2012 Acura MDX: excessive oil consumption

Filed Jul 16, 2026 · Body, Engine · NC

I have a 2012 MDX and it burns an extreme amount of oil. We took our MDX back to the dealership where we purchased it and had the oil issue fixed. Or so we thought. The problem was supposed to be fixed 3 months ago but the car is still burning a lot of oil. We have to add oil every 2 weeks. We did not drive the car much after "getting the oil issue repaired" so we did not realize that the problem still exists. Acura should know how to repair this issue and there should be a recall for this excessive oil consumption. Acura is a luxury brand but they are not taking care of their customers. Also the paint is peeling off our MDX badly. We had a couple of paint touch up jobs but it just keeps getting worst. I am embarrassed driving this car with the continuing paint peeling off. We cannot keep shelling out money to get this vehicle repainted. There should be a recall for the paint peeling also. I had a Honda and the Honda had a lot less issues and cost a lot less. We will not purchase another Acura unless Acura does right by their customers and put recalls out and fix the oil consumption and paint peeling issues.

Filed Aug 27, 2025 · Engine · MD

Oil consumption/burning Cylinder rings

Filed Feb 3, 2025 · Engine · PA

On 11/30/24 I heard a slight whirling sound while driving. On 12/1/24 I drove from Point A towards my home. Along the way the oil light flashed. I stopped at Advance Auto Parts, 15 miles from Point A. I checked the oil and it read as it should on the dip stick. No oil was needed. I drove straight home, a distance of 30 miles, and parked the car. When my son arrived home he started the car and there was a knocking sound. He shut it off. He stated that he felt it to be the rod bearings. He then changed the oil as previously planned as supplies were already in the car. He checked the oil and found a slight glitter in it indicating the rod bearing issue. The car remained parked until 12/26/24 when it was taken to an independent service center, round trip of 18 miles, who confirmed that the rod bearings were the issue. The car was parked again and only started to move about 50 feet into the garage prior to a snow storm. It has not been started since. My safety was put at risk as the engine could have, and will, fail when driving. The engine had previously been repaired at an Acura dealer for an oil consumption issue in accordance with service bulletin 19-006. Honda refused to honor the recall previously offered due to this known failure. The car was picked up on 12/8/22 with 92,954 and purchased finalized on 1/4/23. The oil consumption issue was first noted on 2/12/23 at 97,088 miles. Car was serviced and oil changed on 2/16/23 at which time the oil consumption issue was diagnosed by the selling dealer. Oil was continually added until work was completed on 3/21/23 at 99,425 miles. The new issue with the rod bearings (that were not changed with the first repair as they should have been) was first noted at approximately 137,840 miles. This is now the second engine failure for this car. The car is available for inspection. The car has not been inspected by any entity other than the initial diagnosis on 12/26/24.

Filed Jan 24, 2024 · Engine, Transmission · TX

The engine consistently consumes too much oil between service events. The low oil light comes on. I had this problem for over 8 years and the dealership said it was not a problem until now and they want me to pay for it. The oil control rings have been clogged since 2016 and progressively gotten worse. The clogged rings cause restriction of oil to return to the crankcase. This causes a decrease in available oil and may cause overheating that could lead to engine fire. Acura should fix the oil control rings to function properly. They have identified this in the past, through a service bulletin (19-006). I have performed 97% of my oil changes at Acura dealerships.

Filed Oct 27, 2022 · Engine · TX

Consistently getting low oil notification shortly after getting oil changes. This has been happening since 2017. Dealer does a oil consumption test and says it is not a problem. However I cannot go between oil changes without getting the notification. I have no oil leaks. Furthermore, I have had 'oil' services done over the past 5 years that never fix the problem. I'm afraid this is doing damage to the vehicle and can put us in danger if oil level is too low. Dealer continues to say it isn't a problem. And when they try to fix it, it doesn't work. This began in 2017

Filed Sep 18, 2022 · Engine · NY

This vehicle unrealistically burns oil. 5-6 quarts of oil is added to engine between oil changes.

Filed Mar 31, 2021 · Engine · 109,000 miles · KY

About 2 months ago, my SUV had a message alert come on while I was sitting still after just starting my vehicle in walmart parking lot after grocery shopping, saying to check the oil level; oil level low. Also, just recently, march 27th I had to add oil to my vehicle again; 3/4 of a quart low on oil. The very next morning, I had another alert come across my message board saying to check the oil level- oil level low. So I checked it again, it showed at the top of the hash marks on the dipstick as it should. So I'm not sure what's going on there unless it's a malfunction of sorts or a sensor issue. I check my oil when I fill up my gas tank. All of a sudden, my SUV was burning/ using oil. I have to keep putting oil in due to a low oil level look entirely too often. I've had to put oil in my engine at least twice a month. And I'm not talking about just enough to top it off, I'm talking anywhere from 3/4 of a quart to 3 quarts or more at times. There are no leaks, no puddles or oil splatter on the bottom of my truck or in my driveway. My truck is having a severe oil consumption problem. I know there was an extended vehicle warranty that was supposed to fix this that expired april of 2021-I did not get this vehicle until september of 2020. Also, I did do the thousand mile test and it failed miserably. No one can tell me if it was fixed or not, but obviously, either way, it did not get fixed or the fix did not work. It is a costly fix and it is a manufacturer fail, not mine. This needs to be fixed before it creates any future problems or years up the pistons in my engine or locks up. Any help or assistance would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

Filed Dec 30, 2020 · Engine · 90,000 miles · MA

My 2012 acura mdx has an oil consumption issue that acura is aware of being a problem, however it is not offering to cover the cost associated with fixing the issue. My vehicle burned through more than 2 quarts of oil in a matter of 1 month. This needs to be a recall as it's a safety issue with the operation of the vehicle. Lack of oil could cause the engine to fail.

Filed Jun 5, 2020 · Transmission · 87,534 miles · NY

Metal pieces within the transmission fluid.regular maintenance done with acura of wappinger falls, ny 12590. Spent $5190.04 for replacing transmission and torque convertor with remanufactured unit. Few years before had engine oil consumption issues just at 55,000 and was told that internal gasket oil consumption was not part of the engine problem.

Filed Oct 28, 2019 · Engine · 157,420 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 acura mdx. For the past three years, the contact noticed an oil consumption issue with the vehicle. The contact researched and discovered that the manufacturer issued technical service bulletin (tsb) number: b19-006 on may 18, 2019. The tsb was a warranty extension titled 'engine oil exceeds client expectations'. The contact took the vehicle to crown acura richmond (8704 w broad st, henrico, va 23294) for an oil consumption test and was informed to come back when the oil was low after driving 3,000 miles. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer on october 17, 2019 and was informed that nothing could be done since it was close to 3,000 miles. The contact spoke with the manufacturer about the oil consumption failure over the past three years and felt like they and the dealer were not helpful once the oil consumption failure was discovered. The contact had not received follow-up calls to address the failure and was not alerted of the tsb when it was issued. The failure mileage was 157,420.

Filed Feb 27, 2019 · Engine · MA

I recently received a letter from acura for regarding engine oil consumption. This could affect the performance of the engine. Acura is aware that there is an issue regarding this, however they are requiring that an oil change be done through the dealership at the owners expense for the affected vehicles. Acura should preform the inspection either in another manner, or they should provide the oil change at their own expense if that is the only option to check if this is an issue. The other option would be to allow the consumer to get an oil change at another service center that may be less expensive than what the dealer charges. It seems that acura is trying to benefit from their own issue.

Filed Mar 23, 2018 · Engine · 78,000 miles · CT

Motor is consuming 1.5 to 2.5 quarts of oil every 1000 miles. There are no leaks and acura has replaced the piston and rings once but the problem has continued and acura is now claiming this normal for the vehicles.