Most common 2014 Acura MDX problems
Share of the 172 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 →
2014 Acura MDX recalls (8)
Suspension › Rear
American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge.
Interior lighting
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid light assembly and wiring harness, which can cause the interior and exterior lights to fail, including the lid lights, position lights, license plate lights and taillights.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wiring and install a fuse harness, replace the lid light, and repair the body dust sealer, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2025.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD.
Exterior lighting
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Acura MDX and 2017-2019 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid lights, possibly causing a loss of the tailgate lid lights and the taillights.
Remedy: Acura will notify owners, and dealers will modify the tailgate lid lights and install updated gaskets and a wiring sub-harness or will replace both tailgate lid lights. The repairs will be performed free of charge.
Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Acura MDX and MDX AWD vehicles manufactured April 23, 2013, to December 16, 2014. The affected vehicles have air conditioning compressor clutch drive bolts that may not have received the proper anti-corrosion coating.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air conditioning compressor clutch drive bolt and install a new clutch plate if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 7, 2015.
Forward collision avoidance › Crash imminent braking
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Acura MDX 2WD and AWD, RLX and 2014 Acura RLX Hybrid vehicles. In certain driving conditions, the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) may incorrectly interpret certain roadside objects such as metal fences or metal guardrails as obstacles and…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the CMBS software, free of charge. The recall began on July 6, 2015. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238.
Show 2 more recalls
Seat belts
American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured April 23, 2013, to August 25, 2014, and 2014 Acura RLX vehicles manufactured November 5, 2012, to November 25, 2013.
Remedy: Honda has notified owners, and dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belts, free of charge. The recall began in November 2014. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238.
Power train › Automatic transmission
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014 Acura MDX AWD vehicles manufactured May 6, 2013, through October 14, 2013. The bolts that attach the drive shaft to the automatic transmission transfer assembly may not have been properly tightened.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the drive shaft attaching bolts as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on July 3, 2014.
What 2014 Acura MDX owners say
Steering all 38 →
The contact owns a 2014 Acura MDX. The contact stated that when starting the vehicle, she heard an abnormally loud noise and the steering column was inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.
my daughter drove the vehicle for an appointment. Parked it went in and upon return, started it but could not turn the steering wheel. It was nearly impossible to turn the wheel. When turned with force, it would vibrate. Message popped up stating "Power Steering System (EPS) Problem". I had it towed to my mechanic who identified the problem but wasn't able to obtain the parts due to non-availability. I had the vehicle towed to the dealership (McGrath Acura of Libertyville) where it still remains. It has been there for about two weeks as of Dec. 17, 2025 and still not updates on when the issue would be fixed. I made a phone call complaint to Honda of America three days ago. They left a message today asking me to call back stating a recall (I don't find any EPS recalls while I've found others who have had the same issue. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 27 →
The contact owns a 2014 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle was jerking upon acceleration and deceleration. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the transmission control module (TCM) software was updated, and the transmission fluid was flushed; however, the failure reoccurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys where it was diagnosed that the transmission control valve solenoid had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer who provided the same diagnostic information. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.
There is a known issue of Certain Acura MDX models having a "judder" (i.e. bouncing rev counter) at certain speeds. This causes the torque converter to not lockup and continue to find the right gear, per se. This is a known issue and Acura has a TSB (16-062) for this: https://www.tsbsearch.com/Acura/16-062 The issue is, even though, unaddressed in a timely manner and continual use of the vehicle may deteriorate the transmission, Acura doesn't fix this free of charge for vehicles not under warranty. Dealer quotes $800+ for a total 1.6 hours of work (based on the TSB bulletin). This is outrageous and monopolistic behavior in a free market. Moreover, typical mechanics doesn't have access to the special computers needed to perform the software update, required by this TSB. …
Electrical system all 27 →
Upon engine start noticed vibration buzz noise and steering wheel locked, very difficult to steer. Turned off the ignition and waited 20 min, steering wheel was back to normal. Upon driving in the road for approximately 5-10 min, the wheel locked up with notification alert of "Electrical Power Steering Failure" It was very difficult to maneuver the steering wheel and manage to pull into a parking lot. Turned the ignition off and waited again another 5min and Upon restart, wheel was back to normal. As we were on our way home, the same alert came with steering wheel locked and difficult to turn. We managed to get home with difficulty turning. Car was towed to Acura Plesanton and was reported no recalls for this issue.
I was driving on a residential street back home when a haze started coming out of the air conditioning vents. That turned into black smoke coming from the front passenger side, underneath/behind the glove compartment. From that smoke, a fire started in the front passenger side, inside the vehicle. I pulled over to the side of the street, turned the car off, grabbed my son who was in a car seat in the back and got out of the car safely. Not a minute after we got out of the car, the entire car was engulfed in flames. The fire department did an investigation and classified it as undetermined, but mechanical in nature. We bought our Acura brand new from the dealer in 2014 and have only had it serviced at the Acura dealer. We have not experienced any issues with the car, other than regular maintenance. I'm extremely concerned that the car would burst into flames while driving.
2014 Acura MDX engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2014 Acura MDX a good car?
Based on 172 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2014 MDX rates avoid: 2.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the MDX at the same age. It is one of the MDX years we suggest avoiding. 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 2014 Acura MDX?
The steering — 38 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about electric power assist system. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (27) and electrical system (27).
How many recalls does the 2014 Acura MDX have?
There are 8 recalls for the 2014 Acura MDX, the most recent from June 4, 2026 (rear). 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 2014 Acura MDX problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 23,000 miles; 73% 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.