What are the most common problems with the 2013 Acura MDX?

Engine complaints lead with 10, followed by the electrical system with 8.

Has the 2013 Acura MDX had recalls?

Yes, there is 1 recall for this year. See the Recalls section on this page for details.

Are there fire reports for the 2013 Acura MDX?

Owners filed 3 complaints that mention a fire. Three of them sit in the electrical group.

How is the fuel economy of the 2013 Acura MDX?

See the Fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.

Is the 2013 Acura MDX reliable?

The record shows 30 complaints. Compare it with other years in the by-year section of this page.

2013 Acura MDX Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 30 owner complaints on file for the 2013 Acura MDX^[1]. The engine group is the biggest, with 10 complaints^[2].

30owner complaints^[1]

1recalls^[3]

18MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

4★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups owners filed, biggest first. These are unverified reports, and one complaint can name more than one part.

Engine. 10 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe the engine cutting out while driving and fumes inside the cabin.
Electrical System. 8 complaints^[6]. Owners describe blank screens, a drained battery and warning lights, and some tell of a fire. This group has 3 fires^[6], and the median mileage at failure was 77,543^[6].
Unknown Or Other. 5 complaints^[7].
Power Train. 4 complaints^[8]. Owners describe the car suddenly stopping or losing power.
Speed Control. 3 complaints^[9].
Steering. 3 complaints^[10]. Owners describe warning messages, the car drifting to one side and a steering wheel that moved on its own.
Exterior Lighting. 3 complaints^[11].
Forward Collision Avoidance. 2 complaints^[12].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2013 MDX is necessarily included.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump (23V858), December 2023. About 2,490,460 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
MDX 4WD, 3.7L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Premium, All-Wheel Drive^[4]	16 / 21 / 18	$4,550

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV 4WD^[5]	4	4	5	4	14.0%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2013 Acura MDX with 3.7L 6-cylinder^[14]	300 hp

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
MDX 4DR SUV AWD/TECH/ELITE^[15]	191 in	78 in	68 in	108 in	4,577 lb

How 2013 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each MDX model year. The 2013 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2001	224	4
2002	205	4
2003	206	11
2004	171	8
2005	180	11
2006	87	9
2007	99	0
2008	49	0
2009	52	0
2010	45	1
2011	70	0
2012	76	1
2013	30	1
2014	172	8
2015	71	8
2016	377	7
2017	268	9
2018	170	10
2019	198	9
2020	229	8
2022	180	3
2023	48	3
2024	43	3
2025	111	4
2026	9	1

NHTSA's counts for the MDX show 30 complaints and 1 recalls for 2013^[3]. Among the 25 model years listed, 1 have fewer complaints than 2013 and 23 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2026 (9) and the most are for 2016 (377)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2013 MDX?

The complaint record for this SUV is small, with 30 complaints on file^[1]. The engine and electrical groups lead the list^[2]^[6]. The fires reported in the electrical group deserve a careful look when you shop^[6]. A recall exists for this year, so check the recall section above^[3]. These are owner reports and not tested findings, so use them as a checklist for a pre-purchase inspection.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Acura MDX?: Engine complaints lead with 10^[2], followed by the electrical system with 8^[6].
Has the 2013 Acura MDX had recalls?: Yes, there is 1 recall for this year^[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for details.
Are there fire reports for the 2013 Acura MDX?: Owners filed 3 complaints that mention a fire^[1]. Three of them sit in the electrical group^[6].
How is the fuel economy of the 2013 Acura MDX?: See the Fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.
Is the 2013 Acura MDX reliable?: The record shows 30 complaints^[1]. Compare it with other years in the by-year section of this page.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Acura MDX

2008 49 complaints, 0 recalls
2011 70 complaints, 0 recalls
2012 76 complaints, 1 recall
2013 this page
2014 172 complaints, 8 recalls
2015 71 complaints, 8 recalls
2016 377 complaints, 7 recalls
2017 268 complaints, 9 recalls
2018 170 complaints, 10 recalls
2020 229 complaints, 8 recalls

Compare all model years of the Acura MDX

Other Acura models from 2013

2013 Acura RDX 162 complaints, 3 recalls

All Acura models

Similar cars from 2013: small suvs

2013 Jeep Patriot 120 complaints, 1 recall
2013 Lincoln MKX 163 complaints, 1 recall
2013 Mazda CX-9 68 complaints, 4 recalls
2013 Nissan Murano 74 complaints, 1 recall
2013 Nissan Pathfinder 890 complaints, 11 recalls
2013 Nissan Rogue 610 complaints, 1 recall

All small suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 30 owner complaints on file for the 2013 Acura MDX (0 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
10 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Acura MDX model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for MDX 4WD, 3.7L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 21 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV 4WD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 14.0%. NHTSA vehicle records
8 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 77,543). NHTSA vehicle records
5 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
4 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
3 complaints name the speed control component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
3 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
3 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
2 complaints name the forward collision avoidance component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 23V858, filed December 18, 2023: Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump. NHTSA recall database
EPA Test Car List, 2013 Acura MDX with 3.7L 6-cylinder: rated 300 hp. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MDX 4DR SUV AWD/TECH/ELITE: length 191 in, width 78 in, height 68 in, wheelbase 108 in, curb weight 4,577 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2013 Acura MDX: problems, recalls and fuel economy