YearToAvoid

2013 Acura MDX Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Best The 2013 Acura MDX ranks best among 20 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 0 and 29 complaints logged. It carries just 1 recall, tied to a fuel system issue shared across many Honda/Acura models, and no crashes, injuries, or deaths reported.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
0/100
#20 of 20 MDX years
Verdict
Best
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
29
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
0
reported in complaints
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2012
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
18
16 city / 21 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2013 Acura MDX problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine13 (45%)
  2. Electrical System11 (38%)
  3. Other6 (21%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain4 (14%)
  5. Steering3 (10%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (7%)
  7. Airbags1 (3%)
  8. Brakes1 (3%)
  9. Fuel System1 (3%)
  10. Seat Belts1 (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 vehicles emitted smoke and caught fire from under the hood while driving at low speed, reportedly tied to an electrical fault.
  • Owners described fires starting near the passenger seat or headlight area, sometimes while the vehicle was parked and off.
  • The instrument cluster displayed multiple trouble codes at once (VSA, stability, all-wheel drive, engine) followed by a sudden loss of power and stability control at very low mileage.
  • Backup camera, navigation, and stereo screens stayed blank after starting the engine and shifting into reverse or drive.
  • Owners reported a persistent fume smell inside the cabin that required repeated shop visits without resolution.
  • Some drivers experienced the steering wheel veering to one side or moving upward on its own at various speeds, with dealers pointing to torque control or steering column issues.
2013 Acura MDX complaints: complaints filed per month2Jun 2013Aug 2014Jul 2015Apr 2017Jan 2021Jul 2022Nov 2023
29 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2013 to Jun 2026; peak Jul 2016 (2).

2013 Acura MDX recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. 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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Good2670018
2012Best2176118
2013Best029118
2014Caution68170822
2015Caution4771822

All Acura MDX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Acura MDX reliable?
Among 20 model years of the MDX, 2013 has the lowest complaint index (0) and carries a Best verdict relative to other MDX years, with only 29 complaints on file.
Does the 2013 Acura MDX have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2013 MDX, covering a fuel system component (fuel pump module) shared across many Honda and Acura models from 2013 to 2023; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
What is the top reported problem area for the 2013 Acura MDX?
Engine complaints make up 45% of reports (13 of 29), followed by electrical system issues at 38% (11 complaints), including three fire reports.
Were there any crashes or injuries reported for the 2013 MDX?
NHTSA data shows zero crashes, zero injuries, and zero deaths reported for the 2013 MDX, despite 3 fire-related complaints.
How does the 2013 MDX compare to other bad MDX years like 2016 or 2020?
The 2013 MDX has a complaint index of 0, far below the 2016 MDX (95) and 2020 MDX (89), both rated Avoid, making 2013 the strongest year in the lineup.

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.