RoadVitals

2020 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
5
Latest Dec 12, 2024
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Mar 25, 2021
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2020 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid, most frequently naming the fuel system, driver assistance and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 8 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Fuel system444.4%
  • Driver assistance111.1%
  • Electrical111.1%
  • Engine111.1%
  • Powertrain (other)111.1%
  • Seat belts111.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
21V215000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Mar 25, 2021
624,552 units potentially affected
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-314.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)Manufacturer number Multiple CodesView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP22005ClosedDefect Petition

Pedestrian alert sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023
Closed Aug 7, 2023

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEMLed to recall 22V063000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Dec 12, 2024

There is a recall on my 2020 Acura MDX and I have been going to the local Acura dealer to get the part for the last 6 months and every time I go they tell me they are still waiting for the part. Periodically, the vehicle lurches while I am driving causing a major back and forth tugging and jerking. This is very unsafe. I am demanding that Acura prioritizes my need to get this fixed. I do not know if the jerking of the vehicle is due to the recall, but regardless, Acura needs to do the right thing and send the part to the Acura dealership so I can get this fixed. No Acura dealer in my area says they have the part. I am on a "waiting list." My car last did this jerking motion on 12

NHTSA ID
11630480
Incident
Dec 10, 2024
Seat belts
Filed Oct 22, 2024

Middle row passenger seatbelt malfunctioning. Waiting on part on back order. Available for inspection until it gets replaced. Numerous occasions noticed the belt would lock when getting children out of car and didn’t think anything of it. Had to move middle row seat to get it to retract out of the lock position. Today my child got tangled in the seatbelt and he was trying to get out of car and it retracted and locked and kept getting tighter around his chest. I tried slacking the belt back to loosen it and it wouldn’t retract out and only got tighter. I eventually cut the belt as he couldn’t breathe and I was unable to loosen the belt. It has not been inspected yet by anyone as I’m waiting for the part to come in. No messages on car dashboard.

NHTSA ID
11621163
Incident
Oct 21, 2024
Fuel system
Filed Mar 18, 2024

NHTSA Recall Number 23V-858. Honda/Acura still have NOT fix my car supposedly due to they are short on the fuel pump part.

NHTSA ID
11578174
Incident
Mar 18, 2024
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Aug 21, 2023

When putting the vehicle in "Drive" it unexpectantly rapidly accelerated causing me to aggressively brake the vehicle. It's happened twice and could easily have crashed into surrounding property or pedestrians. I brought the vehicle to the Dealership but considering it is an intermittent problem they couldn't duplicate the situation. Acura said they have no record of anything like this happening. There were no electronic lights or indicators that warned me of a malfunction. The first occurrence was several months ago, and the latest occurrence happened two days ago

NHTSA ID
11539712
Incident
Aug 19, 2023
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 3, 2021

THE CAR DOES HAVE SMOOTH ACCELERATING FROM A STOP; IT FEELS AS IF ITS SEARCHING THROUGH GEARS. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING A HUMMING NOISE IS PRESENT AS IF THE BATTERY OR ELECTRIC PARKING BAKE IS BEING ENGAGED OR DISENGAGED. THE CAR IDLES WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP INSTEAD OF ENGAGING AUTO SHUT OFF FEATURE.

NHTSA ID
11386211
Incident
Nov 18, 2020

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B21-013

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Service Bulletin - (Repair Procedure Revision) Due to swelling of the fuel pump motor impeller, the fuel pump may seize and stop working. If this occurs, the check engine light may be displayed with DTC P0087 (Fuel Rail Pressure Too Low) stored, the engine may not start, or the engine could stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Replace the fuel pump motor.

ONLJ8F20220830

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Owner notification - Our records indicate that a Emissions Recall has not been completed on this vehicle. When the powertrain control module (PCM) detects a malfunction in one of the odd number transmission gears, it will set one of four diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). Due to inappropriate calibration of the PCM, the On Board Diagnostic (OBD) system cannot properly clear the transmission permanent DTC as required.

B20-019

EQUIPMENT; SEATS

"Service bulletin - When speeding up, slowing down, stopping, or turning, you hear or feel a noticeable clicking/popping from the driver's and/or front passenger's seat-back. Clients sometimes compare this to someone kicking the back of the seat. This sensation can also happen when adjusting the seat or shifting your weight in it."

ONLJ8F11022020

POWER TRAIN

Owner Notification Letter - When the powertrain control module (PCM) detects a malfunction in one of the odd number transmission gears, it will set one of four diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). Due to inappropriate calibration of the PCM, the On Board Diagnostic (OBD) system cannot properly clear the transmission permanent DTC as required.

BBOM09152020

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

Dealer Message - Today, September 15, 2020, Acura is announcing a stop sale and emissions recall for certain 2017-2020 MDX Sport Hybrid and 2014, 2016-2020 RLX Sport Hybrid vehicles that may not properly clear specific diagnostic trouble codes (DTC). Presence of these codes may prevent the vehicle from passing a smog test. Refer to your eResponsibility report or do an iN VIN status inquiry to determine which units in your inventory are affected.

B20-039

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; EQUIPMENT; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM); POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:GEARS

"Service Bulletin - When the PCM detects a malfunction in one of the odd number transmission gears, it will set one of the following DTCs: -P073F (unable to engage gear 1) -P074B (unable to engage gear 3) -P074D (unable to engage gear 5) -P074F (unable to engage gear 7) Due to inappropriate calibration of the PCM, the OBD system cannot properly clear the transmission permanent DTC as required."

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Acura MDX Sport Hybrid by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2020Viewing511—
2019821—
2018121—
2017831—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.