Head-to-head reliability
Acura MDX vs Toyota Camry
How the Acura MDX and Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry: The MDX averages 113.8 complaints per year with 45 recalls, while the Camry averages 214.3 complaints per year with 31 recalls. Owners report engine and electrical issues in the MDX, and transmission and brake problems in the Camry. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura MDX or Toyota Camry 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 three-row SUV that, in ownership terms, offers comfort and features but comes with a notable reliability burden. Over the past decade, owners have filed over a thousand complaints, averaging about 114 per year, with the highest concentration in the engine, electrical system, and powertrain. Real-world reports describe issues like sudden acceleration, drivetrain failures, and electrical gremlins that can affect steering and other safety systems. While not every vehicle will experience these problems, the pattern suggests that MDX ownership may involve more frequent trips to the dealer than some buyers expect.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular midsize sedan known for efficiency and value, but the complaint data reveals a mixed reliability picture. With over 2,100 complaints over ten years (about 214 per year), the Camry shows a higher complaint rate than the MDX, though it also has more sales volume. Owners report issues with the powertrain, including transmission failures and grinding noises, as well as brake problems and sudden acceleration incidents. While many Camrys are dependable, these reports indicate that some units suffer from serious mechanical and 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 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,138 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 45 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 28 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 113.8 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 27 Better | 163 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
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
- 01ENGINE313
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM229
- 03POWER TRAIN216
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER174
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE144
Owners report engine-related issues such as emissions system failures, reduced power warnings, and in some cases, sudden acceleration. One complaint describes the vehicle surging forward unexpectedly in a parking lot, which could be a serious safety concern.
Electrical problems include power steering failure while driving, leading to reduced assist and multiple warning lights. Another owner mentions a floor harness that traps moisture, causing malfunctions in air struts and posing a safety risk.
Powertrain complaints include complete drivetrain failure while accelerating from a stop, accompanied by loud clunking noises. Another owner reports all-wheel drive issues where only the front wheels are powered, possibly due to a failing transfer case.
“MY VEHICLE 2022 ACURA TYPE S HAS A TRANSMISSION SYSTEM PROBLEM, BLIND SPOT INFO PROBLEM, AND A ALL WHEEL DRIVE PROBLEM THAT ONLY MY FRONT WHEE;S MAY BE POWERED. IT LOOKS LIKE THE TRANSFER CASE MAYBE FAILING. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 25,000 MILES ON IT AND IS ABOUT…”
“Emissions System Failure Warning Power Shifting / Power Shifting See Dealer All Wheel Drive (AWD) Power may be reduced - see dealer”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Transmission problems are common, with owners reporting grinding noises upon acceleration and the need for transmission replacement. One complaint mentions a known recall for the same issue, but the owner's VIN was not included, leaving them with a costly repair.
Engine complaints include sudden, uncontrollable acceleration that led to a crash and totaled the vehicle. Another owner received a code for a coolant valve bypass recall, but their VIN was not covered, causing safety concerns.
Brake failures are reported, such as a complete loss of brake response when descending a steep hill. Another owner describes brakes not engaging properly in a parking lot, leading to a collision with a parking block.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
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 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…
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,…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Acura MDX or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has a higher complaint rate per year (214.3) compared to the Acura MDX (113.8), but the MDX has more recalls (45 vs 31). In practice, the Camry may require more frequent repairs, but the MDX's issues can be more complex and costly due to its luxury features. Neither vehicle is problem-free, but the MDX shows fewer complaints per year, suggesting a slightly better reliability record in this dataset.
Key differences
- The MDX has more recalls (45) than the Camry (31), indicating more factory-issued fixes.
- The Camry has a higher number of crash-related complaints (181) and injuries (163) compared to the MDX (28 and 27), though the Camry also has one death.
- MDX owners report issues with sudden acceleration and drivetrain failures, while Camry owners report transmission grinding and brake loss.
- The MDX's electrical system problems include power steering failure, while the Camry's electrical complaints are less prominent in the sample.
- Check for any signs of moisture damage under the carpet, as the floor harness can trap water and cause electrical failures.
- Test the all-wheel-drive system and listen for clunking noises during acceleration, which could indicate transfer case or drivetrain issues.
- Listen for grinding noises from the front end when accelerating, which may signal a failing transmission.
- Test the brakes on a hill to ensure they respond properly, as some owners report sudden loss of braking.
Before you buy
- Obtain the vehicle's complete service history and check for any open recalls.
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission and drivetrain for signs of wear or previous repairs.
- Test all electrical features, including power steering, and check for warning lights.
- Inspect the undercarriage for corrosion or damage that could affect brakes or fuel lines.
- Take both vehicles for a test drive that includes acceleration, braking, and turning to feel for any abnormalities.
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 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 119 |
| 2025 | 93 | 153 |
| 2024 | 38 | 48 |
| 2023 | 38 | 62 |
| 2022 | 146 | 59 |
| 2021 | 0 | 155 |
| 2020 | 215 | 270 |
| 2019 | 185 | 393 |
| 2018 | 164 | 736 |
| 2017 | 253 | 148 |
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 Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura MDX vs Toyota Camry
- Acura MDX total complaints
- 1,138
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Acura MDX total recalls
- 45
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Acura MDX avg complaints/year
- 113.8
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Acura MDX
- Acura MDX top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN