is America’s best-selling 3-row SUV of all time—and for good reason. The reliable, durable, and robust MDX has a life expectancy between 250,000 and 300,000 miles. So if you’re driving a 2008 MDX, with proper care and maintenance, you could still have several more years with your trusty ute.

A typical 2008 Acura MDX has a life expectancy of around 250,000–300,000 miles, which averages to about 15 years.
This extended life expectancy makes Acuras one of the more reliable cars on the market.
To keep your Acura MDX running smoothly, keep up with routine maintenance, drive fewer than 14,000 years if possible, and avoid accidents.
Be aware that this model was known to experience serious transmission problems.

How many miles can a 2008 Acura MDX last?

Car experts say you can expect a 2008 Acura MDX to keep running for about 220,000 miles. With the average U.S. driver putting about 14,000 miles on their cars each year, that means your car has a life expectancy of about 15 years.

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How long does an Acura MDX engine last?

The 2008 Acura MDX featured just one engine choice—a sonorous 300-horsepower 3.7-liter V6. When properly maintained, this engine will keep running for well over 250,000 miles, and even up to 300,000. Based on an average of about 15,000 miles per year of driving, that’s 16 to 20 years of service with few or no major issues.

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Can an Acura MDX last 500,000 miles?

It’s not impossible, but it’s also not very likely. That’s not to say that the MDX’s engine isn’t capable of running for this long. If we want to get theoretical, just about any vehicle will run as long as you’re willing to keep repairing it when it breaks down.

And that’s the rub—at some point, you’ll reach both an economical and practical tipping point at which it makes more sense to just buy a new car than keep the old one running. If your car is constantly in the shop and you’re frequently paying for parts and repairs, then it’s actually more trouble than it’s worth. With most vehicles, you’ll probably reach this tipping point around 150,000 to 200,000 miles, and even the most reliable ones don’t last much over 300,000.

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Average life expectancy for an Acura MDX

Acuras are consistently ranked among the most reliable luxury car brands in the world. A key reason for this is that, based on both manufacturer projections and real-life experience, the life expectancy of an Acura MDX is between 250,000 and 300,000 miles.

But a vehicle’s longevity depends on more than just its manufacturer—it also depends on its driver. It doesn’t matter how long your vehicle is projected to last if you don’t take care of it. Something as simple as a

basic car maintenance schedule

can mean the difference between a long life of reliable performance, and a short one full of breakdowns and repairs.

Let’s look at some of the key factors affecting your Acura MDX’s longevity:

Regular maintenance: The importance of regular maintenance cannot be overstated for any vehicle. Keeping up with oil and fluid changes and maintenance on wear and tear items is one of the single most impactful ways to increase your car’s lifespan.

Mileage: You probably noted that longevity is calculated in both miles and years. That means if your MDX was driven less than 15,000 miles a year, it may make it quite a ways past that 15–20–year mark.

Accident history: If you’ve ever suffered a major injury, you know how it sticks with you even after it’s healed. The same is true for cars. If your MDX has ever been involved in a major accident—especially one that may have damaged the engine—you could see a decrease in both performance and longevity.

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How to extend a 2008 Acura MDX’s life expectancy

We can’t say it enough—maintenance. Simply sticking to a regular maintenance routine is one of the best things you can do to extend your 2008 MDX’s life expectancy. In addition, conservative driving—avoiding harsh acceleration and braking—can go a long way toward preserving your engine’s performance capabilities. It can also help you avoid the accidents that can also put a dent in your MDX’s lifespan.

Common 2008 Acura MDX problems to watch out for

Despite earning the vaunted “Seal of Awesome” from CarComplaints.com, there are a few issues you should look out for with your 2008 MDX. Most of them are related to the MDX’s unique transmission, but let’s take a closer look:

Transmission issues: Some drivers have complained of rough shifting followed by the “D4” light and check engine light coming on. In most cases, either a faulty

transmission speed sensor

or dirty transmission fluid is the culprit, but you’ll need to head to your mechanic for diagnosis, repairs, and/or

transmission fluid service

. To avoid this issue, be sure to keep up with Acura’s recommendations for

when you should change your transmission fluid

. This issue is usually reported around 120,000 miles.

More transmission issues: If you feel a shudder or vibration when driving at speeds between 35 and 40 mph, you may have a failed automatic transmission torque converter. Drivers who complained of this issue noticed it around 115,000 miles. Torque converter replacement and installation of an updated powertrain control module (PCM) is required to correct the issue.

And another transmission issue: This one is actually connected to the second and first issues. If your MDX’s torque converter fails, it could allow debris to enter and circulate throughout your transmission, causing the rough shifting mentioned in the first issue.

Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve failure: As exhaust gasses pass through the EGR system, they leave carbon deposits that could result in the valve sticking open. This results in

check engine light

illumination, rough idling, and reduced fuel economy. Cleaning the valve can solve the issue, but an

EGR tube and valve replacement

is recommended. This issue was most often reported around 120,000 miles.

Idle air bypass issues: If the idle air control valve (IACV) becomes dirty or fails, it can result in rough idling, reduce fuel economy, and engine stalling. To fix the issue, the

throttle body

ports must be cleaned before having the

idle control valve replaced

. When reported, this issue appeared at around 40,000 miles.

While this may seem to be a lot of issues, it should be noted that none were reported by more than 350 car owners. When you consider that Acura sold over 45,000 examples of the 2008 MDX, you can see how rare these issues actually are.

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Are Acura good cars?

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FAQs

What percentage of cars make it to 300,000 miles?

Only about 0.03% of vehicles make it to the 300,000-mile mark. With regular maintenance and smart driving, your 2008 Acura MDX could be one of them.

What is the highest mileage on an Acura?

It’s quite fitting that the Acura with the most miles recorded, so far, is an MDX. In Orange County, CA, there’s a 2001 Acura MDX in a fleet operated by a shuttle company that’s turned over nearly 1 million miles! They’re secret? You guessed it—regular maintenance. Plus, they only purchase high-quality parts for repairs.

If you’re looking for more general awesomeness, in addition to the MDX, you can also check out the Acura

ILX

TLX

, and

RDX

—all of which regularly last upwards of 250,000 miles.

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