Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| At 160,000 mi | Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed) |
Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 MDX.
The 2012 Acura MDX is an SUV paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, carrying EPA estimates of 16 mpg city, 21 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined and calling for 4.5 quarts of 5W-20 API oil at routine service. Across the model’s 2001–2026 owner-complaint history, the 2012 edition sits well below the 359-complaint peak logged in 2016, having accrued just 75 complaints and one recall. That relatively modest complaint count places it among the lower-complaint years in the MDX timeline, though engine-related issues still rank as its most common owner-reported problem.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 630 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (S6) |
| Overall length | 190.9 in |
| Overall width | 78.3 in |
| Overall height | 68.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.3 in |
| Curb weight | 4550 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 67.7 / 67.7 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 56/44 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 16 / 21 / 18 mpg |
| Drivetrain | All-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the MDX of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | SH-AWD Advance & Entertainment Package 3.7L V6 | 6.70 sec | 15.20 sec | 300 hp | AWD |
| 2010 | SH-AWD Advance & Entertainment Package 3.7L V6 | 6.60 sec | 15.10 sec | 300 hp | AWD |
| 2010 | SH-AWD Advance & Entertainment Package 3.7L V6 | 6.80 sec | 15.30 sec | 300 hp | AWD |
| 2007 | SH-AWD Sport & Entertainment Package 3.7L V6 | 7.00 sec | 15.50 sec | 300 hp | AWD |
| 2007 | SH-AWD Sport & Entertainment Package 3.7L V6 | 7.30 sec | 15.70 sec | 300 hp | AWD |
| 2007 | SH-AWD Sport & Entertainment Package 3.7L V6 | 7.60 sec | 16.00 sec | 300 hp | AWD |
| 2007 | SH-AWD Sport & Entertainment Package 3.7L V6 | 8.10 sec | 16.40 sec | 300 hp | AWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 94 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6.
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | ATF |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 3.3 |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | ATF |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 3 |
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 5.5 Pints |
| Engine Oil | 5W-20 · API |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4.5 qt |
| Engine Flywheel Bolts | AT: 54, MT: 76 ft-lbs |
| Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts | 16 ft-lbs |
| Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts | 23 ft-lbs |
| Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts | In three steps: 16 ft-lbs |
| Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts | 23 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | 29.0 ft-lbs |
| Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs | 9 ft-lbs |
| Engine Valve Cover Bolts | 8.9 ft-lbs |
| Driveshaft Flange to Transmission | 53.0 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 94 ft-lbs |
| Transfer Case Fill Plug | 35.0 ft-lbs |
| Transfer Case Drain Plug | 35.0 ft-lbs |
| Front Wheel Hub | 242 ft-lbs |
| Rear Wheel Hub | 181 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-4-2-5-3-6 |
| Curb Idle Speed (No Load) | 710 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load) | 50 rpm |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | NGK |
| Spark Plug Gap | 0.039-0.043 in |
| Spark Plug Torque | 13.0 ft-lbs |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 1.25-1.40 lbs |
| Oil Group | PAG |
| Oil Type | 46 |
| Oil Capacity | 4.22-4.65 oz |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 24F |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 630 cca |
| Pressure Test | 14-18 psi |
| Radiator Cap Pressure Relief | 14-18 psi |
| Thermostat Opening Temperature | 169-176 °F |
| Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum) | 55.0 |
| Engine Compression | 135 minimum PSI. 28 maximum variation PSI. |
| Engine Oil Pressure | 10 psi @ Idle, 50 psi @ 3000 rpm psi |
| Intake Valve Lash | 0.008-0.009 in |
| Exhaust Valve Lash | 0.011-0.013 in |
| Torque Caliper to Bracket | 53 ft-lbs / 27 ft-lbs |
| Torque to Knuckle | 101 ft-lbs / 65 ft-lbs |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | 0.063 in |
| Rotor Max Parallel Variation | 0.0006 in |
| Rotor Runout Limit | 0.0016 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness From | 1.098 in / 0.429 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness To | 1.106 in / 0.437 in |
| Rotor Discard at or Under | 1.024 in / 0.354 in |
| 1 | 14 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 | 14 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 47 ft. lbs, step 2: 60 | 47 ft. lbs |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| At 160,000 mi | Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2012 Acura MDX sits near the tail of the second generation, and its federal record reflects that: 76 complaints, a single recall, no investigations, and 87 TSBs — all well below the elevated totals that defined the first generation (peaking at 224 complaints and 13 recalls in 2001) and the third generation (which spiked to 359 complaints and 7 recalls in 2016). Within its own generation, 2012 is slightly heavier on complaints than its 2010–2011 predecessors (45 and 70) and meaningfully higher than the cleaner 2013 (29), and its TSB count of 87 represents the highest of the 2007–2013 run, suggesting an uptick in minor service bulletins even as serious actions remained scarce. The complaint mix is concentrated in engine (15) and power train (11) issues, with 8 air bag complaints and a small but non-trivial tally of 4 crash and 3 fire reports — the data does not specify root causes, so the specific failure modes would warrant a pre-purchase inspection. Compared to the 2014 and 2016 model years that follow, 2012 is markedly cleaner on every metric, positioning it as a relatively low-risk bet within the MDX lineup. Concrete takeaway: 2012 is one of the better years to consider used, though buyers should prioritize verifying the engine and transmission behavior and confirming recall completion, given the mild uptick relative to 2010–2011.
All 75 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 PILOT AND ACURA MDX VEHICLES. THE VENT SHUT FLOAT (VSF) VALVE CASE IN THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY DOES NOT MEET THE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS. Remedy: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VSF ASSEMBLY DATE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 13…
Showing 5 of 87 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOR-M9J4S-07 | 2020-06-03 | Engine And Engine Cooling | These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication… |
| B19-052 | 2019-10-02 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Service Bulletin - Due to high demand for repairs under this warranty extension, pistons… |
| BBOM08312019 | 2019-08-31 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Dealer Message - On January 16, 2019, Acura announced a warranty extension for certain… |
| B19-006 | 2019-08-10 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Service Bulletin - The oil control rings may become clogged with carbon deposits. These… |
| B19-006 | 2019-05-18 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Service Bulletin - The oil control rings may become clogged with carbon deposits. These… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
4.5 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 16 city / 21 highway / 18 combined mpg.