Most common 2012 Acura MDX problems
Share of the 76 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 →
2012 Acura MDX recalls (1)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012 pilot and Acura mdx vehicles. The vent shut float (vsf) valve case in the fuel tank assembly does not meet the design specifications.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners and dealers will inspect the vsf assembly date and, if necessary, replace the fuel tank assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on March 13, 2012.
What 2012 Acura MDX owners say
Engine & cooling all 25 →
I have a 2012 MDX and it burns an extreme amount of oil. We took our MDX back to the dealership where we purchased it and had the oil issue fixed. Or so we thought. The problem was supposed to be fixed 3 months ago but the car is still burning a lot of oil. We have to add oil every 2 weeks. We did not drive the car much after "getting the oil issue repaired" so we did not realize that the problem still exists. Acura should know how to repair this issue and there should be a recall for this excessive oil consumption. Acura is a luxury brand but they are not taking care of their customers. Also the paint is peeling off our MDX badly. We had a couple of paint touch up jobs but it just keeps getting worst. I am embarrassed driving this car with the continuing paint peeling off. We cannot keep shelling out money to get this vehicle repainted. …
The engine consistently consumes too much oil between service events. The low oil light comes on. I had this problem for over 8 years and the dealership said it was not a problem until now and they want me to pay for it. The oil control rings have been clogged since 2016 and progressively gotten worse. The clogged rings cause restriction of oil to return to the crankcase. This causes a decrease in available oil and may cause overheating that could lead to engine fire. Acura should fix the oil control rings to function properly. They have identified this in the past, through a service bulletin (19-006). I have performed 97% of my oil changes at Acura dealerships.
Electrical system
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 126,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 159,000.
DONE everything Dealer suggested and still having problems with random misfires in 1,2 and 3 cylinders, changed spark plugs, fuel injectors, ignition coils and compression test and changed rear CAT. Still check engine light come on sometime then the SUV driving good, and sometimes it drive ruff, check engine light come on then go off then come back on with same codes: random misfire.
Transmission & drivetrain
The engine consistently consumes too much oil between service events. The low oil light comes on. I had this problem for over 8 years and the dealership said it was not a problem until now and they want me to pay for it. The oil control rings have been clogged since 2016 and progressively gotten worse. The clogged rings cause restriction of oil to return to the crankcase. This causes a decrease in available oil and may cause overheating that could lead to engine fire. Acura should fix the oil control rings to function properly. They have identified this in the past, through a service bulletin (19-006). I have performed 97% of my oil changes at Acura dealerships.
RPM's fluctuate on the tachometer while accelerating. They jump up and down and you can feel the vehicle hesitate. Based on what I am reading, this appears to be a well known issue with programming and with the torque converter that can result in transmission damage. Even if the torque converter is replaced, which is an expensive repair, this appears to be a re-occurring issue. Our 2012 MDX has 79,365 miles on it which is just outside the power train warranty and well before a transmission should be going on an Acura vehicle. This started happening a couple months ago and now is a daily occurrence. Being this happens at any speeds and while moving and is directly tied to the computer, this could lead to failure on a busy road and a potentially dangerous situation. Being a common issue that is well documented, I feel this should be covered by warranty and fixed by the manufacturer.
2012 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 2012 Acura MDX a good car?
Based on 76 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 MDX rates average: 22% 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 2012 Acura MDX?
The engine & cooling — 25 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (13) and transmission & drivetrain (13).
How many recalls does the 2012 Acura MDX have?
There is 1 recall for the 2012 Acura MDX, the most recent from February 17, 2012 (tank assembly). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the 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 2012 Acura MDX problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 69,000 miles; 46% 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.