2016 Acura MDX
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 374 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 24 MDX model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 10 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 5 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Structure, frame and membersJun 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 26V365000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingApr 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.
Vehicle lights that fail to illuminate can decrease visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 25V259000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpDec 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.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 23V858000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engine, hard parts internal/mechanicalNov 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.
A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
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.
Campaign 23V751000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, tail lightsMar 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.
Loss of the taillights reduces the vehicle's visibility, increasing the risk of crash.
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.
Campaign 19V256000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, other, delivery, fuel pumpJan 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.
Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
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.
Campaign 19V060000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storage, tank assemblyJun 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.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
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).
Campaign 16V417000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
170 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Nov 13, 2024
The car began making a front end noise and running shoddy and when we took it to the dealer they had to replace bearings/short block at 121k miles. We were told our VIN was outside of the previous recall so it wouldn’t be covered under that. We ended up paying a portion of that very large bill which inconvenienced our family. We were without our own vehicle for many weeks due to back ordered parts for the major repair. This car has always been serviced by Acura at regular intervals.
Engine, Nov 13, 2024
My 2016 Acura MDX with 113,000 miles on it suddenly experienced engine failure while driving my son to college in Salisbury, MD. The engine lost all power as I was coming off of the highway onto a side street in Salisbury. Fortunately no other vehicles were around me at the time and I was able to drift into a safe parking area. If it had happened on the highway or in traffic, it could have caused an accident. There were no warning lights on and the vehicle seemed to be running normally right up until it lost power. After having the vehicle towed to an Acura dealership, the mechanic found a broken rod that was likely due to a bad rod bearing. Other 2016 Acura MDX's have been recalled due to a defective rod bearing resulting in engine failure, but my VIN is not covered under the recall. Honda National just confirmed that it will not cover my MDX's repair under the recall. Prior to this, I had done all required maintenance on the vehicle.
Engine, Nov 13, 2024
Car had a failed crankshaft causing a rod bearing issue with the motor. The check engine light came on during use and car was taken to a local repair shop. The independent repair shop determined the issue is associated with recall TSB 24-001, and advised it be transported to a Honda dealership for repair. Honda confirmed that although the 2016 is under this recall this specific VIN is not. Car was repaired at Honda dealership with same exact repair kit and work done to fix the TSB 24-001 recall notice. Reached out to Honda customer service to understand why the car was not repaired under this current recall but was not given any additional information, case #14733117.
Engine, Nov 13, 2024
I am the owner of a 2016 Acura MDX Advance. While driving, I noticed an unusual knocking sound coming from the engine, despite no warning lights or error messages prior to this incident. Concerned about the noise, I promptly brought the vehicle to an Acura dealership for inspection. The initial diagnosis revealed a camshaft issue, which was replaced. However, upon reassembly, the technician detected a persistent knock that required further investigation. After a week of detailed inspection, the dealership traced the problem to a defect with the rod bearing, an issue that has been part of previous recalls, though my vehicle was not listed. This rod bearing defect caused significant internal damage to the engine, ultimately requiring a complete short-block replacement to restore proper functionality. While the dealership has since resolved the issue, I am deeply concerned about the safety implications of such a defect. Had the rod bearing failed entirely, it could have led to an engine blowout, risking sudden loss of power at highway speeds and potentially endangering my safety.
Engine, Nov 13, 2024
I was driving my 2016 Acura MDX (approximately 87,000 miles) at around 60 mph on the freeway when the engine began making a metallic clanking noise. Shortly after, the check engine light started flashing, and the vehicle lost acceleration, eventually coming to a complete stop. This created a potentially dangerous situation, but I was fortunately able to pull over safely. After the vehicle stopped, the engine would not restart. The mechanic who inspected the vehicle confirmed that the engine has seized. This incident occurred without any prior warning signs and could have resulted in a severe accident. I believe this issue poses a significant safety risk to drivers and passengers. I request an investigation into whether this problem could be due to a manufacturing defect or systemic issue with this model.
Engine, Nov 13, 2024
Failure of connecting rod bearings leading to complete engine failure.
Engine, Nov 12, 2024
I was driving back yo my home with my family and on freeway Acura MDX engine stopped with clanking metallic sound fortunately I was able to stop safely. This VIN [XXX] should be part of recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Nov 12, 2024
While waiting to turn left from a busy street onto a highway, the engine seized. The car was unable to be moved from it's location in the center of the busy street with cars approaching quickly from behind and weaving around my stopped vehicle. I had the vehicle towed to Metro Acura in Montclair, CA and they confirmed that the connecting rod bearing had failed causing the engine to seize. They also confirmed that the vehicle is not part of the existing recall. The engine produced some rough noise prior to failing but otherwise did not provide any warning lamps or other messages.
Engine, Nov 12, 2024
Engine started knocking and quit working while driving on the freeway. Was a connected rod bearing failure that was not included under the warranty or recall. Honda paid 75% of repairs but I had to pay $3300 myself.
Engine, Nov 12, 2024
The engine failed and was unable to be repaired like old Honda and they had no interest in resolving the issue, nor do they offer any replacement with.
Engine, Nov 11, 2024
We were on a highway drive to a state park 45 minutes from our house on [XXX]. 40 Minutes into the drive the check engine light flashed. We had just taken a long road trip from Minnesota to Ohio (and back again) the week before (10/15-10/20) and had NO problems whatsoever. We parked and read what we could online as to what to do. Checked the gas cap tightness, the oil, etc. and let the engine cool for 2 hours. Started the car and no lights came on. So we started driving home. 35 Minutes later ALL the lights on the dash came on. Scrolling through every system in the car-transmission, brakes, lane assist, etc. We pulled Over almost immediately. Turned the car off checked under the hood but nothing seemed glaringly wrong. It wasn’t overheating or smoking or anything. We tried to drive it directly to our mechanic. Got back on the highway and the engine would not get up to speed, just groaning. Worried we would be in danger on the highway we pulled over and called for a tow. The first mechanic that reviewed (just local not Honda) could hear a knocking in the engine. Towed it to an Acura dealership on 10/28/2024. The Acura mechanic there confirmed that it is a rod/rod bearing issue—but we don’t fall under the recall. The rod came loose in the engine, banged around, damaging the engine. Cost to fix is $10,000. This information came to us on 11/4. We filed a complaint with the Acura/Honda recall department that day. We have been waiting to hear their verdict (after their investigation) for the last week. We have been told multiple times that our car doesn’t fall under the original recall. But the Acura mechanic has confirmed it is the same issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Oct 28, 2024
Driving on the highway for the car to idle, slow down and shut off, causing us to go to the shoulder in a busy intersection. No fore warning just died and won’t start. Waited 20-30 minute to restart. The car will start but will not shift to neutral or drive.
Engine, Sep 22, 2024
The auto engine idle feature activated at a stoplight as normal, but when I lifted my foot from the brake to accelerate, the car shut down, shifted into neutral, and wouldn’t restart. This happenwd 3 times in the last two days , leaving me stalled in heavy traffic for several minutes before i can get the car started again. This is extremely dangerous.
Engine, Sep 18, 2024
I have the same issue but my vin does not meet the requirement. reading multiple forum and a lot of people having the same issue. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER:23V-751 MFR CAMPAIGN ID:OH6 CAMPAIGN DESCRIPTION:2016-20 MDX Conn Rod Inspect Recall RECALL DATE:11/08/2023 RECALL STATUS:17 Character VIN Required SUMMARY: American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2020 model year MDX vehicles. Due to a manufacturing defect of the engine crankshaft, the connecting rod bearing can prematurely wear and seize. SAFETY RISK: If the connecting rod bearing seizes, the engine can be damaged and run improperly, stall, stop while driving, and/or not start, increasing the risk of a fire, crash or injury.
Power train, Engine, Sep 8, 2024
Our engine is exhibiting symptoms currently related to an open recall by Acura for Connecting Rod Bearings. Our 2016 MDX is one of the affected model years but as of now our VIN is not included in the recall. I don't believe this is coincidence. I believe the mechanical issue is more widespread than Acura wants to reveal and is subsequently limiting the VIV numbers it includes. I am trying to be proactive in this regard prior to an incident taking place.
Engine, Aug 28, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
Engine, Jul 30, 2024
The connecting rod and bearing failed, causing the engine to immediately seize while in full operation on the highway. Components are available. The engine rod catastrophically failed and shot through the oil pan. Engine seized and lost power while on highway, cruising at 75mph. Flying engine components and the immediately loss of power was a major safety risk. The car was towed to the dealer and they found the rod bearing had sheared off. American Honda has been sent pictures. My model and year were affected by a recall on the failed components but my VIN was not identified. The car had no warning lights on the dash and was been recently serviced.
Engine, Jul 25, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made a rattling sound with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to accelerate properly. The vehicle was taken to a nearby independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that there were metal shavings at the bottom of the oil pan. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 23-036. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 108,500.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 24, 2024
We have a 2016 Acura MDX and it has automatically shifted to Neutral 3 times (twice while driving on the freeway and 1x yesterday while driving on the street at normal speeds) in the last 2 months. On the MDX dashboard, it will display "Emissions System Problem" and then display "Stop Driving When Safe. Transmission Problem. See Manual." However, the car will automatically shift to Neutral within seconds. My children's lives (7 y/o and 5 y/o) were placed in danger as a result of this system failure. I have contacted the Acura Honda Recall Specialists and Client Relations Representatives. The car is being diagnosed at Cerritos Acura dealership at the present time. A case number has been filed since our VIN shows no recall, despite it having recalls for other 2016 Acura MDXs.
Engine, Jul 9, 2024
I was driving the car, when I saw a sign pop up on the dash saying " Emission Systems problem" and the car completely stopped within a 100 feet. The car passed the Emissions and Inspection the previous day and I have a registration till June 30, 2026 now. There was a clicking noise that I heard when driving during the morning. I had never heard it previously. There was an oil change sign for about 3-4 days buy there were no other warning lamps. Here is the video of the problem from the dealer - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Jun 30, 2024
After traveling about on a 4 hour drive, my daughter who was driving the vehicle slowed down to make a turn. That's when she heard a loud clanking noise coming from the engine. She immediately pulled over and turned off the engine/vehicle. I went to meet her, and replicated the same problem when I turned the ignition switch to to on. It sounded as if there was some large piece of metal loose inside the engine -- it did not have consistency and was highly variable with regards to the sound it was making. The "Check Engine" light was on. Fortunately this did not occurr going at high/freeway speeds, yet the safety was compromised when my daughter was fortunate enough to leverage the momentum to get to the side of the road. Additionally, she was not in a spot where there was a shoulder/it was under an overpass, so she had to be careful and turned on her emergency lights. We had the vehicle towed to the nearby Honda Dealer. I am attaching their report and findings. They recommended engine be replaced; which we agreed to have done. Additionally, we continue to have problems due to the mounting and shacking which we believe comes from the installment of the new engine. We are submitting that report as well. At present, my daughter is not driving the vehicle and is relying on rides or borrowing other people's vehicles.
Engine, May 23, 2024
While driving our well-maintained 2016 Acura MDX on a 30-minute drive on [XXX] , I heard a pop, and then the engine lost power. I couldn't get the RPMs over 2500. A fluttering noise evolved into knocking and the vehicle became increasingly sluggish and heavy. The check engine light started blinking, but the vehicle's temperature gauge showed no changes. There wasn't any smoke or unusual smells. I felt terrified trying to get safely onto the side of the road with cars driving at full speed. I had the car dropped off at our local service station and the owner determined that the engine cylinder was loose and lost compression with a knock. He says that the engine light did not give a code. The owner determined that we need to replace the engine. A rebuilt engine will cost us $8,000. When I called Acura, the service person I spoke with seemed surprised that our 8-year-old car with only 77,000 miles needed a new engine. Since Acura has so many cars to deal with on the latest recall, he said it would be weeks before anyone can look at it. I researched and found that our VPN was NOT included in the recent recall of 2016-2020 model year MDX vehicles all with the same problems. How can that be???? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, May 20, 2024
I am writing to bring to your immediate attention a critical safety issue with my 2016 Acura MDX, and the subsequent exclusion of my vehicle from a known recall that directly addresses the problems we are experiencing. Without any prior warning, we began hearing a fluttering sound coming from the engine whenever we accelerated. This noise progressively worsened and evolved into a pronounced knocking noise.Concurrently, the vehicle became increasingly sluggish and heavy, resulting in significant difficulty when accelerating. Despite these alarming symptoms, the vehicle's temperature gauge showed no changes, there was no smoke or unusual smells, and the check engine light did not activate. Gravely concerned for our safety, we promptly took the vehicle to our local mechanic for a thorough inspection.The diagnosis revealed significant engine damage, specifically to the connecting rod bearings and the crankshaft. Given the severity of the issue, we then brought the vehicle to the closest Acura dealership, Pohanka Acura. The service advisor informed us of a recall affecting the engine and rod bearings in the 2016 Acura MDX model. They also confirmed that our vehicle's engine was indeed damaged due to the same rod bearings and crankshaft issue described in the recall. However, despite this clear evidence, we were informed that our vehicle's VIN was excluded from the recall repair. The technician who performed the diagnostic on our vehicle recommended a new short engine block, which is was concerning especially since it mirrors the known recall issue. I am requesting that the NHTSA urgently investigate this matter. I hope the NHTSA treats this issue with the utmost urgency and seriousness it warrants. The safety of Acura MDX owners is at stake, and immediate action is essential to prevent further incidents and ensure our safety. Thank you for your prompt attention to this critical matter. I await your swift response and resolution. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 17, 2024
See attachment for detailed explanation
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 24, 2024
Acura MDX 2016 SH-AWD with 113366 miles diagnosis according to warning lights. DTC test certification codes: P0301 Misfire No. 1 cylinder P0306 Misfire No. 6 cylinder P0300 Random Misfire P0420 Catalyst System efficiency below threshold B1 Recommendation was that the Catalytic converter be replaced. All these codes were identified under Honda's TSB 20-100 dated 2/2021 on Odyssey, Pilot and Ridgeline models where AH extended warranty to 10 years from date of purchase or 150K. These V6 engines are pretty close to that of the 2016 MDX. Is there a remote possibility that these DTC codes could exist in MDX V6 engines when an issue arises similar to those in the Honda vehicles? These DTC codes appeared 24 hours/37 miles after a routine oil service on 3/26/2024 at Advantage Acura of Naperville with a perfect inspection report. The malfunction occurred in the vicinity of McGrath Acura of Westmont on the following day of 3/27/2024. The concern is if any of the emission system components were damaged during the routine oil service. Advantage Acura have in the past installed brake pads backwards on my Acura TL 2010 for which I do have proof.