Acura MDX Complaints

3,381 consumer complaints on file.

#11771251October 14, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My less than 5 year old car had a leak coming from the center front of the car. Acura Service said the transfer case and transmission connection spindles were damaged and transmission seals are leaking. They recommended a replacement of both transmission and transfer case, at a cost of over $13,000, and that is after Acura Customer Service gave me a 10% discount on the repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770899October 13, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Faulty and auto-stop/start system glitch where the engine fails to turn back on. This issue frequently occurs while driving in traffic or at a stop light. This issue happens daily become extremely dangerous as car unexpected turns off and fails to turn back on a busy road. There is no option to turn off the auto-stop/start system to avoid the glitch.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770906October 13, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The vehicle's transmission is faulty. I took it to a second-hand repair shop because, while I was driving on the freeway, the speed had been dropping rapidly. I later found out they recalled the transmission for this Acura in 2005. It is 2026. I took it to a dealership and asked about the transmission recall; they said they could close federal safety recalls, so it wasn’t valid. I left the dealership and called Acura's client relations line, where they said that because I am the second owner, they would not accommodate the recall request, as it had closed in 05. I googled whether they can close federal recalls, and it said they couldn’t. Then they changed what they said and said that because it was over 150,000 miles, it wasn't eligible for a goodwill repair either. This (NHTSA Campaign ID 04V-176000) repair was never done on the car, but because it was issued in 05, they will not accommodate it today when the transmission showed a fault.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770530October 12, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My vehicle developed a leak at the seal between the transfer case and transmission. I was informed that, due to the original design, this seal cannot be replaced independently. The leak can result in the loss of gear oil and transmission fluid, further transmission damage, and a loss of power to the rear wheels. Repairs involve significant expense, including replacement of damaged components, seals, and both fluids. There were no apparent warning signs other than oil puddles beneath the vehicle. Two extended warranty companies inspected the vehicle and denied coverage, stating that the manufacturer should be responsible for addressing the issue. The vehicle was taken to John Eagle Acura in Houston, Texas, for repairs involving replacement of the transmission and transfer case, along with all associated fluids and seals. I understand that this dealership has repaired other vehicles with the same issue and that similar cases have been reported nationwide. I am concerned that this may be a recurring design-related problem with potential safety implications, particularly because of the possible loss of power to the rear wheels without adequate warning. I request that the manufacturer investigate this issue, review these reported failures, and take responsibility for the necessary repairs.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770575October 12, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
Driving home from a trip June 2019 on the highway at 60mph with 3 children and my husband, my 2016 Acura MDX experienced complete engine failure - alarms started to sound and I experienced a loss of acceleration, lights in the dash included Engine Problem, Transmission Problem, Emission System Problem, Critical Failure Detected Stop Driving When Safe etc. The vehicle shifted into neutral. I was able to pull off the road onto the shoulder. The engine was still running but would not shift into park. I contacted Acura TLC to have the vehicle towed but we were stranded on the side of a very busy highway in 90 degree heat with 3 kids waiting. Not only was it unsafe to be driving 60mph and lose engine power, I had to also negotiate three lanes of traffic to safely reach the shoulder. The dealership that serviced my vehicle stated it needed a "software update" - the vehicle was with them the week before this happened for regular maintenance and they failed to do the supposed software update. I complained about engine issue in this vehicle from the first time I took for service and nothing was ever done about my complaints. I have all my service records from Acura service indicating my complaints. In 2026 we took the vehicle back to Acura for diagnostics and were told the engine and transmission needed to be replaced due to a KNOWN issue by Honda Motor Corp with the transmission cooler system contamination. The repair estimate is $36,506.15.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770480October 11, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
The vehicle is showing LOW SPEED BRAKING CONTROL and BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEMS, it is also throwing DTC Codes B2600-97; B2627-96; B2630-96; B2637-11; P2583-76 and P2583-97, as I consider the vehicle unsafe to drive or operate and it is a leased vehicle I took it to the same Acura dealer I leased the vehicle from, in order to have it repaired and put back to a normal operating status and make it safe to drive and operate. I took it to the dealer, advantage Acura of Naperville, on Friday October 9, 2026. The dealer is refusing to repair the braking failure under the manufactures warranty, as the vehicle only has 31thousand miles on it, and it still is within the manufactures warranty period.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770295October 10, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES
Brake system, Cruise control, lane keeping system get malfunction erratically (ever since 2022, and has been like this), and one of the two sets of brakes never wears off (More than 100 K mileage now (Oct. 2026) , one set of brake pads still is still have sufficient life and does not seem to require replacement. Additiionally, recently (August 2026) the electronic system has gone very bad, the dashboard automatically restarts, headlight turns on, and trying to engaging something, then turned off automatically, then a new cycle starts, and even I turned off again, the cycle will restart until battery is drained and dead, if I do not lock the car (and I had to replace a new battery that was used for less than 1.5 year. If I lock the car, the car will start the same cycle and will honk, and honk, until the surrounding people had to remove the car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770081October 9, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Car is not staying on during traffic. Afraid to go in highway now.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11769824October 8, 2026
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Many customers complained about the LKAS Camera overheating and faulty.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11769975October 8, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On two occasions my vehicle stalled out when the idle stop feature failed to restart the engine in traffic. I could not restart my vehicle initially and it took several attempts to restart. Because I was at a stop in an intersection waiting to turn this could have resulted in a serious accident. There was no warning light or other indication of an issue prior to, during, or after the first incident. This was subsequently reproduced and documented with the dealer. They indicated they are seeing issues with many other vehicle of the same model and year but indicated they couldn't say much more. The dealer said they would replace the starter but did not definitively say it would solve the issue. Because they did not have the part in stock thet advised me to continue driving in the meantime with the idle stop feature disabled; however, operators must remember to do this manually at each drive.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11769561October 7, 2026
ENGINE
Dec. 16, 2025, took Acura into the dealership because Check Engine light kept coming on. They did a full inspection and said I needed to have the purge valve replaced and that it was nearing time to have other services: transmission service, front transfer case, rear differential, brake fluid, timing belt, spark plugs, fuel service. Took the diagnostic to my brother who is a mechanic and he started the work starting with the purge valve. He had already done spark plugs with oil change in Oct. 2026. Fast forward to Apr. 2026 my car starts making a weird knocking sound upon accelerating. My brother was in hospital at this time so I didn't want to stress him so I just stopped driving it. I had the other stuff done at shop he recommended but the knocking sound didn't stop. Brother told me to get it diagnosed again. Now Sept. 2026, they said I need a whole new engine, and that Acura would not cover it! What!? They felt so badly they didn't even charge me for the diagnostic. I took it to two other shops just to see if there was anything else that could be done but they all told me the same thing. It's a 2019 how on earth could it need a new engine. I've gotten ALL the work done that is recommended. I didn't even drive it when it started making that noise. My husband and I have been sharing 1 vehicle! I have not missed an oil change and had all recalls repaired there but the dealership told me since I didn't do the services in the dealership at a premium that Acura would not extend me a Goodwill to replace their faulty engine. Why would I do the work at the dealer when my brother is a mechanic and owns his own shop? I believe my engine is suffering the same issues that are causing millions of Acura owners the same dangerous recall. The last place I took the car was the Acura/Honda Specialists shop in the city where I live and this guy told me everything that was serviced looked good but the car needs a new engine and there's even metal in the oil but my VIN doesn't count!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11769719October 7, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: LANE KEEP: STEERING ASSIST, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2017 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving, the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), brake, and Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) warning lights were intermittently illuminated. The contact associated the failure with the brake pads, which had not been replaced since the vehicle was purchased brand new; however, the dealer confirmed that the brake pads were in good condition. Additionally, the contact stated that there were electrical failures after the vehicle was parked. The steering wheel was raised, and the warning light was illuminated while making a continuous clicking sound, and the horn was honking continuously while the vehicle was parked and locked. The electrical failures caused the battery drain and the battery was replaced. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to jumpstart the vehicle. The contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from under the hood. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions; however, the cause of the failures could not be determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11769238October 6, 2026
POWER TRAIN
SPLINES BETWEEN TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE STRIPPED. AWD DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE. NO CODES ON THE DASH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11769279October 6, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Acura MDX on August 26, 2026. While registering the vehicle, the contact was informed that the previous title indicated that the odometer was reported at 277,000. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 77,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11768937October 5, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
The on board camera mounted on windshield above rear view mirror has failed and now none of the safety feature function (lane keep assist, adaptive cruise, etc).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11768794October 4, 2026
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On October 1, 2026 at approximately 5:45am, while driving my 2026 Acura MDX, I stopped at a red traffic light on a busy street. The vehicle's Auto Idle Stop system shut the engine off as designed. When the light turned green and I attempted to proceed, the engine failed to restart. The vehicle became disabled in an active traffic lane in the dark and I was unable to move it for several minutes. I attempted to restart the vehicle multiple times. It took several attempts to fully the shut the vehicle down and restart it before I was able to actually restart the car and resume driving. Because the vehicle was unexpectedly immobilized in traffic when surrounding vehicles began moving, I was placed at significant risk of being struck from behind or involved in a serious collision -- particularly because it was dark and all my lights were off while attempting to restart the car. My best assessment is that the failure involved the Auto Idle Stop / Restart system, starter system, electrical system or related control components. The exact cause is unknown at this time. The vehicle and all related components remain available for inspection upon request -- at least until the dealership starts working on my car to diagnose and hopefully fix the problem. (There are other reports of this happening with earlier models.) There were no warning lights, warning messages or obvious symptoms immediately before the failure. The Auto Idle Stop system appeared to operate normally when the engine shut off at the red light; the failure occurred when the system was supposed to restart the engine. The problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by my Acura dealer. I advised my dealership that the car failed to restart and left me stranded in active traffic. I was initially told that it could be several weeks to months before they could inspect the vehicle and I escalated the matter to the head of the service department due to the serious safety issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11768723October 3, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
My 2023 Acura MDX has developed a windshield washer system failure affecting both the front and rear washers. The system is clogged and is no longer able to spray washer fluid properly. I found a documented case involving 2022-and-newer Acura MDX vehicles showing what appears to be the same failure mode: coating on the washer-fluid reservoir can become gel-like, enter the washer system, and clog the filter, pump, lines, and/or nozzles. Video reference: [XXX] The symptoms shown are essentially the same as those on my vehicle. I also found an American Honda service communication concerning the 2022 Acura MDX that specifically requested dealer feedback on vehicles with an inoperative or weak washer-fluid system and asked whether the washer tank and/or filter was clogged. This raises concern that the problem may be recurring across multiple model years and may be related to the washer-system design or materials rather than normal wear. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA can evaluate whether this represents a broader safety-related defect affecting Acura MDX vehicles. 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
#11768746October 3, 2026
TIRES
These are OE tires on my 2023 Acura MDX. At 22,000 miles a rotating thumping sound was heard and also felt in the steering wheel. The tires were inspected by my Acura dealer on three separate service calls to diagnose. On the 3rd visit the problem was confirmed and determined to be severe flat spots on all 4 tires. Due to the flat spots, these tires are unbalanced and give off a vibration throughout the vehicle and steering wheel. The Acura dealer photographed the tires and filed a claim with Bridgestone. The claim was denied 11 weeks later. This unbalanced condition should be considered a safety issue, especially at high speed where a blow out is possible.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11768455October 2, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2014 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving 2 MPH on a slight decline, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle started shuddering until the vehicle stalled. The battery warning light was temporarily illuminated. The contact stopped the vehicle, shifted to park(P), and depressed the accelerator pedal to raise the RPM to restart the vehicle. The failure was a recurring failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11768571October 2, 2026
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR
The contact owns a 2026 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH and adjusting the interior rearview mirror, the mirror detached and was hanging down. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the windshield and the interior rear-view mirror needed to be replaced. The contact declined to pay for the repair because the vehicle was brand new. The dealer repaired the rear-view mirror without replacing the windshield; however, the failure recurred approximately 8 months later. The dealer was notified by phone and informed the contact that there was no available appointment to repair the vehicle. The contact believed the failure was a factory defect. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone and a case was filed. The contact was awaiting a callback from the case manager. The failure mileage was approximately 1,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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