th of 15 model years with a complaint index of 14, earning a "Best" verdict among MDX years. NHTSA lists 45 complaints, 1 recall, and the top problem area is the Electrical System at 24% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 45
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 6 / 4
- Injuries / deaths
- 8 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 18
- 16 city / 21 hwy
Top 2010 Acura MDX problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System11 (24%)
- Engine11 (24%)
- Structure & Body8 (18%)
- Steering6 (13%)
- Other5 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain5 (11%)
- Brakes4 (9%)
- Seat Belts4 (9%)
- Airbags3 (7%)
- Fuel System2 (4%)
What owners report
- Owners report the steering wheel locking up mid-turn, forcing the driver to shut off and restart the vehicle to regain control.
- Some describe sparks and abnormal cranking sounds coming from the steering wheel column when trying to start the vehicle.
- Electrical system failures include smoke and fire starting under the hood after the vehicle was parked and turned off.
- One owner reported the ignition key could be removed while the vehicle was still in gear rather than park.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during a frontal crash at low speed, resulting in injuries.
- A recurring low battery charge warning message appeared on the dashboard, which the dealer described as a standard feature rather than a defect.
2010 Acura MDX recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 10V002000Jan 4, 2010Airbags644 vehicles
Air bags
Honda is recalling certain model year acura 2010 mdx vehicles manufactured between october 7, 2009 and november 14, 2009. A bolt used to attach an interior trim piece to either the driver's or passenger's side a-pillar may not have been installed during manufacturing.
Risk: In the event of a crash resulting in side curtain air bag deployment, the trim piece may not remain properly secured to the a-pillar, increasing the risk of injury to the driver and/or front seat passenger.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the interior trim piece of the a-pillar and if a bolt is missing it will be installed free of charge. Four vehicles were purchased before the stop-sale was issued and all the vehicles have been inspected and repaired if necessary.
2010 Acura MDX fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 21 MPG
- Combined
- 18 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,450
- 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.
2010 compared with other MDX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Acura MDX reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2010 MDX has a complaint index of 14, the lowest (best) among the 15 MDX model years with data, and carries a "Best" verdict relative to other MDX years.
- What problems does the 2010 Acura MDX have?
- NHTSA complaints point most often to the Electrical System and Engine, each accounting for 24% of the 45 complaints on file, followed by Structure & Body at 18%.
- Does the 2010 Acura MDX have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2010 MDX, covering airbags, related to a missing bolt that could allow interior trim near the a-pillar to detach. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
- At what mileage do 2010 MDX problems typically show up?
- Median mileage at failure varies by system: Electrical System issues showed up around 32,884 miles, Transmission & Powertrain around 29,612 miles, and Engine issues later, around 89,000 miles.
- How does the 2010 MDX compare to other MDX years?
- The 2010 MDX's complaint index of 14 is far lower than later years like 2016 (93) and 2025 (100), both rated "Avoid," making 2010 one of the better MDX years to own based on NHTSA data.