2012 Acura MDX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
101 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2012 Acura MDX, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 22/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 85,000 miles.
Typical
Where 2012 sits among all MDX years
What owners report
“This vehicle unrealistically burns oil. 5-6 quarts of oil is added to engine between oil changes.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 MDX
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 57 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 51,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 7,400 and 88,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (1)
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 PILOT AND ACURA MDX VEHICLES. THE VENT SHUT FLOAT (VSF) VALVE CASE IN THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY DOES NOT MEET THE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS.
Fix: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VSF ASSEMBLY DATE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 13, 2012. OWNERS MAY…
Technical service bulletins
87 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2012 Acura MDX. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2012 Acura MDX reliable?
The 2012 Acura MDX drew 101 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 22/100, scored against the model's worst year (2016).
What are the most common 2012 Acura MDX problems?
The top reported problems for the 2012 Acura MDX are engine (25 complaints), electrical (15), and other (14).
At what mileage do 2012 Acura MDX problems show up?
Owners most often report 2012 Acura MDX problems around 51,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 7,400 and 88,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Acura MDX have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 2012 Acura MDX. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.