2008 Acura MDX Acura MDX 2008

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2008 Acura MDX repairs by problem area

Engine (12%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (8%)

Brakes and Traction Control (4%)

Suspension and Steering (17%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (36%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (16%)

Other (6%)

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Chart based on 321 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2008 Acura MDX.

2008 Acura MDX electrical repair cost distribution

$2500+ (0%)

$1000 - $2499 (3%)

$500 - $999 (11%)

$100 - $499 (39%)

< $100 (47%)

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Chart based on 98 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2008 Acura MDX

Engine not specified

9000 mi Check airbag light coming on intermittently. Driver seat adjustments did not work. 
9000 mi Check airbag light returned. Electrical harness for drivers seat had to be changed. Drivers seat did not adjust. Shop found poor connection in seat harness that was replaced prior 

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2008 Acura MDX 4dr SUV

300-horsepower 3.7L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

65000 mi CD player stopped working. Owner removed unit and delivered to local auto stereo shop. This is an OEM Alpine unit. Shop was not able to repair due to no parts available. Owner discovered that this is the third CD unit installed. 
47000 mi

US $800
CD player inop. This was the Acura MDX OEM unit. Owner ordered new CD pod from ACura dealer on an exchange basis and removed defective CD pod and installed new CD pod. 
89000 mi

US $300
Rear window motors failed 
94000 mi I never fixed the windows, and eventually all of the windows stopped working in March or April (~1 month before getting rid of the car). 
132700 mi Battery replace 
77000 mi

US $368
New key was program 
80000 mi

US $250
Driver's door lock/unlock switch not working consistently - switch replaced. 
89000 mi

US $450
Replace turn signal mechanism. Also perform routine maintenance. Chose not to repair failed Bluetooth unit, too expensive. 
52000 mi

US $200
Failed mirror actuators, both sides. 
79000 mi

US $200
Handsfreelink unit failure. Unit remained on after car was off, killing the battery. Unit got very hot. Expensive replacement part, but just 4 screws. Simple once problem known 
124000 mi

C $300
HandsFree Link 
38000 mi

US $200
Power mirror on left side didn't work. Fixed. Also did a differential fluid change that cost money tho. 
68000 mi

US $210
Issue with A/C relay. Diagnosis and repair 
35000 mi CD changer stopped working. Replaced unit. Was advised that pre-recorded blank CDs should not be used in the unit. 
40920 mi Air conditioner didn't blow cold air, dealer replaced a part (not sure what part, my wife had it fixed) Works now! 
52360 mi

C $150
Wireless headphones dont always connect with DVD system. Dealer found loose connector at back of radio unit 
86800 mi

C $120
Replaced battery with stronger 880 cranking amps 
99820 mi

C $400
Bluetooth stopped working. Did internet search and found similar issues with the HFL module. Removed the rear console myself (it just pulls back when you sit in the rear seats (on Youtube). Hit the black box and it started working for 2 min 
111600 mi

C $75
Replaced HFL module with new one. Easy to do yourself. Problem solved. Xenon light burnt out passenger side. Ordered on Amazon new Philips bulb (make sure you get an authentic one). Changed it myself, not easy but i did it using my iphone to take pictures as I went. Didnt have to remove bumper. 
83000 mi

US $350
Auto setup failed to work. Problem was motors/sensors in side mirrors. Replaced. 
84700 mi

US $425
Bad low-beam bulb. John Eagle Acura charged my wife $425 for one bulb and installation. Retail bulb cost is $80. I'll not go back to John Eagle Acura for repairs. 
94700 mi

US $1035
Leaking schrader valve replaced. 
163700 mi

US $415
Alternator shorted, draining the battery very rapidly (10 minutes). Opted to have it repaired locally rather than towing 60 miles to the dealer. 
182000 mi

US $900
Analysis of "chattering" problem, determined that the fresh air motor assembly was faulty. Did not repair. 
75000 mi Problems with the HandsFreeLink activating/starting up and connecting with a phone. Checked all fuses, and re-set radio, but still no dice. I guess I'll have to take it in for an official dealer check. 
76200 mi Replaced Hands Free Link module - $200. The previous HFL had an internal fault that caused it to stay on and slowly drain the battery. Repair detailed under Acura Service Bulletin B08-057. 
80300 mi

US $180
Had Dealer change out engine oil level sensor as per Acura Service Bulletin B09-012 (MID or Navi Shows a Check Engine Oil Level Message, Low Oil Pressure). Outside of warranty. 
86000 mi

US $500
CD Changer had error "MECH ERROR" on dash display. 
58280 mi Electrical whine at cold start - dx faulty starter and replaced. Never had any problems starting car though. 
75000 mi

US $330
Battery drain. First two shops could not figure it out. I ended up disconnecting the hands free link. Battery also was replaced. It's been a week and I hope it is fixed. 
121000 mi

US $1900
A/C clutch, replacement window actuators, replacement 
1729800 mi

C $950
replace alternator 
199000 mi

US $400
The XM Satellite radio receiver was causing a slow battery drain on fuse #5. The mechanic had to trace back through the entire component tree until he was finally able to isolate to this part, behind the rear passenger-side panel in the hatch area, below the subwoofer. The drain was killing the battery in 3-4 days. The component was not replaced. It was left unplugged since it is not used. 
208000 mi

US $100
Short in system causes it to reset during regular use 
135000 mi

US $750
AC relay failed, caused compressor to be stuck in "ON" position. Resulted in overpressure of AC system. Multiple other items replaced. 
86800 mi

C $300
no power to compressor clutch, replaced relay 
70000 mi

US $1000
Bluetooth connection was wearing down the battery. 
126548 mi

US $120
Replaced defective Battery. 
144500 mi

US $50
TPMS light is on. Replaced one of the tire sensor. 
119000 mi

US $400
Bluetooth module 
108000 mi

US $125
headlamp went out, apparently not something an owner could replace 
40387 mi

US $239
battery cable cracked and corroded through cable. replaced assembly cable starter and battery cable 
43494 mi

US $199
replaced dead battery 
56848 mi

US $653
Replaced starter 
62000 mi

US $252
Replace A/C relay and recharge. Caused battery failure. Failure to start. 
66000 mi Clicking or "chattering" sound located under dash around steering column. Service rep said it was a butterfly actuator valve and would require taking out dash to repair. Elected to not repair since I was about to trade car. 
66000 mi Actuator valve inside IP never repaired. 
26000 mi Passenger rear view mirror did not return to position after backing up the car 
30500 mi Front accessory plug would not charge Blackberry. Fuse blown. 
41000 mi CD Player jammed. Replacement CD player needed 
50000 mi Memory seat stopped working 
77000 mi Battery was defective and was replaced. Also auto seat positioning system was not working properly and had to be rebooted to correct issue. 
82000 mi

US $600
The seat positioning buttons where not working properly! 
191000 mi

US $700
Hand Free Module went out, so I replaced system with "The Parrot" an aftermarket product. 
193000 mi Battery was dead and had to be replaced. 
197000 mi Found that the Hands Free Link (HFL) module was draining the battery, so I disconnected the unit since it was already defective and was previously replaced by a Parrot unit. 
33420 mi Passenger mirror was clicking when adjusted or tilting down in reverse. Would not fully move.  
87700 mi

US $100
Battery Died 
98000 mi

US $50
AC Compressor Relay failed 
144000 mi Replaced Alternator 
40000 mi Mirror would not return to preset position after being put in reverse 
125000 mi

US $600
xenon light bulb failed 
1010 mi Main fuse blown, car cannot start. Driver side (Front and Back) AC has no cool air. Found leak pipe, replaced and recharged AC system 
1080 mi Car won't Start, main fuse blown 
10000 mi

US $40
Burned gauge fuse, may have been caused by my attached accessories 
63000 mi

US $250
HID headlight lamp replacement 
32000 mi Voice on telephone not working. Dealer replaced. 
14000 mi CD player broken. Parts ordered. 
37000 mi Faulty oil pressure sensor replaced under an established TSB by dealer. Problem successfully addressed under warranty. 
67000 mi

US $160
Daytime running lite burned out. Repair required removal of the front bumper. 
156000 mi

US $180
The relay switch that controlled the AC was going bad - it worked when it wanted to. 
13000 mi Driver side mirror actuator failed and needed to be replaced. 
39000 mi CD player jammed, would not eject cd. Dealer replaced entire audio unit at no charge to me. 
44200 mi A/C making clicking noise, still worked fine, just made noise, they replaced a part, fixed 
87000 mi Alternator died and had to replace, was not charging battery 
87800 mi

US $340
In October right front passenger low beam bulb went out, which costs a ridiculous amount to replace. 
92000 mi Recurring faulty check engine oil level light, oil level was fine, but the warning light keep going off and on, also high pitched whine coming from engine when outside air temp cold 
41000 mi The sports suspension light was out on the console. 
24300 mi The right mirror actuator was replaced. 
25000 mi Navigation system freezes 
91000 mi

US $380
Replace wire harness under driver seat which was causing malfunction in airbag sensor system 
117000 mi

US $300
freon leak fixed and freon recharge 
120000 mi

US $350
fan replacement 
14000 mi XM traffic not working in NAV system. Dealer updated NAV/audio firmware. 
31000 mi Seats would not fully adjust when switching keys. Pressing seat memory # would stop part way through adjusting or fail completely. Dealer replaced mirror actuators. 
37500 mi Front AC was not cooling well, rear AC was ok. Dealer replaced a bad AC expansion valve. 
47800 mi

US $438
Nav system locks up with "error reading disc please consult your dealer". Dealer says unit under drivers seat got wet from snow. Design location seems flawed. Sending to Alpine for repair. 
59400 mi

US $200
A/C wasn't cooling. Dealer tracked this to a bad relay Seats and mirrors don't fully reposition when selecting driver 1 or 2. 
69500 mi

US $300
bluetooth hands free link stopped detecting any phones. replaced bluetooth module 
11000 mi drivers side mirror quit going up and down when shifting into reverse 
81840 mi

C $600
Was told the Bluetooth device remained on even when car was not running, which led to drainage of my battery. Workaround was to have Bluetooth shutoff and not used. 
88660 mi

C $50
Tended to get Check Trailer Stability Assist Warning when I stepped on brake pedal. Replaced stop pedal control switch. 
44700 mi Drivers side Power Mirror Motor replaced. 
55000 mi DVD Stuck inside 6 disk DVD Player. DVD Player Lubricated, seems to have been fixed, and the disk was removed successfully. Dealer offered to replace entire unit if event happens agains. 
32860 mi Memory seat and mirrors position started to fail. There is a TSB for this. The dealer has to change both mirror actuators. Did not have the parts so he order them and going to take it back next week to install parts. Dealer replaced parts ordered at a previous visit. 
20000 mi Pilot lamp for sport/comfort button replaced. 
23000 mi Passenger side mirror actuators were not working all the time when mirror resets after backing up. Actuators were replaced as the fix. 
48000 mi

US $280
Passenger headlight burned out. Bulb was replaced (Bulb was $162 itself) 
25000 mi mirror is suppose to tilt down in reverse. It did not get repaired. Need to take it back. 
97810 mi

US $750
replaced one failed TPMS sensor;  
64700 mi oil sensor replaced, was giving false low oil warning 
13000 mi Power lock was making noise. Dealer replaced  
13000 mi Bluetooth in car unsynched with cellphone. Dealer re-set and re-synched 
17000 mi Rear HVAC controls reset by themselves. Dealer could not duplicate. 
5000 mi The handsfree unit would loose connectivity with the phone device intermittantly. Replaced the enitre unit at no cost to me. 

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2008 Acura MDX 4-door

6-cylinder automatic AWD

4000 mi Music CD can not eject and dealer replaced with a new CD player 

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2008 Acura MDX Electrical Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2008 Acura MDX problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.