Acura maintenance schedule
An Acura maintenance schedule is not a fixed mileage chart. Acura uses the Maintenance Minder, which tells you when service is due based on how the car is driven, and shows a code such as B1 for the jobs to do. Two rules go by the calendar: change the engine oil at least once a year, and the brake fluid at least every 3 years. Acura’s warranty booklet says to maintain the car as the Maintenance Minder suggests.
On this page (9 sections)
The short answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How service is scheduled | Maintenance Minder on the dashboard, from about 15% oil life |
| Oil change | When the display asks, and at least every 12 months |
| Brake fluid | When code 7 appears, and at least every 3 years |
| Between services | Check the engine oil and coolant levels when you fill up (Acura warranty booklet) |
| New car warranty | 4 years or 50,000 miles; powertrain 6 years or 70,000 miles |
| Dealer required? | No, for warranty purposes; keep proof of the work |
From the 2026 Acura Warranty Basebook and the 2024 Integra owner’s manual. Coverage and items vary by model and year.
How Maintenance Minder sets the schedule
The system estimates the remaining engine oil life from how the engine is used, shows it as a percentage, and at 15% shows “Maintenance Due Soon” with a code. The letter is the main service: A is an oil change, B is an oil and filter change with an inspection. Each number adds a job, from 1 (tire rotation) to 7 (brake fluid). Because the code depends on your driving, a gentle highway commute and short trips in the cold can lead to very different mileages between services.
Every code is explained on our Acura maintenance codes chart. The system is the same as Honda’s, so the Honda maintenance schedule applies too.
Acura’s current lineup includes the Integra, ADX, TLX, RDX, and MDX. Gas-engine Acuras all use the Maintenance Minder, but the items differ: for example, item 6 applies only to all-wheel-drive models, and the timing belt in item 4 only to V6 engines.
Rules that go by time or by driving conditions
The display only knows what its sensors and math can see. Acura adds fixed rules for the rest:
- Oil once a year. If no Maintenance Minder message appears more than 12 months after the last reset, change the engine oil anyway. See how often to change oil.
- Brake fluid every 3 years. If code 7 has not appeared within 36 months, change it anyway. See brake fluid flush.
- Dust or soot. Replace the engine air filter and the cabin filter every 15,000 miles if you drive in dusty conditions or in cities with heavy soot (2024 Integra).
- Slow mountain driving. Change the transmission fluid sooner: every 25,000 miles on the Integra CVT, 37,500 miles with its manual transmission.
- Towing, mountains, extreme heat or cold. Acura Canada lists earlier differential fluid changes for all-wheel-drive models that tow, and earlier timing belt changes for V6 engines used often in extreme temperatures.
What the system does not check
Acura Canada lists what the Maintenance Minder does not monitor:
- The engine oil level. A full oil life percentage does not mean the oil is full. Check the dipstick.
- Tire tread depth, brake pad and rotor wear, and battery life. It plans inspections for these, but it cannot measure them.
- Heavy towing and dusty or sooty air.
Leaks, warning lights, and new noises need a check right away, whatever the oil life shows.
Warranty: where you can service your Acura
A new 2026 Acura is covered for 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first, and the powertrain for 6 years or 70,000 miles, according to Acura’s 2026 warranty booklet. The booklet also says:
- Service at an Acura dealer is not required to keep the warranty. Another shop can do the work, or you can do it yourself if you have the tools and skills.
- Parts that fail because they did not get proper, timely maintenance are not covered.
- If someone other than a dealer does the maintenance, you may need proof: repair orders or receipts with the date and odometer, or, for your own work, a statement with the date and mileage plus the receipts for parts and fluids.
More on how maintenance and warranties work together: maintenance and your warranty. This is not legal advice; your warranty booklet is the document that counts.
Free maintenance on a new Acura
Acura has offered complimentary maintenance on some new models, and the terms change by model year. For example, Acura announced that the 2023 MDX came with select factory scheduled maintenance (oil and filter service, tire rotations, and multi-point inspections) for the first 2 years or 24,000 miles, at participating Acura dealers. We could not confirm the current terms on Acura’s own site, so ask your dealer what came with your car and get it in writing. Other brands do this too; for example, Toyota includes ToyotaCare with new cars.
Keep a record
Because the schedule follows your driving, your records are the only full history of what was done and when. Write down the date, odometer, code, and price of every visit, and keep the receipts. Acura suggests keeping them with the car when you sell it. A car maintenance log keeps it in one place.
FAQ
Does Acura have a fixed maintenance schedule?
No. Acura uses the Maintenance Minder, which shows a code when service is due based on your driving. The fixed rules are the time limits: engine oil at least once a year and brake fluid at least every 3 years, plus shorter limits for dusty, mountain, or towing use.
Do I have to service my Acura at a dealer to keep the warranty?
No. Acura’s 2026 warranty booklet says dealer service is not mandatory. Keep receipts with the date and odometer for every service, so you can show the car was maintained.
How long is the Acura new car warranty?
For 2026 models, 4 years or 50,000 miles for the vehicle and 6 years or 70,000 miles for the powertrain, whichever comes first.
Does a new Acura come with free maintenance?
Some models have come with complimentary maintenance, such as the 2023 MDX (2 years or 24,000 miles). The terms change by model and year, so ask your dealer what applies to your car.
Milealot is an independent site, not affiliated with or endorsed by American Honda Motor Co. or Acura. Acura and Maintenance Minder are trademarks of their owner and are used here only to name the vehicles and the system.
Sources
- Acura, 2026 Acura Warranty Basebook (4 years/50,000 miles, powertrain 6 years/70,000 miles, maintain per Maintenance Minder, dealer service not mandatory, proof of maintenance, check oil and coolant at fill-ups) (checked November 12, 2026): owners.acura.com (PDF)
- Acura, 2024 Integra owner’s manual, “To Use Maintenance Minder” (oil life messages, 12-month oil and 36-month brake fluid rules, dusty and mountain limits; archived copy, checked November 12, 2026): techinfo.honda.com (archived)
- Acura Canada, Maintenance Minder schedules (what the system does and does not monitor; models by schedule type) (checked November 12, 2026): acura.ca
- Acura Canada, Maintenance Minder A/0 schedule (towing and extreme-temperature limits) (checked November 12, 2026): acura.ca (PDF)
- Acura News, Award-winning Acura MDX adds complimentary services for 2023 model year (2 years or 24,000 miles; June 23, 2022) (checked November 12, 2026): acuranews.com