Head-to-head reliability
Acura MDX vs Honda Accord
How the Acura MDX and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Acura MDX vs Honda Accord: The MDX averages 118 complaints per year with 45 recalls, while the Accord averages 452 complaints per year with 38 recalls. Both have reported sudden power loss, but the Accord also has electronic steering/braking failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura MDX or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Acura MDX
The Acura MDX is a luxury SUV that averages about 118 complaints per year over the past decade, with 45 recalls. Owners frequently report engine and electrical problems, including sudden power loss and limp mode, often tied to the auto idle-stop system. Power train complaints describe transmission failures and abrupt deceleration, which can be alarming. While the MDX has fewer annual complaints than the Accord, the issues reported are serious and can affect drivability.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 452 per year—and 38 recalls. Common trouble spots include engine and electrical system failures, such as loss of power and electronic steering/braking lockups. Forward collision avoidance complaints often involve unintended braking or failure to warn. Fuel/propulsion issues, like fuel pump problems, also appear. These patterns suggest that while the Accord is common, owners may face a range of safety-related defects.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura MDX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,180 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 45 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 29 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 118.0 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 27 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 3 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Acura MDX
- 01ENGINE325
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM243
- 03POWER TRAIN222
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER177
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE151
Owners report sudden total power loss while driving, with all warning lights illuminating and speed dropping to 20 mph. This can leave you stranded or in a dangerous situation on the road.
Complaints include the brake warning light coming on, multiple warning lights flashing, and the vehicle entering limp mode. This often happens without warning and can reduce engine power unexpectedly.
Transmission failures are reported, such as the transmission not engaging after a stop or sudden catastrophic failure while driving. These issues can cause the vehicle to decelerate abruptly or lose drive power.
Some owners experience issues with the forward collision avoidance system, though specific symptoms are less detailed in the sample. This matters because a malfunction could either fail to warn or brake unexpectedly.
“VIN: [XXX]: 2024 Acura MDXComponents: Engine, Electrical System, Powertrain (Auto Idle-Stop)Ref Investigation: NHTSA EA25-004 (Upgraded from PE22-005) Dealer: Acura Carland ([XXX])SAFETY DEFECT SUMMARY:Severe safety hazard involving the Auto Idle-Stop system.…”
“My 2023 Acura (VIN# [XXX] ) has experienced two separate incidents of sudden, total power loss while driving. In both cases, all dashboard warning lights came on, including the brake light, and the vehicle reduced speed to 20 mph and would not accelerate. The…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS, followed by loss of speed and inability to accelerate. Others report rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes, indicating potential engine or hybrid system problems.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, causing lock-up and near-collisions. Another owner had a tire fail catastrophically shortly after a TPMS warning was serviced, suggesting possible electrical or sensor issues.
Owners report the system failing to resolve threats, with incidents of sudden braking or failure to warn under consistent conditions. This can lead to unexpected braking or a lack of assistance when needed.
Complaints include a persistent rotten-egg/sulfur odor, which may indicate fuel or emissions system problems. Such odors can be a sign of catalytic converter or fuel delivery issues that may require costly repairs.
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Acura MDX — 45 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehic…
The risk: A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall ar…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…
The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehic…
The risk: A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall ar…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…
The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, 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, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Acura MDX or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Acura MDX has far fewer complaints per year (118 vs. 452 for the Honda Accord), suggesting it may have fewer overall issues. However, the MDX's complaints often involve severe safety defects like sudden power loss, while the Accord's higher volume includes a wider range of problems. In practice, the MDX may be less likely to need frequent repairs, but when problems occur, they can be serious.
Key differences
- The Acura MDX averages 118 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages 452, indicating the Accord has more reported issues overall.
- MDX owners frequently report sudden power loss and limp mode tied to engine and electrical systems, whereas Accord owners report similar power loss but also electronic steering/braking failures.
- The Accord has more crash-related complaints (162 vs. 29) and injuries (146 vs. 27), though these numbers don't account for vehicle sales volume.
- Both vehicles have recalls for air bag occupant classification sensors, but the Accord also has recalls for hybrid power control software and fuel pumps, which are not listed for the MDX.
- Check for any history of sudden power loss or limp mode by test-driving and scanning for stored codes related to the auto idle-stop system.
- Inspect the transmission for delayed engagement or slipping, especially after stops or during turns, as owners report failures without warning.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems for any warning lights or unusual behavior, as simultaneous failure has been reported.
- Listen for rattling noises during acceleration and check for rough transitions between EV and gas modes, which may indicate hybrid system issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model, focusing on engine, transmission, and electrical systems.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any warning lights, unusual noises, or hesitation during acceleration or braking.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for software updates or repairs related to recalls.
- For the Accord, specifically test the forward collision avoidance system and fuel system for odors or performance issues.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Acura MDX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 10 |
| 2025 | 107 | 109 |
| 2024 | 40 | 219 |
| 2023 | 39 | 226 |
| 2022 | 153 | 252 |
| 2021 | 0 | 234 |
| 2020 | 222 | 362 |
| 2019 | 188 | 691 |
| 2018 | 168 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 256 | 537 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Acura MDX or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura MDX vs Honda Accord
- Acura MDX total complaints
- 1,180
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Acura MDX total recalls
- 45
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Acura MDX avg complaints/year
- 118.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Acura MDX
- Acura MDX top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE