2007 Acura MDX reliability

[mkaresh]

Because existing sources of auto reliability information left much to be desired, in late 2005 I started conducting my own reliability research at TrueDelta.com. TrueDelta reports absolute stats like "trips to the shop" that make the differences between cars much clearer. Results are updated four times a year, so any significant changes in a model's reliability become apparent quickly.

I'm very grateful that the owner of this forum stickied this thread. Partly as a result, so 120 owners of the 2007 and 65 owners of the 2008 have signed up.

We were able to provide a quick result for the 2007--this forum was credited in the press release. Additional participants would enable more precise results in future updates.

Participants simply report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.

To encourage participation, panel members will receive full access to the results free of charge.

Details: Vehicle reliability research

Update: latest results

Based on owner experiences through the end of September 2008, both the 2007 and 2008 MDX require about an average number of repairs. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 vehicles per year:

2007: 59

2008: 67

The full set of results, including many other models:

TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results

[SullyC5er]

Good idea. As soon as I get mine, I will participate.

[mkaresh]

Thanks, Sully.

Up to 14. Decent results in May are looking increasingly likely as long as people keep buying the 2007s (it seems to be selling very well) and some of these keep signing up to help out.

[mkaresh]

Up to 40.

As mentioned in the OP, the 2007 MDX is now one of the models I hope to highlight in the May release.

[Extingwish]

Sounds Good! I pick up mine on 3/28, will be intestested if you need more. lt me know.

[mkaresh]

This is ongoing research. There will be new results every three months. So if some common issue does pop up, I'll have news of it quickly.

Full details at the link.

[JSingh80]

I just got a new 2007 MDX....i would like to help

[mkaresh]

Thanks, I appreciate it. Let me know if you have any questions.

[mkaresh]

Up to 48. But I haven't been receiving enough responses to post results in May. I suspect that many people didn't yet have their new MDX in March.

Though May is looking iffy, August is virtually certain. (Welcome to the advantage of quarterly updates.)

[anjan]

Good effort but FYI - Consumer Reports does this study that covers almost all vehicles sold in the US and Canada. The statistical significance of 40,60, or 100 vehicles << nationwide sales of MDX.

Be interesting to see the results of these forum participants though.

[mkaresh]

The methods CR uses to collect their data and report results are seriously flawed - otherwise I wouldn't be doing this.

My two main critiques here:

Consumer Reports critique

Consumer Reports survey critique

Many people simply assume that CR's methods are the best possible, and this is far from the case. Their latest survey does incorporate one change I suggested (to my surprise) but this addresses a relatively minor problem. You can read about that here:

Consumer Reports adopts one of my less intelligent suggestions

I'm also updating promptly and quarterly. I'll have results for the MDX by August, and will have results for some new 2007s in May. (I had hoped the MDX would be among these, but it looks like the number of responses will be in the 15-18 range. I will post these results, but on a members-only page with an asterisk, because they're not trustworthy.) They won't have results for these models until November.

The sample sizes are smaller than ideal, but this is not as large an issue as you might think. And this is a short-term problem, with the panel growing about 10% per month.

[rdhaddock]

33,000 miles on my 2007 since January 2, 2007. All I've done is change the oil and do the recommended service at the recommended intervals and rotate and balance the tires.

So far I'd say it's very reliable!

[phins2rt]

Originally posted by rdhaddock
33,000 miles on my 2007 since January 2, 2007.

Holy crap! That's a lot of miles. Glad to hear you haven't had any problems. Sounds like in 18 months, you'll be ready for a trade!

[JSingh80]

Originally posted by phins2rt


Holy crap! That's a lot of miles. Glad to hear you haven't had any problems. Sounds like in 18 months, you'll be ready for a trade!

Bought mine at the end of March 2007 and its got 9200 on it.

[bigdivot1]

I'm game...