Acura MDX Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 181 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Acura MDX across 17 model years. The 2019 model year has the most (30). The words owners use most often: “gasoline engine engine” (14% of reports).
- 181engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- 38%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Gasoline engine engine: mentioned in 26 of 181 complaints (14%)
- Numbers fuel: mentioned in 23 of 181 complaints (13%)
- Cooling contacted: mentioned in 23 of 181 complaints (13%)
- Motor mounts: mentioned in 13 of 181 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 115 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 181 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 1 a fire.
Acura MDX engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 MDX | 18 | 8% | 60,541 |
| 2019 MDX | 30 | 16% | 49,000 |
| 2018 MDX | 19 | 11% | 92,516 |
| 2017 MDX | 18 | 7% | 111,000 |
| 2016 MDX | 10 | 3% | 108,000 |
| 2013 MDX | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2012 MDX | 2 | 3% | 39,000 |
| 2011 MDX | 1 | 1% | 1,000 |
| 2009 MDX | 3 | 6% | 3,450 |
| 2008 MDX | 2 | 4% | 20,788 |
| 2007 MDX | 4 | 4% | 39,970 |
| 2006 MDX | 2 | 2% | 57,777 |
| 2005 MDX | 9 | 5% | 43,500 |
| 2004 MDX | 13 | 8% | 69,000 |
| 2003 MDX | 16 | 8% | 86,800 |
| 2002 MDX | 14 | 7% | 65,000 |
| 2001 MDX | 19 | 8% | 79,799 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical
Model years: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
Risk: A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys
Model years: 2018, 2019
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura MDX and Honda Pilot vehicles and 2019 Acura RLX, RLX Sport Hybrid, TLX and Honda Odyssey and Ridgeline vehicles. The timing belt teeth may separate from the belt.
Risk: Teeth separation from the timing belt may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected timing belt free of charge. Vehicles receiving a replacement timing belt will also have the engine inspected and any damaged components will be replaced for free. The recall began June 7, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is L4M. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is Z4L.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Model years: 2002
Problem: On certain minivans, sedans, coupes, and sport utility vehicles equipped with v6 engines, a timing belt tensioner pulley on the water pump is misaligned and could cause the timing belt to contact a bolt on the cylinder head. Eventually the belt could be damaged and fail.
Risk: If the timing belt breaks, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the water pump and if it is one of the defective pumps, the water pump and timing belt will be replaced. Owner notification began august 30, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact honda at 1-800-999-1009 or acura at 1-800-382-2238.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power and failed to accelerate while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure posed a potential…
The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the oil light illuminated. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, while driving, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate, with a ticking and knocking sound coming from the engine compartment…
The contact owns a 2018 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and failed to exceed 35-60 MPH. The check engine warning light was flashing. The driver pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was restarted, reset, and operated as…
The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The maintenance warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure…
The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that the owner reported an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine while starting the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic, where the timing belt…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Acura MDXs have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 181 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Acura MDX. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Acura MDX engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Acura MDX?
The most frequent phrase is “gasoline engine engine”, in 26 of 181 complaints, followed by “numbers fuel” (23).
Other Acura MDX problems
See all Acura MDX problems.