I am [XXX] and I have owned Honda/Acura since I was 16 yrs old. My last vehicle was a Honda Odyssey minivan with 423K when I donated it, running well to a family that fostered kids! I bought a new 2016 Acura MDX and now it is 8 years old and has 180K on it. I get the oil changed and other normal service maintenance done only at Honda or Acura dealerships. I have never had a car accident and I take care of the maintenance early. All of a sudden, on Friday, [XXX], I had just started driving ( ~20 minutes in the car) and every light started flashing and the car sounded funny and it was hard to drive. I immediately got off the highway and found a repair place (Red's auto repair) right off the exit. They had me shut off the car. Then they checked the oil, which was showing 70%, and I had just had it changed less than 1000 miles earlier, and it had plenty of oil. They told me I could not drive the car! They said "something is wrong with the engine". Currently, LaFontaine Acura has my car. I have a loaner from them. They said it "spun a bearing" in the engine. Apparently there is a recall for this same problem for my year, make and model, but "currently" my VIN number is not included? And, it is the exact same problem bearing from the recall! THIS IS CRAZY! My car has been well taken care of and I would expect it to get at least 350k miles at least before any issues. If the same problem was recalled for other cars, why not mine? It is un-drivable now. I think that Honda has changed their manufacturing because in 43 years of driving Hondas they always are reliable and work well for years and years. My 5 adult kids drive Hondas as well! Never a problem. I think I got a vehicle with a defect that should not be, especially when the car has always been maintained so well, with the service records to show that. PLEASE HELP GET THIS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR SAFETY! What is my next step to ensure that my car is included? Thank you very much INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
2016 Acura MDX engine complaints
Page 5 of 7: complaints 101 to 130 of 173, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I was driving on the interstate going 80 when the car shut off. I coasted to the shoulder and had the car towed to the mechanic shop. The connecting rod broke, going through the engine causing me to need a new engine. When I contacted Acura they said my car wasn’t in the recall even though it’s exactly what was happening to other cars the same year and make as my car.
In July of 2024 my vehicle began to make a knocking sound from the engine. I started a claim through my third party warranty company and brought it to a repair shop. The shop informed me about the recall for my model and year vehicle, but my VIN was not included in the recall. It was determined that the connecting rod bearings failed, and after waiting for 6 weeks the engine was replaced with a used engine from the same year and model vehicle. I drove for about 1900 miles and the engine began knocking again. I returned the to the repair shop and the supplier of the engine provided another used engine. I am terrified that the same problem will occur again and feel the engine can fail at any time.
The car began making a front end noise and running shoddy and when we took it to the dealer they had to replace bearings/short block at 121k miles. We were told our VIN was outside of the previous recall so it wouldn’t be covered under that. We ended up paying a portion of that very large bill which inconvenienced our family. We were without our own vehicle for many weeks due to back ordered parts for the major repair. This car has always been serviced by Acura at regular intervals.
My 2016 Acura MDX with 113,000 miles on it suddenly experienced engine failure while driving my son to college in Salisbury, MD. The engine lost all power as I was coming off of the highway onto a side street in Salisbury. Fortunately no other vehicles were around me at the time and I was able to drift into a safe parking area. If it had happened on the highway or in traffic, it could have caused an accident. There were no warning lights on and the vehicle seemed to be running normally right up until it lost power. After having the vehicle towed to an Acura dealership, the mechanic found a broken rod that was likely due to a bad rod bearing. Other 2016 Acura MDX's have been recalled due to a defective rod bearing resulting in engine failure, but my VIN is not covered under the recall. Honda National just confirmed that it will not cover my MDX's repair under the recall. Prior to this, I had done all required maintenance on the vehicle.
Car had a failed crankshaft causing a rod bearing issue with the motor. The check engine light came on during use and car was taken to a local repair shop. The independent repair shop determined the issue is associated with recall TSB 24-001, and advised it be transported to a Honda dealership for repair. Honda confirmed that although the 2016 is under this recall this specific VIN is not. Car was repaired at Honda dealership with same exact repair kit and work done to fix the TSB 24-001 recall notice. Reached out to Honda customer service to understand why the car was not repaired under this current recall but was not given any additional information, case #14733117.
I am the owner of a 2016 Acura MDX Advance. While driving, I noticed an unusual knocking sound coming from the engine, despite no warning lights or error messages prior to this incident. Concerned about the noise, I promptly brought the vehicle to an Acura dealership for inspection. The initial diagnosis revealed a camshaft issue, which was replaced. However, upon reassembly, the technician detected a persistent knock that required further investigation. After a week of detailed inspection, the dealership traced the problem to a defect with the rod bearing, an issue that has been part of previous recalls, though my vehicle was not listed. This rod bearing defect caused significant internal damage to the engine, ultimately requiring a complete short-block replacement to restore proper functionality. While the dealership has since resolved the issue, I am deeply concerned about the safety implications of such a defect. Had the rod bearing failed entirely, it could have led to an engine blowout, risking sudden loss of power at highway speeds and potentially endangering my safety.
I was driving my 2016 Acura MDX (approximately 87,000 miles) at around 60 mph on the freeway when the engine began making a metallic clanking noise. Shortly after, the check engine light started flashing, and the vehicle lost acceleration, eventually coming to a complete stop. This created a potentially dangerous situation, but I was fortunately able to pull over safely. After the vehicle stopped, the engine would not restart. The mechanic who inspected the vehicle confirmed that the engine has seized. This incident occurred without any prior warning signs and could have resulted in a severe accident. I believe this issue poses a significant safety risk to drivers and passengers. I request an investigation into whether this problem could be due to a manufacturing defect or systemic issue with this model.
Failure of connecting rod bearings leading to complete engine failure.
I was driving back yo my home with my family and on freeway Acura MDX engine stopped with clanking metallic sound fortunately I was able to stop safely. This VIN [XXX] should be part of recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
While waiting to turn left from a busy street onto a highway, the engine seized. The car was unable to be moved from it's location in the center of the busy street with cars approaching quickly from behind and weaving around my stopped vehicle. I had the vehicle towed to Metro Acura in Montclair, CA and they confirmed that the connecting rod bearing had failed causing the engine to seize. They also confirmed that the vehicle is not part of the existing recall. The engine produced some rough noise prior to failing but otherwise did not provide any warning lamps or other messages.
Engine started knocking and quit working while driving on the freeway. Was a connected rod bearing failure that was not included under the warranty or recall. Honda paid 75% of repairs but I had to pay $3300 myself.
The engine failed and was unable to be repaired like old Honda and they had no interest in resolving the issue, nor do they offer any replacement with.
We were on a highway drive to a state park 45 minutes from our house on [XXX]. 40 Minutes into the drive the check engine light flashed. We had just taken a long road trip from Minnesota to Ohio (and back again) the week before (10/15-10/20) and had NO problems whatsoever. We parked and read what we could online as to what to do. Checked the gas cap tightness, the oil, etc. and let the engine cool for 2 hours. Started the car and no lights came on. So we started driving home. 35 Minutes later ALL the lights on the dash came on. Scrolling through every system in the car-transmission, brakes, lane assist, etc. We pulled Over almost immediately. Turned the car off checked under the hood but nothing seemed glaringly wrong. It wasn’t overheating or smoking or anything. We tried to drive it directly to our mechanic. Got back on the highway and the engine would not get up to speed, just groaning. Worried we would be in danger on the highway we pulled over and called for a tow. The first mechanic that reviewed (just local not Honda) could hear a knocking in the engine. Towed it to an Acura dealership on 10/28/2024. The Acura mechanic there confirmed that it is a rod/rod bearing issue—but we don’t fall under the recall. The rod came loose in the engine, banged around, damaging the engine. Cost to fix is $10,000. This information came to us on 11/4. We filed a complaint with the Acura/Honda recall department that day. We have been waiting to hear their verdict (after their investigation) for the last week. We have been told multiple times that our car doesn’t fall under the original recall. But the Acura mechanic has confirmed it is the same issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Driving on the highway for the car to idle, slow down and shut off, causing us to go to the shoulder in a busy intersection. No fore warning just died and won’t start. Waited 20-30 minute to restart. The car will start but will not shift to neutral or drive.
The auto engine idle feature activated at a stoplight as normal, but when I lifted my foot from the brake to accelerate, the car shut down, shifted into neutral, and wouldn’t restart. This happenwd 3 times in the last two days , leaving me stalled in heavy traffic for several minutes before i can get the car started again. This is extremely dangerous.
I have the same issue but my vin does not meet the requirement. reading multiple forum and a lot of people having the same issue. the federal safety agency RECALL NUMBER:23V‑751 MFR CAMPAIGN ID:OH6 CAMPAIGN DESCRIPTION:2016-20 MDX Conn Rod Inspect Recall RECALL DATE:11/08/2023 RECALL STATUS:17 Character VIN Required SUMMARY: American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2020 model year MDX vehicles. Due to a manufacturing defect of the engine crankshaft, the connecting rod bearing can prematurely wear and seize. SAFETY RISK: If the connecting rod bearing seizes, the engine can be damaged and run improperly, stall, stop while driving, and/or not start, increasing the risk of a fire, crash or injury.
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.
The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
The connecting rod and bearing failed, causing the engine to immediately seize while in full operation on the highway. Components are available. The engine rod catastrophically failed and shot through the oil pan. Engine seized and lost power while on highway, cruising at 75mph. Flying engine components and the immediately loss of power was a major safety risk. The car was towed to the dealer and they found the rod bearing had sheared off. American Honda has been sent pictures. My model and year were affected by a recall on the failed components but my VIN was not identified. The car had no warning lights on the dash and was been recently serviced.
The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made a rattling sound with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to accelerate properly. The vehicle was taken to a nearby independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that there were metal shavings at the bottom of the oil pan. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 23-036. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 108,500.
We have a 2016 Acura MDX and it has automatically shifted to Neutral 3 times (twice while driving on the freeway and 1x yesterday while driving on the street at normal speeds) in the last 2 months. On the MDX dashboard, it will display "Emissions System Problem" and then display "Stop Driving When Safe. Transmission Problem. See Manual." However, the car will automatically shift to Neutral within seconds. My children's lives (7 y/o and 5 y/o) were placed in danger as a result of this system failure. I have contacted the Acura Honda Recall Specialists and Client Relations Representatives. The car is being diagnosed at Cerritos Acura dealership at the present time. A case number has been filed since our VIN shows no recall, despite it having recalls for other 2016 Acura MDXs.
I was driving the car, when I saw a sign pop up on the dash saying " Emission Systems problem" and the car completely stopped within a 100 feet. The car passed the Emissions and Inspection the previous day and I have a registration till June 30, 2026 now. There was a clicking noise that I heard when driving during the morning. I had never heard it previously. There was an oil change sign for about 3-4 days buy there were no other warning lamps. Here is the video of the problem from the dealer - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
After traveling about on a 4 hour drive, my daughter who was driving the vehicle slowed down to make a turn. That's when she heard a loud clanking noise coming from the engine. She immediately pulled over and turned off the engine/vehicle. I went to meet her, and replicated the same problem when I turned the ignition switch to to on. It sounded as if there was some large piece of metal loose inside the engine -- it did not have consistency and was highly variable with regards to the sound it was making. The "Check Engine" light was on. Fortunately this did not occurr going at high/freeway speeds, yet the safety was compromised when my daughter was fortunate enough to leverage the momentum to get to the side of the road. Additionally, she was not in a spot where there was a shoulder/it was under an overpass, so she had to be careful and turned on her emergency lights. We had the vehicle towed to the nearby Honda Dealer. I am attaching their report and findings. They recommended engine be replaced; which we agreed to have done. Additionally, we continue to have problems due to the mounting and shacking which we believe comes from the installment of the new engine. We are submitting that report as well. At present, my daughter is not driving the vehicle and is relying on rides or borrowing other people's vehicles.
While driving our well-maintained 2016 Acura MDX on a 30-minute drive on [XXX] , I heard a pop, and then the engine lost power. I couldn't get the RPMs over 2500. A fluttering noise evolved into knocking and the vehicle became increasingly sluggish and heavy. The check engine light started blinking, but the vehicle's temperature gauge showed no changes. There wasn't any smoke or unusual smells. I felt terrified trying to get safely onto the side of the road with cars driving at full speed. I had the car dropped off at our local service station and the owner determined that the engine cylinder was loose and lost compression with a knock. He says that the engine light did not give a code. The owner determined that we need to replace the engine. A rebuilt engine will cost us $8,000. When I called Acura, the service person I spoke with seemed surprised that our 8-year-old car with only 77,000 miles needed a new engine. Since Acura has so many cars to deal with on the latest recall, he said it would be weeks before anyone can look at it. I researched and found that our VPN was NOT included in the recent recall of 2016-2020 model year MDX vehicles all with the same problems. How can that be???? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I am writing to bring to your immediate attention a critical safety issue with my 2016 Acura MDX, and the subsequent exclusion of my vehicle from a known recall that directly addresses the problems we are experiencing. Without any prior warning, we began hearing a fluttering sound coming from the engine whenever we accelerated. This noise progressively worsened and evolved into a pronounced knocking noise.Concurrently, the vehicle became increasingly sluggish and heavy, resulting in significant difficulty when accelerating. Despite these alarming symptoms, the vehicle's temperature gauge showed no changes, there was no smoke or unusual smells, and the check engine light did not activate. Gravely concerned for our safety, we promptly took the vehicle to our local mechanic for a thorough inspection.The diagnosis revealed significant engine damage, specifically to the connecting rod bearings and the crankshaft. Given the severity of the issue, we then brought the vehicle to the closest Acura dealership, Pohanka Acura. The service advisor informed us of a recall affecting the engine and rod bearings in the 2016 Acura MDX model. They also confirmed that our vehicle's engine was indeed damaged due to the same rod bearings and crankshaft issue described in the recall. However, despite this clear evidence, we were informed that our vehicle's VIN was excluded from the recall repair. The technician who performed the diagnostic on our vehicle recommended a new short engine block, which is was concerning especially since it mirrors the known recall issue. I am requesting that the federal safety agency urgently investigate this matter. I hope the federal safety agency treats this issue with the utmost urgency and seriousness it warrants. The safety of Acura MDX owners is at stake, and immediate action is essential to prevent further incidents and ensure our safety. Thank you for your prompt attention to this critical matter. I await your swift response and resolution. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA),
See attachment for detailed explanation
Acura MDX 2016 SH-AWD with 113366 miles diagnosis according to warning lights. DTC test certification codes: P0301 Misfire No. 1 cylinder P0306 Misfire No. 6 cylinder P0300 Random Misfire P0420 Catalyst System efficiency below threshold B1 Recommendation was that the Catalytic converter be replaced. All these codes were identified under Honda's TSB 20-100 dated 2/2021 on Odyssey, Pilot and Ridgeline models where AH extended warranty to 10 years from date of purchase or 150K. These V6 engines are pretty close to that of the 2016 MDX. Is there a remote possibility that these DTC codes could exist in MDX V6 engines when an issue arises similar to those in the Honda vehicles? These DTC codes appeared 24 hours/37 miles after a routine oil service on 3/26/2024 at Advantage Acura of Naperville with a perfect inspection report. The malfunction occurred in the vicinity of McGrath Acura of Westmont on the following day of 3/27/2024. The concern is if any of the emission system components were damaged during the routine oil service. Advantage Acura have in the past installed brake pads backwards on my Acura TL 2010 for which I do have proof.
Engine rod bearing knocking. Will eventually fail and engine stop running at anytime. My independent service center did confirm the problem. The car has not been to the Dealer as they refuse to include my VIN # in the current recall for this very problem. No warning lights appeared, but slight ticking sound shortly turned into a loud knocking.
There is a current recall on Acura/Hondas with the issue that we are having with our car. Knocking engine, car diagnosed with connecting rod bearing issue. Apparently not included in recall. This makes no sense. Car has been undriveable since 11/9/23 with no help from Acura/Honda Corporate. We have been trying to come to a resolution with no help. This should fall under the recall and where our car was manufactured should be looked into because on car forums there are many cars with our VINS having the same issue. This issue has affected more cars than Acura is saying and needs to be looked into before someone gets seriously injured. Acura/Honda are NOT taking this seriously at ALL.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2016 Acura MDX?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history