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: power train
111 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Jun 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 MINE. ANOTHER ISSUE JUST CAME OUT YESTERDAY I JUST GOT HOME AND WAS PARKING THE CAR ON MY PARKING LOT WHICH IS FLAT. WHILE PARKING AND SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THE CAR JUST WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD AT ALL AND A LIGHT CAME OUT SHIFT TO PARK SO I DID AND THEN WHEN I SHIFTED TO REVERSE THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. I HAVE THAT SEVERAL TIMES AND EVERY TIME WOULD DO THE SAME DID NOT GO FORWARD AT ALL AND REVERSE RAPIDLY. I HAVE RECORDED THE WHOLE ISSUE ON MY PHONE AND BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY NEVER HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM AND THEY WILL STAY WITH MY NEW CAR FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE WITH TRANSMISSION ISSUE BEFORE ANYONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED. DEFINITELY DID NOT EXPECT THAT FROM A $54,000 LUXURY SUV. I HAD TRADED MY 2009 ACURA MDX FOR THIS HUGE PROBLEM, WHAT A MISTAKE.
Power train, Engine, Jun 13, 2016
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
Power train, Feb 26, 2016
TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. 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 DEAL ON 2/13/16 WITH 5,635 MILES THEY TEST DROVE AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SAME ISSUES DRIVING HOME FROM DEALER. WHILE DRIVING CAR ON 2/23/2016 WITH APPOX. 6700 MILES ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON , SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD, DISPLAY SAID ENGINE OVERHEATED AND APPOX. 1 QUART OF LIGHT BLUE FLUID LEAKED OUT FROM UNDER CAR. TOWED TO DEALER, THEY SAID TRANSMISSION HEATER(NOT COOLER) RUPTURED, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND ENGINE COOLANT TO MIX AND THIS IS WHAT CAUSED OVERHEATING. TTHEY ARE ORDERING A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH AT LEAST ONE WEEK DOWN TIME.
Power train, Feb 14, 2016
I BOUGHT MY 2016 MDX ON 02/01/2016 AND WAS QUITE HAPPY WITH THE INITIAL PURCHASE. AFTER DRIVING FOR TWO DAYS I STARTED SETTING UP THE CAR'S OPTIONS, I REALIZED THAT THE CARS DRIVE SYSTEM WAS SET TO START IN SPORT MODE. I CHANGED THE OPTION TO ALLOW THE CAR TO START IN 'NORMAL' MODE PERMANENTLY AND THAT'S WHEN I STARTED TO FEEL THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A NOTICEABLE 2 - 3 SECOND LAG AT TAKE OFF OR WHEN ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM A REDUCED SPEED IN LOWER GEARS. A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FEELING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN YOU HAVE ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THE CAR FALLS TO ENGAGE AFTER YOU MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO DRIVE. I WAITED A FEW DAYS TO SEE IF THIS WAS JUST A KINK THAT WOULD GO AWAY SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. NO SUCH LUCK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I ASKED ABOUT THE LAG AND THEY SAID IT IS NORMAL OPERATIONAL PART OF THE CAR. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CAR FOR WHICH THEY DON'T THINK IT IS WORTH LOOKING INTO. THE SALESMAN ACTUALLY TOLD ME HE HAS THE SAME MODEL AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO GET USED TO. I GUESS THIS WILL ONLY BE ADDRESSED WHEN SOMEONE GETS KILLED MAKING A TURN AND DON'T GET THE POWER THEY EXPECT. I HAD THIS ISSUE IN A NEW 2007 CAMRY I BOUGHT A FEW YEARS AGO AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET IT FIXED WITH AN UPDATE TO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM ON BOARD. I DON'T KNOW WHY ACURA HAS TAKEN THIS STANCE AND HOPE YOU GUYS CAN GET THEM TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
Power train, Feb 1, 2016
ROUGH GEAR SHIFT AND CARS SEEMS TO BE REV-UP AT LOW GEARS . THIS CAN CREATE A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHILE ACCELERATING FROM STOPS .
Power train, Jan 28, 2016
TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM BETWEEN SHIFT 1-2 AND 2-3. CAR ALSO AT TIMES LUNGES FORWARD WHILE COMING TO A STOP
Power train, Jan 14, 2016
WITH 1000ISH MILES ON CAR, WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL THEN INTO PARK BY ITSELF. WE WERE UNABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR AT ALL. FORTUNATELY WE WERE AT AN INTERSECTION AND NOT ON A FREEWAY. THE DEALERSHIP WORKING WITH ACURA WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEN IT MAGICALLY WORKED BUT THEY DIDN'T FEEL WE SHOULD DRIVE IT. BECAUSE CAUSE NOT DETERMINED.
Power train, Dec 9, 2015
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 10/29/15. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEN ON A DAILY BASIS SO THERE WAS ONLY A LITTLE OVER 200 MILES WHEN MY HUSBAND NOTICED A LEAK WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED ON THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE TECHNICIAN HAS CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION LEAK. GASKET AND COVER WILL BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE ADVISOR MENTIONED TO ME THAT THERE WAS SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THAT PROBLEM DATED BACK AUGUST. DON'T KNOW WHY THE PROBLEM WASN'T ADDRESSED BEFORE THE CAR WAS SOLD.
Power train, Nov 25, 2015
I GOT MY 2016 ACURA MDX IN JULY. SINCE THEN, I AM HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. OFF-THE-LINE SHIFTS ARE ERRATIC, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH THROTTLE I GIVE THE ENGINE. GIVE IT 3/4 THROTTLE AND ACCELERATION IS GREAT, BUT MILEAGE SUFFERS BADLY. GIVE IT ANY LESS THROTTLE AND ACCELERATION IS MEAGER, PLUS THE ENGINE REVS VERY HIGH BETWEEN SHIFTS. ONE TIME, I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A STOPLIGHT AFTER SLOWING TO NEARLY A FULL STOP (THE LIGHT JUST CHANGED AS I APPROACHED), I PRESSED 1/2 WAY ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ENGINE BOGGED TO NEARLY ZERO RPMS. I THOUGHT IT DIED. I LET UP AND PRESSED DOWN AGAIN AND IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. MERGING ON THE HIGHWAY IS ALSO VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. AS I HIT THE GAS TO ACCELERATE ON THE ON-RAMP, THE ENGINE HESITATES SO BADLY, I NEARLY RUN OUT OF RAMP. PASSING ON THE HIGHWAY IS THE SAME, UNLESS I PRESS THE THROTTLE TO THE FLOORBOARD. ANOTHER TIME, I FLOORED THE THROTTLE ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE GOING 50 MPH, TO PASS A CAR. THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED THEN REVVED UP TO 5,000 RPM AND STAYED THERE, EVEN AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL! I HAD TO FLOOR THE PEDAL AGAIN TO COAX THE TRANS TO UP-SHIFT. I COMPLAINED TO ACURA HQ. THEY TOLD ME TO TALK TO MY DEALER. I SPOKE TO MY DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT'S JUST HOW THE TRANSMISSION IS. SO DISAPPOINTED WITH CAR. I SUSPECT BAD PROGRAMMING IN THE TRANSMISSION ON ACURA'S PART. THEY NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE DIES IN A HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACCIDENT.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Aug 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....UPDATED 09/22/15 *BF
Power train, Jul 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 2016 MDX WITH THE SAME OUT COME......UPDATED 10/20/15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 12/17/15.*JB