The category of luxury SUV has lots of excellent choices, but if you are seeking a reliable and capable model, the Acura MDX is a great choice. The Acura MDX made its debut in 2001 and has become the bestselling three-row luxury SUV of all time in America.
It features excellent handling, a good-sounding V6, and handsome styling on the exterior and interior. If you are considering getting an Acura MDX, you may be wondering what its average lifespan is. Read this article to the end to find out how long Acura MDX lasts and much more.
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Here’s How Long Do Acura MDX Cars Last:
The Acura MDX is a robust and durable SUV that lasts between 200.000 to 300.000 miles when well taken care of, maintained, and driven conservatively. Based on an average of 15,000 miles driven every year, you can expect your Acura MDX to last for 15 to 20 years of proper service before the repair costs become too uneconomical or it starts breaking down.
How Many Miles does Acura MDX Last?
It’s no surprise that the Acura MDX is expected to last for many years. Acura is a luxury model of cars from Honda. The MDX has been built on the same stage as the Honda Passport model, and although the Acura MDX is a bit smaller, the two models share many similar features.
Honda is a Japanese automaker that has earned a great reputation for making durable cars. The Acura MDX model falls in this category with a lifespan of 200k miles to 300k miles.
According to one Acura MDX owner, the vehicle has so far put 250k miles, and it’s still going strong. The only major issue was replacing the shift solenoid sensors. Another person whose MDX has done more than 260 miles had so far not reported any issues but recommends always ensuring you change the timing belt on time.
Some people have also reported their MDX to surpass the 300k miles mark, with one person recording a remarkable over 400k miles after more than twenty years of use without experiencing any problems. However, they stated that they do all the repairs and maintenance on time.
While you can certainly attain such high mileages, you should not keep your expectation that high. Eventually, getting the most lifespan from your Acura MDX depends on various factors such as;
- Driving the SUV conservatively, including; using smooth controlled braking and acceleration.
- Doing all the factory scheduled maintenance on time
- Performing regular basic routine maintenance such as checking tire pressures and fluid levels.
Does The Acura MDX Have Rust Problems?
How soon can you expect rust to appear?
The Acura MDX model is popular for its reliability and as a long-lasting model, as stated earlier. However, with time, rust can develop similar to any SUV model. However, there is no specific time frame when you should expect rust on your Acura MDX. How soon it might happen will mostly depend on your location and how you care for and maintain your vehicle.
Since its establishment in 2001, the model has been around for more than twenty years. For this timeline, it is unsurprising that there have been several complaints on the MDX about rusting, although it’s not a significant or prevalent problem.
Some of the areas reported to have rusting issues include;
- Underneath the gas cap
- Suspension gears behind the wheels
- Around the wheel arches
- Above the door jamb
Depending on your location, rusting can be more of a problem than in other areas. Some of the areas that are more likely to have increased rusting issues include;
- Areas that utilize chemicals and salt to melt snow on the road. Such substances can accelerate the rusting issue on your vehicle.
- Coastal areas where the salty ocean air damages the vehicle’s paint and corrodes the metal parts.
- Places with high rainfall and humidity. The high moisture increases the rate of rusting.
However, rust on a relatively new vehicle is not usual and, in most cases, will be covered by a warranty. According to the official Acura.Ca site, the company covers rust perforation for five years without a distance limit as well as surface corrosion for four years or 8,000 kilometers. So if you experience any early symptoms of rust, you should contact the dealership.
All cars are susceptible to rusting. However, some of the maintenance tips to decrease the rusting risks significantly and increase your MDX lifespan include; getting a rustproofing treatment, cleaning the vehicle regularly after exposure to salt, snow, and dirt, proper storage in a dry covered area, and investing in a ceramic coating to protect the external paint.
What Are the Worst and Best Years for This Model
Worst Model Year
According to carcomplaints.com, the 2010 Acura MDX is the worst year for this model for its increased repair costs and more mechanical issues at lower mileage. According to most owners, the main issue with this model was excessive oil consumption at about 96k miles with a repair cost of about $7,000. Another common complaint about the 2010 Acura MDX is premature transmission failure.
Best Model Year
The 2019-2022 Acura MDX is our pick as the best model year. The MDX models from 2019 to 2022 have had a remarkable track record, and there are no complaints so far on CarComplaints.com. This means that the manufacturer has taken care of most of the problems previous models face over the years.
Have There Been Any Recalls For This Model?
Currently, the Acura MDX has thirty-one recalls across all the Acura MDX model years. Recalls refer to manufacturing repairs that are provided at no cost to the consumer. The recalls made until now range from faulty fuel pumps to airbag issues. The highest number of recalls that have been made was eleven made on the 2003 model.
Conclusion
The Acura MDX is one of the most reliable and durable models you can get. Compared to other SUVs, this model has a lower average annual maintenance and repair costs. The MDX model has an average annual maintenance cost of $580 compared to $800 for most luxury SUVs.
More so, the Acura MDX has a durable transmission with an average lifespan of 200,000 miles, tires that last up to five years, and factory brakes that last up to 70k miles, depending on your driving habits. So, this is one of the best SUVs for you.
