RoadVitals

2005 Acura MDX Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest May 27, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 180 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Acura MDX submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed May 27, 2020

RECALL NOT FIXED IN TIMELY MANNER AT ALL NOW CAR ISN'T WORKING BRAKES STICKING JUST NOT SAFE AT ALL CAN'T DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11326220
Incident
Feb 4, 2020
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Feb 28, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR BRAKES ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY WITH THE VSA (VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V092000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM) AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

NHTSA ID
11312083
Incident
Jan 15, 2020
Mileage
153,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesElectrical+1 more
Filed May 16, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS), 13V092000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM), AND 12V573000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10865227
Incident
Sep 12, 2014
AirbagsBrakesSuspension
Filed May 11, 2016

I FINANCED A CAR FROM A DEALER IN 3-2016 CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO START SO THE DEALER INFORMED ME WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM AND IT WAS THAT I WAS USING THE WRONG KEY. DEALER ALSO SAID THAT I CAN TAKE THE CAR TO A MECHANIC TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR TOOK IT TO PEP BOYS AND OVER 20 ISSUES SHOWED FROM LACK OF OIL TO CONTROL ARM SHAKING I HAD ROAD SAFETY ISSUES AND I INFORMED THE DEALER AND HE TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO HIS MECHANIC AND HE WILL GIVE ME A DISCOUNT THAT'S WHEN I STARTED LOOKING AT THE DEALER WITH SUSPENSION I DID A CAR FAX AND THE DEALER HAD AN INSPECTION STICKER ON THE CAR FROM MARCH THE DAY IF FINANCED THE CAR BUT ON CAR FAX IT SHOWN THAT THEY INSPECTED THE CAR IN DECEMBER OF 2015 2 WEEKS LATER THE AIR BAG SENSOR SHOWS I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE TOLD ME NOT TO CALL NO MORE OR HE WILL CALL THE POLICE. I SENT HIM A LETTER TO FIX THE PROBLEMS AND HE JUST IGNORED ME.. SO NOW IM AT MY LAST STEPS... I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 MONTHS AND ALL OF THESE SAFETY ISSUES ARE SHOWING WHAT CAN I DO NOW......

NHTSA ID
10864445
Incident
Mar 14, 2016
BrakesSteering
Filed Jul 29, 2015

THE ISSUE AT HAND REGARDING THE VSA (VEHICLE STABILITY) FOR WHICH A RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN ISSUED. MY VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN AND RECEIVED THE RECALL. THIS HOWEVER DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE WHICH IS A SERIOUS ISSUE MANY OTHERS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH FACE. THE "YAW RATE SENSOR" MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING SIMILAR BUT MORE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS THAN THE "WIRING HARNESS" ACURA CLAIMS TO HAVE RESOLVED THE VSA ISSUE. THERE IS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE SEEMS TO BRAKE VERY HARD PULLING MY VEHICLE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND NEARLY FLIPPING THE VEHICLE THE ON 7/28/15 AT 65 MPH. THE SITUATION IS EXTREME AS OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING. IT IS NOT A BRIEF AND NON DRASTIC PULL. IF BOTH HANDS ARE NOT ON THE WHEEL AT THE TIME OF MALFUNCTION THE VEHICLE MAY VERY WELL FLIP OVER. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINING THE ISSUE FIGURING THE ISSUE WAS LINKED TO THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT. THE YAW RATE SENSOR IS CAUSING MY CAR TO THINK I'M SPINNING OUT WHICH IMMEDIATELY STOPS SENDING POWER TO THE FRONT LEFT TIRE CAUSING MY CAR TO VEER HARD TO THE LEFT. THEY WANTED $75 FOR AN INSPECTION AS WELL AS $1200 TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THIS SEEMS LIKE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE FOR THERE NOT TO BE A RECALL. PLEASE LOOK INTO OTHER WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10744513
Incident
Sep 7, 2011
Mileage
108,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed May 9, 2015
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I, ALONG WITH MY WIFE, PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING SLOT WITH SEAT BELTS SECURELY FASTENED AND STARTED DRIVING. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE CAR WENT INTO SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I HAD NO CONTROL ON BRAKES OR ACCELERATOR. I HAD TO FIND A WAY TO STOP THE CAR. I STEER THE CAR ON TO MIDDLE CURB OF THE PARKING LOT. FIRST I HIT THE GATE, WHICH WAS FLEXIBLE AND DID NOT STOP THE CAR. NEXT THING I HIT WAS A LIGHT POLE. THE CAR STOPPED WITH BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, LOT OF DAMAGE TO CAR (COMPLETELY TOTALED) AND CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY TO ME AND MY WIFE WHO WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. DUE TO THE SPEED OF THE CAR, THE CONCRETE BASE WAS LIFTED FROM THE GROUND AND THE POLE FELL IN FRONT AWAY FROM THE CAR. WE BOTH CHECKED INTO THE HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CRASH. THIS WAS CAUSED BY MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE CAR. THE REASON I SAY THIS IS BECAUSE: A) I JUST LEFT THE PRAYER HALL, WHERE I GO FREQUENTLY AND AM FAMILIAR WITH THE SURROUNDING WHERE OTHER CARS ARE PARKED AND MOVING, PEOPLE ARE WALKING TO AND FROM THEIR CARS, AND HAD NO REASON TO ACCELERATE; B) I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ACCIDENT FREE FOR PAST 39 YEARS, MY DRIVING RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF; C) DRIVING IS REQUIRED IN THE PROFESSION I AM IN, WHERE I HAVE TO VISIT CLIENTS FEW TIMES A WEEK; D) I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE CAR BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR FOR OVER 4 YEARS. E) I AM A FAMILY MAN AND NOT A RECKLESS DRIVER. I CARE TOO MUCH FOR MY FAMILY, AND ESPECIALLY MY GRANDSON, TO TAKE A CHANCE LIKE THIS; F) I AM PERFECTLY HEALTHY AND CONSCIOUS ABOUT MY SURROUNDINGS. IT HAS BEEN SIX WEEKS AND WE ARE STILL EXPERIENCING PAIN FROM THE INJURY. I BELIEVE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO AVOID SUCH INCIDENTS IN FUTURE. THIS CRASH COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL.

NHTSA ID
10715460
Incident
Mar 24, 2015
Mileage
120,374 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Oct 17, 2014

THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT BRAKE RANDOMLY APPLIES EVEN IF YOU DON'T TOUCH THE BRAKES. IT PULLS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VSA! LIGHT COMES ON EVERY TIME SIGNALING AN ISSUE WITH THE TRAFFIC CONTROL. THERE WAS RECALL THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE ISSUE HOWEVER IT DID NOT. IT CAN OCCUR AT 70 MPH OR 5 MPH, THERE IS NO RHYME TO WHY IT OCCURS HOWEVER I FEAR FOR MY WIFE AND MY CHILDREN WHEN IT IS DRIVEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10648306
Incident
Sep 20, 2012
Mileage
106,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 21, 2013

WELL WHEN I DID A SUDDEN EMERGENCY STOP BECAUSE A CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED THEIR BRAKES I NOTICED THAT MY BRAKES DIDN'T LOCK UP TO CAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM TO TRIGGER IN CASE I HAD TO DO SOME MANEUVERING. HONDA EVIDENTLY RECALLED BRAKE BOOSTERS IN SOME OF THEIR OTHER MODEL CARS BUT NOT THIS ONE. THIS MAYBE THE PROBLEM NOT SURE. BUT IT'S AWFULLY DANGEROUS. I AM ON A ACURA MDX FORUM AND THERE ARE OTHERS WHO'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10521001
Incident
Mar 1, 2013
Mileage
123,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Apr 5, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AND DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. AFTER A THIRD FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V092000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM) WAS PREVIOUSLY DONE ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THE TPMS , VSA, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED THEN THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REVEALED A YAW SENSOR CODE VIA THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10507211
Incident
Feb 19, 2013
BrakesSuspension
Filed Apr 1, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER TO THE RIGHT AND THEN THE BRAKE WOULD ENGAGE INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA) WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V092000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM). THE SAME DAY THE RECALL REMEDY WAS PERFORMED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE MOST RECENT DEFECT. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE YAW SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10505240
Incident
Feb 7, 2013
Mileage
184,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Oct 12, 2012

THE BRAKE WILL APPLY ON ITS OWN AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON BECAUSE YOU DON'T PRESS THE PEDAL WHICH WOULD TRIGGER THE BRAKE SWITCH TO TURN THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AS IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME NUMEROUS TIMES AT HIGH SPEED. NOTE I SENT TO ACURA DURING THE UNCOMMANDED BRAKE ISSUE, IT DESCRIBES THE ISSUE ETC.. THIS IS <MY NAME>, I HAD BROUGHT MY 2005 MDX WHICH I BOUGHT NEW FROM YOU BACK IN 2005 IN FOR THE UNCOMMANDED BRAKE APPLICATION ISSUE ON FEB 10TH 2010. AS YOU KNOW WHEN THIS ISSUE HAPPENS THE BRAKE APPLIES ITSELF WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE GAS PEDAL AND SOMETIMES THE VSA AND ! LIGHT COME ON AND SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT. ON THE 10TH I DROVE THE CAR WITH YOU MECHANIC AND WE HAD A BRIEF EXPERIENCE OF THE ISSUE BUT BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND WHEN MY FOOT WAS OFF OF THE BRAKE IT STILL APPLIED ITSELF AND THEN RELEASED AND THEN APPLIED AGAIN WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE PEDAL. THE MOST SERIOUS OF THE ISSUES IS WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE GAS AND THE BRAKE APPLIES ITSELF. ON THAT DAY YOUR MECHANIC DID A BUNCH OF TESTS FROM THE SERVICE MANUAL FOR DTC 66 & 68 INCLUDING: -- "THE JIGGLE" TEST TO SEE IF SOMETHING WAS LOOSE AND WOULD TRIGGER A CODE -- BATTERY TEST FOR VOLTAGE -- GROUND CONNECTION TO BODY CLEAN AND RESET -- VSA CONNECTOR WAS TAKEN OFF AND PUT BACK ON -- CODES WERE RESET THERE IS MORE BUT THE LENGTH IS GREATER THAN ALLOWABLE MAXIMUM OF '1,901'. *TR

NHTSA ID
10479885
Incident
Feb 10, 2010
Mileage
44,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 25, 2010
Crash reported

2005 ACURA MDX WITH 60K MILES. PULLED INTO STARBUCKS TO BUY COFFEE CAME BACK OUT PUT CAR INTO REVERSE CAR STARTED PULLING OUT IMMEDIATELY WHILE FOOT WAS STILL ON BRAKE CAR WOULD NOT STOP STEPPED HARDER PUSHING THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY CAR CONTINUE TO REVERSE I PANICKED AND PUSHED THE SHIFT STICK TO P *FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE CAR STILL DIDN'T STOP IT HIT A ROW OF HEDGES. *NOTE I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW FROM THE DEALER APART FROM THE LOUD THUDS THAT ACURA SAY DUE TO FLOATING BRAKE CALIPERS I HAD ONE OTHER DANGEROUS ENCOUNTER. APPROX 5K MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY ABOUT 65MPH ALL LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE DASH CAME ON, LOST ALL POWER AND CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN IMMEDIATELY. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE TURN OFF THE CAR WAITED FOR A WHILE AND STARTED AGAIN IT DROVE NORMALLY HOME. NEVER HAD A CRAZY INCIDENT TILL THIS MORNING AT STARBUCKS. I NEARLY HAD A HEART ATTACK AND NO LONGER NEEDED THE COFFEE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10339970
Incident
Jun 24, 2010
Mileage
60,200 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Jun 19, 2010

DRIVING ON CITY STREET 1 BLOCK FROM ENTERING FREEWAY I FELT A STRANGE GRABBING AND VIBRATION TYPE SENSATION FROM MY 2005 MDX. A FEW FEET FURTHER THE CAR FELT LIKE I HAD STEPPED ON BRAKES AND GAS AT THE SAME TIME AND LITERALLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THE CAR BEHIND SWERVED AND BARELY MISSED ME. I MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED ACURA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. HAD I BEEN ON THE FREEWAY THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED A MULTIPLE CAR COLLISION THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS WONDERFUL BUT I FEEL THAT SINCE I ONLY HAVE 70,000 MILES ON THIS CAR; THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AND THE LOCKING OF THE WHEELS AT ANY SPEED IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE REPAIR WAS A REPLACEMENT OF THE MODULATOR ASSEMBLY ABS/VSA AT A COST OF $$1653. I JUST KEEP WONDERING WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING 70 MILES PER HOUR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10339174
Incident
Jun 16, 2010
Mileage
70,311 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Sep 10, 2008
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. SHE SIDESWIPED A PARKED VEHICLE ON THE STREET. ALSO, THE BRAKES JOLTED SPONTANEOUSLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND NO INJURIES. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TIE ROD WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE INSURANCE ADJUSTERS REGARDING THE DAMAGES FOR REPAIR. SHE WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 25,000.

NHTSA ID
10241712
Incident
Jul 31, 2008
Mileage
25,000 mi

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.

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