Acura MDX Complaints

3,381 consumer complaints on file.

#11760292August 28, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2016 Acura MDX. The red LED section of the inner tailgate taillight (lid light) has failed and no longer illuminates. The white backup bulb in the same assembly still works. The LED section is sealed inside the assembly and cannot be serviced, so the entire lid light must be replaced. This vehicle received safety recall M49 (NHTSA 19V-256) in 2019 for moisture intrusion into the inner taillights. The same failure has now occurred again. Honda's own Part 573 report for recall FLI (NHTSA 25V-259) states that the redesigned assemblies installed under 19V-256 do not sufficiently prevent moisture intrusion, and that moisture entered through two new pathways: between the gasket and the seal ribs of the lid light, and at the interface between the gasket and the body dust sealer. My failure appears to be exactly that condition. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows zero unrepaired recalls for this VIN. When I contacted Acura, I was told the issue was repaired in 2019. That response addresses M49, not FLI. I have not been able to get confirmation of whether FLI applies to this VIN or was ever performed. Loss of the rear position lights reduces visibility and is a citable equipment violation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759967August 27, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2014 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed an abnormal sound, the vehicle lost motive power, and the contact noticed a fuel odor inside the vehicle. No warning lights illuminated. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with an emissions system failure, and it was determined that the fuel pump needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to report the safety issue to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11760106August 27, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Car Transfer Case Goes Out And Takes The Transmission Out As Well And Makes The Car FWD FROM SHAWD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759837August 26, 2026
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Idle Auto Start/Stop will not restart after cutting on leaving me stranded in traffic.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759431August 25, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The windshield on this 2024 MDX must be replaced because of the rear view mirror coming loose from the windshield. Acura is dragging their feet on correcting this dangerous situation of preventing the ability to see or use the rear view mirror.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759382August 25, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am leasing a 2025 Acura MDX with approximately 16,000 miles, acquired new in June 2025. The A/C system has failed and only blows hot air. The vehicle is available for inspection. I first noticed reduced cooling Thursday evening, August 20, 2026. By Friday, August 21, when it was approximately 89°F, the A/C was no longer producing cold air. I restarted the vehicle twice and repeatedly turned the climate controls and A/C on and off, but only hot air came from the vents. No warning lights or messages appeared. I contacted Cerritos Acura on Friday and spoke with the Service Director. I explained the failure, but the earliest appointment offered was approximately a week and a half later. I asked if they could arrange service elsewhere or contact another Acura dealer for an earlier appointment, but both requests were declined. On Monday, August 24, I had to commute approximately two hours to work without A/C during heat advisory conditions. I became extremely overheated and was concerned I was approaching a heat-related medical emergency. I consider this a serious safety concern, especially for a nearly new vehicle. The problem has not yet been diagnosed because the dealer has not inspected the vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759336August 25, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
My 2025 Acura MDX suffers from a severe safety defect regarding the Auto Idle Stop (auto start-stop) system. When the vehicle comes to a complete stop at intersections or traffic lights, the engine shuts off as intended. However, upon releasing the brake pedal to accelerate, the engine completely fails to auto-restart.Instead of restarting, the vehicle drops out of the auto-restart sequence entirely, shifts itself out of drive, and displays a critical safety message on the dashboard: "To start engine: Brake + Push".This completely strands the vehicle in live traffic, forcing me to manually shift into Park, press the foot brake, and push the engine start button while traffic accumulates behind me. This creates an immediate rear-end collision hazard.The dealership has already attempted to diagnose and repair this issue under warranty by replacing both the vehicle's battery. This hardware replacement did not fix the problem; the failure continues to occur unpredictably less than a week (and 25 miles) after replacement. The root cause appears to be a software, Powertrain Control Module (PCM), or sensor tracking defect where the vehicle fails to recognize it is in an automated restart sequence.I am filing this complaint to be officially included in the ongoing NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA25004 regarding Honda/Acura Auto Idle Stop failures, as the current hardware recall remedies are entirely ineffective for the 2025 model year.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759002August 24, 2026
ENGINE
The engine in the car caught fire and subsequently destroyed the vehicle. The car was parking in a shopping center parking lot at the time.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759081August 24, 2026
ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN
On my 2017 Acura MDX SH-AWD with approximately 112,000 miles, the engine experienced a sudden catastrophic failure while I was traveling at highway speed. The vehicle abruptly lost power, the accelerator became unresponsive, smoke came from the vehicle hood and exhaust area, and multiple warning lights illuminated. The failure occurred with no advance warning and created a serious safety risk because I suddenly lost propulsion while traveling approximately 75 mph in highway traffic. An independent repair facility inspected the vehicle and reported that connecting rod/bearing failure resulted in catastrophic engine damage. I was advised that two connecting rods/bearings failed and caused holes in the engine block, with a rod/component also damaging the A/C compressor. Oil subsequently leaked from the damaged engine. Prior to the sudden failure, I did not have warning lights or other indications suggesting an imminent engine failure. The warning lights appeared during or immediately after the loss of power. The vehicle has been inspected by a repair facility and the engine requires replacement. The vehicle/failed components can be made available for inspection upon request. I am particularly concerned because Acura has previously recalled certain vehicles for connecting rod bearing failures that can result in engine damage, stalling, or loss of motive power. My vehicle is the same model year and has experienced an apparently similar catastrophic connecting rod/bearing failure, but my VIN is not currently included in the recall 23V-751. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA can evaluate whether the affected population may extend beyond the VINs currently covered in that recall. This is also linked to NHTSA’s new investigation PE25008.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759085August 24, 2026
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Multiple errors Lane departure and advanced driver support, ACC LKAS, auto high beam, and braking system. Looking into this more i see lots of people with the same issue failing front facing camera and not a cheap fix. Is there any current investigations into this problem or a software upgrade? I clear the errors and they come back once car is turned off and back on. If no fix to the current system there should be a way to disable LKAS and ACC without spending $2000 to replace the system.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759177August 24, 2026
ENGINE
On August 3rd the vehicle began making a loud clicking/knocking noise from the engine area of the car. Took the car to Richard Bailey Automotive on August 4th for diagnosis. Was informed a week later the engine needed replacement. Have owned the car for 3 months. No warning lights except to clean the backup camera. All maintenance has been performed on the vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759230August 24, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2018 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and failed to exceed 35-60 MPH. The check engine warning light was flashing. The driver pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was restarted, reset, and operated as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure could not be duplicated, and the failure persisted. The contact's brother, a certified technician, advised the contact not to turn off the vehicle after the failure occurred to prevent the system from resetting. The contact followed the instructions, and the contact's brother retrieved DTC: P0304, indicating a cylinder 4 misfire. The vehicle was not repaired and would be taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759193August 24, 2026
POWER TRAIN
At 75,000 miles I noticed that the vehicle was losing fluids on the bottom. The fluid color was a reddish color. I took it into Acura for a diagnosis and I was told that the seal between the drivetrain and transmission has worn and is causing all of the fluids to be leaked out of the car. They told me it would be $10,000 to replace the drivetrain and transmission because the a repair cannot be made.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758889August 23, 2026
POWER TRAIN
2023 ACURA MDX TYPE S. 28k miles. While merging onto highway, I sped up and at 25 mph, I heard a loud metal clunk from underneath the car. Car still drove and functioned as a two wheel drive instead of AWD. Went in for service and was told that the transmission and Power train Unit would need to be replaced and will be replaced under powertrain warranty by Acura.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758558August 21, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2019 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to drive to the residence after the failure. An independent mechanic was contacted and attributed the failure to the fuel pump. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); but the vehicle was repaired under the recall approximately 2 years ago. The contact stated that the failure was caused by an improper recall repair. The dealer was contacted and diagnosed the vehicle with fuel pump failure. The contact was informed that the fuel pump replacement only had a 12-month warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758463August 21, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2025 Acura MDX – Auto Idle Stop Failure to Restart When my 2025 Acura MDX is stopped at a traffic light and the Auto Idle Stop system activates, the engine shuts off but on multiple occasions has failed to restart when traffic begins moving. The vehicle becomes immobilized in an active traffic lane. Vehicles behind me begin moving and honking while I am unable to move the vehicle. To regain operation, I have had to completely shut the vehicle off and restart it while stopped in traffic. I can prevent the occurrence by manually disabling Auto Idle Stop after starting the vehicle, but this requires me to remember to disable the system every time I drive. If I forget, I risk the vehicle shutting down and failing to restart at an intersection. This creates a serious safety concern for me and my passengers, including my child. I am concerned about being stranded in an intersection or other active traffic lane and potentially being struck by another vehicle. I believe the Auto Idle Stop system's failure to restart the engine presents an unreasonable safety risk and should be investigated.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758169August 20, 2026
SUSPENSION
I am filing an official complaint against American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and the local dealership regarding their handling of a mandatory safety recall on my 2017 Acura MDX (VIN: [XXX] / Manufacturer Case # XXX). The manufacturer and dealership are failing to provide a $0-cost remedy for this safety recall by attempting to impose conditional out-of-pocket charges on me: 1. Conditioning Recall Completion on Paid Repairs: The dealership/manufacturer verbally informed me that while the recall procedure itself is covered, I will be required to pay out-of-pocket for any corroded, rusted, or damaged hardware/parts that must be removed or replaced during the disassembly process to complete the recall. They stated that if the vehicle fails their post-repair safety inspection due to these rusted components, I must pay for the new parts before the vehicle is deemed complete/safe. 2. Refusal to Provide Written Estimates: I have repeatedly requested an itemized written estimate detailing these potential charges via email for several weeks, but the manufacturer and dealer have failed to provide one, insisting instead that I bring the vehicle back to the dealership without written terms. 3. Denial of Safe Transportation: The dealership has demanded that I return the vehicle for inspection/repair without guaranteeing a loaner vehicle, while simultaneously stating the vehicle may not pass safety inspection unless I agree to pay for non-covered rusted parts. A safety recall repair mandated by federal law must return the vehicle to a safe condition at zero cost to the owner. Requiring the consumer to pay for rusted components that must be removed solely to execute the recall repair defeats the purpose of the recall remedy. I request that the NHTSA intervene to ensure American Honda Motor Co., Inc. completes the recall repair in full at $0 cost and provides appropriate replacement transportation during the service. 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
#11758335August 20, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2025 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while at a stop, the vehicle lost automotive power, and all electrical features turned off. The vehicle was restarted and the battery warning light illuminated. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that no cause for the failure was found. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle was idling roughly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 17,400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11757951August 19, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
The forward facing camera or monocular attached to the windshield has malfunctioned and is a wide spread issue across multiple models and years. When this item fails due to high heat which causes the camera (CMOS Image sensor) to degrade, the owner is given a slew of warnings and loses a lot of functionality. The dealership quotes an enormous amount of money to replace/calibrate the camera typically between $1500-2500 depending on location. Functionality that is lost includes cruise control, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance and most importantly adaptive braking. There are also numerous dash lights and repetitive warnings that pop up for each bit of functionality that is broken. So while driving the user will see changing text and hear beeps to inform the driver of these deactivated features which is a major distraction and takes away from the drivers concentration on safe driving. Looking online this issue has been reported by drivers of multiple models and years of both Honda and Acura which means it is wide spread and should be classified as a recall. Just some of the models mentioned are Acura MDX, RDX, TLX, Honda Civic, Accord, CR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey and potentially others. There is no reason that a camera should fail across all these models spanning over a decade at such high numbers outside of an engineering failure that Honda does not want fork out money for to keep their drivers safe. A couple example part numbers would be 36160-TYS-A02-M1 and 36160-TJB-A040-M1.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11757986August 19, 2026
SEATS
The contact owns a 2019 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the driver’s and passenger’s side front seats shifted unexpectedly. The contact stated that there was an abnormal popping sound coming from the center of the seat backrest, which was felt in the seat. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was notified of the issue and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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