Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2003 Acura MDX
NHTSA data on file today
The 2003 Acura MDX has 13 NHTSA recall campaigns and 206 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #19E068000 Accelerator Pedal May Bind/FMVSS 124 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V499000 Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V501000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V182000 Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V344000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V370000 Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V320000 Driver's Frontal Air Bag May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V045000 Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V700000 Passenger Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V353000 Passenger Side Air Bag Inflator may Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V412000 Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V573000 Ignition Interlock may Deform Allowing Rollaway NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E013000 AFTERMARKET HITCH STYLE BIKE RACK NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 104 complaints
- Air Bags 42 complaints
- Electrical System 18 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 16 complaints
- Seat Belts 12 complaints
- Engine 10 complaints
Of the 206 complaints on file, 11 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 206 complaints, owners report 9 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,500–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2003 Acura MDX shows issues with its power train and air bags, evidenced by 206 complaints and 13 recalls. With frequent complaints about the power train and numerous air bag recalls, long-term reliability is a concern. The thin complaint data on other components suggests those issues are less frequent or severe.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| power train | 80,000–120,000 miles | $1,500–$4,000 | common |
| air bags | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | common |
| electrical system | 100,000–140,000 miles | $300–$1,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake system flush
- Transmission fluid change
- Timing belt replacement
- Coolant system flush
- Tire rotations and balances
- Battery inspection and replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Transmission slipping
- Airbag warning lights
- Electrical issues
- Engine overheating
- Unresponsive acceleration
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2003 Acura MDX at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.