Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Acura MDX owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2005 Acura MDX. The contact stated that the passenger's side air bag warning light was flashing with an occupant seated in the seat. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and she was informed that the front driver's and passenger's side air bags and seat belt pretensioners were defective and needed to be replaced. The dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 209,638.
We have been the original owners of our 2005 MDX. on December 12/18/21 at 630. We were wearing our seat belts. We were driving in clear weather on a new street at 35 miles an hour. The passenger side seat airbag and the right side curtain deployed. My wife was sitting in the front passenger seat. There was no collision or hazard. The Airbag just exploded. We were not hit by any metal objects. The Mdx is in perfect working order and we are now told no one will cover the damage. Insurance and the Dealership. We are writing to find out how we can get a fair outcome from our car becoming unusable due to manufactures defect. We have not touched the airbag or the car since this happened. Would we be able to have it inspected?
Auto parked, foot on brake, moved gear shift to park, foot off brake,car lurched forward with great velocity, hit concrete wall, ricochede off wall, started running backward. Put foot on emer. Brake car stopped. Airbag deployed but improperly inflated. Cuts and abrasions and bruising on left hand and right.airbag did not deploy into chest or face. Called aaa to have towed/called 21st century ins. For name of collision yard they worked with. Tow truck arrived_too big to get into parking lot. Driver asked for my keys -told him the car with physically disabled after airbag deployment and could not be driven. He took my keys,started the car and drove off. Not supposed to happpen. Went to emergent care and my primary physician and had cat scans run. New driver seat airbags are defective.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Acura MDX. While driving 8 MPH, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. Both frontal air bags deployed and exploded, emitting a gaseous substance. The driver sustained hand and face injuries that did not require medical attention. The front passenger did not sustain any injuries. A police report was filed. The contact was unsure if the vehicle was towed away from the crash scene. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V320000 (air bags). The failure mileage was 119,000.
I was in a collision and the front of my car impacted the rear of another. I was doing no more than 35-40 MPH. I slammed on my brakes. Upon impact, the air bag did not deploy. X-rays from er showed only pulled/strained muscles in back. I and my family and friends were concerned though that the airbag failed to deploy.
I purchased this vehicle from a private auction in hesperia, ca around August of 2020 and I am currently the registered owner as of today. About a month into the purchase I notice the car jerk and brake unusually while in motion. I didn't know what exactly happened at the time so I ignored it for the moment. Then about another month after that incident my wife, kids and I were traveling about 70 MPH on the 15fwy headed south and this time it happened once again and more aggressively due to is traveling at a much greater speed and did jerk a lot harder almost making my wife lose control. Luckily she was alert and pulled over to the shoulder right away and that's when we noticed a new light on the I dash had illuminated. We see the acronym (vsa) illuminate and I had never seen this particular light before so I then start to research it. …
Driving at highway speed 60mph right side curtain airbag,right front seat airbag and right side front seat belt pre tensioner deployed. When the air bag deployed a piece of the right side grab bar hit the driver in the face. The front passenger had abrasion on her face from the airbag hitting her. On star called right away and we gave them info and after they were sure we were OK hung up.we took the vehicle to smithtown Acura scanned for codes and found code f4-11. Acura informed me that a rep from Acura would inspect the vehicle. After the rep inspected the vehicle they said that they found no manufacturer defects but they could not say why the airbag deployed. After a few weeks going back and forth with client realions for Acura they said there legal team said they find no manufacturer defects and to call my insurance company.thanks for taking a look at this.
As I am driving my 5 year old to karate on a local road with 40 miles per hour, my whole left side air bag curtain deployed for absolutely no reason. ( I didn't hit anything and no one hit me either). I got a bruised hand, small concussion and a massive rash ( from chemicals in the air back). I called Acura and was told to go for diagnostic at local Acura dealership. I was charged $99 and was told to call my insurance company. I asked why since there wasn't an accident involved and the answer was ' I can't tell you how many people come here and claims that this happens to them but have no proof'. I guess the air back in my trunk and no damage to the rest of my car is not proof enough!!! I will be talking to a lawyer at this point!
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Acura MDX. While driving approximately 10 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle. Both the driver and passenger side air bags deployed and burned the contact's hand. The contact did not seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.
Upon entering intersection after being at a complete stop, the vehicles driver side airbag randomly deployed. Vehicle was towed to Acura of ocean in nj at which point Acura regional service manager claimed I hit a stationary object (which was not the case). I would welcome an opportunity to speak with someone who specializes in the recent airbag issues with Honda and the other car mfgs.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles.
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2011 Honda Element vehicles, 2005-2012 Acura RL vehicles, 2006-2012 Honda Ridgeline vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2005-2008 Honda Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California,…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall bagan March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Show 4 more recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2011 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia,…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Air bags
American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in California, and equipped…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
NHTSA investigations
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Airbag complaints in other MDX years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2005 Acura MDX?
NHTSA has 39 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Acura MDX, 22% of the model year's 180 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › sensor/control module (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Acura MDX airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-501 (inflator module, Jun 27, 2019); NHTSA recall 19V-499 (inflator module, Jun 27, 2019); NHTSA recall 19V-182 (inflator module, Mar 6, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2005 Acura MDX airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 151,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 0 fires and 6 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.