no report yet
Storage: tank assembly
Risk. AS A RESULT, FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE TANK, INCREASING THE RISK OF FIRE.
2012 Acura MDXProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 76 owner complaints about the 2012 Acura MDX, most often about the engine. It is covered by 1 safety recall.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 16, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Acura MDX has problems
76 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
23Engine2 crash/fire/injury
13Power train
13Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
9Air bags2 crash/fire/injury
5Structure
4Fuel/propulsion system
2Exterior lighting
2Vehicle speed control
2Equipment adaptive/mobility
1813 other systems3 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 23 | 2 |
| Power train | 13 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 13 | 2 |
| Air bags | 9 | 2 |
| Structure | 5 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment adaptive/mobility | 2 | 0 |
| 13 other systems | 18 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
2012 Acura MDX recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Acura.
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other MDX year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the MDX median. How we score
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2012 Acura MDX safety ratings
2012 Acura MDX SUV 4WD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (14.0% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What MDX owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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…
2012 ACURA MDX burns extreme amounts of oil between oil changes. Typically a warning indicator comes on about 1,000 miles before oil change is due. I continue to refill oil between oil changes.
our car eats a ton of oil and the piston rings failed, we owe a lot on it and I'm told there is no help for this issue even though there used to be because we are outside the guidelines in terms of mileage and purchase date. our car has 156k its a 2012 MDX. VIN [XXX]. Just checking with everyone…
Own a 2012 MDX?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.