Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise, lane keeping, backup camera).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2020 Acura MDX owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact stated that the front windshield camera became inoperable. There were unknown warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the control arms failed. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The windshield was replaced with an aftermarket part at an auto body shop. The control arm was replaced at the local dealer. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the collision mitigation braking system inadvertently activated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had since deactivated the collision mitigation braking system. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 19,725
I purchased this car in September of 2023 with 23,000 miles on it then I received a recall in December 2023. I purchased tires for my car at the dealership and they scheduled my car to have this recall to be fixed on Monday May 13, 2024. I brought the car in on Monday and received a call on Saturday May 18, 2024 to pick my car up from the dealership that it was fixed. I took my car to get gas and two lights on my dash board came up one about my emergency brakes and the other code stated that there is a engine problem and immediately bring the car to the dealership less than one hour of picking it up from a so called recall repair that I was told was going to take two weeks to fix ended up less than 5 days and the car is back at the dealership less than a hour of picking the car up today. …
My 2020 Acura MDX is throwing up multiple dashboard warnings related to the camera sensor-involving systems like Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Collision Mitigation, and Road Departure Mitigation. These systems rely heavily on the Multipurpose Camera Unit mounted near the rearview mirror. I took it to my Acura Dealership Service and they concluded it's the Multipurpose Camera Unit that's causing all these dashboard warnings. They are charging me $1800+ for a new one to be installed. I have researched and googled this issue online, and there were hundreds and hundreds of comments from Honda car owners that have faced this issue, especially Honda and Acura models made in 2019-2020. Many have bought a used camera unit for approx. $150 online and got it installed & calibrated. …
While driving my 2020 Acura MDX with 29,647 miles, all AcuraWatch safety systems suddenly failed at once, including Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keeping Assist, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Automatic High Beams. Multiple warning messages appeared simultaneously. This disabled forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure/lane keeping functions, creating a serious safety risk. The dealer inspected the vehicle and confirmed an internal failure of the multipurpose front camera/radar unit, and recommended replacement of the entire assembly. The repair estimate is $2,200. The dealer stated the component has failed and cannot be repaired. This issue is widely reported by many Acura owners of similar model years, and appears to be a recurring defect. The failure occurred without any impact, damage, or modification. …
I drove my car in the morning and parked it in the lot for about an hour. After I came back and started my car, the following multiple safety systems displayed on my dashboard at the same time: - Lane Keeping Assist Problem - Collision Mitigation System Problem - Road Departure Mitigation System Problem - Auto High Beam Problem - Adaptive Cruise Control Problem When I took it to the dealership on the same day to diagnose this, they came back and said it was an internal failure with the camera and quoted me around $2200 to replace and recalibrate the camera. These lights just came on out of nowhere, I had no repairs or modifications with my windshield and there were no accidents of any sort. This appears to be a widespread problem among 2020 Acura MDX vehicles with similar camera modules. …
Faulty forward facing camera affixed internally on windshield. Adaptive Cruise Control will not function. Lane Keeping Assist will not function. Collision Mitigation Braking may be unavailable. Vehicle detects oncoming traffic in opposing lane as a potential collision, causing braking system to engage and causing a risk of a collision or being struck from the rear despite no vehicle ahead except on the opposite side of the road. Acura can not find anything wrong with the vehicle. Recently all warning lights for high beams, braking system, LKAS, road departure, front end collision, etc flash on vehicle. Multiple people with Acura and Honda vehicles have reported the same issue with the front windshield sensor camera, yet no recall, instead they have paid thousands to replace a faulty camera system. Acura quoted $2000 for replacement of camera. Vehicle operationally runs fine. …
2020 acura mdx tech package with 31600 miles, I purchased this vehicle first owner in march of 2021 and about 3 days ago 5/22/25 I get a fault reading for collision mitigation system problem, lane keep assist problem, road departure mitigation system problem, adaptive cruse control problem and auto high-beam problem, all safety feature issues, I brought vehicle to Acura dealership and they scanned for error codes which produced error code#u3000-49 for faulty multipurpose camera unit millimeter wave radar internal electronic failure recommend to replace the wave radar, dealership states vehicle is no longer under warranty and would cost a total of $1500 to get repaired and replaced , this issue should be looked into further for faulty acura part if repair is done what are the chances of it happening again with normal usage of vehicle.
While at a stoplight, my car notified me of many sensors having "problems" From my understanding, it relates to the front camera located on the windshield. I am unable to use these additional safety features since the problem arose earlier this week. Had this gone out while I was driving, my family and I could have been fatally affected. My cursory research online shows this is a recurring problem that customers need to address independently. All expenses are paid from their own pockets. There were no warnings prior to the system's failure. I have not taken my car in yet for this to be addressed. I am frustrated that this is a known issue with no proactive solution by a brand I had trusted.
I was driving on a normal sunny day when every light on my dashboard came on. I initially panicked thinking my car was going to shutoff while I was driving it. This is in conjunction with the car stalling out when the auto shutoff feature malfunctions. After researching the issue, I realized the safety camera was no longer working and a major concern. A malfunctioning front camera can prevent the vehicle from automatically braking or maintaining lanes, hence increasing the risk of collision. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate the front multi-purpose camera system on the 2020 Acura MDX for potential defect and safety hazard.
Collision Avoidance complaints in other MDX years
Frequently asked questions
How common are collision avoidance problems on the 2020 Acura MDX?
NHTSA has 38 complaints about the driver assistance of the 2020 Acura MDX, 17% of the model year's 224 complaints. The component named most often is adaptive cruise control (22 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2020 Acura MDX collision avoidance problems?
No. NHTSA lists no driver assistance recall for the 2020 Acura MDX, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2020 Acura MDX collision avoidance problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 20,000 miles, and 67% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to driver assistance 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.