12 complaints reported

2016 Acura MDX POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
12
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Nov 2025

When car is started, attempting to slowly accelerate in reverse or forward you will experience a loss of drive power, transmission does nothing. Then all of a sudden transmission responds and you lurch forward or reverse. Very unsafe situation. Other cars not sure if your moving or stationary.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 ACURA MDX, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2025
Aug 2025

I purchased the vehicle in 2017. It was certified used by acura dealer but it was practically new; less than a year old with 10,000 miles on it. About a month or so after purchasing I started noticing a an issue when pressing on the gas and the vehicle not responding and a few seconds later it would suddenly jerk trying to catch up to the gear it should be on. Right away I took it to dealership for them to inspect and they said the vehicle needed a "software update" and it should be fine after that. Long story short, it is now 2025 I've taken the vehicle in for a "software update" more times than I can count and I am still living with the same problem. On occasion it gets better and sometimes it gets worse. Especially at higher speeds when the gears seem to go to neutral for a few seconds and then re-engage again on its own which cause jerking/stalling motion.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 ACURA MDX, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2018
May 2025

Recall 23V-751 affecting certain or maybe all 2016 Acura MDX SH-AWD connecting rod bearing failure. The vehicle came to a sudden stop on the freeway after a loud terrible sound from the engine. This left my wife and child on a freeway exit ramp with no way to navigate the car to safety. The vehicle won't start, it makes a terrible clanging noise and stops. It has a seized connecting rod bearing and now a broken connecting rod and several holes punched from the broken rod. It was immediately towed to an Acura Service Center where it was confirmed. Recall 23V-751 described this failure exactly yet my car VIN is not included in the recall even though it is clearly affected by that recall. Acura Client relations refused to add the VIN even after saying they would if the problem was confirmed by an Acura Service Technician which it was but they refuse to add the VIN and repair the SUV.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 ACURA MDX, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2025
Feb 2025

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The motor's rod bearing spun. It is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The failure could have created enough friction between the bearing sleeve, rod and/or journal bearing to seize the motor and the drivetrain while driving. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes the vehicle was taken to the Acura dealership to be inspected, diagnosed and repaired. There is a recall for the same year, make and model but my vehicle's VIN is not included in the recall. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle has only been inspected by the Acura dealership. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There was a check engine light that produced code P0430 (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 2) and P0306 (Cylinder 6 Misfire Detected). The vehicle had a loss of power and troubles accelerating under load. The first time the problem was noticed was January 18th, 2025.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 ACURA MDX, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2025
Nov 2024

the car suddenly shut off when i was on the red light wit the idle stop.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 ACURA MDX, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2024
Aug 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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 ACURA MDX, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2024
Jun 2021

The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would stall. The contact also stated that the vehicle would jerk when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact stated the information and engine warning lights were illuminated on the control panel. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the transmission needing to be updated. The vehicle was repaired but the failure still occurred. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 19V060000 (Fuel System, Other). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and the contact filed a claim. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 ACURA MDX, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2018
Sep 2019

WHEN DRIVING THE SUV AFTER THE SECOND GEAR KICKS IN THE TRANSMISSION HAS A JOLT AND IT FEELS LIKE A LAG IN THE SHIFT BUT THEN PULLS VERY HARD. THIS SHIFT PULL HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE GOING 15-20 MPH. ENGINE TIMING BELT HAS A LOUD CHIRPING NOISE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 ACURA MDX, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2019
May 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA MDX. WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AFTER SLOWING DOWN, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN MAKING TURNS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL CHIRPING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH DISTRACTED THE DRIVER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO FINLADY ACURA (315 AUTO MALL DR, HENDERSON, NV 89014) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 ACURA MDX, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2019
Apr 2019

WHEN SLOWING DOWN AT A YIELD OR A RIGHT TURN ON A GREEN LIGHT TO ABOUT 5-10 MPH AND THEN WHEN PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL THERE IS NO ACCELERATION. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT LOSES POWER AND THEN AFTER A SECOND OR TWO, THE CAR WILL JERK AND ACCELERATE VERY QUICKLY WHILE REVING THE RPM VERY HIGH. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE I MAKE THE TURN AND THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE AND THEN THERE ARE CARS BEHIND ME THAT MUST SWERVE TO AVOID ME.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 ACURA MDX, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2019
May 2018

THE CAR OVERHEATED AND WAS LEAKING BLUE FLUID, STARTED SMOKING AND HAD A WEIRD CHIRPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND WAS JUMPING ANOTHER CAR WITH A DEAD BATTERY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 ACURA MDX, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2018
Jun 2016

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 ACURA MDX, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2016

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Acura MDX has 12 POWER TRAIN,ENGINE complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.