YearToAvoid

2015 Acura MDX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

29/100

#11 most-complained of 15 MDX years

The 2015 Acura MDX has 71 NHTSA complaints, 8 recalls, and a Complaint Index of 29, ranking 11th out of 15 model years. NHTSA rates it "Good" relative to other MDX years, with Electrical System issues being the top complaint area at 27% of complaints.

Complaints
71
Recalls
8
Crashes / fires
5 / 2
Injuries / deaths
9 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22
19 city / 27.5 hwy

Top 2015 Acura MDX problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System19 (27%)
  2. Other16 (23%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain12 (17%)
  4. Structure & Body10 (14%)
  5. Engine9 (13%)
  6. Steering8 (11%)
  7. Brakes6 (8%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (7%)
  9. Airbags4 (6%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers4 (6%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the brakes failing to engage properly at low mileage, requiring pumping to slow the vehicle after a full stop attempt.
  • Some owners describe airbags failing to deploy during collisions, resulting in serious injuries.
  • Owners describe the vehicle rolling unexpectedly after being parked, including one incident where it rolled into a garage wall and another where it rolled backward despite being shut off in drive.
  • At high mileage, one owner reported the gear shifter becoming inoperable, causing unintended acceleration.
  • Owners describe visors and airbag covers coming loose or misaligned near the windshield and dashboard.
  • Multiple owners report the sunroof or moonroof spontaneously shattering while driving or parked, showering glass into the cabin.
2015 Acura MDX complaints: complaints filed per quarter92014 Q42016 Q12017 Q22018 Q32020 Q22022 Q22024 Q32026 Q3
97 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2015 Q4 (9).

2015 Acura MDX recalls

8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V365000Jun 4, 2026Structure & Body880,514 vehicles

    Structure:frame and members

    American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.

    Risk: Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.

  2. NHTSA 25V259000Apr 17, 2025Electrical System152,800 vehicles

    Interior lighting

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid light assembly and wiring harness, which can cause the interior and exterior lights to fail, including the lid lights, position lights, license plate lights and taillights.

    Risk: Vehicle lights that fail to illuminate can decrease visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wiring and install a fuse harness, replace the lid light, and repair the body dust sealer, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2025. Owners may contact Acura's customer service at 1-800-382-2238. Acura's number for this recall is FLI. Vehicles included in this recall that were previously repaired under NHTSA recall number 19V-256 will need to have the new remedy completed.

  3. 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.

See all 8 recalls for the 2015 Acura MDX →

2015 Acura MDX fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
27.5 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,625
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.

2015 compared with other MDX years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Best029118
2014Caution57170822
2015Good2971822
2016Avoid93374722
2017Caution71255822

All Acura MDX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Acura MDX reliable?
NHTSA lists 71 complaints and 8 recalls for the 2015 MDX, giving it a Complaint Index of 29. That ranks it 11th out of 15 MDX model years and earns a "Good" verdict relative to other years.
What is the top problem area for the 2015 Acura MDX?
Electrical System issues make up 27% of complaints (19 of 71), the largest share of any category, with a median failure mileage of 35,163 miles.
Does the 2015 Acura MDX have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 8 recalls tied to the 2015 MDX, covering areas including the fuel system, electrical system, seat belts, structure, and collision avoidance software. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2015 Acura MDX compare to other MDX years?
The 2015 MDX's Complaint Index of 29 is lower than 2016 (93), 2020 (79), 2022 (86), and 2025 (100), all rated "Avoid," making 2015 a comparatively better year.
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Acura MDX?
EPA rates the 2015 MDX at 22 mpg combined (19 city / 27.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,625.

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.