How Much Does Acura Maintenance Cost? (2020)

Affiliate Disclosure

Please note that The Detroit Bureau and its partners may be compensated if you purchase the recommended services.

There’s more that goes into purchasing an Acura than just the sticker price – you’ll also need to prepare to cover recommended scheduled services and mechanical repair costs. But how much does Acura maintenance cost per year?

In this article, we’ll break down the average annual Acura maintenance cost, routine service schedule and commonly reported repairs. 

Acura maintenance can take a toll on your budget if you’re unprepared when these expenses arise. One way to plan for and offset these costs is by purchasing an extended warranty. We’ve reviewed the best car extended warranty companies on the market and will introduce you to a couple of our top picks below. You can also start getting free quotes to see how much you could save on Acura expenses:

Best Provider	Best for High-Mileage Cars	Most Affordable
Endurance	CARCHEX	CarShield
Editor’s Rating:	Editor’s Rating:	Editor’s Rating:
★★★★★	★★★★½	★★★★½
Get Quote	Get Quote	Get Quote
(877) 374-1840	(866) 254-0205	(800) 563-2761

Table of Contents:

• Average Annual Acura Maintenance Cost
• Acura Recommended Maintenance Schedule
• Pre-Paid Acura Maintenance Plan
• Vehicle Repairs and the Acura Maintenance Cost
• How Can an Extended Warranty Offset the Acura Maintenance Cost?
• Best Options for Extended Acura Protection

Average Annual Acura Maintenance Cost

The average Acura maintenance cost is around $501 annually, according to RepairPal. This accounts for tile rotations, oil changes and fluid replacements, as well as possible mechanical repairs like water pump replacements or air conditioning recharges. 

However, based on its age, mileage, and model, each vehicle will need different services at different times, so don’t be surprised if you pay more or less in Acura maintenance costs per year. 

Take the Acura MDX, one of the brand’s most popular models, for example. RepairPal estimates that on average, an MDX driver will pay $571 in maintenance costs per year. Here’s a breakdown of routine services that may factor into that price:

 *Data from RepairPal.

While the Acura MDX is popular, it’s obviously not the only model people drive. To give you an even clearer picture of what you might pay per year in Acura maintenance costs, here’s a list of other models and their respective reliability ratings and annual incurred expenses, according to RepairPal:

Acura Recommended Maintenance Schedule

Knowing what Acura maintenance costs is one piece of the puzzle. Knowing when those routine maintenance services need to happen is another. Acura’s maintenance schedules are highly individualized to each car, but the company’s built-in reminder system, called the Acura Maintenance Minder™, can help you keep track of necessary services. 

The Maintenance Minder tracks your driving habits and overall vehicle usage to give you the most accurate recommendations for service. It alerts drivers using a code based on percentages, numbers and letters. Here’s an overview of what each indicates:

• Percentage (15%, 5% or 0%): Indicates the “life” remaining on your engine oil
• Letter (A or B): Indicates service is needed and whether it’s advanced or basic
• Number (1 through 6): Works alongside the letter codes and tells you what other services are needed beyond an oil change

Below is a sample scheduled maintenance plan for 2017 Acura TLX, according to Openbay.

Pre-Paid Acura Maintenance Plan

One way to budget for your Acura maintenance cost is to purchase a pre-paid service plan called Acura Care Maintenance™. This allows you to take your vehicle into any Acura dealership and have routine maintenance performed when your Maintenance Minder lights up.

Maintenance services that are covered under this plan include:

• Oil and oil filter changes
• Tire rotations
• Air intake filter changes
• Cabin air filter changes
• Automatic transmission fluid changes
• Rear differential fluid changes
• Transfer case fluid changes
• Brake fluid changes
• Multi-point inspections

You can pay for Acura Care Maintenance upfront or with an interest-free installment plan. Acura does not advertise how much this plan costs or how long coverage lasts, so you’ll need to contact a local dealer for more details, but if the price is right, this plan could help you save on your annual Acura maintenance cost.

Vehicle Repairs and the Acura Maintenance Cost

Mechanical repairs are another element to take into consideration when determining your average Acura maintenance cost. Looking at commonly reported Acura repairs can help you plan ahead and estimate what you might pay in a repair shop.

Here are a few common Acura repairs and their estimated costs, according to RepairPal:

Repairs can also be location- and driver-specific. Do you live in an area with regularly high temperatures? Your battery could be at risk. Are you a “start and stop hard” driver? Your brakes and their connected systems might need to be looked at more frequently.

How Can an Extended Warranty Offset the Acura Maintenance Cost?

While scheduled check-ups and replacements of wear-and-tear parts can easily be budgeted for, unexpected repair costs can drive up your Acura maintenance cost and put you in a financially stressful situation. However, if you have an extended warranty on your vehicle, you may not have to worry about affording mechanical breakdowns.

Extended warranties, or vehicle service contracts, can cover the cost of repairs after your Acura factory warranty expires. Rather than pay for each needed repair out of pocket, you’ll pay off your warranty upfront or with a monthly installment plan, and you’ll only be responsible for your deductible when you take your car to a repair shop.

You can purchase an extended warranty from Acura or from a third-party provider. Learn more about each option below. 

Acura Extended Warranty

You can purchase an Acura extended warranty from a dealership at the time you buy your vehicle. Referred to as Acura Care^Ⓡ, this extended warranty is fairly open-ended. At the dealership, you’ll work with an Acura salesperson to choose coverage specifics and term limits. This way, you can determine whether you want basic powertrain protection or a full bumper-to-bumper extended warranty.

The type of coverage you build will determine how much you’ll save on your Acura maintenance cost.

Third-Party Extended Warranties

A third-party warranty can be an excellent option for drivers looking for more flexibility and additional coverage options to cut down on Acura maintenance costs.

Reputable extended car warranty companies can offer term lengths up to 15 years and 250,000 miles, which is longer than most manufacturers’ coverage. Third-party providers also tend to offer multiple coverage plans and deductibles so you can choose the protection best suited for your car.

Best Options for Extended Acura Protection

Our review team has evaluated each major player in the extended auto warranty industry. Taking a look at plan details, costs, benefits, customer reviews and more, we’ve determined two of the top providers that are best suited for your Acura’s extended protection. Read more about them below.

Endurance: Best Provider

Available in most states across the U.S., Endurance is an excellent choice for Acuras. The provider offers five different coverage plans, each with varying levels of protection tailored to your individual needs. Additionally, Endurance’s maximum coverage extends up to 15 years/200,000 miles. This easily surpasses what you’ll find with a manufacturer extended warranty.

Other benefits of choosing an Endurance warranty include:

• You can take your vehicle to your choice of repairs shops when work needs to be done.
• The company offers four deductible options.
• Sample contracts are available so that you can familiarize yourself with coverage details before talking to a sales representative.
• Endurance offers the best added benefits package in the auto warranty industry.

For more information, read our Endurance warranty review. If you’re interested in getting a free quote from Endurance to see how much this provider can save you on your Acura maintenance cost, click below. 

CARCHEX: Best for High-Mileage Cars

Another superb warranty option, CARCHEX is available in all 50 states. This third-party provider also offers five coverage options, and its max term limits reach 10 years/250,000 miles. CARCHEX plans can be more affordable than other top companies’ warranties, which means you’ll save even more on your annual Acura maintenance cost.

Other benefits of choosing CARCHEX coverage include:

• There are four deductible options to choose from.
• The company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
• CARCHEX has an excellent industry reputation, partnering with well-known companies such as CARFAX, Edmunds.com and Kelley Blue Book.
• CARCHEX customer reviews are largely positive.

For more information, read our comprehensive CARCHEX review. Or, click below to receive a free, individualized quote from CARCHEX.