2016 Acura MDX: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

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 ↗

THE ACURA LANE KEEP ASSIST SYSTEM (LKAS) MIS-READS SOME INTERSECTIONS AND JERKS THE WHEEL TOWARD A SIDE STREET ONLY TO QUICKLY TRY TO COMPENSATE BY JERKING BACK. THERE IS ONE INTERSECTION IN PARTICULAR THAT THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY. THE DEAL SAYS THE SYSTEM IS WORKING PROPERLY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SOFTWARE "DEFECT". IT IS QUITE STARTING THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENS AND AT SPEED IT REPRESENTS AN UNSAFE CONDITION. ANOTHER CASE OF A SAFETY SYSTEM CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,725 miles reported. Look up ODI 10760482 at NHTSA ↗

ON 9/3/15, I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE WHEN ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WENT OFF - TRANSMISSION, CHECK ENGINE, LANE DETECTION LIGHT ETC. SINCE I WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN THE NEXT MORNING, I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. THE CAR WAS IN "LIMP MODE" AND I COULD ONLY DRIVE 35-40 MPH. I SHOWED THE TECH IN THE SERVICE DEPT. ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS GOING OFF, AND HE SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. HE WROTE UP A WORK ORDER WITH THE FOLLOWING INFO: INSPECT FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, CHECK ENGINE …

Owner-reported narrative. 368 miles reported. Look up ODI 10762375 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

VERY SIMILAR TO NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10762375. AFTER 3-4 DAYS OF DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH TRANSMISSION SYSTEM U0401, VSA PROBLEM, HILL START ASSIST PROBLEM ETC ETC ETC. THE SUV WOULD NOT SPEED ABOVE 35-40 MILES AND SHAKE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED CRACKED SPARK PLUG, IGNITION COIL - CAUSE - POSSIBLE MOISTURE IN SPARK PLUG. THEY WERE NICE ENOUGH TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AND CURRENTLY WAITING FOR IT TO BE REPLACED.

Owner-reported narrative. 180 miles reported. Look up ODI 10781179 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT ON COUNTRY ROADS,UP AND DOWN HILLS, A DARK LINE APPEARS ACROSS THE TOP HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD. LEAVING A VIEW OF 40 -50 FT. YOU CAN ONLY SEE THREW THE BOTTOM HALF OF WINDSHIELD. VERY DANGEROUS!! I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR ALL THE SAFETY FEATURES IT HAS ON IT BUT NOW I CAN'T DRIVE IT AT NIGHT. WENT TO DEALER AND THEY TESTED HEADLIGHTS ON A WALL WITH A BLACK LINE AND THE LIGHTS HIT 2-3 INCHES BELOW THAT LINE. WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE. I WANTED IT RAISED A BIT BUT WAS TOLD THE LIGHTS WERE JUST FINE AND CAN'T BE ADJUSTED. I…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10790358 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2016-06-09 (June 9, 2016)

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2015 Acura MDX 2WD and MDX 4WD vehicles, 2016 Acura MDX 4WD vehicles, 2015-2016 Honda Odyssey vehicles, and 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and 4WD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that were manufactured with insufficient welds which may separate and allow fuel to leak out.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda/Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. The recall began on July 29, 2016. Honda's numbers for this recall are KA9 (Honda vehicles) and KB0 (Acura vehicles).

Reported: 2019-01-29 (January 29, 2019)

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Acura MDX, 2015-2019 Acura TLX and 2015-2017 Honda Accord vehicles, equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine. Particulates in fuel may adhere to the internal components of the fuel pump, reducing its performance.

Consequence: Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the fuel injection engine control unit (FI-ECU) software and, if necessary, replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 25, 2019. Owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's recall number for this recall is P3W. Honda's recall number for this recall is N3X.

Reported: 2019-03-28 (March 28, 2019)

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Acura MDX and 2017-2019 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid lights, possibly causing a loss of the tailgate lid lights and the taillights.

Consequence: Loss of the taillights reduces the vehicle's visibility, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: Acura will notify owners, and dealers will modify the tailgate lid lights and install updated gaskets and a wiring sub-harness or will replace both tailgate lid lights. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is M49.

Reported: 2023-11-13 (November 13, 2023)

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.

Consequence: A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.

Reported: 2023-12-18 (December 18, 2023)

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

Reported: 2025-04-17 (April 17, 2025)

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid light assembly and wiring harness, which can cause the interior and exterior lights to fail, including the lid lights, position lights, license plate lights and taillights.

Consequence: Vehicle lights that fail to illuminate can decrease visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wiring and install a fuse harness, replace the lid light, and repair the body dust sealer, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2025. Owners may contact Acura's customer service at 1-800-382-2238. Acura's number for this recall is FLI. Vehicles included in this recall that were previously repaired under NHTSA recall number 19V-256 will need to have the new remedy completed.

Reported: 2026-06-04 (June 4, 2026)

American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.

Consequence: Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.