Midsize and three-row SUVs · 8 model years, 2014 to 2025
Acura MDX vs Honda Pilot: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Pilot looks better on 3 and the MDX on 1, with 3 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2014 to 2025 | MDX | Pilot |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 2.8% | 1.8% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 1.3% | 0.5% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 1.5% | 1.2% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 42,000 | 47,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 2.6 | 3.6 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 4 | 4 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system MDX owners complain about most is engine, and it is the same for the Pilot. Complaints citing transmission and drivetrain make up 21% of all MDX complaints, against 12% on the Pilot. The Pilot leans the other way on electrical: 30% of its complaints, against 17% for the MDX.
Acura MDXHonda Pilot
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the MDX is stalling (18% of its complaints), and the Pilot shares it (22%).
| Problem | MDX | Pilot |
|---|---|---|
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 18% 287most in 2016 · 48k mi | 22% 1,094most in 2016 · 56k mi |
| Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing | 12% 188most in 2016 · 90k mi | 12% 585most in 2016 · 100k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 5.0% 8012k mi | 13% 616most in 2019 · 23k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 5.8% 92most in 2016 · 87k mi | 7.6% 374most in 2016 · 87k mi |
| Battery dies or the car will not start | 4.5% 7241k mi | 7.9% 387most in 2016 · 45k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 6.5% 10318k mi | 4.0% 195most in 2019 · 14k mi |
| Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard | 6.6% 105most in 2016 · 35k mi | 3.8% 186most in 2016 · 49k mi |
| Multiple warning lights come on at once | 3.6% 5731k mi | 4.7% 230most in 2016 · 40k mi |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
MDX owners report problems earlier. Half the MDX complaints that give a mileage come before 42,000 miles; for the Pilot the halfway point is 47,000. 57% of MDX reports and 52% of Pilot reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Acura MDXHonda Pilot
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 600 for the MDX and 1,887 for the Pilot.
Worst and best years
The 2016 MDX draws 1.6 times the complaints of a typical MDX year for its age. The 2016 Pilot draws 3.2 times the complaints of a typical Pilot year for its age.
Acura MDXHonda Pilot
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Pilot draws more recalls: 3.6 campaigns per model year against 2.6 for the MDX. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Acura MDX
21 recall campaigns and 4 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: fuel system (3), service brakes, hydraulic (3) and exterior lighting (2).
- 23V-858 (fuel system) covers 6 model years
- 25V-259 (exterior lighting) covers 6 model years
Investigations
- DP26001: All wheel drive allegation (closed)
- PE25008: Engine failure (open)
- EA25004: No restart after auto start/stop engages (open)
Honda Pilot
29 recall campaigns and 4 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: fuel system (6), airbags (5) and structure (4).
- 26V-365 (structure) covers 6 model years
- 23V-858 (fuel system) covers 5 model years
Investigations
- PE25008: Engine failure (open)
- EA25004: No restart after auto start/stop engages (open)
- RQ24013: Engine failure (closed)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of MDX complaints report a crash: 2.8%, against 1.8% for the Pilot. Fire reports: 21 for the MDX and 27 for the Pilot.
Acura MDXHonda Pilot
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Acura MDX or the Honda Pilot more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Pilot looks better on 3 and the MDX on 1, with 3 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the MDX has 1,586 complaints and the Pilot 4,920 for the 8 model years from 2014 to 2025 that both have on file, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the MDX or the Pilot?
The MDX has 21 recall campaigns and the Pilot 29 across the 8 model years from 2014 to 2025 that both have on file. The Pilot draws more recalls: 3.6 campaigns per model year against 2.6 for the MDX.
What are the most common problems on the MDX and the Pilot?
The most reported problem on the MDX is stalling (18% of its complaints), and the Pilot shares it (22%).
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