Most common 2008 Acura MDX problems
Share of the 49 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Acura MDX complaints by model year
Best MDX years: 2013, 2011, 2012. Years to avoid: 2025, 2022, 2016, 2020, 2017. Compare all years →
What 2008 Acura MDX owners say
Body & structure
My car exterior paint has poor quality. It has been for years. It clear coat peeling and bubbling due to poor factory adhesion between paint layers, Fading & Chalking. This happens for so many years ago but I don't know this happened because the manufacturers problem until recently a friend told me this
I purchased this car used in October 2014. Ever since I had the car I notice that the hood starts vibrating as if it is going to open. I have pulled off to the side of the road several times to check that the hood is not open. I have contacted Acura headquarters and they have told me to go to the dealer. What I have notice is that the latch moves back and forth easily and the hood flexes when you open it and pull on it. I have seen several complaints about this and people go to the dealerships and we get told the same thing. Everything is normal. I have never seen a car hood vibrate the way this hood vibrates.
Electrical system
The clock in the 2008 Acura MDX stopped working over 18 months ago. This occurred after an Acura Day-light-Savings time update. In order to check the time now you have to take your eyes off the road. There are thousands of Acura vehicles with this problem. ACURA REFUSES TO HELP. They state there is no solution to the problem. They caused the problem!
Battery was replaced in February 2017 (about 7 months ago). Today, everything electrical just died while I was driving. Thank god my children were not in the car & that I was 1 minute from home. The internal lights flickered and then all lights, the radio, and any other electrical portion went dead. The car was still running, but sensing something was wrong, I immediately called my husband and told him to meet me. After I stopped the car, it went dead and never turned on. We have tried numerous approaches to fix and having found the solution yet. Per research, many others have had similar dangerous issues. See http://www.carcomplaints.com/Acura/MDX/2007/electrical/electrical_system.shtml. My absolute fear is that my car will stop completely while on on a fast road, with my children in the car, and at night. …
Brakes
This vehicle is having electrical issue in which is affect various parts, including the deceleration of the vehicle. There are times in which the brake is pressed and instead of the vehicle does not respond to start to slow down. The brakes on the truck have replaced along with tires and yet the problem does continues. This a daily thing that happens it is more noticible when the vehicle reached above 65 and above miles. I have almost got into an accident due to this.
I was driving my car going about 40 MPH when suddenly I lost the ability to steer the car, stop the car, accelerate and cut on my blinkers. Nothing in the car worked. I was desperate to get out of the traffic flow when the car suddenly jerked back on. It did this off and on as I took it to the dealership. Once there they stated that the battery was the issue. Battery was replaced. Various internal components of the car started to fall apart (seat belts, airbags, car lights, car key, window sensors, door locks, alarm, navigation). For a time the car drove but with very stiff handling. Car was taken in for an issue that sounded like a whirring sound at start-up. Everything was replaced to fix the issue with the service technician doing a hail mary attempt at offering resolve. I finally received my car back two weeks later. …
2008 Acura MDX engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Acura MDX a good car?
Based on 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 MDX rates better than average: 50% fewer complaints than a typical year of the MDX at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Acura MDX?
The body & structure — 8 complaints, 16% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the electrical system (8) and brakes (6).
How many recalls does the 2008 Acura MDX have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2008 Acura MDX. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Acura MDX?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013, 2011 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025, 2022, 2016, 2020 and 2017. See the full Acura MDX years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Acura MDX problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 51% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.