2016 Acura MDX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
371 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
37,768 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 173 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 159 of 371 complaints (42.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 112 | 30.2% |
| Engine operation | 49 | 13.2% |
| Braking behavior | 46 | 12.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 21 | 5.7% |
| Steering behavior | 18 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 3.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 159 |
| Power Train | 111 |
| Unknown Or Other | 40 |
| Electrical System | 34 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 27 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 |
| Structure:Body | 18 |
| Service Brakes | 13 |
Engine: 159; Power Train: 111; Unknown Or Other: 40; Electrical System: 34; Fuel/Propulsion System: 27; Vehicle Speed Control: 19; Structure:Body: 18; Service Brakes: 13
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 67 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 38 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 25 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 67; 25,000 to 49,999: 38; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 5
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (67). 198 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 25 |
| 2017 | 18 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 48 |
| 2020 | 21 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 69 |
| 2025 | 75 |
| 2026 | 44 |
2015: 12; 2016: 25; 2017: 18; 2018: 19; 2019: 48; 2020: 21; 2021: 13; 2022: 14; 2023: 13; 2024: 69; 2025: 75; 2026: 44
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 112 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 49 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 46 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 10733774 · 2015-07-13 (July 13, 2015)
THE 9 SPEED ZF TRANSMISSION HAS UNPREDICTABLE BEHAVIOR INCLUDING: DELAYED SHIFTING LEADING TO PAUSES IN POWER, DELAYED DOWN SHIFT DURING ATTEMPTS AT HIGHWAY SPEED ACCELERATION, JERKY SHIFTS, CAR REMAINS IN NEUTRAL WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. VERY UNSAFE CONDITION DUE TO UNPREDICTABLE EFFECTS ON SPEED AND CAR CONTROL. THIS IS NOW A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AFFECTING THE SAME TRANSMISSION IN JEEP, CHRYSLER, AND ACURA MODELS. THE ACURA TLX HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN DESCRIBED WITH THIS PROBLEM. NOW THE SAME TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE 20…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10733774 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10745761 · 2015-08-03 (August 3, 2015)
WHILE DRIVING, THE MDX SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL AND CANNOT BE SHIFTED OUT OF NEUTRAL. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY MULTIPLE TIMES. THE INFORMATION DISPLAY SHOWS FIRST EMISSIONS PROBLEM, THEN TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. ACURA HAS A TSB OUT FOR THIS B15-034, BUT WON'T APPLY IT UNTIL THE PROBLEM APPEARS. HAVING YOUR VEHICLE SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL IN A HIGH SPEED ENVIRONMENT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. TSB B15-034 NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BEFORE THEIR MDX SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THEY BECOME IMMOBILIZED AND PEOPLE ARE KILLED AS A RESULT....UPDAT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10745761 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10873977 · 2016-06-13 (June 13, 2016)
TRANSMISSION FAILED. THIS 9 SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS A FLUID HEATER IN IT THAT HAS RADIATOR WATER SUPPLIED TO IT. CAR WAS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY AND MAKING A BEEPING NOISE AT 20 TO 25 MPH. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON 06/11/16 WITH 8,800 MILES ON IT. THEY CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THE 2 WAY VALVE BETWEEN THE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY AND COOLANT GOT INTO THE TRANSMISSION. ACURA TOLD THEM TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ENTIRELY. WILL TAKE 2-3 WEEKS. HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES THE ENTIRE TIME WE HAVE HAD THE CAR. WHEN TAKING OFF THE CAR DOES NOT ACC…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10873977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10876249 · 2016-06-23 (June 23, 2016)
I HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 3/23/16 AND FROM DAY ONE I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I COME TO A STOP AND WAIT FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO GIVE ME CHANCE TO CROSS THE STREET. WHEN I FINALLY GET THE CHANCE TO CROSS I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR JUST DOES NOT WANT TO GO, IT STALLS. SAME ISSUE WHEN GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY WAITING FOR A CHANCE TO GET IN BUT THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO. IT IS AN SAFETY ISSUE FOR EVERYONE BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW IF THE CAR WILL RESPOND AND IF IT DOES NOT I CAN CAUSE OTHER VEHICLES TO CRASH INTO M…
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10876249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10762377 · 2015-09-09 (September 9, 2015)
FORWARD/FRONT COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEM DIDN'T ENGAGE ENOUGH TO REDUCE OR AVOID IMPACT OF THE COLLISION. MY VEHICLE TOOK A RIGHT TURN AT ABOUT 20-25 MPH AND TRAVELLED LESS THAN 2-2.5 CAR LENGTH BEFORE GETTING ONTO THE CURB AND HITTING AN IRON PILLAR ABOUT 2 FEET HIGH ON SIDE WALK. IT WAS A SIDE FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL DIRECTLY HIT THE IRON PILLAR. THE VEHICLE SPEED WASN'T REDUCED TO MITIGATE IMPACT/DAMAGE FROM THE COLLISION AND VEHICLE TOOK FULL IMPACT OF THE COLLISION. THE FORWARD/FRONT COLLISIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10762377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10808566 · 2015-12-05 (December 5, 2015)
VEHICLE SPEEDS UP WHEN TAPPING BRAKES WHILE GOING DOWNHILL AND ON FLAT GROUND. FEELS LIKE IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT ACURA WILL NOT ADDRESS. THEY CLAIM IT IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10808566 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10836351 · 2016-02-16 (February 16, 2016)
CAR HAS LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON IT. FOR THE LAST MONTH, THERE HAS BEEN 3 TIMES THAT THE CAR WILL NOT START. FIRST TIME IT WAS JUMPED OFF AND DRIVEN INTO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP..."WIRE TO BATTERY LOOSE". SECOND TIME THE DEALERSHIP SENT A TECHNICIAN OUT AND THE REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH A NEW ONE. THIRD TIME CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIPS AS IT COULD NOT TO BE STARTED AT ALL. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT IT FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS AND RETUNED IT TO ME WITH THE EXPLANATION "COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR". CLEARLY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,133 miles reported. Look up ODI 10836351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10870647 · 2016-05-24 (May 24, 2016)
AT 1300 MILES. VEHICLE EXHIBITED A CONDITION WHERE THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, TRIGGERING ALERTS FOR EVERY SYSTEM. EMISSIONS, STABILITY, EVERY SAFETY FUNCTION, BRAKES, STEERING. VEHICLE WENT INTO SOME KIND OF FAILSAFE MODE WHERE THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT WELL AT ALL, AND THE CAR WAS BARELY DRIVABLE. VEHICLE DID THIS TWICE OVER A WEEKEND. TOOK IT TO ACURA, AND AFTER AN ANALYSIS THEY BLAMED "BAD GAS." THIS IS AN EXCUSE AS THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 1300 MILES ON IT AND HAD ONLY HAD 2 FILL UPS, AND BOTH WERE WITH TOP TIER PREMIUM GASOLINE.…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10870647 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10806637 · 2015-11-24 (November 24, 2015)
WHILE TRAVELING ON CITY AND HIGHWAY ROADWAYS, THE VEHICLE WANTS TO DRASTICALLY VEER TO THE LEFT ON SECTIONS OF ROADS SLOPED TO THE LEFT. YOU NEED TO CONSTANTLY APPLY PRESSURE TO THE WHEEL TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM VEERING TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE IS ALIGNED CORRECTLY FOR ROADS SLOPED TO THE RIGHT. WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM 3 TIMES WITH NO FIX, OTHER MDX'S DRIVEN AS LOANERS ACTED THE SAME. THE DEALER STATED ON THIRD REPAIR SUMMARY THAT ROAD TESTED VEHICLE AND STATED VEHICLE TRACKING AND STEERING NORMALLY COMPA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10806637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10909783 · 2016-09-26 (September 26, 2016)
THERE IS NO WAY TO PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WITHOUT TURNING THE ENGINE ON. TODAY I WAS AT A GAS STATION WHEN A FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED AND THERE WAS A FUEL SPILL THAT NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE PROCEDURE WAS TO MOVE THE CAR WITHOUT TURNING ON THE ENGINE SO THEY CAN ACCESS THE AREA TO CLEAN UP THE SPILL. AFTER SPEAKING TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND TO THE MAIN CONTACT PHONE NUMBER FOR HONDA NORTH AMERICA, THERE IS NO WAY TO GET THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WITHOUT THE ENGINE BEING ON. THIS CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN GETTING MY CAR MOVED SINCE A TOW TRUCK WITH …
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10909783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10910814 · 2016-09-30 (September 30, 2016)
NOTHING BUT TROUBLE SINCE I BOUGHT IT. PURCHASED JAN 2016. HAS REPLACED --- NAVIGATION, AMPLIFIER & FUEL PUMP!!! OWNED 2016 MDX FOR LESS THAN A WEEK- VEHICLE JOLTS FORWARD-GIVES ITSELF EXTRA GAS EVEN WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE! TRANSMISSION NOT SMOOTH. BEEN IN FOR SERVICE OVER 40 DAYS NOW (TOTAL). HESITATES SOMETIMES- WAS STUCK AT 15 MPH FOR A FEW MINUTES. RADIO GOES UNRESPONSIVE- NO BUTTONS WORK GETS STUCK AT STATION/VOL CAN'T TURN OFF EITHER. NAVIGATION DIED- TURNED OFF, THEN FLICKERED(WAS REPLACED) . SPEAKERS WENT FLAT- AMPLIFIER DIED…
Owner-reported narrative. 120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10910814 at NHTSA ↗