Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Acura MDX - part 1

When the automatic engine start/stop is enabled, my car will shut down. To the point where it has to be completely off, then restarted. This has happened twice, the first time was on 9/28/2025 and the second time was on 10/29/2025. We were in traffic, and the car behind me, almost ran into me, as I stalled. The lighted symbols on the dashboard were illuminated during this experience, but I am not sure which ones, as I was in a panicked state given that my child was in the car with me and this almost caused me to get hit by car behind me. I have not had this checked by the dealer yet, but I am scheduling the appointment for as soon as possible.

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.

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I was driving my vehicle on the highway at 65 mph when the engine light came on and began blinking- no other issues. I tried to pass a vehicle, and my vehicle would not accelerate, I was less than a mile from work. I called the dealership the same day and was able to take it in. When I called, I explained everything the dealership told me I could either tow it or try to drive it in. I went out to the car later and moved it from one parking lot to another and had no issues and no lights came on alerting something was wrong. Later in the day as I was driving 65 mph again on interstate, just as I was slowing down to get off all of the lights for everything came on and the engine was making a terrible knocking sound. I slowly pulled over and put my hazards on while driving 15/20 mph. I was near the dealership and was able to coast into the repair shop. Was informed the engine needed to be replaced due to a misfire on cylinder 2 and rod knock- most likely rod bearings and crank shaft issue with broken rod. We have an extended warranty so for a used engine found at a salvage yard won't cost much out of pocket with a similar amount of miles. Used engine will have 12k mile warranty/12months. The dealership has the engine- that info can be given upon request.

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I am filing this report regarding my 2018 Acura Mdx that has experienced complete engine failure directly related to the connecting-rod bearing safety recall (NHTSA recall 23v-751) and Acura’s failure to perform the recall when I first reported issues. In 2024, my vehicle began showing engine trouble codes (p0159) and experienced reduced acceleration and check engine light warnings. I contacted Acura corporate and opened a case, explaining that the vehicle was exhibiting symptoms similar to those described in the recall, including engine hesitation and performance issues. I also took the vehicle to Acura of chattanooga on chapman road, where I worked with tara, a service advisor who acknowledged remembering my repeated attempts to get the recall addressed. Despite this, the recall repair was never performed, and I was treated rudely and dismissed each time. Over the past two years, I have made multiple documented attempts to have the recall completed. Each time, Acura failed to take action or stated that parts or authorization were unavailable. In 2025, my vehicle displayed code p0430 (catalyst efficiency below threshold, bank 2) and ultimately suffered complete engine failure. The issues with oil circulation, catalytic converter performance, and acceleration are consistent with the rod bearing defect Acura has acknowledged as part of this recall. Recently, Acura informed me that my recall was “completed,” even though the engine is now inoperable. This is unacceptable, as the recall was meant to prevent this exact type of engine damage, and Acura had two years of opportunity to address the issue before failure occurred. The current situation has left me with a non-functioning engine, significant repair costs, and a serious safety concern that could have been prevented if Acura had honored its recall responsibilities in a timely manner. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate Acura’s handling of this recall and their pattern of delaying or denying recall repairs.

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I submit this complaint because my 2018 Acura Mdx, covered under NHTSA recall 23v-751 for connecting-rod bearing defects, has suffered progressive engine damage and final engine failure that I believe was caused by the manufacturer’s recalled defect and by the dealer/manufacturer’s failure to timely perform the recall repair. Timeline & key facts: 2024: vehicle displayed code p0159 (o? sensor slow response). I contacted Acura corporate and opened a case. The o? sensor was replaced under warranty. I continued to report reduced acceleration and intermittent check-engine illumination to the dealer and to Acura corporate. I repeatedly requested that the recall inspection/repair be performed, but the repair was delayed or not scheduled despite the vehicle’s symptoms and my repeated follow-ups. 2024–2025: over the following months I repeatedly requested recall service and documented those requests with the dealer and Acura corporate. On many occasions I was not scheduled for the recall or was told to wait for parts/authorization. I was also treated rudely by dealership staff (identified service advisor: tara at Acura on chapman road), and my case was not escalated appropriately despite my persistence. 2025: vehicle later displayed p0430 (catalyst efficiency below threshold, bank 2), and within [insert timeframe] the engine experienced complete failure requiring immobilization. Dealer notes show an oil-pump leak and catalytic converter symptoms consistent with oil/fuel contamination and bearing-related engine issues. I have service records documenting the sensor replacement, subsequent dx, and the dealer’s findings. Effect: I have been WI/o a vehicle since the engine failure, incurred hotel cancellation charges $116 and other consequential damages. I believe the engine damage was preventable and is directly tied to the acknowledged defect in the recall; the catalyst and o? sensor failures were downstream consequences of recall-related engine problems (oil consumption,.

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.

My 2017 Acura Mdx with only 87,000 miles has suffered catastrophic engine failure. The vehicle has been properly maintained and all repairs recommended by the dealership where the performed since it was purchased new. While the dealership has confirmed the engine failure cause is exactly what is feared by the recall report 23v-751, Honda has refused to acknowledge their responsibility since my VIN does not fall within their "identified" inventory. The engine is currently at the dealership and will be maintained as evidence for the "to-be-filed" lawsuit that will be required to recover the repair costs. The engine seized while driving and had to maneuver the vehicle to a safe location. Had I been travelling on the highway at the time. The outcome would have been disastrous. The problem is described in detail in recall report 23v-251. There were no warning lights or issues other than a clunking sound the night before. I was driving to the dealership at the time the engine failure occurred.

Car engine sometimes does not restart when the auto start-stop feature is engaged. Car engine is also sluggish to restart when it does work. My local Acura dealer evaluated the car on 10/15/25, found battery was low. Battery was replaced that day, and things seemed okay for about a week. Today (10/21) when I was stopped at a traffic light, the issue returned and my car would not restart after going into auto start-stop. The car had been on for about 30 minutes. When I tried to restart the engine, it took three tries before finally turning over. Fortunately, this has only happened thus far for me at stoplights, but safety could definitely be impacted if the engine does not turn back on and the car needs to be maneuvered quickly. No warning lights or messages appeared prior to the issue. This started for me about 3 weeks ago. No accidents or known issues with the car prior to the issue. There does not seem to be a predictable pattern to the auto start-stop feature failing.

Hello. I went to the Acura dealership because I got a recall letter. I lost the letter itself a few days ago. I also had the check engine light come on once while driving. But then it went out on its own during the same trip. At the moment of checking my car by my foreman, he heard a knocking noise in the engine. He said that they will check my car on the recall and see what's wrong with the engine. After some time, he called me and said: I am very sorry, but you need to replace the complete motor as this knock is caused by a problem in the bearing. And alas your car does not fall under the recall to replace this bearing. I asked him which bearing he was talking about. And they answered that it was the one that goes into the recall under which my car did not fall. I clarified that its name sounds like: connecting rod bearing? he said: yes. I've had all my maintenance done on time. Engine oil changes every 5,000 miles. Even before the 8,000 to 10,000 miles. I have all the paperwork with receipts and dates in my car paperwork bag. At every oil change no one has ever told me there was an engine problem. The car was purchased from a dealership in libertyville, illinois. The car is currently at a dealership in naperville, illinois. I wrote a complaint to Acura of California on 9/26/2025. To date, all I have gotten is a response: we have a lot of work to do, we will respond when we can. Very rude and disrespectful. Considering I could have been in an accident if the engine had seized up. That's what my foreman at the dealership said. Or even worse, my daughter could have had an accident. I was planning to give this car to my daughter since she got her driver's license. She really liked this car. Now I don't know what to tell her. I am asking for your help to resolve this problem. They still haven't contacted me or told me what to do. Appreciate it.

At a red light or stop sign, my Mdx switches into neutral without me knowing it. When I press the gas to go, my car won't move. Other vehicles behind me almost hit me as they expect me to go. I can't switch into drive. I must turn off car and then turn it back on. I feel this is very dangerous. This happens about once a week now. The Mdx was just in for service and recalls a few months ago. Nothing was noted about the engine on the reports.

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When driving and the stopping the auto start/stop feature does not rengage and the car places itself in park and becomes disabled and difficult to restart. When driving on a major highway when I was in traffic the car shut down, put itself into park and would not restart upon removing my foot from the brake. It then gave numerous error messages and would not respond to any commands. Traffic started moving and cars were then needing to go around my disabled vehicle. It finally responded to me trying to restart it. We had the car checked the week before it happened due to it being slow to re-engage when the auto start stop would be used. The dealership reported that there was nothing wrong. Brought it back after is was disabled on the highway for 5 minutes and they are still saying there is nothing wrong if they do not see it happen themselves. It is a danger to drive.

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.

During three separate incidents, my vehicle’s engine unexpectedly shut off without warning, twice in the middle of moving traffic and once while idling in a drive-thru when the engine idle stop/start feature was engaged. In each case the vehicle did not immediately restart, leaving me and my family exposed to oncoming traffic and high-speed vehicles, especially once while exiting a highway. The malfunction appears related to the engine’s idle stop/start or fuel/ignition system, but no specific component has been identified; the vehicle remains available for inspection upon request. Although I reported the incidents to the dealership, they stated they could not reproduce the problem and therefore could not repair it. . No warning lamps, error messages, or other visible symptoms appeared before or during any of the shutdowns, the engine simply stopped running, so there was no advance notice before the failures occurred.

On 9/12/2025 driving on the highway in stop and go traffic, the idle stop feature engaged, but the engine would not restart upon taking foot off break. Put vehicle into park and held start/stop button for couple seconds to turn off, then was able to restart vehicle by pushing start button. Couple days later went to start vehicle while parked and accessories came on, but engine wouldn’t start. After a few attempts, got vehicle to start.

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.

The contact owned a 2018 Acura Mdx. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to several dealers but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

While driving on the freeway with my children, the vehicle started to shake and the emission system problem, transmission system problem and blind spot problem lights came on. The safety of myself and children were at risk due to being on the freeway and having to pull over on the side of the road. There were zero signs leading to this.

My car has failed to restart while sitting at red lights. The engine complete shut down. This has happened twice now since I have owned the vehicle. The first occurrence was around March 2024 and the most recent occurrence was 09/2025. Very dangerous situation both times and I had my child in the car.

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I own a 2020 Acura Mdx. The auto engine idle stop system failed to operate while depressing the accelerator pedal while at a stoplight. The vehicle shifted automatically to neutral and would not let me switch to drive. I just recently purchased this car (less than two weeks). Based on what I see online and all the complaints on here , this is a known issue. However when I contacted my local Acura they acted as if they never heard of this issue and they want to diagnose my car at my expense. The mileage on my vehicle is between 31,000 and 32,000. I purchased this vehicle to accommodate my newborn granddaughter. Now, I don't feel like its the safe vehicle its advertised to be. This is a very dangerous thing that is happening, how many complaints need to be submitted before the manufacturer is held accountable.

The contact's relative owns a 2020 Acura Mdx. The contact stated while driving approximately 25-30 mph, the check engine warning light started flashing, and the vehicle stalled and lost electrical function. The contact stated that the vehicle was only able to be locked manually, and the windows failed to roll up as intended. The driver was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was in the process of being towed. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the earliest availability for a diagnostic test was in 7 days. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

While driving in traffic, my vehicle suddenly shut down without warning. The engine stalled, and I lost power to steering and braking, creating a serious safety risk for myself and other drivers around me. The problem has occurred more than three time. At the time of the failure, there were no warning lamps a message display showing to continue to drive depress brake pedal and push switch there was no check engine light showing. I had to shut the whole car off open the door and re start the car. The issue has been inspected on 08-13-25 by a Acura dealer / mechanic. I was told it was the battery and it was covered under warranty. They found no other issues. The car shut down on me again on 08-19-25 and on 08-30-25 with my family in the car. This unexpected shutdown placed me in danger of a potential collision, and I am concerned that this may indicate a larger defect affecting this vehicle. I can get a receipt from the Acura service department if needed.

Check engine light continues to come on after repair, lack of power and transmission skip at times. Reverse light dark, unable to see at all.

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1. The car accelerates by intself. The accelaration is like "hiccups". When reversing and changing to d gear, it takes longer than usual for the accelarion to take effect. Yes, car is available for inspections 2. It is dangerus because it gets the hiccups even at high speeds. If it is a serious egine problem, which seems like it is, could cause an accident. 3. The car was taken to the dealership for 3 recalls but it got worse after the recalls were fixed. Supposedly the recalls were supposed to fix the issues. We have not taken it back yet. 4. There is no lights or warnings when it does it.

Many times, when I drove the car on the road leaving the stop sign and it lost power or hesitated to go.

Idle stop causing engine to shut down. This has happened three times! it’s very dangerous.

When the vehicle stops and the idle auto-start/ stop engages, the vehicle will automatically go into neutral and cannot be restarted until the vehicle is turned off then back on. This has happened at both stop lights and on the highway and almost caused a very serious rear end accident.

The contact owns a 2020 Acura Mdx. The contact stated that on several occasions, while coming to a stoplight, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.

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.

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.

Connecting rod bearing failure confirmed by independent mechanic. No alerts or warning lights. Problem just showed up and engine started knocking on acceleration.

The idle stop feature does not work correctly. A couple times the car did not restart while stopped at a red light. Had to put into park and took about a minute to restart.

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.

On Aug 8th at 3:32pm (81f and sunny), I stopped at a red light with the auto idle engine feature on. When I lifted my foot off the brake to drive the car, the car shifted into neutral and completely shut down and would not restart immediately. I attempted approximately 8 times to restart the car for 3 minutes before it successfully restarted. This poses a significant safety hazard for myself, my children, and others on the road. This is the 6th time this has happened and I have previously filed a NHTSA report # 11533671 with the same issue. Acura has been unable to diagnose and recreate the problem and is refusing to do any further work. It has been brought into their dealership on 3 separate occasions (July 2023, September 2024, August 2025). Prior to this occurring, there were no warning symbols, the car started fine without issue, and the battery has been checked and confirmed in working order.

My 2023 Acura (VIN# [xxx] ) has experienced two separate incidents of sudden, total power loss while driving. In both cases, all dashboard warning lights came on, including the brake light, and the vehicle reduced speed to 20 mph and would not accelerate. The first incident occurred while I was driving on a 55 mph expressway, creating a major safety hazard. I had to maneuver to safety in high-speed traffic. The second incident occurred under similar conditions. The dealer has been unable to resolve the issue. I am filing this report to document the safety risk for investigation. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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The engine suddenly shut off when the vehicle was waiting for traffic light and at full stop. The vehicle would not restart after multiple attempts and had to be towed to dealership. Mechanic at the dealership said the "idle stop" feature can drain the battery quickly and had to replace a new battery. We consider this a reportable safety hazard and a potential design defect because 1. The "idle stop" feature is turned on by default, though it can be manually turned off. 2. The incident occurred in a very abrupt and unpredictable fashion. The vehicle was started normally about 30-40 minutes before the incidents and has been driven normally in a typical city traffic condition till the incidents occurred. During this period, the computer system did not give off any warning related to a total battery failure.

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