2013 Acura MDX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
0/100
#15 most-complained of 15 MDX years
The 2013 Acura MDX ranks 15th (best) of 15 model years with a complaint index of 0 and just 29 complaints. Engine (45%) and electrical system (38%) issues dominate, with 3 reported fires, but no crashes or injuries were recorded.
- Complaints
- 29
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 3
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 18
- 16 city / 21 hwy
Top 2013 Acura MDX problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine13 (45%)
- Electrical System11 (38%)
- Other6 (21%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (14%)
- Steering3 (10%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (7%)
- Airbags1 (3%)
- Brakes1 (3%)
- Fuel System1 (3%)
- Seat Belts1 (3%)
What owners report
- Under-hood smoke and fire while driving at moderate speed, traced by a fire report to an electrical failure.
- Interior fires starting near the front passenger seat or headlight area, in one case igniting and extinguishing on its own while parked.
- Dashboard warning codes for VSA stability, trailer stability, all-wheel drive, and engine systems appearing together with a loss of power and stability control at very low mileage.
- Back-up camera, navigation, and stereo screens staying blank for several minutes after starting the vehicle and shifting into reverse or drive.
- Strong fume smell inside the cabin appearing intermittently months after purchase, requiring repeated shop visits.
- Steering wheel veering to one side or moving upward on its own at various speeds, with dealers pointing to torque control or steering column problems.
2013 Acura MDX recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 23V858000Dec 18, 2023Fuel System2,490,460 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
2013 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.
2013 compared with other MDX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Acura MDX reliable?
- Based on NHTSA data, the 2013 MDX has a complaint index of 0 and ranks best (15th of 15) among MDX model years, with only 29 complaints logged.
- What problems does the 2013 Acura MDX have?
- Owners most often reported engine issues (45% of complaints) and electrical system issues (38%), including cases of smoke or fire and blank infotainment screens.
- Does the 2013 Acura MDX have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists one recall for the 2013 MDX, a 2023 fuel system campaign covering the fuel pump module, with dealers replacing it free of charge.
- Are there fire risks with the 2013 Acura MDX?
- NHTSA complaint data shows 3 reported fires for the 2013 MDX, tied to engine and electrical system complaints, though no crashes or injuries were recorded.
- How does the 2013 MDX compare to other MDX years?
- The 2013 MDX has the lowest complaint index (0) of all 15 model years with data, while years like 2016 (93), 2025 (100), and 2022 (86) rank as Avoid.