Acura MDX Tune-Up & Maintenance Costs (Complete Guide)

The Acura MDX is one of the best-selling luxury SUVs in the United States.

In this article we’ll give you the full breakdown of its maintenance, tune-up and running costs.

Here is the short answer to are Acura MDX expensive to maintain:

The Acura MDX has very affordable maintenance costs. It would cost you around $571 to maintain an Acura MDX every year, which is notably lower than the average of $807 annually for luxury midsize SUVs. A tune-up will be around $258, including the replacement of spark plugs.

Are Acura MDX Expensive to Maintain?

The Acura MDX has very reasonable ownership costs and this is attributed to its excellent reliability.

When looking to buy a new vehicle it’s important to assess maintenance costs to ensure you’re able to properly look after it.

Failing to stay on top of routine servicing and repairs will lead to poor reliability and shorten the lifespan of your vehicle.

Below you’ll find a complete price breakdown for some of the most common costs for the Acura MDX, all data is from RepairPal:

Acura MDX MaintenanceCost
Average annual repairs and maintenance$571
Tune-Up Cost$258
Alternator replacement $602 – $897
Oil change$123 – $136
Wiper blade replacement$107 – $116
Air filter replacement$52 – $59
Battery replacement$229 – $240
New brakes$253 – $279
Coolant change$125 – $158
New tires (set of 4)$1048 – $1456
New tire (one only)$262 – $364
New spark plugs$323 – $349
Tire & wheel assembly rotate & balance$79 – $100
New transmission$3500
Insurance$1632 / year (average)

You may also be interested in our article: Acura MDX Facts and Statistics You Should Know

How Much is a Tune-Up on a Acura MDX?

This will vary greatly depending on where you take your Acura MDX and you’ll likely have to pay more at an Acura dealership than your local mechanic.

Acura recommends having a tune-up every 5,000 miles or six months whichever comes first.

You can expect to pay in the region of $258 for a fairly comprehensive Acura MDX tune-up that includes, but is not limited to:

  • New spark plugs
  • Thorough inspection of engine components
  • Filters changed
  • Coolant flush
  • Cleaning IAC valve (idle air control)
  • Throttle body clean
  • Transmission and differential fluid change

Whilst your Acura MDX is under warranty it is advised you get it serviced at a registered Acura dealership.

Regular tune-ups are highly recommended because:

  • They can bring more power back to your engine.
  • Helps your engine run efficiently and start smoothly, which equates to lower emissions and better fuel economy.
  • Ensures long-term engine health and performance

Alternator Replacement Cost?

A new alternator on a Acura MDX will set you back between $602 – $897 for a replacement which should last around 80,000 to 150,000 miles or 5 – 10 years

While the battery is used for starting your car when the engines off, the alternator keeps your car alive when the engine is running. 

The alternator powers most electronic components while you’re driving around or idling and is also responsible for charging the battery of your car while driving.

Oil Change Cost?

The cost of an oil change should cost in the region of $123 – $136, this includes parts and labor, however does not include taxes and fees. An oil change is one of the most meaningful and vital services for your car.

  • An oil change should be performed on the Acura MDX every 3,000 – 5,000 miles for conventional oil. 
  • Synthetic oil typically should be changed every 7,500 – 10,000 miles.

At most, oil change intervals should not exceed 10,000 miles, twelve months, or 350 hours of engine run time (whichever comes first)

Wiper Blade Replacement Cost?

This is a relatively simple and quick fix, and you can easily save yourself a few bucks by buying your own wiper blades and installing them yourself, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials on this. 

Most Acura MDXs use a 26″ wiper blade on the driver’s side and 21″ on the passenger’s side.

Wiper blades for the Acura MDX can be picked up for around $30, and installed by yourself for free. 

However, if you want a professional to fit them for you then you can expect to pay in the region of $107 – $116 for parts and labor with taxes and fees on top.

You may also be interested in our article: How Long Do Acura MDX Last?

Air Filter Replacement Cost?

According to RepairPal, air filter replacement cost on an Acura MDX is between $52 – $59, not including taxes and fees.

The good news is this task, which should be performed annually or whenever the filter is clogged or dirty, is another fairly straightforward DIY.

Simply open the hood, locate and open the air filter’s housing, remove the old one, insert the new one and replace the housing cover. 

This will help both your car and your bank account breathe a little easier, lots of tutorials on YouTube for this one also. 

Battery Replacement Cost?

According to RepairPal, the cost of a battery replacement for a Acura MDX should cost $229 – $240.

Whilst there are no specific mileage recommendations for when a battery needs to be replaced, they do eventually die.

In general, it’s a good idea to replace your battery once every 4-5 years.

A vehicle’s battery life varies depending on many different factors such as climate, driving habits, and battery type, among many others.

To help your battery last longer:

  1. Keep your battery tightly fastened: The vibrations of your SUV can loosen the connections, potentially resulting in short circuits and internal damage.
  2. Limit short rides: Short rides prevent the battery from fully charging.
  3. Control Corrosion: Clean the terminals (toothbrush dipped in baking soda and water mixture) and keep them free from build-up.

New Brakes Cost?

The average cost to replace your Acura MDX brake pads, According to RepairPal, is between $253 – $279.

Acura MDX brake pads can last anywhere between 30,000 to 60,000 miles and necessary brake work isn’t a cost you can afford to neglect.

Brake pads will wear out at different rates depending on factors such as climate and your style of driving.

Pro tip: To prolong the life of your brakes – Keep your speed low in heavy traffic and avoid any sudden braking.

Cost to Change Coolant?

If it’s just a top-up your Acura MDX requires then this is a simple task you can perform yourself. 

You can pick up coolant at any gas station for a few bucks and top up to the level required.

If on the other hand, you require a coolant change, which simply involves draining the coolant from the base of the radiator and then replenishing with fresh fluids, this is going to cost you a bit more.

According to RepairPal, the average cost of an Acura MDX coolant change is between $125 – $158 (excluding taxes and fees).

How Much Does a New Transmissions Cost?

The average cost for an aftermarket or rebuilt transmission for a Acura MDX could be over $3500. This range may vary depending on the model year.

Transmissions on the Acura MDX typically last 10 – 14 years or around 150,000 to 200,000 miles, depending on how well they are maintained and how the SUV is driven.

Tire & Wheel Assembly, Rotate & Balance Cost

The average cost for an Acura MDX tire & wheel assembly, rotation and balance is between $79 and $100 – this does not include taxes and fees.

Tire rotate ensures each tire gets worn evenly whilst balancing ensures they roll smoothly and there’s no vibration (this also helps improve your fuel economy).

How much Insurance Cost?

According to insuraviz.com, the average cost of Acura MDX insurance is $136 / month or $1,632 / year (as opposed to the $1,506 national vehicle average insurance rate).

These figures can vary greatly depending on a number of factors such as your age, driving record and state requirements etc. 

  • It’s always best to shop around and get at least 3 quotes, make sure the company you choose is reputable.
  • Use price comparison sites like Compare.com.
  • There are big discounts available for taking additional driving courses or being a senior
  • The best way to keep your insurance costs down is to drive safely

Acura MDX Repair Costs Compared to Similar Models

ModelAvg. Annual 
Repair Cost
Frequency of
Unscheduled
Repairs (per year)
Probability
of SevereRepairs
Lexus RX450h$5400.57%
Acura MDX$5710.58%
Lexus RX350$5500.48%
Infiniti FX35$6170.79%
Lexus GX460$7700.89%
Volvo XC70$8040.610%
Cadillac SRX$7030.415%
Volvo XC90$8510.611%
Lincoln MKX$8110.715%
Mercedes-Benz ML350$1,0200.613%
Audi Q5$9281.29%
Mercedes-Benz ML550$1,0840.816%
Land Rover LR4$1,2410.915%
Porsche Cayenne$1,2311.221%
Avg. Luxury Midsize SUV$5400.57%

How Reliable is the Acura MDX Compared to Other Models?

ModelReliability 
Lexus RX450h4.0 / 5.0
Acura MDX4.0 / 5.0
Lexus RX3504.0 / 5.0
Infiniti FX353.5 / 5.0
Lexus GX4603.5 / 5.0
Volvo XC703.5 / 5.0
Cadillac SRX3.5 / 5.0
Volvo XC903.5 / 5.0
Lincoln MKX3.0 / 5.0
Mercedes-Benz ML3503.0 / 5.0
Audi Q53.0 / 5.0
Mercedes-Benz ML5502.5 / 5.0
Land Rover LR42.0 / 5.0
Porsche Cayenne1.5 / 5.0
Avg. Luxury Midsize SUV4.0

How Long is the Acura MDX Manufacturers Warranty?

When you drive your new Acura off the dealership lot, you’ll be covered by Acura’s factory warranty of 50,000 miles / 4 years basic coverage and 70,000 miles / 6 years powertrain coverage.

This length of protection is actually quite common among car manufacturers however it is on the shorter side of warranties

You can check your vehicle warranty status, track your service history, view your Owner’s Manual and more on the Acura website. If you cannot find the VIN number, the only real way to check your vehicle’s factory warranty is to call or visit your local dealership.

You may also be interested in our article: Where are Acura MDX Made?

Resources

  1. https://owners.acura.com/vehicles/warranty 
  2. https://repairpal.com/reliability/acura/mdx 
  3. https://www.repairsmith.com/i/estimates/engine-mechanical/engine-tune-up/Acura/MDX/ 
  4. https://repairpal.com/estimator/acura/mdx/alternator-replacement-cost 
  5. https://repairpal.com/estimator/acura/mdx/oil-change-cost 
  6. https://repairpal.com/estimator/acura/mdx/windshield-wiper-arm-replacement-cost 
  7. https://repairpal.com/estimator/acura/mdx/air-filter-replacement-cost 
  8. https://repairpal.com/estimator/acura/mdx/battery-replacement-cost 
  9. https://repairpal.com/estimator/acura/mdx/brake-pad-replacement-cost 
  10. https://repairpal.com/estimator/acura/mdx/spark-plug-replacement-cost 
  11. https://repairpal.com/estimator/acura/mdx/coolant-change-cost 
  12. https://repairpal.com/estimator/acura/mdx/spark-plug-replacement-cost 
  13. https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/acura/mdx 

Author:

  • Growing up with a father who was a mechanic I had an appreciation for cars and motorcycles from an early age. I shared my first bike with my brother that had little more than a 40cc engine but it opened up a world of excitement for me, I was hooked. As I grew older I progressed onto bigger bikes and...

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