Acura MDX Complaints

3,381 consumer complaints on file.

#11737684May 13, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
The auto idle stop feature will kick in at red lights, shutting the engine down. However, every approximate 1 out of 10 times the engine and electrical system fully shut down when I try to start the car moving again. The car can then not be restarted for close to a minute. This results in not being able to move when the light turns green and is dangerous is heavy traffic areas.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737458May 12, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
When driving at highway speeds there randomly is a full loss of engine power for 3 to 5 seconds. Each time this has occurred I was on the highway and depressing the gas pedal further to either pass another car or because I'm driving up and incline. For several seconds the car looses all power and begins slowing. Traffic approaching rom behind may have to apply brakes. I am unsure whether it's the transmission disconnecting from the engine, or the engine dropping to idle speed, I have tried pressing the gas pedal further and also tried the paddle shifters to force a downshift, and neither has any effect. I have been to the dealer multiple times and they can't re-create the issue so they dismiss it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737478May 12, 2026
ENGINE
While driving my 2020 Acura MDX, the vehicle developed an intermittent check engine light and a noticeable engine knocking noise coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to an Acura dealership for diagnosis. According to the certified Acura technician, no diagnostic trouble codes were found stored in the vehicle’s system. However, the technician confirmed there was an audible knocking noise present from the engine during inspection. The technician stated "No engine oil leaks found at this time. Engine. I did verify the noise that you are talking about far as knocking noise goes. Right now, it sounds like it's a lower end noise, possibly crank shaft related. Engine teardown would need to be in place to verify which cylinders are bad and to confirm if the bearing is gone or not.". The vehicle has all service records, including routine oil changes at recommended intervals. The technician also confirmed that the vehicle had oil in it. The vehicle is not part of the existing recall, but the symptoms and description match the known crank shaft rod bearing issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737467May 12, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I own a 2022 Acura MDX SH-AWD with approximately 85,000 miles. The issue began suddenly while driving around 5 mph when two loud bangs were heard from the rear drivetrain/transfer case area. After the initial incident, the vehicle was driven home, and the problem became consistently noticeable during any acceleration from a stop or low speed. The drivetrain would clunk/slip during acceleration and exhibited abnormal engagement behavior. Due to concern about causing further drivetrain damage or a potential safety issue, the vehicle was subsequently towed to an Acura dealer for diagnosis. The Acura dealer confirmed that both the transfer case and transmission require replacement due to “worn teeth on splines.” The repair estimate specifically states: “REPLACE TRANSFER CASE AND TRANSMISSION DUE TO WORN TEETH ON SPLINES.” Estimated repair cost is approximately $11,400. I have photographs and repair documentation related to the failure. This failure created a potential safety concern because the drivetrain was no longer operating normally and produced loud clunking/slipping during acceleration from stops and low speeds. A drivetrain or power transfer failure could increase the risk of loss of propulsion or inability to accelerate normally into traffic. The issue was reproduced and confirmed by the Acura dealer. The vehicle has been regularly maintained, including drivetrain fluid services, through Acura/Honda service facilities. There were no warning lights, dashboard messages, or electronic indications before or after the failure event. The only indication was the loud banging noise from the drivetrain/transfer case area and the resulting abnormal drivetrain behavior during acceleration. The service manager also indicated they had seen several similar cases involving this issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736956May 11, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
While driving on the interstate over 2 hours from home the car put itself into neutral and almost caused us to get into a collision. While accelerating after a construction zone, the lights on the dash of the vehicle lit up with transmission, emissions, electronic parking brake, and more codes. The car shifted itself into neutral while running between 65-70 mph on the interstate. Multiple vehicles were accelerating after the 55 mph work zone area was over, and we had to swerve between cars to get to the shoulder of the road because the vehicle lost all acceleration capabilities. We have taken the vehicle to the dealer for past recalls and software updates and mentioned this issue happening before and were told that the vehicle showed no codes concerning the electronic parking brake issue. Upon further investigation, there are multiple reports and forums of this particular vehicle having the same issue. Its a miracle we didn't get involved in a massive collision with semi trucks and other vehicles amongst us when the vehicle lost all ability to accelerate. This could cause a huge problem if it were to happen again in a more populated area or at increased speeds. We were stuck on the side of the road for 4 hours waiting on a flatbed to tow it because it locks up the AWD system with the electronic parking brake and doesn't allow the wheels to move. This is the second time we've had it towed for this same issue only to be told that it's not a problem. I'm willing to bet that the company knows exactly what the issue is but won't issue a recall because they don't classify it as a safety recall until people start losing their lives or cost the company stockholders money. This problem has the ability to cause major harm or death to people with this vehicle if it were to shift itself into neutral or lock up the electronic parking brake while in a heavy populated area. I hope they issue a safety recall and hold the company accountable before people lose their life.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737175May 11, 2026
LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Faulty forward facing camera affixed internally on windshield. Adaptive Cruise Control will not function. Lane Keeping Assist will not function. Collision Mitigation Braking may be unavailable. Vehicle detects oncoming traffic in opposing lane as a potential collision, causing braking system to engage and causing a risk of a collision or being struck from the rear despite no vehicle ahead except on the opposite side of the road. Acura can not find anything wrong with the vehicle. Recently all warning lights for high beams, braking system, LKAS, road departure, front end collision, etc flash on vehicle. Multiple people with Acura and Honda vehicles have reported the same issue with the front windshield sensor camera, yet no recall, instead they have paid thousands to replace a faulty camera system. Acura quoted $2000 for replacement of camera. Vehicle operationally runs fine. Why has nothing been done despite numerous, repetitive issues with this safety hazard?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737037May 11, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2022 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the all-wheel drive (AWD) system became inoperable. The contact stated that when attempting to engage the AWD function, the system failed to operate and the vehicle would transition into four-wheel drive operation. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for further assistance and advised the contact not to contact the manufacturer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736850May 10, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Car engine turns off at a red light, by turn off I mean completely turned off, not just silent. And takes a couple of attempts to restart the car before the engine turns on again. This has happened over 5 or 6 times over the last 3 months, however yesterday (May 9, 2026) it happened twice within the hour. Luckily, I have not been involved in an accident because of this, but I'm concerned that it's easy to imagine a scenario where someone will be rear-ended. Please issue a safety recall for Acura to fix this issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736582May 8, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
The paint on the roof between the sunroof and front windshield is peeling. I took it to local dealership and was told paint is covered under Acura's Rust Perforation Limited warranty which is 5 years from the of original purchase. I do not have an extended warranty so I would need to pay out of pocket. I believe the classification of this issue under the "Rust Perforation Limited Warranty" is incorrect. The issue is not corrosion originating from the inside out. This is a premature failure of the paint adhesion to the primer, which is a manufacturing defect. This is a known, widespread issue affecting Acura's White Diamond Pearl paint, which is the subject of a pending class action lawsuit (Case 2:24-cv-09728) alleging these paint defects exist in 2013-present models.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736688May 8, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
There is an active Taillight (Lid Lights) Safety Recall (25V-259) on 2014-2020 Acura MDXs. When I enter my VIN it claims I am not part of this recall but there is sitting water inside my drivers side tailgate lid light assembly. It's only in the one, therefore I am unsure why my vehicle isn't listed/registered as part of this active recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736703May 8, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
I was pulling up to our house to park in the open garage as I typically do and was in the driveway with my foot lifted off the gas pedal to allow the car to coast forward slowly. The car hesitated for a moment before it lunged/accelerated on its own with such force I had to slam on my brakes to avoid the car hitting the wall of our house. I did not have cruise control on. Took the car to Acura dealership for a multi-point inspection and they found nothing out of order that would’ve caused that to occur.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735988May 6, 2026
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Continental Cross Contact LX Sport 245 / 50 R 20 102 H tires. We had them installed at the Acura dealership on 7/14/2023. We noticed recently the tire tread on the front driver side in an area was peeling up in a small spot. At our oil change and tire rotation with Acura on 4/24/26, I notified them and they stated tire was okay. The tires currently only have about 15;389 miles on them. I contacted Continental Tire because I noticed the tread peeling or pitting on both tires that were rotated to the rear getting worse. Continental told me I could take to a tire center that sells Continental tires to have them inspected. Took to Discount Tire and they submitted information to Continental Tire. They responded with a prorated amount of $230.00 total for the 2 rear tires only. The rep with Discount Tires informed me that all 4 of my tires came from the same manufacturing plant and same lot. I am concerned that my front tires will start to peel or pit like the other 2 tires. We have maintained regular tire rotations and maintenance on our vehicle. We also do not drive on gravel or dirt roads or aggressively and the vehicle is kept in our garage. I am now looking at having to replace all the tires because I am concerned about driving with the tires in their current condition. This is concerning to me because tires should last longer than 15, 389 miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736130May 6, 2026
ENGINE
A connecting rod bearing is failing in my 2014 Acura MDX which could have led to complete engine failure while driving my family. Absolute Auto Center of Berlin, CT confirmed the issue and noted that Acura has recalled 2016-2020 MDX models due to connecting rod bearing defects but have not expanded the recall to include earlier model years that are also impacted. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to or during the issue, it was identified due to a loud knocking with the engine around 3-4,000 RPMs.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736180May 6, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I am reporting a recurring safety issue following the Acura rod bearing recall repair on my 2019 Acura MDX SH-AWD. The original recall resulted in catastrophic engine failure and Acura replaced the long block assembly. Since that repair, the vehicle has repeatedly failed and returned to the dealership multiple times for the same issue pattern. Symptoms include: * “Emissions System Problem” warning * SH-AWD, brake, and traction control warnings * strong raw gasoline odor * vehicle becoming undriveable/no-start Timeline: * Recall repair completed with long block replacement * Vehicle failed again the next day * Dealer repaired vehicle * Vehicle failed again about one month later * Dealer repaired vehicle again * Vehicle failed a third time about one week later during normal commuting The recurring failures are accompanied by a strong gasoline smell, creating concern about fire risk and vehicle safety. I regularly transport children in this vehicle and no longer have confidence in the safety or reliability of the recall repair. The dealership has continued repairing the vehicle and providing loaners, indicating the issue is related to the original recall repair, but the underlying problem has still not been resolved despite multiple repair attempts. I am submitting this report because the recall repair has not resulted in safe and reliable vehicle operation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735859May 5, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 55 MPH, she could a loud notice and the vehicle shaking and vibrating independently. Several warning lights illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and dealer where it was diagnosed that the connecting rod bear needed to be replaced. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and they denied the request for recall and they are reconsidering and reviewing. The failure mileage was 129,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735497May 4, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2017 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH the engine seized. All the warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was due to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined there was an internal engine failure. The local dealer was contacted, where it was diagnosed that there was rod bearing and engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The claim was denied. The failure mileage was approximately 122,220.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735571May 4, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that upon start of the vehicle, the engine entered limp mode as a check engine light appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle failed to accelerate above 35 MPH as the contact was forced to restart the vehicle. The vehicle resumed normal driving after restart and the contact called the dealer for an appointment. While driving the vehicle to the dealer, the failure returned as an abnormal, banging sound began to emit from the vehicle. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with rod bearing connector failure which resulted in engine failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Action Number:PE25008(Engine) which the contact linked to the failure. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure where he was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall and was offered the chance to apply for a goodwill financial assistance for the repair of the engine. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the dealer's possession. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735656May 4, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
Last year, my 2025 Acura MDX was repaired under warranty for a known starter issue that is affecting all 2025+ MDX models. The issue is that the vehicle will stall or fail to start on random occasions leaving drivers stranded or stopped in traffic unable to move their vehicle. Honda and Acura are well aware of the fact that this is an issue, yet they continue to produce these vehicles with the same parts. This repair took several attempts and the dealership refused to even diagnose the issue for several months causing me to have to record each instance on my phone for proof. Once they eventually replaced the starter, the issue went away for approximately 10 months. Today, however, I was temporarily left stranded at a gas pump as my vehicle would not start. Honda and Acura dealerships are replacing these parts with the exact same part number, so the no-start condition comes back in about a year or less. It is incredibly dangerous to have a vehicle that you cannot move as anticipated, or if you’re in an area that you cannot leave or get away from potential danger because your vehicle won’t start. This is a less-than two-year-old vehicle that has now left me stranded on several occasions including in the middle of traffic on a motorway. I know for a fact that several other owners of the Acura MDX are having the exact same issue and ask that you please launch an investigation into this as Honda is well aware of it and still refuses to address the blatant safety risk it poses to its customers.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735602May 4, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
Engine stalls when at intersection and the engine cuts off at idle and fails to start back up when you remove your foot from the break. Can have keep lane assist enable. KLAS mode narrow, you have to fight the wheel to maintain control of the vehicle, formal mode is a 50/50 chance it works, wide you can sift right off the road for 5-10 secs before to realize your off the road. Steer wheel control button intermittently fail and stop being able to control the midi instrument panel and infotainment system. I believe there is a systematic electrical issue in the car. They attempted to fix this by replacing a starter which hasn’t because the engine stalled at an intersection again and on cold start this morning 5/4 at the same intersection as this is by my girlfriends apartment.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735584May 4, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
While stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle had auto shut off normally. However when I released the brake and pushed the gas it unexpectedly stalled and shut off without warning. When attempting to restart the vehicle, it would not start again. There were no prior warning indicators or messages suggesting an imminent issue. This created a hazardous situation as the vehicle was disabled in an active traffic lane. After several attempts, the vehicle either restarted after having set the emergency brake. The failure appears to be sudden and without driver input, raising concerns about reliability and safety in traffic conditions.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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