2016 Acura MDX transmission & drivetrain problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Jun 24, 2026TXEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   Our 2016 Acura MDX SH-AWD has the exact same engine problem/damage caused by the Connecting Rod Bearing recall. Our vehicle displayed the exact symptoms described by countless other MDX owners including owners who have vehicles both on & not included on the current recall list.

   NHTSA complaint #11746102 · source
2. Filed May 12, 2026NCEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   When driving at highway speeds there randomly is a full loss of engine power for 3 to 5 seconds. Each time this has occurred I was on the highway and depressing the gas pedal further to either pass another car or because I'm driving up and incline. For several seconds the car looses all power and begins slowing. Traffic approaching rom behind may have to apply brakes. I am unsure whether it's the transmission disconnecting from the engine, or the engine dropping to idle…

   NHTSA complaint #11737458 · source
3. Filed Dec 16, 2025GATransmission & Drivetrain

   This submission supplements my existing NHTSA complaint regarding Recall 17-010 and the 9-speed automatic transmission ATF warmer defect. My vehicle received Recall / Product Update 17-010 service on March 10, 2017, at which time the transmission was replaced. The final redesigned ATF warmer did not exist at that time. The ATF warmer installed with the replacement transmission was an earlier design. The vehicle returned for a second Recall 17-010 service visit on December 9,…

   NHTSA complaint #11705403 · source
4. Filed Dec 5, 2025GATransmission & Drivetrain

   This vehicle is affected by Acura’s 9-speed transmission warmer defect covered under: • TSB B17-009 – Product Update: Transmission Warmer • TSB B17-010 – Product Update / Warmer Replacement • TSB B17-026 – Warranty Extension: 10 years from in-service date, unlimited mileage These bulletins address failures of the transmission warmer that allow coolant and ATF to mix, causing internal transmission damage. My MDX was used by Acura in early 2016–2017 as an…

   NHTSA complaint #11703306 · source
5. Filed Nov 22, 2025TNDriver Assistance & Safety TechTransmission & Drivetrain

   This has happened twice while on a drive, cruising along on a highway and go to pass a car in another lane, transmission down shifts and then lose all power, transmission repair light comes on as well as emission controls, vehicle is still running but no power to the wheels, trying to get back across three sometimes four lanes to get to the shoulder due to the loss of power, this happened once back in the summer and again today about 96k and now 110k, there are a lot of…

   NHTSA complaint #11701011 · source
6. Filed Nov 18, 2025CAEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   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.

   NHTSA complaint #11700150 · source
7. Filed Oct 18, 2025SCTransmission & Drivetrain

   The transmission and motor has failed. Car has 133000 miles. Transmission recently rebuilt. Car continues to malfunction according to the recall but is not listed.

   NHTSA complaint #11694321 · source
8. Filed Oct 18, 2025GATransmission & Drivetrain

   The Acura MDX, which had always been serviced at an Acura dealership, had 121,007 miles on it when the transmission completely failed without prior warning. I was driving with the d cruise control on at around 70 mph when I took the car off cruise by touching the brake to take the exit ramp onto I-10. I suddenly lost power, the engine still runnning, the car was on the exit ramp, which was uphill and exiting from I75 South. I had to coast to a stop and stopped between in a…

   NHTSA complaint #11694273 · source
9. Filed Jun 22, 2025ILTransmission & Drivetrain

   Car stalled in traffic and would not restart, and couldn’t figure out how to put in neutral. We had good samaritans that wanted to push it out of the way, but no one could figure out how to put the car in neutral. Even the police and tow truck driver couldn’t figure out how to put it in neutral. I found out after research that to put it neutral when it will not start requires a special tool that has to be installed by opening the hood. Acura doesn’t even include this special…

   NHTSA complaint #11668505 · source
10. Filed May 30, 2025152,831 miTXEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

    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…

    NHTSA complaint #11663851 · source
11. Filed May 8, 2025CAEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

    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…

    NHTSA complaint #11659689 · source
12. Filed Apr 7, 2025CATransmission & Drivetrain

    Vehicle started having issues just a couple of years after purchase (acquired brand new as a Lease which I later purchased when the Lease was up), in the beginning it was mostly at low speeds, but it would occasionally happen at higher speeds as well. You could feel it having hesitation when shifting gears. Took it to the dealer at around the 30K miles due for service (May of 2019). Had the transmission fluid replaced, dealer noted some "debris" was found. The problem…

    NHTSA complaint #11653206 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology