2016 Acura MDX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
522 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Acura MDX, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 65,956 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2016 Acura MDX sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2008–2010, 2013.
Avoid
Where 2016 sits among all MDX years
What owners report
“Engine failure. McGrath confirmed the engine had the same rod issues as described in the recall. Corporate refused to cover the repair.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 MDX
“The transmission shift very hard and when i release the gas pedal the car star to brake and accelerate by him self and it's danger and annoying”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 MDX
“While driving all warning and hazard lights com on has happened 3 times now in dealer shop for over a month i do not fell safe in car the dealer can not tell me weather safe or not and does not seem to be able to fix problem”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 MDX
“In the last 6 months, my suv has stalled either at a stop light or when parked. It would sputter on trying to restart. Battery was not an issue. Thought it was a starter issue and got a new starter. But it happened again today and the tow truck guy powered with jump start (even though it was not a…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 MDX
“Engine light on stating: lean code, all wheel drive systems problem, emmision system problem. The vehicle was moving when it came on.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 MDX
“Cruise control stopped working 5 years ago after ACC LKAS stopped working. I have had the car into multiple Acura certified dealerships attempting to repair and no one has been able to determine the issue.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 MDX
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 230 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 37,884 miles. Half of those reports fall between 16,000 and 70,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine,…
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid light assembly and wiring harness, which can cause the interior and exterior lights to fail, including the lid lights, position lights,…
Fix: Dealers will inspect the wiring and install a fuse harness, replace the lid light, and repair the body dust sealer, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2025.…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda…
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall…
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…
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.…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Acura MDX and 2017-2019 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid lights, possibly causing a loss of the tailgate lid lights and the taillights.
Fix: Acura will notify owners, and dealers will modify the tailgate lid lights and install updated gaskets and a wiring sub-harness or will replace both tailgate lid lights. The repairs will be performed…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Acura MDX, 2015-2019 Acura TLX and 2015-2017 Honda Accord vehicles, equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine. Particulates in fuel may adhere to the internal components of the fuel pump, reducing its…
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the fuel injection engine control unit (FI-ECU) software and, if necessary, replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 25, 2019.…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2015 Acura MDX 2WD and MDX 4WD vehicles, 2016 Acura MDX 4WD vehicles, 2015-2016 Honda Odyssey vehicles, and 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and 4WD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that…
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda/Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. The recall began on July 29, 2016. Honda's…
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: ENGINE
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 414 reports of connecting rod bearing failures in the 3.5L V6 engine used in the following vehicles: Model Years (MY) 2018-2020 Acura TLX, MY2016-2020 Acura MDX, MY2016-2020 Honda Pilot, MY2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, and MY2017-2019 Honda…
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:CRANK/CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its…
Model years named: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Technical service bulletins
334 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2016 Acura MDX. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2016 Acura MDX reliable?
The 2016 Acura MDX drew 522 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (2016).
What are the most common 2016 Acura MDX problems?
The top reported problems for the 2016 Acura MDX are engine (164 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (111), and other (49).
At what mileage do 2016 Acura MDX problems show up?
Owners most often report 2016 Acura MDX problems around 37,884 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 16,000 and 70,000 miles.
Does the 2016 Acura MDX have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 2016 Acura MDX. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.