2011 Acura MDX Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2011 Acura MDX has 70 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 26, ranking 15th out of 20 model years. It carries a Good verdict with no recalls, making it one of the more solid MDX years for reported problems.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 26/100
- #15 of 20 MDX years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 70
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 0
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 4
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 6
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 18
- 16 city / 21 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 0
Top 2011 Acura MDX problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine33 (47%)
- Electrical System9 (13%)
- Other8 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain8 (11%)
- Airbags6 (9%)
- Structure & Body5 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (6%)
- Fuel System3 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (4%)
- Brakes2 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners report sudden unintended acceleration while parking, with the engine revving until the vehicle was shifted into park or the emergency brake was applied.
- Others describe the vehicle lurching forward or braking suddenly on its own when depressing the brake pedal, in one case ending in a crash into a home.
- Transmission issues include rough shifting and micro-lurches during acceleration and deceleration under 40 mph.
- One owner reported a rear differential failure that caused shaking, a booming noise, and wheel lock-up on the highway.
- Several owners found the rearview camera inadequate at night, reducing visibility when backing up.
- One owner reported an engine pinging or knocking noise at low RPM that a dealer technician acknowledged but could not fix.
2011 Acura MDX recalls
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
2011 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.
2011 compared with other MDX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Acura MDX reliable?
- Compared with other MDX model years, the 2011 has a Good verdict, a complaint index of 26, and ranks 15th out of 20 years, indicating relatively low reported problems.
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Acura MDX?
- Engine issues make up 47% of complaints, followed by electrical system problems at 13% and transmission and powertrain issues at 11%, according to NHTSA data.
- Does the 2011 Acura MDX have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2011 Acura MDX.
- At what mileage do 2011 MDX problems typically occur?
- Median mileage at failure across all complaints is 66,000 miles, though engine problems trend later at a median of 84,257.5 miles, while transmission problems trend earlier at a median of 44,390 miles.
- How does the 2011 MDX compare to newer MDX years?
- The 2011 MDX has a much lower complaint index (26) than later years like 2016 (95) and 2025 (100), which are rated Avoid.