2003 Acura MDX vs 2003 BMW X5
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Acura MDX | 2003 BMW X5 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 206 | 99 |
| Recall campaigns | 11 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 189 | 71 |
| Investigations | 5 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 11 | 4 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 13 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 17 | 14–16 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 109,773 mi | 74,600 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Acura MDX | BMW X5 |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 104 | 16 |
| Air Bags | 42 | 15 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 16 | 24 |
| Electrical System | 18 | 17 |
| Engine | 10 | 11 |
| Seat Belts | 12 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 5 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 16 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 9 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 9 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 7 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 0 |
| Stalling | 5 | 14 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 0 |
2003 Acura MDX
2003 BMW X5
Compare all Acura MDX vs BMW X5 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.