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2014 Acura MDX problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
36% of relevant owner complaints on the 2014 Acura MDX are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 60% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 16 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 33%).
Does the 2014 Acura MDX have transmission problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 56 of 155 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2014 Acura MDX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (36%), and the largest group is filed under power train (27). For comparison, the 2013 scores 44% and the 2015 scores 33%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2014 compares with other Acura MDX years
Of the 13 Acura MDX years with enough complaints to score, the 2014 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (36%). The worst is the 2016 (74%), the best the 2015 (33%). By volume, the 2014 drew 171 complaints (56 drivetrain), against 30 for the 2013 and 71 for the 2015.
Acura MDX years to avoid and best years →
2010 MDX problems · 2011 MDX problems · 2012 MDX problems · 2013 MDX problems · 2014 · 2015 MDX problems · 2016 MDX problems · 2017 MDX problems · 2018 MDX problems · 2019 MDX problems · 2020 MDX problems · 2022 MDX problems · 2023 MDX problems
The rest of the picture on the 2014 Acura MDX
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2014 Acura MDX said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 56 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2014 Acura MDX transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2014 Acura MDX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 9 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD.…
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014 Acura MDX AWD vehicles manufactured May 6, 2013, through October 14, 2013. The bolts that attach the drive shaft to the automatic transmission transfer assembly may not have been properly tightened. As a result, the bolts could loosen possibly allowing the shaft to detach.
Risk: If the drive shaft detaches while driving it could cause excessive noise and possibly damage the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the drive shaft attaching bolts as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on July 3, 2014. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009 or visit their…
7 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2014 Acura MDX? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2014 Acura MDX have transmission problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 56 of 155 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2014 Acura MDX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (36%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2014 Acura MDX?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2014 Acura MDX is steering: 38 of 171 complaints (22%) name it, followed by power train (27) and electrical system (27). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 36% of the relevant total.
Is the 2014 Acura MDX reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 36% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 60% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Acura MDX years we score, it ranks 2nd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2014 Acura MDX?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2014 Acura MDX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 9 in total: 23V858000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 13V571000 (power train: automatic transmission). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Acura MDX years are better?
Among the Acura MDX years we track, the 2015 (33%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2014 (36%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/acura-mdx
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.