no report yet
Structure: frame and members
NewRisk. 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.
2016 Acura MDXProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 378 owner complaints about the 2016 Acura MDX, most often about the engine. It is covered by 7 safety recalls, and for recall 25V-259 the manufacturer reports only 65% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 29, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Acura MDX has problems
378 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
163Engine5 crash/fire/injury
113Power train1 crash/fire/injury
38Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
28Fuel/propulsion system
21Structure
19Vehicle speed control
14Lane departure
13Service brakes
12Steering
7515 other systems6 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 163 | 5 |
| Power train | 113 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 38 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 28 | 1 |
| Structure | 21 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 19 | 3 |
| Lane departure | 14 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 13 | 3 |
| Steering | 12 | 1 |
| 15 other systems | 75 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
7 recalls
2016 Acura MDX recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Exterior lighting
Risk. Vehicle lights that fail to illuminate can decrease visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2025 Q4
Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
Risk. A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Show 3 more recalls
repaired · 2020 Q3
Exterior lighting
Risk. Loss of the taillights reduces the vehicle's visibility, increasing the risk of crash.
repaired · 2020 Q2
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
repaired · 2017 Q4
Storage: tank assembly
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Acura.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
60kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 43 engine complaints. 77% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 46% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
9under 30k miles33under 100k miles10100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
8 owners mentioned a cost$7,085median
Middle half: $4,800 – $9,025
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other MDX year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the MDX median. How we score
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2016 Acura MDX safety ratings
2016 Acura MDX SUV FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (16.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2016 Acura MDX, and the recalls they led to.
- No Restart After Auto Start/Stop EngagesOpen
- Engine failureOpen
- Engine failureNo recall
In owners' words
What MDX owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
There is a reaccuring safety defect issue where the engine completely shutts off and stalls without warning when the car comes to a stop. This can be at a stop sign, stop lights, or just stopping the car when in traffic, even on the highway. This is due to the IDS (Auto Idle Stop system). A couple…
Driving home from a trip June 2019 on the highway at 60mph with 3 children and my husband, my 2016 Acura MDX experienced complete engine failure - alarms started to sound and I experienced a loss of acceleration, lights in the dash included Engine Problem, Transmission Problem, Emission System…
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…
Own a 2016 MDX?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.