2016 Acura MDX Power Train

This submission supplements my existing NHTSA complaint regarding Recall 17-010 and the 9-speed automatic transmission ATF warmer defect. My vehicle received Recall / Product Update 17-010 service on March 10, 2017, at which time the transmission was replaced. The final redesigned ATF warmer did not exist at that time. The ATF warmer installed with the replacement transmission was an earlier design. The vehicle returned for a second Recall 17-010 service visit on December 9, 2017. The service record from that visit explicitly states that the ATF warmer was not replaced, noting that it had been replaced during the prior visit. As a result, the recall was initiated but not completed with the final redesigned ATF warmer. Acura later issued TSB B17-026, extending warranty coverage to 10 years from original in-service date with unlimited mileage, because damage from ATF/coolant contamination may occur years after initial exposure, even if fluids later appear normal. In 2025, the vehicle developed transmission noise. An independent transmission specialist advised that the vehicle exhibits bearing failure, with the extent of damage unknown until teardown. Bearing failure is a known delayed consequence of ATF/coolant contamination associated with the ATF warmer defect. The vehicle was delivered to an authorized Acura dealership for evaluation under the warranty extension. However, the dealership has refused to perform the warranty inspection unless payment is made, and has stated that the vehicle is outside the warranty period, despite the warranty extension remaining in effect through January 2026. This supplement is submitted to document that: •Recall 17-010 was started but not completed with the final redesigned ATF warmer; •The final corrective part was never installed on this vehicle; and •Corrective action and inspection related to this incomplete recall and warranty extension are currently being denied.

The transmission and motor has failed. Car has 133000 miles. Transmission recently rebuilt. Car continues to malfunction according to the recall but is not listed.

The Acura MDX, which had always been serviced at an Acura dealership, had 121,007 miles on it when the transmission completely failed without prior warning. I was driving with the d cruise control on at around 70 mph when I took the car off cruise by touching the brake to take the exit ramp onto I-10. I suddenly lost power, the engine still runnning, the car was on the exit ramp, which was uphill and exiting from I75 South. I had to coast to a stop and stopped between in a trouble area between the exit ramp and the fast lane on I10 east, which the wrecker driver said left the car exposed in a “kill zone.” After stopping, the car would start but all four wheels were locked and the wrecker drivers could not roll the car into a safer location to retrieve the car. They nevertheless pulled the car onto the wrecker while in what they described as a “kill zone,” and I also thought the spot I had to stop was extremely dangerous. The dealership, Key Acura in Gainesville, Florida, advised the transmission needed to be replaced at a cost of $7,200. After that I sold the car to an online site at a price that was basically for junk.

Vehicle engine started making noise . Called Acura customer service . They advised have taken to Acura dealership for examination. Did so ($450.00 tow bill) there is a motor recall on 2016 Acura MDX. The Acura garage advised ( in writing ) that they felt this was the same engine problem ( rod bearing ) as in the 2016 Acura MDX under recall. . Acura corporate advised mine was not listed as recalled .

The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle downshifted inadvertently. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where the failure was not able to be replicated. The contact stated that on one occasion while attempting to place the gear in any gear other than reverse (R) the gear selector indicator displayed the gear selected but the vehicle did not operate as intended. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Vehicle started having issues just a couple of years after purchase (acquired brand new as a Lease which I later purchased when the Lease was up), in the beginning it was mostly at low speeds, but it would occasionally happen at higher speeds as well. You could feel it having hesitation when shifting gears. Took it to the dealer at around the 30K miles due for service (May of 2019). Had the transmission fluid replaced, dealer noted some "debris" was found. The problem quickly showed up again soon after this service, so the vehicle was brought back to the dealer for further checkup a couple of times, the result was always the same, no problem found, and the vehicle was OK to drive. I have lived with this problem ever since and on occasion it got even worse at higher speeds (around 65mph) when the gears seemed to go to neutral for a few seconds and then re-engage again on its own. Knowing that the car had always acted funny and the fact that the dealer never found any issues, I thought it must be more of the same. Finally, a couple of weeks ago (March 25 of 2025) the transmission gave up completely while my wife was driving the car, luckily it was not in a highway, she had enough time to pull to the side of the road but once the car stopped, it would not get into gear again. I have called the dealer for assistance, but they tell me the car is not under warranty anymore and there is no recall pending for this VIN, they could take it in, but the repairs would not be covered by them. This has prompted me to look into the issue further and found out that Acura issued a service bulleting number 17-026 back in 2018 which describes the same symptoms as what I describe above, they extended the warranty to 10 years but when I called them they say that it does not apply to my VIN because of a different manufacturing location (despite the fact that the symptoms are the same). Came to find out that other owners have had the same issue over the years.

Car stalled in traffic and would not restart, and couldn’t figure out how to put in neutral. We had good samaritans that wanted to push it out of the way, but no one could figure out how to put the car in neutral. Even the police and tow truck driver couldn’t figure out how to put it in neutral. I found out after research that to put it neutral when it will not start requires a special tool that has to be installed by opening the hood. Acura doesn’t even include this special tool.It costs extra. So if you’re are in traffic and your car stalls there is no way to push it out of the way. This is incredibly dangerous in a traffic situation.

This vehicle is affected by Acura’s 9-speed transmission warmer defect covered under: • TSB B17-009 – Product Update: Transmission Warmer • TSB B17-010 – Product Update / Warmer Replacement • TSB B17-026 – Warranty Extension: 10 years from in-service date, unlimited mileage These bulletins address failures of the transmission warmer that allow coolant and ATF to mix, causing internal transmission damage. My MDX was used by Acura in early 2016–2017 as an engineering/diagnostic vehicle when this defect was being investigated. Repair history: • March 2017 – Transmission replaced, but the updated warmer (released later in 2017) was not installed. • December 2017 – Acura performed a coolant/ATF line flush due to contamination, confirming fluid mixing from the warmer failure. Current issue: My transmission is again showing symptoms consistent with damage caused by the same warmer defect. Despite the active 10-year/unlimited-mileage warranty extension, the dealership refuses to perform the required warranty inspection unless I first pay a $138 diagnostic fee. Under the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act, a dealer may not charge for diagnosing a defect that may be covered under a warranty or recall. Acura Corporate says the dealer “is allowed to refuse,” and the dealer says they need Acura authorization. As a result, no inspection has been performed. The vehicle has been sitting at the dealership since October 1 with no diagnostic work completed. Concerns: • Failure to perform a safety-related warranty inspection • Failure to complete the product-update remedy • Charging for a warranty-covered diagnosis • Leaving a known defect unaddressed I request NHTSA review this matter, as it involves an active safety-related defect with a warranty extension where both the manufacturer and dealer refuse to complete the required inspection and repairs.

I have had numerous instances of the car not engaging the transmission when driving. This can happen at highway speed; the car will not accelerate and acts like it is in neutral. You must take your foot off the gas pedal for the transmission to re-engage before accelerating. This has been an ongoing problem for a few years, and Acura says there is nothing wrong. This is very dangerous. I know multiple MDX owners who have experienced the same issue. I think there may be a class action lawsuit about it.

Transmission slips and make chirp sound, and failed completely during driving at 86000

The contact's wife owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond and lost motive power. A message indicating a transmission failure was displayed. The contact was able to veer to the side of the roadway. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to shift into gear. The vehicle was towed to a AAA Center. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was covered under an extended transmission warranty. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was not eligible to be repaired under the transmission extended warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle hesitated and then accelerated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no additional assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

I have had the vehicle since beginning of March and I noticed the transmission slipping. I had the transmission flushed which made the problem not as bad but it was still there. A couple weeks later the transmission started slipping hard again and I had the transmission replaced by the dealer. I take it home and its shifting all over the place and not accelerating. Acura did a reprogram and I picked it up and the minute I left the dealer, it started to do a hard shift/slip between 4th and 5th gear that is not going away after a new transmission was put in. I'm not getting any warnings or lights, just the hard shifting that has caused me to return to the dealer on 3 separate occasions and now will be a 4th time. This can be dangerous because I do not know what the car will do at any given moment while I am driving.

The contact's wife owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while his wife was reversing out of the driveway with his grandchildren in the rear seats, she stopped the vehicle to check for incoming traffic but the vehicle switched gears to drive on its own and accelerated forward. The contact's wife depressed the brake pedal but it failed to respond and the vehicle crashed into his unoccupied vehicle that was parked ahead in the driveway. The driver's airbags deployed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's wife parked the vehicle. There were no injuries sustained. A police report was not filed. The contact stated that his wife switched gears to reverse and attempted to reverse the vehicle. The vehicle only reversed for 2 feet and switched gears back to park. The contact stated that the vehicle continuously switched gears to park whenever they attempted to reverse. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 37,592.

Every since I've owned my 2016 Acura MDX I've had infrequent, and intermittent transmission issues. Several have been safety concerns: - Transmission is slow to engage when first pushing accelerator, leading to unexpected lag pulling into traffic - Transmission did not shift into park as expected, causing car to keep moving as I was opening door and starting to step out - Transmission slips and does not respond when accelerating to merge into fast lane on highway to pass slower traffic. Car speed stalls and you have to let off the gas and wait for a few seconds before the transmission reengages. - Overall horrible/hard shifting all the time... to which we're told... the car learns your driving style. We've reset it multiple times to try to get it to start learning again. No luck. - After coasting on highway, very hard shift with loud noise when you go to hit the accelerator All of these situations have happened numerous times over the past 2 years of owning this car. All of them infrequent, but also unexpected... leaving you to really worry if this is the time the transmission is going to let you down and cause you to wreck. Dealer now says a new transmission is needed, but I waited until 78,000 miles to first report it, so it's out of warranty now. Hoping Acura will step up and address this serious safety issue with the 9 speed transmission.

FOR AT LEAST THE PAST FOUR YEARS, MY MDX HAS BEEN "CATCHING" WHILE ACCELERATING AND LURCHING AT OTHER TIMES. IF I HAVE TO STEP ON IT TO GET THROUGH TRAFFIC OR WANT TO PASS AND I ACCELERATE, THE CAR WILL JERK. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT 40 MPH BECAUSE THAT'S THE SPEED I'M DRIVING AT MOST OFTEN. IT ALSO HAPPENS AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHEN ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THEY JUST KEEP TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT AND THEY BLOW ME OFF.

VEHICLE STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NO SOFTWARE UPDATE BY ACURA HAS FIXED THE ISSUE. THERE ARE SEVERAL LAWSUITS AGAINST ACURA FOR THE SAME BUT THEY DENY ANY RESPONSIBILITY. GOOGLE ACURA MDX TRANSMISSION CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.

UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION, SURGING AND BUCKING DURING BRAKING OR DECREASING SPEED THE VEHICLE HESITATES TO STOP IN ALL GEARS - UNCONTROLLABLY DANGEROUS ACCELERATION ALSO STRESSES ADDITIONAL VEHICLE FUNCTIONS - TIRES AND BRAKES - SUSPENSION (INERTIA THAT CAUSES IMBALANCE) - STEERING - VEHICLE STEERING IS NOW SOMEWHAT UNBINDING AND VEERS RIGHT OR LEFT WHEN ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL ANOMALOUS ACCELERATIONS WHILE BRAKING OR SLOWING THE VEHICLE POOR ACCELERATION AT LOWER CITY SPEEDS AND REMAINS IN ERRATIC GEARS FOR UNSPECIFIED TIMES THIS IS MOST DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING IN ROUGHER TRAFFIC AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE ADDITIONAL DEMANDS TO DRIVE AT ELEVATING SPEEDS TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES BRIEFLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS RECENTLY, AS THE VEHICLE INCREASES VELOCITY AND CONSISTENCY, THE DRIVE GEAR DISENGAGES TO NEUTRAL FOR A FEW MILLISECONDS AND CHANGES BACK TO THE DRIVE GEAR AND REGAINS MOMENTUM TRANSMISSION IS NOISY 1. THUDS AND CLICKS WHILE SHIFT AT VARIOUS TIMES 2. 'CRICKET SOUNDS' GURGLING, CREAKS, GRINDS AND MILD KNOCKING IS PRESENT WHEN IDLING AND ENGAGING AFTER VEHICLE STARTUP E. MANUAL TRANSMISSION FUNCTIONS 1. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO MOVE ONCE PARKING GEAR IS ENGAGED AND FOOT BRAKE IS RELEASED 2. ONCE VEHICLE STARTS, REVERSE AND DRIVE GEAR IS "STICKY' AND MAKES NOISE (THUD) WHEN ENGAGED

ZF9 TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT ABOUT 10,000 MILES WITH METAL PARTICLES FOUND IN ATF FLUID. REPLACED BY ACURA WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION APPARATUS. APPARENTLY THIS IS A RAMPANT AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR TRANSMISSION. NOW AT 38,000 MILES (28,000 MILES ON THE NEW TRANSMISSION) THIS ONE IS FAILING, SLIPPING ON SHIFTS AND MAKING A SQUEAKING/CHIRPING NOISE BETWEEN GEARS. CAN RESULT IN FAILURE TO ENGAGE/ACCELERATE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. ACURA PEOPLE WON'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY SO NHTSA SHOULD GET INVOLVED. A QUICK SURVEY WILL DEMONSTRATE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS CAR. ACURA HAS A TSB BUT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. THEY'RE TRYING TO GET BEYOND EVERYONE'S 6 YEAR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE ACTION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. BERGSTROM ACURA (2910 N VICTORY LN, APPLETON, WI 54913, (800) 353-3654) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.

ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE WITH PEDAL WHILE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND AFTER CANCELING CRUISE CONTROL, VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE, DOWNSHIFTS INSTANTLY TO 2ND GEAR, MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH, MAIN DISPLAY READS 'EMISSIONS SYSTEM PROBLEM'. ACCELERATOR FUNCTION RETURNS BUT TRANSMISSION IS STUCK IN 2ND GEAR AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND VERY HIGH ENGINE RPM. MUST MAKE EMERGENCY STOP ON SIDE OF ROAD AND RESTART VEHICLE TO REMEDY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND 'EMISSIONS SYSTEM PROBLEM' WARNING REMAIN FOR A DAY OR TWO FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT BUT VEHICLE DRIVES OK. THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. TOOK TO ACURA DEALER AFTER 3RD INCIDENT AND DEALER REPORTED NO TROUBLE FOUND.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE BACK INTO DRIVE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE WAS PREVIOUSLY UPDATED AT ROSENTHAL ACURA (623 FREDERICK AVENUE, GAITHERSBURG, MD 20879, (877)300-4226) HOWEVER, FAILED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NUMBERS: 15-034 NAD 19-003 AS POSSIBLE FIXES FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. *LN *TR

WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD THE CAR HESITATES WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO 2ND & 3RD GEARS. IT ALMOST STALLS. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT NUMEROUS TIMES AT INTERSECTIONS. THE DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG, YET 2 LOANERS THAT WERE SIMILAR AGES & MILES DIDN'T DO THAT. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY AFTER THE CAR IS DRIVEN A FEW MILES. HAPPENS EVERY DAY. *TR

ACURA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE! MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT WAS #11269881 AND COVERED FOUR SEPARATE INCIDENCES IN 2019. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! PREVIOUSLY TWO OF MY FOR INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING INVOLVED SIGNIFICANT INSTANT SLOWING DOWN OF THE CAR (BELOW 30 MPH) AND RPM RAISING WHILE WHILE DRIVING 70+ MPH ON INTERSTATE IS DANGEROUS! THIS TIME THE AFTERNOON PRIOR THE CAR EXPERIENCED A LOUDER THAN NORMAL ENGINE SOUND AND RPM LIKE IT WAS IN A LOWER GEAR. ON THE MORNING OF 4/24/20 WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND CYCLED THROUGH AND REMAINED ON MOST OF THE DAY. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE FOURTH TIME DRIVING THE CAR THAT THEY ALL STOPPED LIGHTING UP. HOWEVER THE CAR STILL SEEMS TO BE DRIVING IN A LOWER GEAR BUT NO LIGHTS REMAIN ON. THIS TIME IT DID NOT LOSE POWER BEFORE THE LIGHTS CAME ON. THEY JUST APPEARED ON WHEN WE WENT TO START THE CAR IN THE MORNING. TRAILER STABILIZATION ASSIST PROBLEM, ROAD DEPARTURE MITIGATION SYSTEM PROBLEM, EMISSIONS SYSTEM PROBLEM,BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM,POWER STEERING SYSTEM PROBLEM,VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST PROBLEM,HILL START ASSIST PROBLEM,. MILEAGE AT 122,044. LAST TIME MY DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS MISFIRING SO CHANGE THE SPARK PLUGS. I DID BUT IT HAS HAPPENED NOW THREE MORE TIMES SINCE THEN.

- VEHICLE LOST POWER THE OTHER DAY HAD TO PULL OVER LUCKILY WAS STILL IN RESIDENTIAL CORRIDOR AT 35MPH WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS INCLUDE: ERRATIC SHIFTING, SENSATION OF ACCELERATION WHEN COASTING DOWN HILLS, SURGING WHEN BRAKING, TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT STAYS IN VARIOUS GEARS TOO LONG. DURING SLIGHT ACCELERATION FROM A STOP, EXPERIENCE BOTH HESITATION AND SURGES AND TRANSMISSION FEELS ROUGH AT LOW SPEEDS. ALSO EXPERIENCE POOR ACCELERATION AND BOGGING AT LOW SPEEDS. ERRATIC SHIFTING AND SPEED CHANGES OCCURRING DAILY.