The Lemon Index

All cars · Acura MDX · 2016

2016 Acura MDX. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index217100 = average car
Complaints122NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold55,495U.S. model year
Per 100K sold220complaints
Year rank#15 of 15#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 2

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
3.5L 6-cylAuto (S9)FWD20 / 27 / 23Premium$3,350
3.5L 6-cylAuto (S9)AWD19 / 26 / 22Premium$3,500

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 12,900 and 75,000 miles. Median 37,900, from 174 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Engine60,00036,000–97,00043
Transmission & drivetrain31,00013,800–55,50074
Electrical20,5006,700–52,80022
Fuel or ev drive system44,80012,300–68,60012
Speed control24,4009,500–43,00017

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Transmission & drivetrain48%
Engine20%
Electrical16%
Speed control11%
Brakes10%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
3761055024

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 7

  • 26V365000 Jun 2026 Structure / Frame And Members

    Defect. 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, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.

    Risk. Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy. 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 owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888

  • 25V259000 Apr 2025 Exterior Lighting

    Defect. 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, license plate lights and taillights.

    Risk. Vehicle lights that fail to illuminate can decrease visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. 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. Owners may contact Acura's customer service at 1-800-382-2238. Acura's number for this recall is FLI. Vehicles included in this recall that were previously repaired under NHTSA recall number 19V-25

  • 23V858000 Dec 2023 Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Fuel Pump

    Defect. 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 CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. 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 are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

  • 23V751000 Nov 2023 Engine And Engine Cooling / Engine / Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical

    Defect. 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.

    Remedy. 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

  • 19V256000 Mar 2019 Exterior Lighting / Tail Lights

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. Loss of the taillights reduces the vehicle's visibility, increasing the risk of crash.

    Remedy. 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 free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is M49.

  • 19V060000 Jan 2019 Fuel System, Other / Delivery / Fuel Pump

    Defect. 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 performance.

    Risk. Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.

    Remedy. 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. Owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's recall number for this recall is P3W. Honda's recall number for this recall is N3X.

  • 16V417000 Jun 2016 Fuel System, Gasoline / Storage / Tank Assembly

    Defect. 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 were manufactured with insufficient welds which may separate and allow fuel to leak out.

    Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

    Remedy. 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 numbers for this recall are KA9 (Honda vehicles) and KB0 (Acura vehicles).

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
OpenNo restart after auto start/stop engages2025–
OpenEngine failure2025–
ClosedEngine failure20242025

Manufacturer communications 334

Acura filed 334 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Chirping noise from contact with the back edge
  • Service news article - while driving under steady cruise (between 30 and 65 mph) or light…
  • Engineering request for investigation - please call honda to discuss any fuel leaks from the…

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Acura MDX SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
Acura MDX SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardOptionalOptional

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2013201353,040Speed control
20141309365,603Brakes
2015704258,208Electrical
201621712255,495Transmission & drivetrain
20171025954,886Transmission & drivetrain
2018563051,512Electrical
2019985252,019Electrical

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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