2012 Acura ZDX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
No verdictComplaint Index
25/100
#4 most-complained of 5 ZDX years
The 2012 Acura ZDX has 1 NHTSA complaint, a complaint index of 25, and 8 recalls, ranking 4th worst of 5 model years. Compared to the 2010 ZDX (complaint index 75) and 2024 ZDX (complaint index 100), 2012 shows fewer reported problems.
- Complaints
- 1
- Recalls
- 8
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 16 city / 23 hwy
Top 2012 Acura ZDX problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine1 (100%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (100%)
What owners report
- Vehicle fails to move after being parked overnight even though the engine starts and the shifter is placed into drive or reverse.
- Dashboard indicators show the transmission is engaged in drive or reverse, but the car does not respond.
- When the gas pedal is pressed, the engine revs as if the transmission were in neutral rather than a drive gear.
- Owners report having to shift the car back into park and try again multiple times before it will move.
- The issue occurred at 22,000 miles on the vehicle affected.
2012 Acura ZDX recalls
8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V502000Jun 27, 2019Airbags9,555 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F5F and Q5E.
- NHTSA 19V500000Jun 27, 2019Airbags1,558 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B and W59.
- NHTSA 19V378000May 16, 2019Airbags19,138 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.
2012 Acura ZDX fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 23 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,200
- 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.
2012 compared with other ZDX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Acura ZDX reliable?
- NHTSA lists 1 complaint for the 2012 ZDX with a complaint index of 25, which is lower than the 2010 model's index of 75 and the 2024 model's index of 100. Among the 5 ZDX model years with data, 2012 ranks 4th worst.
- What problems does the 2012 Acura ZDX have?
- The single sample complaint on file describes the engine and transmission acting as if in neutral after the vehicle sat parked overnight, occurring at 22,000 miles. The top problem area listed for this year is Engine.
- Does the 2012 Acura ZDX have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2012 ZDX, and all of them concern airbag inflators. None of these recalls are classified as do-not-drive.
- How does the 2012 ZDX compare to other ZDX years?
- The 2012 ZDX has a complaint index of 25, better than the 2010 ZDX (index 75, verdict Avoid) and the 2024 ZDX (index 100, verdict Avoid). The 2011 ZDX sits between them with an index of 50.