2008 Acura MDX

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

72/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Acura MDX, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Structure	5	10%
Electrical system	5	10%
Air bags	5	10%
Suspension	5	10%
Unknown or other	3	6%
Service brakes	3	6%
Visibility	2	4%
Power train	2	4%
Steering	2	4%
Structure	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

My car exterior paint has poor quality. It has been for years. It clear coat peeling and bubbling due to poor factory adhesion between paint layers, Fading & Chalking. This happens for so many years ago but I don’t know
NHTSA complaint: Structure

About maybe 2 months ago my tailgate open light comes on. When the exterior light is left on when I get in the car. .. it will go out but the tailgate light open will come on while driving and you will a ding then the l
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

The clock in the 2008 Acura MDX stopped working over 18 months ago. This occurred after an Acura Day-light-Savings time update. In order to check the time now you have to take your eyes off the road. There are thousand
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

I was at stoplight waiting to make a right turn and the Check Air Bag System turned on. No accident, just the error came on for no reason. This is safety issue and it should have lifetime warranty! I called the dealer a
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Had front collision with another vehicle and hit their passenger side of the vehicle and their Airbags Deployed on that side but my Airbags didn’t Deploy in the Front. I suffered injuries because it didn’t work.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING, IT SEAMS TO SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint: Structure

AN AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE WHEN I TURNED MY PARKED 2008 ACURA MDX ON IN MY DRIVEWAY. MY CAR HAD/HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HIT. IT SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE POLICY FOR AN ACURA DEALER TO
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

"CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM" LIGHT CAME ON. NO ACCIDENTS, NOTHING THAT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE LIGHT TO COME ON. IT WAS STATIONARY WHEN IT CAME ON, PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2008 Acura MDX. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Equipment:mechanical:carrier/rack 08E013000

HONDA IS RECALLING 2,032 HITCH STYLE BIKE RACKS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE ON MY 2003-2007 AND SOME MY 2008 HONDA PILOT, RIDGELINE, AND ACURA MDX VEHICLES. A PINCH BOLT EXISTS BETWEEN THE BIKE ARM BRACKET AND THE UPRIGHT ASSEMBLY OF THE "HITCH" STYLE BICYCLE RACK.

Risk: WHEN MOVING THE BIKE ARM BRACKET TO ITS DOWN POSITION, THIS PINCH BOLT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING SEVERE LACERATION OR AMPUTATION TO THE USER'S FINGERTIPS OR HAND.

Fix: OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT THULE AT 800-THULE91 (800-848-5391) TO OBTAIN A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS OR OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238 FOR FURTHE

The seven scores

Reliability raw	80	excellent
Longevity est.	81	excellent
Maintenance	79	good
Depreciation	64	average
Performance	69	good
Efficiency	30	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 62% of SUVs
Longevity: better than 86% of SUVs
Running costs: better than 67% of SUVs
Value retention: better than 53% of SUVs

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 80: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 81: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2008 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 79: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2008 Acura MDX?

Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 5 of them (10%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2008 Acura MDX reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2008 Acura MDX last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2008 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2008 Acura MDX?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.