2015 Acura MDX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
70 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
23,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 51 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 70 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 15.7% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 14.3% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 12.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 14 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Structure:Body | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 |
Unknown Or Other: 14; Electrical System: 13; Power Train: 12; Steering: 8; Engine: 7; Structure:Body: 7; Service Brakes: 6; Exterior Lighting: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 29 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 29; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 19 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 15 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2014: 4; 2015: 15; 2016: 8; 2017: 6; 2018: 9; 2019: 4; 2020: 5; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 5; 2025: 5; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10781097 · 2015-10-09 (October 9, 2015)
WE HAVE SPORADIC PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION AND THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS AT ANY TIME SLOW OR FAST SPEED: UPHILL OR DOWNHILL THE CAR WILL NOT CHANGE GEARS AND STARTS TO PULL AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO FALL OUT. WE HAVE REPORTED THIS TO ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RESULTS WERE GUARDED. I AM AFRAID FOR MY AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY BECAUSE THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AND IT HAPPENS ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE. IT HAPPENED TODAY AND WE CALLED THE DEALER TO COME AND PICK UP THE CAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10781097 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10823285 · 2016-01-31 (January 31, 2016)
TRANSMISSION JERKS (BADLY) AROUND 3RD GEAR, IN LOW SPEED.
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10823285 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10678942 · 2015-01-26 (January 26, 2015)
UPON ENTERING A T-INTERSECTION WITH A STOP SIGN AT THE END OF OUR STREET THE BRAKES OF A 2015 ACURA MDX SH AWD WITH ONLY 2000 MILES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. WE WERE TRAVELING AT 50MPH AND DECREASED OUR SPEED TO 30MPH AS WE WERE COASTING, BUT COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE BRAKES WERE PUMPED TWICE AS WE DECELERATED (SO REST ASSURED THE GAS PEDAL WAS NOT BEING PRESSED BY MISTAKE), BUT TO NO AVAIL AND WITH NO WHERE TO GO AND NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DO MUCH MORE WE COLLIDED WITH A SEMI TRUCK. IT WAS A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT THAT TOTALED OUR CAR AS THE SE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10678942 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10763775 · 2015-09-15 (September 15, 2015)
AFTER THE RECALL OF COLLISON MIGRATION BRAKING SYSTEM (CMBS). WITH THE NEW RECALL SOFTWARE. THE MDX STOPS OR APPLY THE BRAKING ON THE FREEWAY. THIS IS A CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK. THEY SAID THAT IT COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP PUT OVER 250 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM APPLING THE BRAKES GOING FROM CONCREATE TO ASPHALT WITH SPEEDS OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE TO REACT TO EACH BRAKING QUICKLY. IT ALSO HAPPENS IF THEIR IS A SMALL BUMP IN T…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10763775 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10925103 · 2016-11-08 (November 8, 2016)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (MORNING TRAFFIC MOVING AT SPEED LIMIT - 65-70 MPH) I SMELLED SMOKE. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS THERE WAS A THUD AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE, LDW AND OTHER LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, ALONG WITH AUDIBLE ALARM SOUND. SMOKE WAS NOW VISIBLE, COMING FROM THE ENGINE (UNDER THE HOOD). I WAS ABLE TO MOVE FROM THE MIDDLE LANE TO THE RIGHT LANE/EXIT LANE AS I KNEW I NEEDED TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY. SINCE I WAS IN AN EXIT LANE THERE WAS NO REAL SHOULDER AND I STARTED DOWN THE EXIT RAMP. THE SMOKE WAS VERY STRONG AT THI…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10925103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10980532 · 2017-04-25 (April 25, 2017)
OUR 2015 ACURA MDX HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP 8 TIMES. OUR VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR APPROXIMATELY 64 DAYS TOTAL. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR ELECTRICAL GLITCHES STARTING WITH SEATS, STEERING WHEEL, GPS AND FOR RAUTOMATIC BRAKING ISSUES. STEERING WHEEL AND POWER SEATS REPEATEDLY NOT SETTING TO APPROPRIATE KEY FOB SETTINGS. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR THIS ISSUE 4 TIMES. DEALER UNABLE TO REPRODUCE ISSUE OR SHOW "TROUBLE CODES" UNTIL 4TH TIME IN SHOP. THE NEXT GLITCH MOVED INTO THE GPS SYSTEM AND CONTROLS ON GPS SCREEN. THE SCR…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10980532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11611045 · 2024-08-26 (August 26, 2024)
For the last 50k miles we've taken our Acura MDX to the dealership for regular oil changes. Almost every visit results in a bad battery. We've had the dealership replace a side mirror due to the electrical and several batteries as well. They've kept it for several days diagnosing issues but haven't to this day found out what's wrong with it. Now my back taillight stopped working, we bought another one and replaced it for it to work for a couple months and stop working again. Now we've taken it to another place for diagnosing, they have s…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11611045 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11750652 · 2026-07-15 (July 15, 2026)
My 2015 AcuraMDX engine seized while driving creating an unsafe condition as it occurred on a busy roadway. I suspect a rod bearing failure. It has been reported to Honda. The same parts listed in the 2015 RDX recall are used in my MDX but the 2015 is not part of the recall. My engine had a knock and had taken it for inspection at an independent Honda specialist. I had learned that the recall covers the 2015 model year for the Acura TLX, the official recall documentation only includes the 2016–2020 model years for the Acura MDX. There were no c…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11750652 at NHTSA ↗