Used car safety, rank #12 of 181
Acura MDX 4WD Safety Rating (2017-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2017-20 Acura MDX 4WD, a midsize luxury SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
Honorable MentionThe 2017-20 Acura MDX 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 6 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize luxury SUVs average of 10.9, which is 45% below the class average. That places it #12 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 93.6/100, earning our Honorable Mention designation, and it typically sells used for $24,000 to $36,000.
What the Acura MDX death rate means
At 6 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Acura MDX 4WD beats the midsize luxury SUVs average of 10.9 by 45%. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 16, so the upper end of the range overlaps the class average and the advantage is not certain.
The other-driver death rate of 14 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Acura MDX. It is higher than the Acura MDX's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used luxury SUVs
The safest midsize luxury SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Acura MDX 4WD highlighted. It ranks 9 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the BMW X3 4WD at a death rate of 0.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW X3 4WD | 2019-20 | 0 (0 to 29) | 98.6 | 2.5/5 | $22,000 to $36,000 |
| Audi Q5 4WD | 2018-20 | 2 (0 to 6) | 97.1 | 3.0/5 | $23,000 to $38,000 |
| Volvo XC90 4WD | 2018-20 | 4 (0 to 13) | 96.3 | 3.5/5 | $26,000 to $42,000 |
| Volvo XC60 4WD | 2018-20 | 5 (0 to 16) | 95.5 | 4.0/5 | $23,000 to $36,000 |
| Lexus RX 350 4WD | 2017-20 | 5 (0 to 10) | 95.5 | 4.0/5 | $26,000 to $40,000 |
| Acura RDX 4WD | 2019-20 | 6 (0 to 18) | 93.6 | 4.5/5 | $22,000 to $34,000 |
| BMW X5 4WD | 2019-20 | 6 (0 to 19) | 93.6 | 2.0/5 | $28,000 to $48,000 |
| Porsche Macan | 2017-20 | 6 (0 to 14) | 93.6 | 1.5/5 | $32,000 to $52,000 |
| Acura MDX 4WD (this page) | 2017-20 | 6 (0 to 16) | 93.6 | 4.0/5 | $24,000 to $36,000 |
Class average for midsize luxury SUVs: 10.9 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Acura MDX
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Acura MDX we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Acura MDX | No award | 84.5 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 93.6 used-car score above.
Reliability and cost of ownership
Reliability: 4.0 out of 5
RepairPal rates the Acura MDX 4.0/5, 2nd out of 14 in its category. Owners spend about $571 a year on repairs and maintenance, visiting the shop 0.4 times a year for unscheduled work, and 8% of those repairs are severe.
RepairPal detailsUsed price: $24,000 to $36,000
Typical asking prices for 2017-20 Acura MDX 4WD listings. For a model with a death rate of 6, that buys more real-world protection per dollar than most alternatives in the midsize luxury SUVs class.
Safety recalls for the Acura MDX 4WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
8 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering structure, air bags, exterior lighting, fuel system, gasoline, engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic.
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Structure: frame and members
Risk: Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026.
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Air bags: sensor, occupant classification, front passenger
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge.
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Exterior lighting
Risk: Vehicle lights that fail to illuminate can decrease visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wiring and install a fuse harness, replace the lid light, and repair the body dust sealer, as necessary, free of charge.
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Air bags: sensor, occupant classification, front passenger
Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge.
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Fuel system, gasoline: delivery, fuel pump
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024.
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Engine and engine cooling: engine, hard parts internal/mechanical
Risk: A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing
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Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components, master cylinder
Risk: Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge.
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Fuel system, gasoline: delivery, fuel pump
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Acura MDX 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Acura MDX 4WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 6 per million registered vehicle years for the 2017-20 Acura MDX 4WD, 45% below the class average (10.9 for midsize luxury SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 93.6 out of 100 and rank #12 of 181 used vehicles, with a Honorable Mention designation.
What is the Acura MDX 4WD driver death rate?
6 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 16. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Acura MDX died at a rate of 14 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2017-20 models.
How does the Acura MDX 4WD compare with other midsize luxury SUVs?
The midsize luxury SUVs class averages 10.9 driver deaths per million; the Acura MDX 4WD sits at 6. Among the 9 midsize luxury SUVs compared above it ranks 9 by safety score; the top of that group is the BMW X3 4WD with a death rate of 0.