Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 MDX.
The 2020 Acura MDX, built on Acura’s long‑running three‑row SUV platform, is powered by a V6 paired with a nine‑speed Automatic (S9) transmission and carries a 5.7‑quart 0W‑20 API oil capacity, delivering EPA‑rated fuel economy of 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. While the model registers 210 owner complaints overall, with the engine identified as the most frequent issue and eight recalls recorded, it sits toward the lower‑mid range of the vehicle’s 2001‑2026 complaint curve—well below the 2016 peak of 359 complaints yet above the 2026 low of six, suggesting a modest reliability standing for its generation.
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 48 · 620 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 (S9) |
| Overall length | 196.1 in |
| Overall width | 77.2 in |
| Overall height | 67.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 111 in |
| Curb weight | 4277 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 66.5 / 66.1 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 58/42 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 19 / 26 / 22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | SH-AWD A-Spec 3.5L V6 | 5.90 sec | 14.50 sec | 290 hp | AWD |
| 2019 | SH-AWD A-Spec 3.5L V6 | 6.30 sec | 14.80 sec | 290 hp | AWD |
| 2018 | Sport Hybrid SH-AWD Advance Package 3.0L V6 + Elec | 6.00 sec | 14.60 sec | 321 hp | AWD |
| 2017 | Sport Hybrid SH-AWD Technology Package 3.0L V6 + Elec | 5.70 sec | 14.50 sec | 321 hp | AWD |
| 2017 | SH-AWD Advance Package 3.5L V6 | 6.00 sec | 14.70 sec | 290 hp | AWD |
| 2017 | SH-AWD Advance Package 3.5L V6 | 6.20 sec | 14.70 sec | 290 hp | AWD |
| 2017 | SH-AWD Advance Package 3.5L V6 | 6.30 sec | 14.90 sec | 290 hp | AWD |
| 2016 | SH-AWD Advance & Entertainment Package 3.5L V6 | 5.90 sec | 14.60 sec | 290 hp | AWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 5.7 qt of 0W-20 API engine oil, Dot 3 brake fluid. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6.
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | ATF |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 3.5 |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | ATF |
| Brake Fluid | Dot 3 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 3.8 qt |
| Engine Coolant | Honda Type 2 antifreeze/coolant |
| Engine Coolant Capacity | 7.8 |
| Engine Coolant | Honda Type 2 antifreeze/coolant |
| Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s) | 9.0 ft-lbs |
| Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s) | 3.0 ft-lbs |
| Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) | 68.0 ft-lbs |
| Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s) | 9.0 ft-lbs |
| Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s) | 34.0 ft-lbs |
| Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s) | 16.0 ft-lbs |
| Flex or Driveplate Bolts | 55.0 ft-lbs |
| Engine Flywheel Bolts | 87.0 ft-lbs |
| Differential Fill Plug | 35.0 ft-lbs |
| Differential drain Plug | 35.0 ft-lbs |
| Driveshaft Flange to Transmission | 24.0 ft-lbs |
| Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts | 44.0 ft-lbs |
| Transfer Case Fill Plug | 32.0 ft-lbs |
| Transfer Case Drain Plug | 32.0 ft-lbs |
| Automatic Transmission Drain Plug | 26.0 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-4-2-5-3-6 |
| Curb Idle Speed (No Load) | 680 ± 50 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load) | 680 ± 50 rpm |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | Acura |
| Spark Plug Gap | .039-.043 in |
| Spark Plug Torque | 16 ft-lbs |
| Ignition Timing | 5±2 °BTDC degrees |
| Ignition Timing Reference RPM | Idle rpm |
| Refrigerant | R1234yf |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 1.33-1.44 lbs |
| Oil Type | RL85HM POE oil or equivalent. |
| Oil Capacity | 4.29-5.17 oz |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 48 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 620 cca |
| Optional BCI Group Number | 48 |
| Optional BCI Cranking Performance | 650 cca |
| Engine Oil Pressure | 10.1 |
| Intake Valve Lash | 0.00350 in |
| Exhaust Valve Lash | 0.00350 in |
| Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque | Front: 53; Rear: 26 |
| Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque | Front: 101; Rear: 80 |
| ABS Sensor Torque | Front: 6.6; Rear: 6.6 |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | Front: 0.063; Rear: 0.063 in |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement | Front: 1.102; Rear: .354 |
| Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation | .0006 |
| Maximum Rotor Runout | .0016 |
| 1 | 15.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90° | 15 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 15.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90° | 15 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 48 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60° | 48 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 22 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°, Step 3: 90°, Step 4: When using new bolt turn an additional 90°. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 30.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 47°. Side Bolts: 36.0 | 30 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 30.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 47°. Side Bolts: 36.0 | 30 ft. lbs |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2020 Acura MDX sits at the end of the third generation, which began with a spike in complaints and TSBs in 2014, peaked with a generation-high 359 complaints in 2016, and then saw a gradual decline. At 210 complaints, the 2020 model is slightly above the 2019 level (182) and well above the 2018 low (159), indicating that issues persisted through the generation's final year, though TSBs dropped to a generation-low 110, suggesting fewer new technical problems were being documented. The 8 recalls and 3 investigations are consistent with the generation's elevated pattern, and the top complaint area is engine-related (41 complaints), though the data does not specify root causes. Compared to the redesigned 2022 model, which saw complaints plummet to 131 and recalls to just 2, the 2020 year still reflects the generation's overall higher problem rate. This is a mixed year: it avoids the worst of the 2016 spike but remains more complaint-prone than the subsequent generation, so a pre-purchase inspection focused on engine systems and recall completion is strongly recommended.
All 210 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 8 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the… Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer…
Showing 5 of 110 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| ONL6AX01302026 | 2026-01-31 | Fuel/Propulsion System | Owner Notification Letter - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the… |
| BEBM12032025901 | 2025-12-03 | Engine | Dealer Message - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop… |
| B23-002 | 2025-07-07 | Engine | Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle… |
| B24-022 | 2025-02-19 | Engine | Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on with one or more AWD DTCs having been set… |
| B24-022 | 2024-11-22 | Structure | Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into… |
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.
5.7 qt of 0W-20 API, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined mpg.