Most common 2011 Acura MDX problems
Share of the 70 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 2011 Acura MDX owners say
Engine & cooling all 29 →
This car burns oil at an insane rate. I have to go to Jiffy Lube after only 1500 miles, and they are in shock when they top me off each time. Two of the employees have said that my engine is at trial of exploding because this car burns through oil so fast. Your website says that there is no recall, but there actually WAS a recall for this car, but I was NEVER NOTIFIED about this dangerous issue. Acura refuses to honor the recall because they say the window to get the car fixed has expired. This is ridiculous and unsafe.
Engine excessively consumes oil. No issue to the engine whatsoever no smoke at exhaust no burning oil. Check my oil after about 1000 miles and I'm missing a quart of oil. There was once a recall for this issue but the window to get repaired has expired. That does help people that purchased this car after the window. Issue need to be a permanent recall and not a temporary.
Transmission & drivetrain
The 2011 Acura MDX has a problem with the pistons in the engine which causes excessive oil consumption. This was subject of the matter of a class action suit described on the website entitled Acura Oil Consumption Settlement. This defect should be subject to recall and American Honda should be required to repair or replace this pistons.
I am very disappointed and dissatisfied with the 2011 Acura MDX I purchased November 2018 this vehicle has had all type of problems from the start from oil issues to needing the engine rebuilt to now timing belt issues and the only thing that is covered under warranty is the rebuild and it is not likely to happen until early 2020 and the only thing I'm getting is quotes of 1200 dollars and sorry your going thru this I am tired of that from one of mobile most respected dealership I want immediate action especially when it was under warranty and should have been inspected before it became a sellable vehicle I am also sending this response to Acura and the better
Electrical system
On the afternoon of May 11, 2011 I pushed the button to close my car trunk hatch and my 13 y/o daughter ran into a sharp edge of the hatch cutting her front right eye lash. There is a manufacturer-built sharp edge that caused the cut. Should the edge hadn't been in that location, she wouldn't have cut her eye lid. We immediately took my daughter to the hospital emergency room to stop the bleeding and reseal her eye lid.
Power windows and sunroof stared working intermittently for a few days and then stopped working all-together. Apparently, there is a known issue with wires breaking inside driver door sub-wire, Acura part number 32757-stx-a01. My car only has 101,768 miles. I did some research online and I saw people having the same issue with their Acura MDX vehicles.
2011 Acura MDX engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 16 / 21 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Acura MDX a good car?
Based on 70 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 MDX rates average: 35% fewer complaints than a typical year of the MDX at the same age. It is one of the best MDX years by this measure. 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 2011 Acura MDX?
The engine & cooling — 29 complaints, 41% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (8) and electrical system (7).
How many recalls does the 2011 Acura MDX have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2011 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 2011 Acura MDX problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 70,000 miles; 34% 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.