Your Acura’s Maintenance Minder isn’t a fixed mileage schedule. It monitors engine conditions, oil quality and how you actually drive, then displays a letter-and-number code telling you precisely which services are due. Understanding Acura Maintenance Minder codes means you never skip essential maintenance — and never pay for work you don’t need yet.
How Acura Maintenance Minder Codes Work
Every code has two halves. A letter (A or B) sets the main service, and any numbers that follow add specific sub-items. Read them together: B12 means the B main service plus sub-items 1 and 2.
Main service codes (the letter)
| Code | What it means | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| A | Engine oil change | $50 – $100 |
| B | Engine oil and filter change + multi-point inspection. The inspection covers brakes, tie rod ends, steering gearbox and boots, suspension, driveshaft boots, brake hoses and lines (including ABS/VSA), all fluid levels and condition, exhaust system, and fuel lines. | $90 – $180 |
Important: Acura Maintenance Minder only uses A and B as main codes. There are no C, D, or E main codes. The numbers that follow are separate sub-items.
Sub-item codes (the numbers)
| Code | Service | Typical cost | Rough interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tire rotation | $30 – $45 | Every oil service |
| 2 | Engine & cabin air filter replacement, drive belt inspection | $100 – $150 | ~30,000 mi |
| 3 | Transmission fluid + transfer case fluid (if equipped) | $100 – $200 | ~90,000 mi |
| 4 | Spark plugs, timing belt & water pump (if equipped), valve clearance inspection | $1,000 – $2,000 | ~100,000 mi |
| 5 | Engine coolant replacement | $150 – $250 | ~100,000 mi (then every 50,000) |
| 6 | Rear differential fluid replacement | $100 – $200 | ~30,000 mi |
| 7 | Brake fluid replacement | $80 – $130 | Every 3 years |
A code like B137 simply stacks these together: the B main service, plus sub-items 1, 3 and 7. Costs and intervals vary by model, engine and region — always confirm against your owner’s manual.
Why Acura Maintenance Minder Codes Matter
- You avoid over-servicing. The system asks only for what the car actually needs, which is cheaper than a fixed-interval schedule.
- Engine longevity. Oil and fluid changes performed on time are the single biggest factor in how long an Acura drivetrain lasts.
- Resale and warranty. A complete Maintenance Minder service history protects warranty coverage and supports trade-in value.
- Safety. Sub-items 7 (brake fluid) and 3 (transmission fluid) affect braking and drivetrain reliability directly.
What to Do When a Code Appears
- Don’t panic. A code in amber is a reminder, not a failure. Red means overdue.
- Look the code up below to see exactly which services it covers and the expected cost.
- Book the service with an Acura dealer or a trusted independent shop — either is fine.
- Use the right fluids. Acura transmissions and brake systems are particular about specification; use OEM or a verified equivalent.
- Reset the Maintenance Minder afterwards, or the same code will keep appearing.
Every Acura Maintenance Minder Code, Explained
Find your exact code below for a full breakdown of what the service includes, what it should cost, and how to handle it.
| Code | What it includes | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|
| Acura A1 | Engine oil change; Tire rotation | $80 – $145 |
| Acura A12 | Engine oil change; Tire rotation; Engine & cabin air filter replacement, drive belt inspection | $180 – $295 |
| Acura A13 | Engine oil change; Tire rotation; Transmission fluid + transfer case fluid (if equipped) | $180 – $345 |
| Acura A123 | Engine oil change; Tire rotation; Engine & cabin air filter replacement, drive belt inspection; Transmission fluid + transfer case fluid (if equipped) | $280 – $495 |
| Acura A135 | Engine oil change; Tire rotation; Transmission fluid + transfer case fluid (if equipped); Engine coolant replacement | $330 – $595 |
| Acura B1 | Engine oil and filter change + multi-point inspection; Tire rotation | $120 – $225 |
| Acura B12 | Engine oil and filter change + multi-point inspection; Tire rotation; Engine & cabin air filter replacement, drive belt inspection | $220 – $375 |
| Acura B13 | Engine oil and filter change + multi-point inspection; Tire rotation; Transmission fluid + transfer case fluid (if equipped) | $220 – $425 |
| Acura B123 | Engine oil and filter change + multi-point inspection; Tire rotation; Engine & cabin air filter replacement, drive belt inspection; Transmission fluid + transfer case fluid (if equipped) | $320 – $575 |
| Acura B135 | Engine oil and filter change + multi-point inspection; Tire rotation; Transmission fluid + transfer case fluid (if equipped); Engine coolant replacement | $370 – $675 |
| Acura A14 | Engine oil change; Tire rotation; Spark plugs | $1,080 – $2,145 |
| Acura A15 | Engine oil change; Tire rotation; Engine coolant | $230 – $395 |
| Acura A16 | Engine oil change; Tire rotation; Rear differential fluid | $180 – $345 |
| Acura A17 | Engine oil change; Tire rotation; Brake fluid | $160 – $275 |
| Acura A137 | Engine oil change; Tire rotation; Transmission fluid (and transfer fluid on AWD/SH-AWD); Brake fluid | $260 – $475 |
| Acura A1237 | Engine oil change; Tire rotation; Engine and cabin air filters; Transmission fluid (and transfer fluid on AWD/SH-AWD); Brake fluid | $360 – $625 |
| Acura B14 | Oil and filter change; Tire rotation; Spark plugs | $1,120 – $2,225 |
| Acura B15 | Oil and filter change; Tire rotation; Engine coolant | $270 – $475 |
| Acura B16 | Oil and filter change; Tire rotation; Rear differential fluid | $220 – $425 |
| Acura B17 | Oil and filter change; Tire rotation; Brake fluid | $200 – $355 |
| Acura B124 | Oil and filter change; Tire rotation; Engine and cabin air filters; Spark plugs | $1,220 – $2,375 |
| Acura B125 | Oil and filter change; Tire rotation; Engine and cabin air filters; Engine coolant | $370 – $625 |
| Acura B137 | Oil and filter change; Tire rotation; Transmission fluid (and transfer fluid on AWD/SH-AWD); Brake fluid | $300 – $555 |
| Acura B1237 | Oil and filter change; Tire rotation; Engine and cabin air filters; Transmission fluid (and transfer fluid on AWD/SH-AWD); Brake fluid | $400 – $705 |
Which Acura Models Use Maintenance Minder?
Maintenance Minder appears across the modern Acura range, including the MDX, RDX, TLX, ILX, Integra, RLX, ZDX and TSX. The codes mean the same thing on every model, though intervals and fluid specifications vary by engine and drivetrain. AWD and SH-AWD models add transfer case fluid to sub-item 3.
How to Reset the Acura Maintenance Minder
Once the service is done, the Maintenance Minder has to be reset or it will keep showing the same code. See our full guide: How to reset the Acura Maintenance Minder.
Acura Maintenance Minder FAQ
Can I keep driving with a Maintenance Minder code showing?
Usually yes, for a short while. The code is a reminder, not a fault warning. Once oil life reaches 0% and the indicator turns red, the service is overdue and you risk accelerated engine wear.
Does an Acura dealer have to do the service?
No. Any competent independent shop can perform every item in the Maintenance Minder schedule, usually for less. Keep your receipts so your service record stays intact for warranty and resale.
Why did my code change after driving?
The system recalculates continuously. Sub-items are added as their intervals come due, so a B1 can become a B12 or B135 as mileage accumulates.
Will the code clear itself after service?
No. It must be reset manually through the dashboard menu or by the shop that did the work.
Is the Acura system the same as Honda’s?
Functionally yes — Acura is Honda’s luxury division and uses the same A/B plus 1–7 structure. Costs run higher on Acura models, and more of them are AWD, so sub-item 3 more often includes transfer case fluid. See our Honda Maintenance Minder guide for the Honda equivalents.