2016 Acura MDX Engine

The engine failed and acura tech said it was connecting rod failure. There is a Safety recall from Acura 23-036 and an investigation by NHTSA # RQ24013. Acura stated my VIN is not part of the recall although it's the same issue.

NHTSA Incident Report Vehicle: 2016 Acura MDX Date of Incident: [XXX] Location: Oregon (Oregon Coast to Portland) Mileage: 110, XXX Incident: During a 60-mile road trip, the vehicle unexpectedly shut off and shifted into neutral. The car coasted safely to a stop. Earlier, we had noticed a slight knocking sound when starting the engine, but no other issues were present. A tow truck attempted to jump-start the vehicle without success. Ron Tonkin Acura later confirmed engine failure. The vehicle has been regularly maintained, with documentation, and had no prior engine problems. Acura has stated that this failure is not part of their rod bearing recall. No warning lights appeared before or during the incident. Safety Concern: The sudden engine shutdown created a serious safety risk while driving. Requested Action: Investigation into potential defect causing unexpected engine shutdown in the 2016 Acura MDX. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

We have a 2016 Acura MDX. The connecting rod bearing caused the engine to be damaged, resulting in a knocking noise, and decreased engine output. This resulted in the engine needing to be replaced. The reason for the engine failures was the exact issue in NHTSA Recall 23V-751. While our vehicle is the same year, make and model of the recall, we are being told that because our manufactured date falls a few months outside of this recall, Honda will not pay for the repairs. We therefore had to pay for the repairs out of pocket in the amount of $6,170.59. We are asking the NHTSA to expand the recall as this failure obviously occurred outside the previously issued recall window.

I was driving my Acura MDX(2016 7900 miles) on a multi-lane highway, the vehicle experienced a sudden and significant loss of engine power without prior warning. This occurred during normal traffic conditions and reduced the vehicle’s ability to accelerate and maintain speed, creating a safety risk for my family and surrounding vehicles. After the loss of power, a rattling/knocking noise from the engine became apparent. A check engine light appeared after the initial event which later went away. The vehicle was first inspected by an authorized dealer, who recommended replacement of spark plugs and later a timing belt as part of the diagnostic process. These actions did not address the underlying issue. The vehicle was subsequently inspected by an independent repair facility. The independent mechanic confirmed internal engine damage by finding metal shavings in the oil and diagnosed rod bearing failure, requiring complete engine replacement. The failed engine is available for inspection upon request. The independent mechanic also referenced an Acura/Honda technical service bulletin related to rod bearing failures affecting similar engines and model years. The vehicle has been routinely serviced at authorized Acura dealerships, including regular oil changes, prior to the failure. No external damage, misuse, or lack of maintenance was identified during the inspection by the dealership. The issue was later inspected by the manufacturer’s authorized dealer. The manufacturer declined assistance, stating the failure was not considered a defect. There were no warning lamps, messages, or noticeable symptoms prior to the initial loss of power.

While my teenage son was driving on busy interstate highway the engine began making extremely loud noises and smoking while losing power. Driver was unable to make it to a safe exit and had to pull over with limited shoulder, in a very dangerous spot. All oil leaked out of the engine an onto the roadway, also a hazardous and dangerous situation. Car was towed to Acura dealership and inspected. Catastrophic engine damage - part of the engine rod assembly was launched through the oil pan and lodged in the air conditioning compressor. Vehicle had 87K miles and all service was performed. Complaints that the engine was lagging and making noises at low RPM's had been expressed to Acura for years. I was told that unless a check engine light came on there was no way to know what was wrong.

The MDX drove perfectly until out of sudden there as a stall, knocking and ticking sound in the Engine. It is diagnosed with the connecting rod failure and needs a new engine replacement. The car was well and regularly maintained with oil changes and services as recommended. The following codes were pulled from the ECM: Code P0301, P32638

The rod bearing went on this car. I don't understand how there was an open recall but this car was NOT included with the issue. This makes no sense to me. This was a huge cost to my hard working family to fix and Acura was less than helpful esp considering it was an actual recall for our car year. But due to our luck, our car was NOT included. I feel that this needs to be investigated further because more cars were impacted by this recall than were deemed to be included. I reached out previously on this matter to this organization and received NO response.

The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. There were no warning lights available. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with a fractured connecting rod bearing, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

Started hearing a "knocking" sound from the engine compartment, whose frequency clearly was proportional to engine RPM. Took vehicle to local trusted mechanic who diagnosed that it was likely related to known crankshaft bearing issue, which is the subject of a widespread recall on Acura vehicles. Found that the vehicle does not fall within the recall window. Sent vehicle by tow truck to nearest dealer who confirmed diagnosis. They claim poor maintenance, but all required maintenance, and definitely all engine oil changes were completed at required intervals with proper fluids and filters. Since dealer is 60 miles away, most maintenance was done with local trusted mechanic, although some oil changes were done personally or at a quick lube service. The vehicle is a 2016 model year, consistent with the model years affected by the known defect and recall. Dealer is advising that a new engine is required. There is no reason a properly maintained vehicle with only 150,000 miles should have a failed engine.

I have a 2016 Acura MDX with 87,000 miles that has bad rod knock. Service Bulletin 23-036 talks about it. Even though my MDX's VIN is not listed in the recall, I am having the exact same problem the recall is supposed to be for. I feel this recall should be expanded to cover my vehicle as it is listed in several places that the recall is for all 2016 Acura MDX's which is what my vehicle is. ------------------------ Subject: Safety Recall: 2015–20 Multi-Model Connecting Rod Bearing Stop Sale. Affected vehicles: Certain 2015–2020 Acura TLX V6 and 2016–2020 Acura MDX models. Cause: A manufacturing defect in the crankshaft can lead to connecting rod bearing wear due to lack of lubrication and excessive heat, potentially causing engine damage and failure. Action: The bulletin initiates a stop-sale order for affected vehicles and provides instructions for inspection and repair, which may include replacing the connecting rod bearings, crankshaft, or short/long block. Status: The bulletin has been revised. Version 1 was issued on November 9, 2023, and was replaced by Version 2 on February 9, 2024. Parts Availability: Parts and repair kits became available in early 2024, with repairs being prioritized for vehicles showing symptoms like engine rod knock or stalling.

I purchased a 2016 Acura MDX during the summer of 2025. I am the second owner. In November 2025, the engine starting experiencing engine knock later to be confirmed as rod bearing knock. This vehicle if a 2016 MDX and the manufacturing date is October 2015. There is a rod bearing recall for 2016 MDX's however, my VIN is not included in this recall which is ludicrous as it is experiencing the same issues as the recall with only 80,000 miles on the engine. I urge you to widen the recall to include 2015 MDX vehicles as there is no way this Acura MDX should be experiencing rod bearing issues on a well taken care of vehicle.

One morning I noticed the engine in 2016 Acura MDX was making a loud knocking noise. The check engine light immediately came on. As such, I immediately drove to Acura of Baton Rouge to report the problem to get it fixed. They ran a diagnostic on the car and didn't find anything. For some reason they said they needed to take the oil pan off to see if there was metal in the oil pan. I said ok. I got a call a few days later from the service department stating that I needed a new engine at the price of $8,000 because they said a connecting road bearing had failed which destroyed the 6th cylinder. The vehicle only had 78,000 miles on it. The oil had always been timely changed. There is no reason the connecting rod bearing should fail on an engine with 78,000 miles on it. I contacted Honda and Honda eventually came back to me and said they would not do anything to help replace the engine because the car was not under warranty, despite the Office of Defect having an ongoing investigation into connecting rod bearing failures in 2016 Acura MDX's. Honda has not operated in good faith, this is a major safety issue and the federal government must do something before people are hurt as a result of Honda's negligence.

Car broke down driving from Dallas to Oklahoma on the highway while at cruising speed. We were able to pull over safely and after towing the car home, the engine produced a knocking sound. Upon further investigation, there is a recall for rod/bearing issues with 2016-2020 Acura MDX's and other various models like the Acura TLX, Honda Pilot, etc. This only extended to certain models and there has been more affected by it than what the recall covers. Maintenance such as regular oil changes to big services like timing belt and water pump was done according to the service manual interval. Investigation RQ24013 was open on 11/08/2024 by Investigator Richard Lawrence, Reviewer Sharon Yukevich, and Approver Tanya Topka. There have been about 173 incidents and pose a great safety hazard. Once the car is stopped, the car is not able to go into neutral without the engine on. The only way to override this is through the engine bay with a tool of some sort to manually engage the neutral switch. If the car stops in the middle of the road with this engine failed, this could lead to a more severe casualty

The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the engine. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue but offered no assistance. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 11,624.

Engine cut out on the middle of a pitch black highway in Virginia. Few seconds lights flashing on dashboard check engine light started flashing then low engine oil and then the rest of the standard "CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS" experience as I was finally able to pull the vehicle over. Vehicle seemed as if it was dead. When got vehicle JUMPED 2 hours later I started engine because it wouldn't start. It was making all the noises consistent with ENGINE recall that MY ENGINE was so conveniently not included in the recall. ACURA WON'T DO ANYTHING for me. I was stuck on the side of the highway in the pitch black with cars and trucks flying by at 70+MPH with my 3 kids and spouse. ENGINE is chattering and has no power. ALMOST ABOUT TO SEIZE. I was stranded in a small town for 2 days with no way to get home no rental companies with cars available. ALL VIDEOS online consistentfor engine recall consistent with my experience. NO lights no hestitation perfect engine oil level filled tank of gas minutes with 93 as always not even 2 minutes before this situation. ENGINE WAS PERFECT. Was glad I wasn't apart of recall initially. I thought I had a "GOOD ONE" then boom complete catastrophe. NHTSA NEEDS to expedite this. THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE! Acura knows the issue they are running form it. I spent over $1,100 to tow my vehicle home and get my family home safely.

Driving up a hill, new knocking noise, car lost engine power, steered the car to the curb and turned engine off. Got car towed to mechanic, ultimately diagnosed as connecting rod bearing failure at cylinder 1. No noted leaks nor other issues at engine nor transmission, this appeared to be defect of the connect rod itself.

No prior issues with vehicle when all of a sudden/out of the blue the check engine light started flashing and felt decreased power. Pulled over, had it towed to dealership. After it was diagnosed they advised of a rod bearing failure, crankshaft failure and metal shavings in the oil which went through the engine. There is a recall for 2016 Acura MDX for this EXACT issue, however for some reason my VIN is not included?? The recall was effective Nov of 2023. I purchased vehicle Feb of 2023. Vehicle is still at shop as a complaint has been filed with Acura.

I have a 2016 Acura MDX, recently took it to Oh Acura in Temecula for a check due to a noise coming from the engine. Acura determined I need a new engine.. the issue being rod bearing failure Acura determined I need a new engine.. the issue being rod bearing failure. Upon research, this is a known issue from 2023. Also, a new investigation with engine failures in Honda and Acura vehicles linked to the rod bearings has been opened.

On Sunday, while driving approximately 70 mph on the highway with my two young children in the car, the check engine light began flashing, the vehicle suddenly lost power, and would not accelerate past 60 mph. The engine then began producing loud clanking or knocking noises. I pulled over as quickly as I could and had the vehicle towed to my local Acura dealership. The technician who inspected the vehicle indicated it is in the early stages of catastrophic engine failure—likely due to a spun rod bearing. These symptoms are nearly identical to those described in NHTSA Recall 23V751000, which addresses rod bearing failure, sudden loss of power, and potential engine seizure in certain Acura models. A less severe version of this issue occurred a few days earlier, on Thursday, also while driving on the highway. The check engine light began flashing and the vehicle experienced a noticeable loss of power. I pulled over and restarted the vehicle, and that resolved the issue. I drove the vehicle multiple times—including on the highway—between Thursday and Sunday with no further issues until the much more severe failure occurred. Despite the clear safety concerns—and the fact that both incidents closely mirror the description in Recall 23V751000—my VIN is not currently included in the recall. The vehicle has fewer than 90,000 miles and has been maintained exclusively at Acura dealerships. I’ve reported this to Acura, and my case has been escalated for internal review. An Acura representative encouraged me to contact NHTSA directly, as your agency is responsible for determining whether the scope of the recall should be expanded. This is a serious safety issue that occurred without warning—at highway speeds, with children in the car – and put my family at risk. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate and consider expanding Recall 23V751000 to include similarly affected vehicles like mine. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that there were metal shavings inside the oil pan and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,172.

Engine failure. McGrath confirmed the engine had the same rod issues as described in the recall. Corporate refused to cover the repair.

The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. Additionally, there was loud popping noise coming from the engine compartment, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the connecting rod inside cylinder #2 had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,311.

The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, there were several unknown warning lights flashing on the instrument cluster. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was coasted over to the side of the road; however, while attempting to shift into park(P), the transmission was unable to be shifted into park(P). The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Catastrophic engine failure occurred while driving on July 4, 2025, resulting in the car briefly stopping at 60mph skidding tires on I-70 (a major highway in colorado), then tires unlocked and now engine moving again but with a check engine light, and acceleration was sluggish. It freaked out the family and we pulled over at the next exit to find the engine was knocking like crazy. No injuries occurred, but the sudden engine failure while driving created a serious safety hazard. Complete loss of power could have resulted in accident if this had occurred in traffic, on highway, or during emergency maneuver. We later found out engine the rod bearing failed on cylinder 4 and shattered in several pieces. We took it to both independent auto repair shop, then the dealer, both confirmed rod bearing problem, and engine replacement now required. Dealer is quoting us $24000. Failure was due to connecting rod bearing failure - a known defect currently under NHTSA Investigation RQ24-013. This failure is consistent with NHTSA Investigation RQ24-013 covering connecting rod bearing failures in 1.4 million Honda/Acura vehicles including 2016 MDX. The failure appears related to unaddressed ATF warmer defect covered under Acura's KG9 warranty extension (Service Bulletin 17-026) that compromised cooling system in December 2024, leading to thermal stress and bearing failure. Acura was aware this defect was serious enough to warrant 10-year unlimited mileage warranty coverage but failed to honor it. We had the car serviced June 25th 2025 at the dealer just 9 days prior to the July 4th 2025 incident for its regular maintenance oil change, brake fluid flush, and valve adjustment.

On August 29, 2024 my vehicle stopped working. I was driving through a busy Costco parking lot. We stopped to wait for a car to turn, the auto engine idle turned on. When we removed our foot from the brake that car wouldn't move. It wouldn't start again, everything seized up. We couldn't push the car because the tires locked up. We called a tow truck, luckily we were not in a parking spot because the tow truck driver had to pull it on the bed. The vehicle was towed to Stephen Wade Honda, they have always maintained our vehicle and done the recalls when able to. The nearest Acura dealership is 127 miles away. We were told that the engine suffered catastrophic engine failure. I reached out to Acura and a lady on the phone said she was sorry there was nothing Acura could do. I want to know why my vehicle is not under recall for catastrophic engine failure.