YearToAvoid

2011 Acura MDX Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 33 engine complaints for the 2011 Acura MDX, 47% of all 70 complaints filed for the year, with a median failure mileage of 84,257. There is no related recall on file for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
33
47% of 70
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
84,258 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration where the engine revs high on its own while parking or stopped in traffic, in some cases leading to a crash.
  • Multiple owners report excessive oil consumption, often around 1 quart per 1,000 miles or worse, with dealers reportedly calling the consumption rate acceptable.
  • Some owners report an engine knock or pinging noise at low RPM that a dealer technician acknowledged but had no fix for.
  • One owner reported exhaust fumes entering the cabin during heavy acceleration.
  • One owner reported a rattling engine noise combined with a low oil warning and a near-dry dipstick found during inspection.

When 2011 Acura MDX engine complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 13, 2011, latest Sep 17, 2025.

2011 Acura MDX engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Sep 2011May 2015Jan 2017Jan 2018Nov 2019Sep 2020Oct 2022Aug 2025
33 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2011 to Sep 2025; peak Jan 2017 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2011 Acura MDX

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by MDX model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201011 (24%)
  2. 201133 (47%)
  3. 201227 (36%)
  4. 201313 (45%)
  5. 201441 (24%)
  6. 20159 (13%)
  7. 2016182 (49%)
  8. 2017112 (44%)
  9. 201864 (39%)
  10. 201982 (44%)
  11. 2020111 (50%)
  12. 202215 (10%)
  13. 20234 (10%)
  14. 20247 (18%)
  15. 202563 (60%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine complaints on the 2011 Acura MDX?
NHTSA lists 33 engine complaints for the 2011 MDX, which is 47% of the 70 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Acura MDX engine problems?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the engine complaints reported on the 2011 Acura MDX.
At what mileage do 2011 MDX engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2011 MDX engine is 84,257 miles.
What are the main engine issues reported for the 2011 Acura MDX?
Owners most often report unintended acceleration episodes and excessive oil consumption, along with some reports of engine knock and exhaust odor in the cabin.
Did the engine problems cause any crashes or injuries on the 2011 MDX?
NHTSA data tied to this engine complaint group for the 2011 MDX shows 1 crash and 1 injury, with no fires reported.

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.