Acura MDX Complaints

3,381 consumer complaints on file.

#11695685October 26, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
Camera is failing - reportedly due to a bad internal ground-wire. Acura is charging $900 for the part and $1600 for the installation and calibration of a new unit !! Also - the unit is a black color, and located right behind the windshield, so bakes itself to death. Acura should be using white colors inside the space, limit the un-used volume, and recalling the units (or at least providing a low-cost unit) to allow simple replacement and improve safety. Such an important AND EXPENSIVE part should not be failing so often. The MXers.org web site has hundreds of posts about this item. ALSO - the parts should be pre-calibrated! Acura wants several hundred $$ to calibrate it and 4 days to do it. NHTSA should NOT be requiring ADAS technology if it is so fragile and expensive to fix/replace, as in the long-run owners will not maintain it (e..g $2,400 repair bills for a small camera part nad 5 minute change). See: https://www.mdxers.org/threads/multiple-errors-that-wont-go-away-adaptive-cruise-lane-keep-assist-road-departure-collision-mitigation-now-with-troubleshooting-and-solutions.182671/
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11695687October 26, 2025
ENGINE
Engine seized due to failure of the connecting rod bearing. Same issue that is occurring in the recall but our VIN does not fall into the vin codes. Engine needed a complete rebuild. During engine failure, I was in the middle of truck and vehicle would not move even in neutral.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11695372October 24, 2025
ENGINE
I am filing this report regarding my 2018 Acura MDX that has experienced complete engine failure directly related to the Connecting-Rod Bearing Safety Recall (NHTSA Recall 23V-751) and Acura’s failure to perform the recall when I first reported issues. In 2024, my vehicle began showing engine trouble codes (P0159) and experienced reduced acceleration and check engine light warnings. I contacted Acura corporate and opened a case, explaining that the vehicle was exhibiting symptoms similar to those described in the recall, including engine hesitation and performance issues. I also took the vehicle to Acura of Chattanooga on Chapman Road, where I worked with Tara, a service advisor who acknowledged remembering my repeated attempts to get the recall addressed. Despite this, the recall repair was never performed, and I was treated rudely and dismissed each time. Over the past two years, I have made multiple documented attempts to have the recall completed. Each time, Acura failed to take action or stated that parts or authorization were unavailable. In 2025, my vehicle displayed Code P0430 (Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold, Bank 2) and ultimately suffered complete engine failure. The issues with oil circulation, catalytic converter performance, and acceleration are consistent with the rod bearing defect Acura has acknowledged as part of this recall. Recently, Acura informed me that my recall was “completed,” even though the engine is now inoperable. This is unacceptable, as the recall was meant to prevent this exact type of engine damage, and Acura had two years of opportunity to address the issue before failure occurred. The current situation has left me with a non-functioning engine, significant repair costs, and a serious safety concern that could have been prevented if Acura had honored its recall responsibilities in a timely manner. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate Acura’s handling of this recall and their pattern of delaying or denying recall repairs
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11695395October 24, 2025
ENGINE
I was driving my vehicle on the highway at 65 MPH when the engine light came on and began blinking- no other issues. I tried to pass a vehicle, and my vehicle would not accelerate, I was less than a mile from work. I called the dealership the same day and was able to take it in. When I called, I explained everything the dealership told me I could either tow it or try to drive it in. I went out to the car later and moved it from one parking lot to another and had no issues and no lights came on alerting something was wrong. Later in the day as I was driving 65 mph again on interstate, just as I was slowing down to get off all of the lights for everything came on and the engine was making a terrible knocking sound. I slowly pulled over and put my hazards on while driving 15/20 mph. I was near the dealership and was able to coast into the repair shop. Was informed the engine needed to be replaced due to a misfire on cylinder 2 and rod knock- most likely rod bearings and crank shaft issue with broken rod. We have an extended warranty so for a used engine found at a salvage yard won't cost much out of pocket with a similar amount of miles. Used engine will have 12K mile warranty/12months. The dealership has the engine- that info can be given upon request.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694677October 21, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2019 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while at a stoplight with the Auto START/STOP feature activated, the vehicle failed to restart after releasing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle was able to be restarted approximately 5 minutes later. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Action Number: EA25004 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); and related the failure to the action number. The failure mileage was 1,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694732October 21, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the engine. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue but offered no assistance. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 11,624.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694662October 21, 2025
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Car engine sometimes does not restart when the auto start-stop feature is engaged. Car engine is also sluggish to restart when it does work. My local Acura dealer evaluated the car on 10/15/25, found battery was low. Battery was replaced that day, and things seemed okay for about a week. Today (10/21) when I was stopped at a traffic light, the issue returned and my car would not restart after going into auto start-stop. The car had been on for about 30 minutes. When I tried to restart the engine, it took three tries before finally turning over. Fortunately, this has only happened thus far for me at stoplights, but safety could definitely be impacted if the engine does not turn back on and the car needs to be maneuvered quickly. No warning lights or messages appeared prior to the issue. This started for me about 3 weeks ago. No accidents or known issues with the car prior to the issue. There does not seem to be a predictable pattern to the auto start-stop feature failing.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694254October 18, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
emission system problem & electric parking brake problem codes came up. Once pulled over vehicle would not disengage the emergency parking brake.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694273October 18, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The Acura MDX, which had always been serviced at an Acura dealership, had 121,007 miles on it when the transmission completely failed without prior warning. I was driving with the d cruise control on at around 70 mph when I took the car off cruise by touching the brake to take the exit ramp onto I-10. I suddenly lost power, the engine still runnning, the car was on the exit ramp, which was uphill and exiting from I75 South. I had to coast to a stop and stopped between in a trouble area between the exit ramp and the fast lane on I10 east, which the wrecker driver said left the car exposed in a “kill zone.” After stopping, the car would start but all four wheels were locked and the wrecker drivers could not roll the car into a safer location to retrieve the car. They nevertheless pulled the car onto the wrecker while in what they described as a “kill zone,” and I also thought the spot I had to stop was extremely dangerous. The dealership, Key Acura in Gainesville, Florida, advised the transmission needed to be replaced at a cost of $7,200. After that I sold the car to an online site at a price that was basically for junk.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694321October 18, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The transmission and motor has failed. Car has 133000 miles. Transmission recently rebuilt. Car continues to malfunction according to the recall but is not listed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694334October 18, 2025
LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
The front camera seems to be faulty and is throwing warning lights on the Dash. Lane keep assist system, front collision and adaptive cruise control lights show up. These warnings disappear when the car cools down, but does appear again
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694079October 17, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
The front camera failure. Needs replacement. Camera apparently is used for the ACC , lane departure assistance.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11693912October 16, 2025
ENGINE
My 2017 Acura MDX with only 87,000 miles has suffered catastrophic engine failure. The vehicle has been properly maintained and all repairs recommended by the dealership where the performed since it was purchased new. While the dealership has confirmed the engine failure cause is exactly what is feared by the Recall Report 23V-751, Honda has refused to acknowledge their responsibility since my VIN does not fall within their "identified" inventory. The engine is currently at the dealership and will be maintained as evidence for the "to-be-filed" lawsuit that will be required to recover the repair costs. The engine seized while driving and had to maneuver the vehicle to a safe location. Had I been travelling on the highway at the time. the outcome would have been disastrous. The problem is described in detail in Recall Report 23V-251. There were no warning lights or issues other than a clunking sound the night before. I was driving to the dealership at the time the engine failure occurred.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11693651October 15, 2025
ENGINE
Engine cut out on the middle of a pitch black highway in Virginia. Few seconds lights flashing on dashboard check engine light started flashing then low engine oil and then the rest of the standard "CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS" experience as I was finally able to pull the vehicle over. Vehicle seemed as if it was dead. When got vehicle JUMPED 2 hours later I started engine because it wouldn't start. It was making all the noises consistent with ENGINE recall that MY ENGINE was so conveniently not included in the recall. ACURA WON'T DO ANYTHING for me. I was stuck on the side of the highway in the pitch black with cars and trucks flying by at 70+MPH with my 3 kids and spouse. ENGINE is chattering and has no power. ALMOST ABOUT TO SEIZE. I was stranded in a small town for 2 days with no way to get home no rental companies with cars available. ALL VIDEOS online consistentfor engine recall consistent with my experience. NO lights no hestitation perfect engine oil level filled tank of gas minutes with 93 as always not even 2 minutes before this situation. ENGINE WAS PERFECT. Was glad I wasn't apart of recall initially. I thought I had a "GOOD ONE" then boom complete catastrophe. NHTSA NEEDS to expedite this. THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE! Acura knows the issue they are running form it. I spent over $1,100 to tow my vehicle home and get my family home safely.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11693558October 15, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
The interior breaking pad on the rear passenger side wheel is wearing faster than all other break pads. According to the dealership this is due to defective hold break caliper, a condition which they failed to identify and address this multiple times until a complete rear breaks job was required. As a result perfectly fine breaks have to be replaced because of a single fast wearing break pad. I am not sure if this condition can lead to any safety risks but right now there are significant repair costs being incurred.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11693280October 14, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The transfer case spline stripped preventing power to be sent to the rear wheels
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11693436October 14, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
There was an active recall on this car from Acura for the auto start system malfunctioning. When the car auto stops at a signal or stop sign it does not turn back on sometimes. We took the car to Acura 3 times for the same issue and they keep saying that it is fixed but the recall was never fixed. This is highly dangerous in traffic situations when the car does not turn back on when you take your foot off the brake.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11693356October 14, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2025 Acura MDX randomly turns off when in Auto Stop/Start mode at stoplights and I have to restart it. After it happen twice, my husband took it to the dealer, and they could not find anything wrong with it. It happened a third time and this time the dealer kept it for a week. They found nothing so their system doesn't detect problems well. I had their loaner, a 2025 MDX A-Spec. I was driving the vehicle into a parking space at my office which faces a 4-lane highway. My foot was on the brake, and I was 2/3rds into the space. Suddenly the car lunges forward, revs up and takes off over the curb, over 3 bushes and down a sloped hill into the highway. I could not stop the vehicle! My hands were on the steering wheel and my foot on the brake as I was bracing for impact with another vehicle. Thankfully there were no cars in the lane! As I entered the right lane a car passed by me. The engine then revved down, and I was able to gain control of the car and pull into the parking lot. I have met with the managers at the dealership. They still cannot find what's wrong with my car as the computer doesn't show anything. They have run a test on the loaner car as well and said they could not find any issues with it either. They are calling in an engineer to inspect the loaner car. I or someone else could have been badly injured or killed! I feel the MDX A-Spec I was driving is a deadly vehicle, and I do not want this to happen to anyone else!! There were no warning messages or problems prior to the incidence My hope is that there would be an investigation into this vehicle and into Honda/Acura to see it there is safety issues with their vehicles. The photos are of the area the incident happened. The dealer has the vehicle. Thank you, [XXX] 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
#11693159October 13, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
The LKAS and Parking systems will randomly decide to cease functioning and express error messages. The car has not been in an accident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11692504October 10, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
While operating the vehicle, multiple driver-assist warning indicators illuminated on the dashboard, including LKAS (Lane Keeping Assist System), ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control), and CMBS (Collision Mitigation Braking System). The systems either disengaged or functioned erratically during normal driving conditions. At times, the vehicle failed to maintain lane position, abruptly disengaged adaptive cruise control, or displayed collision alerts when no obstruction was present. Now it is constant. Safety Impact: The failure of the LKAS, ACC, and related systems can cause unexpected loss of vehicle assist functions, leading to abrupt speed changes or compromised lane control, increasing the risk of collision if not promptly corrected.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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