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Acura: reliability & common problems

#14 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~197k
~115k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles
88
Acuras inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
59/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100



Based on 88 used Acuras we inspected, they tend to be in slightly worse shape than average — average condition 59/100 vs 61 for all cars we check. Every number on this page comes from real pre-purchase inspections — cars people were about to buy and paid an independent inspector to go through point by point, engine to underbody, paint depth to error codes. Not owner surveys, not warranty statistics, not forum lore: what we actually found.

What we found

Most common faults

Oil leaks · Engine
57%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
51%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
47%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
28%
Fluid leaks · Steering (hydraulic power)
23%

Share of inspected Acuras where each item was flagged.

How they score

Excellent 27% Good 24% Mediocre 23% Poor 26%
Hidden history

What the seller might not mention — how often we find it on Acuras.

80%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 75%
6%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
32%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 24%

Compare with another brand:

Cross-shopping? Acura vs BMW · Acura vs Lexus · Acura vs Mercedes

How long does a Acura last?

Across every Acura body style we've inspected — sedans, SUVs and anything else pooled together — the average one's condition dips below decent (a 55/100 score) around ~115k miles. It ranks Acura #14 of 24 brands we have enough data to rate; the longest-lasting, Tesla, holds up to ~197k. Shopping a Acura near that mileage? Expect more wear ahead — see which makes give the best odds at your budget.



Good cars by mileage
0 25 50 75 100 20–40k mi: 93% in good shape (14 cars) 40–60k mi: 100% in good shape (5 cars) 60–80k mi: 80% in good shape (10 cars) 80–100k mi: 44% in good shape (9 cars) 100–120k mi: 14% in good shape (7 cars) 120–140k mi: 33% in good shape (21 cars) 160–180k mi: 36% in good shape (11 cars) 40k 80k 120k 160k 200k mileage when we inspected it
Good cars by age
0 25 50 75 100 2 years old: 88% in good shape (8 cars) 4 years old: 83% in good shape (6 cars) 7 years old: 83% in good shape (6 cars) 9 years old: 40% in good shape (5 cars) 10 years old: 43% in good shape (7 cars) 12 years old: 43% in good shape (7 cars) 2y 4y 6y 8y 10y 12y 14y 16y vehicle age when we inspected it

Share of Acuras in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). The dashed grey curve is all cars we check.



Acura models we've inspected
MDX 25 cars · 48% good RDX 21 cars · profile soon

Recently inspected:

2015 Acura RDX · 94k mi — flagged: boots, cooling. Inspected Sep 29.
2021 Acura RDX · 52k mi — flagged: oil leaks, tires condition & wear. Inspected Sep 29.
The bottom line

Walk up to any used Acura expecting engine trouble and a lot of bodywork. Start under the hood looking for oil seepage and get fuel trims checked live, since those two issues dominate. Run a paint meter because repainted panels are typical, and scan even if the dash is clean given how often codes get wiped. Check tire wear and hydraulic steering for leaks next. These stay decent until about 115,000 miles, so anything near that needs extra skepticism—walk if the engine is already weeping.

FAQ
?
Is Acura reliable?
51% of the 88 Acuras we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, averaging 59/100 — they tend to be in slightly worse shape than average.
?
What are the most common problems with a used Acura?
Across the Acuras we inspected, the items we flag most often are oil leaks (57%), fuel trim out of range (51%), tires condition & wear (47%).
Thinking of buying a Acura? Get the exact car inspected before you pay.
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Based on 88 inspections · updated Oct 1, 2026