YearToAvoid

2020 Acura MDX Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 15 brake complaints for the 2020 Acura MDX, 7% of its 221 total complaints, with 2 crashes and no fires or injuries. One related recall (23V458000) covers a brake booster tie rod fastener issue, and median mileage at failure is 6,000 miles.

Brakes complaints
15
7% of 221
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
6,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Brake pedal suddenly goes soft and sinks to the floor without stopping the vehicle, in one case causing a collision at a stop light.
  • Automatic emergency braking or 'phantom braking' engages abruptly with no obstacle present, sometimes while accelerating onto a highway ramp.
  • Warped rotors reported by a dealer despite pads showing normal wear and no unusual braking feel.
  • Electric parking brake and emissions warning lights appear together, with the parking brake sometimes failing to disengage after the vehicle is pulled over.
  • Advanced driver-assist systems tied to braking, including road mitigation, lane keeping assist, and cruise control, reportedly fail simultaneously.
  • Idle-stop system fails to restart the engine after the brake pedal is released, leaving the vehicle stalled at intersections or on ramps.

When 2020 Acura MDX brake complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 4, 2022, latest May 28, 2026.

2020 Acura MDX brakes complaints: complaints filed per month3Jan 2022Oct 2022Nov 2023Jan 2025Jun 2025Nov 2025May 2026
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2022 to May 2026; peak Jan 2026 (3).

Brakes recalls for the 2020 Acura MDX

  1. NHTSA 23V458000Jun 29, 2023Brakes124,077 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.

    Risk: Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are VEU, AEV, and ZET.

Brakes complaints by MDX model year

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

  1. 200523 (13%)
  2. 200613 (15%)
  3. 20071 (1%)
  4. 20087 (14%)
  5. 20091 (2%)
  6. 20104 (9%)
  7. 20112 (3%)
  8. 20123 (4%)
  9. 20131 (3%)
  10. 201430 (18%)
  11. 20156 (8%)
  12. 201621 (6%)
  13. 201723 (9%)
  14. 201811 (7%)
  15. 20199 (5%)
  16. 202015 (7%)
  17. 202218 (12%)
  18. 20238 (21%)
  19. 202410 (26%)
  20. 20255 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does the 2020 Acura MDX have?
NHTSA lists 15 brake-related complaints for the 2020 Acura MDX, which is 7% of the 221 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2020 Acura MDX?
Yes. Recall 23V458000, reported June 29, 2023, covers a tie rod fastener connecting the brake booster and affects the 2020 Acura MDX along with several Honda models. Dealers inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as needed at no charge.
Did the brake problems cause any crashes?
NHTSA data shows 2 crashes tied to the Brakes complaints for the 2020 Acura MDX, with no fires or injuries reported.
At what mileage do brake problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this brake issue is 6,000 miles.

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.