Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Acura MDX - part 2

The contact owns a 2002 Acura Mdx. The contact stated that while driving at 10 mph, the vehicle stalled while driving on an incline with the service and check warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The contact heard a grinding noise when the contact started the vehicle and attempted to shift gears. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The mechanic suggested that the failure could be attributed to a water pump failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 213,722.

See all problems of the 2002 Acura MDX 🔎.

When cruising or coming off a stop, my car is incapable of accelerating promptly if I am trying to get out of the way or even merge into oncoming traffic on a highway. There is a severe acceleration delay perhaps with the throttle body. I have seen online complaints but the dealership said there has to be an actual recall number to correct this. My car has been in several times to fix this. A computer reset did not work. My car is one year old.

See all problems of the 2024 Acura MDX 🔎.

The auto start/stop system failed to restart at a stop light. This was an issue on the older Mdx and tlx vehicles with the 3. 5l v6 which resulted in a large recall. The recall has not been extended to cover the 2025 Mdx and the dealership is refusing to fix the issue or acknowledge it despite having a video to prove it occurred. Acura is knowingly selling these vehicles with a dangerous safety defect that will occur at random. Please consider investigating this matter further as I am concerned for my safety and the safety of my passengers.

I was driving my car on the interstate and momentarily stopped due to traffic congestion. My engine idle stop feature was on and engaged as expected for the short stop, but the vehicle then stalled when I attempted to drive. There seemed to be an electrical issue with various lights coming on the dash to indicate a problem. I could not get the car to restart and was stuck in the left lane with cars then going around my stalled vehicle. I called 911 for help after I could not restart the car after 3 attempts. After approximately 5 minutes, I pressed the ignition button again, and this time my car was able to restart and drive normally so that I could exit the highway.

See all problems of the 2022 Acura MDX 🔎.

While driving on the highway this vehicle shifted into neutral and lost power. Once pulled to the side of the road, the vehicle was able to be turned off and re started. This happened to my teenage daughter without warning.

See all problems of the 2016 Acura MDX 🔎.

I own a 2020 Acura Mdx. On two separate occasions, the auto engine idle stop system failed to operate while depressing the accelerator pedal while at a stop. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle shuts off and the I had to manually restart the vehicle after the failure. I have not contacted the dealer yet but based on what I have found here I am not the only one that this is happening too. It is awful to be stopped in rush hour traffic and having people honking at me and potentially be the cause of an accident. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000 and 38,000 miles.

See all problems of the 2020 Acura MDX 🔎.

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.

Vehicle is getting errors for emssions controls, parking brake, and sh-awd system faults all at the same time. Car will still function normally and codes will go off and come back intermittently. Also while reading the codes it will get a u3006-16 code for low voltage on the ecm. Confirmed battery is good under load test and alternator is charging at 14. 2 volts.

See all problems of the 2019 Acura MDX 🔎.

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.

I took my car to get an oil change. When I left the dealership, I heard a rattle I turned around he told me to bring it back in the morning. I went back the very next morning and they told me my engine valves needed to be adjusted. It took them from Monday until Thursday to complete the work and when I picked it up on Thursday the same noise was occurring. I left it there, on Monday they asked if I could come ride with a technician on Tuesday. Technician heard the noise stated they will get it done it was the timing change. From Monday-Friday I went to retrieve my car and the same noise nothing change and I called and told. Took it back on Tuesday they told me it was a lower engine rod that I would need to replace my motor, later went to the store and the car never move out of park gear. Got it towed back to Acura and they wouldn’t help me.

See all problems of the 2017 Acura MDX 🔎.

Driving on freeway at 65mph and check engine light flashed as vehicle started to studder and turned off while driving. Vehicle would not even try to start afterwards. Vehicle got towed off freeway to my home. I continued to try to start, it sounded like a bad starter or dead battery, so I charged the battery and got the vehicle to crank and start. Engine was knocking and squealing and pinging. Immediately turned off and did some research. Found out about recall and my engine is not on it . I found a local shop and had it towed there. It ended up being a bad rod/bearing in the engine. I had to have the engine replaced.

My 2019 Acura Mdx which was owned for less than two years, broke down due to a transmission failure. The vehicle had an open recall (one of many recent) delayed by Acura for months, which research shows can cause engine and transmission damage. Acura of reno denied the recall link and misattributed the failure to “incorrect fluid,” despite admitting the fluid was correct to myself and other businesses. I believe this breakdown was directly related to the open recall and request an investigation into Acura’s handling of these failures. There have been many legal cases against Acura regarding this matter previously.

The contact owns a 2016 Acura Mdx. The contact stated while driving 75 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the engine and low oil pressure warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated the vehicle was shaking abnormally, and the vehicle failed to exceed 30 mph. The vehicle was driven to a nearby parking lot. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic to be inspected. The contact was informed that the engine was covered in engine oil. The contact stated that the vehicle had recently received an oil change. The contact was advised to have the vehicle towed to the dealer. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with fractured bearings and engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine and the bearings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 23v751000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.

I was driving on the road and an electronic parking error light came up, along with emissions error. I pulled over to the side and I could not start the vehicle and the gears won’t shift.

On multiple occasions when the car is stopped at a light, in traffic or at a stop sign and the auto idle stop feature is engaged the car will shut off and not restart for up to 1 minute. We have always been able to get it to restart but feel it is dangerous to be stopped so long in moving traffic.

When idle stop is on and I come to a stop, the car shuts off and switches to neutral. It has to be put in park to start it back up. This is a safety concern because the vehicle is essentially stalled until you're able to put it in parked and restart it, which could cause an accident. The dealer is aware of the problem as it's been discussed the last two times that I've taken my vehicle in for recalls. According to the dealer, there is a recall for this issue but it's not for 2020 Mdx, it's for 2022-2025.

The engine has developed rapidly increasing knocking sound. Acura has been notified and has suggested I get an official diagnosis from dealer. I have done so at a cost of $1,300. The dealer's head mechanic has confirmed that I have an engine failure which exactly resembles the connect rod bearing recall found on the same engine type and of vehicles of the same year. Acura has denied any assistance in resolving this, even after receiving a written opinion from a dealer. I am lucky to have taken the steps to diagnose, prior to failure.

I am writing to formally express my concern regarding a recurring issue with the auto start/stop feature in my 2020 Acura Mdx. This feature, which is intended to improve fuel efficiency, has instead caused unexpected and unsafe engine shutoffs while the vehicle is in operation. On multiple occasions, the vehicle has failed to restart promptly after the engine shuts off at a stoplight or in traffic, creating a serious safety hazard. The delay or failure to restart can leave the car temporarily disabled in active traffic, placing both myself and other drivers at risk.

The contact owns a 2020 Acura Mdx. The contact stated that on three separate occasions, the auto engine idle stop system failed to operate while depressing the accelerator pedal while at a stop. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the vehicle shut off and the contact had to manually restart the vehicle after the failure. The contact called and informed the dealer of the failure. The contact was then referred to the manufacturer for assistance with the repair. The contact was provided a case number and referred to the dealer to order the part for the repair. The contact made multiple attempts to reach the dealer but had not received a response. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.

Acura headquarters USA 1919 torrence boulevard torrence, California 90501 mr. [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] email: [xxx] dear sir or madam, I am writing your company to the attention of whomever oversees the product development and design of the 2022 Acura Mdx and to warn them that certain system features and design flaws of this make and model vehicle will undoubtedly lead to the death of someone in the near future as was nearly the case with myself and spouse very recently. On Sunday [xxx], my spouse and I attended church services that morning. Fortunately, after services our Acura Mdx did start as usual, and we began our journey home. Upom arriving home, we backed our car into our garage and during that process thankfully I had the wits to unlock the passenger and driver side door mechanisms. Once we enteredthe garage and at thta point, our car went absolutely dead. Our car stayed dead for the next 5 1/2 hours. Had I not unlocked those doors, we would have been trapped inside for that duration of time, only to be found dead fron suffocation and asphysxiation from being in a car with all the windows rolled up, no power to the vehicle and no way to get out, while beingdeprived of oxygen. At that point, your manufactured vehicle became a death trap for us. We're the fortunate ones who lived through the experience and to be able to tell the story. Others may not be so lucky to tell theirs and there will be others. We wanted the manufacturer to understand the full implications of our letter and to stress in the strongest terms possible that this is a very serious matter that will eventually cost lives, as it nearly cost us ours. The vehicle in question is VIN# [xxx] and was last serviced at vandergriff Acura in arlington, texas on 6/13/2025 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2017 Acura Mdx. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle hesitated before losing automotive power. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the road, and the vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the local dealer needed to be contacted for assistance. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

While driving southbound on I-5 from san francisco to anaheim, the vehicle began making rattling and squeaking noises from the engine compartment. Within minutes, multiple warning systems activated, including alerts for power steering, brake system, abs, and other critical components. The vehicle quickly lost power and could no longer shift gears. We were forced to exit the highway near kettleman city, but the engine completely shut off as we were exiting. Brake pressure was lost, and the vehicle could not be stopped using the primary braking system. We had to use the emergency brake to avoid a collision. The vehicle was towed by roadside assistance to a dealership for inspection. The dealer confirmed that the engine had spun a connecting rod bearing in cylinders #3 and #4, which caused piston damage and full engine seizure. The service department acknowledged this failure matched a known recall (recall no. 23v-751), but stated the vehicle was not eligible for repair due to its VIN not being listed. Despite this, the failure is identical in cause and outcome to those covered by the recall and poses the same safety risks.

At 101,841 miles, noticed ticking coming from the engine as it was idling. Acura of limerick dealership diagnosed the issue coming from the bottom of the engine as a rod knock. They feel the problem is internal to the engine and suggest replacing the engine at my, I the owner's cost. After reviewing blogs and information on recalls on the internet, this issue seems in line with other rod bearing issues with this 3. 5l v6 engine. But my VIN is not identified as having the recall issue? this seems incorrect as my VIN should be covered as it seems to be the same problem.

The contact owns a 2016 Acura Mdx. The contact stated while driving 65 mph, the contact felt a big bang with an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment before the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle then stalled. The contact inspected the vehicle and observed a liquid pouring out from the engine compartment onto the ground. The vehicle was not able to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,380.

Unknown.

See all problems of the 2011 Acura MDX 🔎.

The contact owns a 2017 Acura Mdx. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 23v751000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

While driving at freeway speeds (70–85 mph), I experience a sudden and complete loss of acceleration when pressing the gas pedal fully. The vehicle stops responding to throttle input entirely for 1–2 seconds. To regain power, I must take my foot off the pedal for a moment and then press it again. This has happened multiple times and presents a severe safety hazard when merging, passing, or trying to avoid collisions. •frequency & reproducibility: this has occurred at least 3 times over the past year, under similar conditions. It is intermittent, but consistently happens during high-speed acceleration. •dealership response: I’ve reported the issue to the dealership, but they claim they cannot replicate the problem and do not consider it a concern. No resolution or inspection has been offered beyond a basic check. •why it’s dangerous: this issue could lead to a deadly accident if I’m unable to accelerate in time to avoid a crash. It creates a sudden and unexpected loss of control at highway speeds.

See all problems of the 2018 Acura MDX 🔎.

My car has been going into neutral when in the autostop. The only way to get out of it is to turn it off and back on. It's incredibly dangerous. I almost got into a horrible accident. It happens suddenly and without warning.

On [xxx], while driving at approximately 50 mph on [xxx], the vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of power accompanied by severe shuddering. Multiple warning lights illuminated on the dashboard, including the check engine light. The vehicle would momentarily regain power before failing again. This created a significant safety hazard, as I was unable to maintain speed or accelerate safely in traffic. The vehicle was immediately taken to team gillman & then transferred to sterling mccall Acura located at houston, TX. The dealership diagnosed a catastrophic internal engine failure, originating from the bottom end, requiring a full engine replacement. The vehicle's mileage at the time of failure was approximately 142,250 miles. This critical failure occurred without any prior warning. I am aware of NHTSA investigation number odi pe25008 regarding faulty connecting rods in certain Acura and Honda vehicles, which can lead to sudden engine failure. While my vehicle's VIN was not included in the initial recall population, its symptoms and failure mode are identical to those described in the investigation. I requested that Acura address this known defect through a goodwill repair, given the clear correlation to an ongoing federal safety investigation. This request was formally denied June 2025. Given that the NHTSA has expanded its investigation to include additional vehicles and model years, including that of my Mdx, I am filing this complaint to ensure my vehicle and its specific failure data are included in the official NHTSA record. Urge the agency to compel american Honda motor CO. To expand any subsequent recall to include my vehicle and others with identical failure patterns. The sudden nature of this engine failure presents an unacceptable safety risk to the driver, passengers, and the public. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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.

I purchased a used 2016 Acura Mdx and shortly afterward began experiencing a rhythmic metallic knocking noise under load, particularly at low rpms (e. G. , accelerating in low gears or when the engine is bogged). The noise is not present at idle or during coasting, and it closely matches the symptoms described in recall 21v-215, which affects certain 2016–2018 Acura/Honda models for premature connecting rod bearing wear. However, my vehicle’s VIN is not included in the existing recall. I purchased a used 2016 Acura Mdx and shortly afterward began experiencing a rhythmic metallic knocking noise under load, particularly at low rpms (e. G. , accelerating in low gears or when the engine is bogged). The noise is not present at idle or during coasting, and it closely matches the symptoms described in recall 21v-215, which affects certain 2016–2018 Acura/Honda models for premature connecting rod bearing wear. However, my vehicle’s VIN is not included in the existing recall. This vehicle has received on-time oil changes using high-quality synthetic oil, and I have taken care to immediately investigate any new or unusual noises. The knock has persisted across multiple oil changes and several thousand miles without worsening, but recently I noticed metallic sparkles in the used oil—potential signs of rod bearing wear. There has been no check engine light, but based on the symptom pattern, operating conditions, and consistency with the defect description in recall 21v-215, I believe this vehicle may be experiencing the same issue and is simply outside the current recall range. I am submitting this report in support of the ongoing recall query (rq) into whether Honda failed to include all affected vins. This appears to be the same failure mode as those already recalled, and it presents a serious long-term risk to engine safety and reliability.

***this is a resubmit with corrected information*** I purchased a used 2016 Acura Mdx from a family member, and shortly afterward began experiencing a rhythmic metallic knocking noise under load, particularly at low rpms (e. G. , accelerating in low gears or when the engine is bogged). The noise is not present at idle or during coasting, and it closely matches the symptoms described in recall 23v-751, which addresses premature connecting rod bearing wear that may lead to engine failure in certain Honda and Acura vehicles. However, my vehicle’s VIN is not included in the existing recall. The knocking has persisted across several thousand miles and multiple oil changes. I recently inspected the drained oil and found metallic sparkles/particles, which may indicate active bearing wear. There has been no check engine light, and the vehicle has received on-time oil changes using high-quality synthetic oil, with immediate mechanical inspection when the noise first appeared. I know for certain the previous owner maintained the vehicle properly, as he is a family member and I occasionally helped with maintenance myself. Based on the symptom pattern, operating conditions, and consistency with the failure mode described in 23v-751, I believe this vehicle may be affected by the same underlying defect, but is excluded due to an overly narrow recall scope. I am submitting this complaint in support of recall query rq24-013, which is currently under review to determine whether Honda failed to include all affected vehicles. I am concerned this poses a long-term safety and reliability risk, and that vehicles like mine are being improperly excluded from coverage. It is available for inspection. I am deeply concerned for my significant other to drive my vehicle in any capacity, and myself as well. I have videos as well. Please reach out if you need them because the bearing has not spun out yet.

2017 Acura Mdx. Earlier this year I suspected something was wrong with the car so we took it to Acura in weir canyon to get it checked out. They figured it was the throttle body so they replaced it and then about 2 weeks later the engine had a catastrophic failure. I was driving the car coming out of the freeway and right before I turned right the engine made a huge noise. We tried asking Acura for goodwill assistance but they did not offer anything at all because I bought the car used. I always took the car for its maintenance while the time I've had it. Acura then quoted me for around an 8 thousand dollar repair and then took it to a mechanic and they said its better to get the whole engine replaced at that point and so I did. I've always had Honda cars my whole life and they have been nothing but good but this was something different. I saw that there was a lawsuit going on and a lot of people has had the same problem with there engine specifically the connecting rod bearing which is the problem my car had.

The vehicle frequently experiences problems while idling at red lights or stop signs. Specifically, the engine suddenly shuts off after displaying a message that "idle mode is unavailable. " this has occurred multiple times, and on five separate occasions, the vehicle became completely immobile, requiring towing to the nearest mechanic. Initially, I had the flywheel and starter motor replaced, which cost me approximately $5,000. However, just three months later, the same issue reappeared. Most recently, while driving home from work, the idle mode failed again at a stop sign, and the engine stopped running. I contacted Acura/Honda regarding this issue, but they informed me that it is not their responsibility. At this point, I am unsure how to proceed or where to seek a reliable fix, and I am concerned about the safety implications of this recurring failure.

Engine shut off due to rod bearing failure.