Acura MDX Complaints

3,381 consumer complaints on file.

#11755686August 8, 2026
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Auto Idle Restart failed three times in traffic at red light. Have to shift to Park and push Start button. Nothing happens for several seconds, then engine starts.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755216August 6, 2026
ENGINE
I was driving home late at night with my family in the car. The car suddenly loss power and the check engine light came on and began flashing. I pulled over and turned the car off and back on. The light went away. I began driving again and after a short while, a bunch of lights popped up on the dashboard and the car began to loose power again and started making weird rattling noises from the engine. Just moments before pulling over again I realized the car was on fire and evasively pulled over and frantically got my sleeping children out of the car and we created distance from the vehicle since it was on fire underneath. We called the fire department and they responded very quickly and put out the fire. We secured a few belongings and the children’s car seats and my brother in law picked us up. The car was towed from the scene. I called the incident into the insurance the next day and filed a claim. After a few days once the adjuster came out, it was determined that the insurance company would not be covering the claim because the cause of the fire was internal engine failure. It had shot a bearing cap through the oil pan and that is what caused the fire. I contacted Honda about the issue and have yet to hear back from them. This was over a month ago. I am now stuck repairing the vehicle on my own since I cannot afford to take the car to the dealer and I am mechanically inclined as it is what I do for a living. The car is currently in my garage and after taking the engine apart, I found that the main bearing for cylinder #6 had failed and in turn fell apart and broken the piston for that cylinder and the broken debris destroyed the engine block and even bent the valves on the from head for that cylinder. I now have to rebuild my entire engine with no warning whatsoever that this was going to happened. The car was maintained on schedule and nothing was ever overlooked or not performed. It was a great car until the engine decided to grandad itself out of nowhere.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755328August 6, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755315August 6, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2025 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while at a complete stop at a traffic light, the vehicle unexpectedly shut off and failed to restart. After approximately 15 minutes, the vehicle restarted, and the contact drove into a parking lot before driving to the residence. No warning lights illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure the following day, and a service appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 14,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755172August 6, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2022 Acura MDX. The contact stated that drops of fluid were discovered on the floor of the garage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for diagnosis, and the contact was informed that transmission fluid was leaking due to a failure of the Power Take Off (PTO) unit and transmission spline, causing the transmission to overheat and leak fluid. The contact was informed that the transmission and PTO unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 97,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754628August 4, 2026
SUSPENSION
I received a letter from Acura about a safety recall on the subframe. My car has been making a creaking noise and so I called the number on the letter. The guy gave me the number to Acura, Brookfield WI. I called and talked to someone there today, I think his name was John. I told him I wanted my car checked for the recall issue and I am worried about the noise. He said a subframe won't cause squeaking and I would have to pay $200 for them to look at it. I said I would call back in fall as the letter states but Im still wanting this issue fixed now.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754719August 4, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My 2023 MDX Type S is currently at Mungenast St Louis Acura. Transfer Case and Transmission are both being replaced at roughly 56,000 miles. I made a turn and heard a loud noise. Because I was under acceleration my car was hard to control when it happened. Scared me and immediately let off the gas.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754357August 3, 2026
ENGINE
I was merging onto the highway and when I attempted to accelerate, the engine warning light began to flash and the car could not accelerate. The engine began to make a rattling noise. I called the dealer and they asked if I could make it there (it was about 25 miles away). I said I would try. As I got about 10 miles away the noise grew louder and the oil light came on. I immediately pulled over. The dealer said the engine blew the connecting rod and destroyed the engine and the engine would need to be replaced. The car just had all the fluids replaced by the dealer 3 weeks prior. All service work over the 10 years was done by the dealer.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754481August 3, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that the owner reported an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine while starting the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic, where the timing belt tensioner was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The mechanic disassembled the oil filter and discovered metal shavings inside the filter. The mechanic related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE25008 (Engine). The manufacturer was notified of the failure; however, no assistance was provided because the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754620August 3, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
Problem Description: I am reporting a safety-related issue affecting multiple driver assistance systems on my 2017 Acura MDX. While driving, the vehicle displays several warning messages at the same time, including: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Problem Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) Problem Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) System Problem Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) Problem When these warnings appear, all of these safety systems become unavailable. The warning indicators remain on, and the systems do not function even after restarting the vehicle. The 12-volt battery was replaced approximately one month before this issue began, and the engine starts and runs normally. Despite the new battery, the warnings continue to appear, making the vehicle's advanced safety features unusable. This appears to be a widespread issue reported by many owners of the 2017 Acura MDX. Since multiple critical safety systems fail simultaneously, I believe this may be related to a defect in the vehicle's electrical system, charging system, control modules, wiring, or communication network. Because these features are designed to help prevent accidents, their sudden loss creates a significant safety concern. I respectfully request that Acura investigate this issue and consider issuing a recall or extending warranty coverage if a common manufacturing defect is identified.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754436August 3, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Went to get into my 2024 Acura MDX parked car this morning temperature around 68 degrees and noticed the back window of my 2024 MDX had shattered out. There was a large section of glass missing and the glass looks as if it was pushed from the inside out. The vehicle had not been driven or started since the last evening. It seems as though this was a problem with prior Acura models in previous years. Went to the dealer and talked to the technician who said it is not covered under Acura warranty. This is definitely a safety issue as I could have been driving down the interstate when this happened putting my life and others in danger. I can only assume this is an issue Acura is aware of with the class action lawsuit that had been filed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754284August 2, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While at a stop light, the vehicle had automatic start/stop on and failed to restart when the gas pedal was applied. The car went into park but still seemed like it was on, even though it was not. I had to remain calm, put on my hazards, and attempt a couple of times to reboot the vehicle. This has happened at least three times since I purchased my 2025 Acura MDX in November 2025.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753988July 31, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and attempting to open the trunk, the contact became aware that the inner driver’s side taillight was inoperable. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V256000 (Exterior Lighting); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The independent mechanic stated that the taillight needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754100July 31, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I am writing to formally report a serious and recurring safety defect with my 2025 Acura MDX A-Spec (VIN [XXX]) involving the Auto Idle Stop system. The engine repeatedly fails to restart after the Auto Idle Stop feature shuts it off. When my wife releases the brake pedal (for example, at a traffic light), the vehicle either stalls completely or experiences a major delay before restarting sometimes lasting more than 20 seconds, leaving the my wife unable to accelerate. This creates an immediate and unacceptable safety hazard, particularly in intersections or heavy traffic. I previously brought the vehicle to Acura of Langley regarding this exact issue. Despite that visit, the problem has continued. Most recently, on today, while my wife was driving with my kids, the vehicle again entered Auto Idle Stop at a traffic light. When the light turned green, the engine completely shut off and would not restart for more than 20 seconds. This left her stranded in traffic and unable to move the vehicle, creating a clear risk of collision. This is not an isolated complaint. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened Engineering Analysis EA25004 into precisely this condition “No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages” affecting, among other models, 2016–2025 Acura MDX vehicles. American Honda has also issued dealer communications specifically seeking 2023–2025 MDX vehicles with client complaints of no auto re-start after Auto Idle Stop for inspection prior to any repair attempts. Class-action investigations and prior litigation involving related Idle Stop failures further underscore the known nature and seriousness of this defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754009July 31, 2026
ENGINE
I am submitting this complaint regarding my **2025 Acura MDX**, which I currently lease. The vehicle has an ongoing starting system malfunction that has not been resolved despite multiple service visits. I believe this issue presents a significant safety risk. The primary issue involves the **Auto Idle Stop/Auto Start-Stop system**. When the vehicle automatically shuts off at a red light, stop sign, or while idling, it will occasionally fail to restart when I release the brake or attempt to accelerate. Instead of restarting normally, the vehicle hesitates, stutters, or remains off. This creates a dangerous situation because the vehicle is unexpectedly disabled while in traffic, increasing the risk of being rear-ended or causing an accident. In addition to the Auto Idle Stop issue, the vehicle also has problems during the initial startup. When I attempt to start the vehicle using the push-button ignition, it frequently fails to start on the first attempt. I often have to press the start button a second time before the engine starts, and even then, the engine stutters or hesitates before finally turning over. This should not occur in a brand-new 2025 vehicle. I have taken the vehicle to the dealership multiple times for this issue: * During the first visit, I was told the battery was the cause. * During the second visit, the starter was replaced. * After the problem continued, I returned again. The dealership tested both the battery and the replacement starter and advised that both components were operating properly. * The dealership then opened a case with Honda/Acura engineering for further investigation. Despite these repeated repair attempts, the issue remains unresolved. I have been told that it is likely a software issue and that engineers are "looking into it." In the meantime, I was instructed to simply disable the Auto Idle Stop feature every time I start the vehicle. This is not an acceptable solution. I do have videos but it will now allow me to up
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753972July 31, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2022 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while the vehicle was receiving a routine oil change, the rear wheels failed to rotate. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission and transfer case needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the drive shaft was moving freely while in park. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,984.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753881July 30, 2026
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
No major incidents, hits, or bumps no off roading only drove on city roads and highways. Tread and all rubber on the outside half of the tire has completely seperated from the inner tire on a section.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753247July 28, 2026
SUSPENSION
Recall/Campaign Reference: Rear subframe/rear suspension safety recall, ~880,000+ Acura MDX vehicles (MY 2014–2020), due to risk of rear suspension component failure causing loss of vehicle control. Complaint Narrative: I own a 2014 Acura MDX (VIN [XXX]) subject to Honda's rear subframe safety recall for suspension components Honda has identified as posing a risk of failure, potentially causing loss of vehicle control and increasing crash/injury risk. I brought my vehicle to Acura of Arrowhead, AZ (authorized dealer) for the recall repair. The dealer had recall subframe parts in stock, but upon inspection found the bolt securing the Left Rear Lower Arm A rusted and seized, causing the bushing to separate. The dealer advised the bolt must be cut and the Left Rear Lower Arm A (Part No. 52370TZ5A90) replaced, along with the right-side arm (52375TZ5A9) and Upper/Lower Bolts (90118TZ5A10, 90981TZ5A01). I was informed Part No. 52370TZ5A90 is unavailable anywhere in the U.S. — no dealer, no aftermarket, no third-party source — for an indefinite period with no ETA. As a result, the recall repair cannot be completed, despite an actively corroded, failing component already identified on my vehicle. I must continue operating this vehicle with a known, documented safety defect because Honda cannot supply the needed part, with no resolution timeline. This complaint documents: Recall remedy cannot be completed due to nationwide parts unavailability. Vehicle has an active rusted/seized failure in the exact recalled component. No interim safety guidance or parts timeline provided. I request NHTSA investigate Honda's parts supply chain adequacy for this recall, given the scale (880,000+ vehicles) and inability to supply a critical safety part. Requested Action: Investigate parts availability/remedy completion rate for this campaign; require American Honda Motor Co., Inc. to provide owners a documented parts timeline and/or interim safety guidance. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753342July 28, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Took car in for oil change and service tech saw that there was transmission fluid leaking. They then found that the splines were sheared off going into the transfer case and transmission. We received new transmission and transfer case. So far everything is working. We did not get any warning that there was an issue until we took it to the dealership. Putting in the case as this seems to be a common issue on type s models.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753157July 27, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Vehicle exhibited a fluid leak at the rear of the engine near the transmission/transfer case junction. An independent shop is currently evaluating; suspected power take-off unit failure. This matches the failure pattern described in NHTSA Defect Petition DP26001 covering 2022-2023 Acura MDX and 2021-2023 Acura TLX for interfacing spline failure between the transmission and the rear-wheel-drive power take-off unit. Separately, while pulling out into traffic, the vehicle hesitated and failed to accelerate as commanded, chugging briefly before delivering power. This nearly resulted in a collision. No warning lamps or messages appeared at any time. Whether this drivability event and the fluid leak share a cause is UNKNOWN, but I am reporting both given the open defect petition on this component. Vehicle at approximately 75,000 miles, outside powertrain warranty by roughly 5,000 miles. Manufacturer declined assistance when contacted. Component is available for inspection upon request. Sudden loss of all-wheel drive without warning is a safety concern in Michigan winter driving conditions Repair has been quoted at approximately $3,600 for the transfer unit alone, plus labor, with no manufacturer assistance offered.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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