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 2008 MDX.
Established as an SUV, the 2008 Acura MDX utilizes an Automatic (S5) transmission to achieve EPA fuel economy ratings of 15/20/17 mpg while requiring 4.5 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil for maintenance. This specific model year generated 49 total owner complaints with Structure identified as the top complaint area, accompanied by a single recall. When viewed against the model's complaint history covering 2001-2026, the 2008 MDX sits well below the highest recorded volume of 360 complaints in 2016, though it does not match the lowest benchmark of 6 complaints set by the 2026 model year. This positioning defines the vehicle's place in the model's reliability history, offering a concrete context of moderate reported issues relative to the covered years' extreme highs and lows.
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 (S5) |
| Overall length | 190.6 in |
| Overall width | 78.3 in |
| Overall height | 68.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.3 in |
| Curb weight | 4550 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 68.5 / 67.7 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 56/44 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 15 / 20 / 17 mpg |
| Drivetrain | 4-Wheel or 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2011 | SH-AWD Advance & Entertainment Package 3.7L V6 | 6.70 sec | 15.20 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 | 16 ft-lbs |
| Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts | 23 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | 29.0 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | 29.0 ft-lbs |
| Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs | 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) | 720 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 | 1.27-1.38 lbs |
| Oil Group | PAG |
| Oil Type | 46 |
| Oil Capacity | 4.22-4.63 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 |
| Pressure Test | 14-18 psi |
| Radiator Cap Pressure Relief | 14-18 psi |
| Thermostat Opening Temperature | 169-176 °F |
| Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum) | 57.0-64.0 psi |
| Engine Compression | 144 minimum PSI. 28 maximum variation PSI. |
| Torque Caliper to Bracket | 53 ft-lbs / 27 ft-lbs |
| Torque to Knuckle | 101 ft-lbs / 65 ft-lbs |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | 0.060 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 2008 Acura MDX sits at the tail end of the first generation, and the federal record paints it as one of the cleaner model years in that run. Complaints had declined steadily from 224 in 2001 to 49 in 2008 — the lowest figure of the entire first-generation arc except for 2013's 29 — while recalls had likewise collapsed from a peak of 13 in 2003 and 2005 to just 1 in the target year, with zero open investigations. The 2008–2009 stretch (49 and 50 complaints, 1 and 0 recalls) is clearly the quietest period of the generation, suggesting Acura had largely worked out the earlier issues. The 2008 complaint mix is diffuse and modest, with Structure, Electrical System, Air Bags, and Suspension each tied at just 5 filings, and only 2 crash-related and 1 fire-related complaint reported. For a used-vehicle buyer, the 2008 model year represents a mature, well-sorted version of the first-gen MDX with minimal federal scrutiny and is arguably the best used buy within that generation.
All 49 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 2,032 HITCH STYLE BIKE RACKS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE ON MY 2003-2007 AND SOME MY 2008 HONDA PILOT, RIDGELINE, AND ACURA MDX VEHICLES. A PINCH BOLT EXISTS BETWEEN THE BIKE ARM BRACKET AND THE… Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT THULE AT 800-THULE91 (800-848-5391) TO OBTAIN A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS OR OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT…
Showing 5 of 41 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B23040A | 2023-05-17 | Electrical System | Service News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect. This is due to a limited GPS… |
| B21120A | 2022-01-25 | Electrical System | ServiceNews Article - The clock shows the incorrect time. This issue is due to a limited… |
| DOR-M3J3F-07 | 2020-06-03 | Engine And Engine Cooling | These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication… |
| BBOM05242018901 | 2018-05-24 | Air Bags | Dealer message - Today, May 24, 2018, Acura is announcing a warranty extension for… |
| B05-018 | 2016-11-23 | Equipment | SERVICE BULLETIN - NAVIGATION SYSTEM INFORMATION. |
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 15 city / 20 highway / 17 combined mpg.