Acura MDX 2020

Car

Acura MDX 2020

42 source-linked failure reports. Most reported: Engine failure. Typical failure around 4.7 yr.

Reliability signal A · Emerging signal · data confidence Moderate

42 confirmed failure reports

Reliability summary

What is likely to go wrong, when it happens, and how expensive it can be — from source-linked failure reports. Counts are reports in our database, not a population failure rate.

Reliability signal

A

42 confirmed failure reports · Emerging signal · Data confidence: Moderate

Most common issue
Engine failure
Typical first failure
4.7 yr
Median of confirmed reports with timing
Median repair cost
—
Reported costs only · market varies
Highest reported repair
—
Not a quote · costs differ by country

What breaks?

Failure types

Click a type in the reports section below to filter.

  • Engine failure17 · 40.5%
  • Other15 · 35.7%
  • Electrical system failure8 · 19%
  • Steering failure2 · 4.8%

When does it break?

Failure timing

Months after purchase, using reports that included timing.

What does it cost?

Reported repair costs

Distribution of owner-reported repair costs— not a quote or guarantee. Labor and parts prices vary by country.

No reported repair costs yet for this model.

Median months to failure

56.5

Failure reports

42

View →

Median repair cost

—

Still recommend

—

% repaired

—

% mfr warranty

—

% extended warranty

—

% support helpful

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Use these reports as a risk signal, then check current listings before you buy.

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What breaks?

What breaks? · reports

Engine failure

ENGINE

40 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11551104

2020 Acura MDX, bought this in February of 2021. Issue with the auto-idle completely turning off the engine, when you pull up to a red light or stop sign and the engine goes into Auto-idle, then go into neutral, sometimes showing the battery sign. The car is completely disabled, have to shut off the engine and restart. This happened about 3 times, the last time was with my 2 young children in the car and people honking at me!!!!! Brought it into Acura, when said it was battery issure and replaced the battery in Sept. 2022. August 2023, brought it in for 2 recalls, once was for the idle engine, they service person said the issue was fixed. October 2023, by car did not restart from auto-idle (AGAIN TWICE in less than a week), brought it in again, they said they couldn't find anything wrong with it! Just got my car back, called Acura headquarter, made a complaint!

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

40 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Steering failure

STEERING

64 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11697211

The power steering failed while driving, and multiple warning lights came on. This happened in the middle of a busy city street and came very close to causing an accident. When the car was restarted the power steering came back on line but failed again the next day. My wife and I decided it was unsafe to drive and had it towed to the dealer. The dealer told us that the "Wire Harness" failed and the Clockspring/Reel assembly had to be replaced. The total cost was $3,888.91. There were no warning lamps, messages or symptoms prior to the failure. This is definitely a safety issue. The dealer had no explanation of why a component like this should have failed. I contacted Honda and was told that there is no recall on this part and i should make a report to the NHTSA. This was a scary and distressing event. Please look into it and get Honda/Acura to issue a recall.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

64 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Engine failure

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

45 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11579873

The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving, at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. Additionally, while driving on several occasions, the vehicle hesitated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called another local dealer, Acura of Valley Stream Service, at 700 W Merrick Rd., Valley Stream, NY 11580, who informed the contact about diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. . The failure mileage was approximately 56,500. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: [XXX] (Engine and Engine Cooling), and [XXX] (Fuel System, Gasoline). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

45 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Engine failure

ENGINE

52 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11618765

Issue with Auto Idle Stop. I have had multiple instances of the auto idle stop kicking in and shutting the car off while I am at a stoplight. This has resulted in VERY close calls with me getting rear ended. I have taken the vehicle in to be inspected at an Acura dealership only to be told that they cannot replicate the issue. When this issue occurs, it takes about a minute to get the car working again. The dashboard lights up with a lot of different flashing lights. There was no warning prior to this issue occurring. You cannot permanently shut off the auto idle stop and I should not be expected to remember to do it every time I get into the vehicle. I am afraid that one day this will cause a bad car accident that will lead to myself or my family getting severely injured/killed as other drivers are not aware that the car won't be going. The most recent incident occurred last weekend.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

52 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Electrical system failure

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

58 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11653622

The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving in Comfort Mode at approximately 40 MPH and attempting to accelerate to change lanes, the vehicle stalled for several minutes before accelerating. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle hesitated to start intermittently, and the failure was more frequent over time. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the battery had failed. The battery was replaced, and the vehicle was remedied under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V031000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Electrical System). The failure reoccurred. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, and the contact stated that the vehicle was shaking abnormally while accelerating; however, the dealer had not diagnosed the vehicle a second time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,193.

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Months until failure

58 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Electrical system failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

37 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11533671

We purchased a certified pre-owned Acura MDX 2020 in Feb of this year. In four separate instances, after the auto engine idle feature is on, the car stalls out and shuts off. Two of the four times this has happened on a highway causing extreme stress. When I lift my foot of the brake to start moving, the car shifts into park and I get a message that I need to start the car before I can move the car back into Drive. I have to keep pumping the breaks and pushing the on button multiple times before the car will restart. This is extremely dangerous, especially with our two little girls in the car. When trying to restart the car, a red battery light will show up on the screen very briefly but goes away. After the car is successfully started, there are no battery warnings. In normal situations, the car starts with no issues. We have a service appointment tomorrow to have this checked by Acura.

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Months until failure

37 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Electrical system failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

62 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11679634

On Aug 8th at 3:32pm (81F and sunny), I stopped at a red light with the auto idle engine feature on. When I lifted my foot off the brake to drive the car, the car shifted into neutral and completely shut down and would not restart immediately. I attempted approximately 8 times to restart the car for 3 minutes before it successfully restarted. This poses a significant safety hazard for myself, my children, and others on the road. This is the 6th time this has happened and I have previously filed a NHTSA report # 11533671 with the same issue. Acura has been unable to diagnose and recreate the problem and is refusing to do any further work. It has been brought into their dealership on 3 separate occasions (July 2023, September 2024, August 2025). Prior to this occurring, there were no warning symbols, the car started fine without issue, and the battery has been checked and confirmed in working order.

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Months until failure

62 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Engine failure

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ENGINE

68 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11724665

The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle shook abnormally with the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the engine seized. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with rod bearing failure and a failure in cylinder #6. The contact was informed there were metal shavings inside the oil pan, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 86,743.

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Months until failure

68 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Engine failure

ENGINE

56 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11640138

This is the third time this has happened to me and I am very concerned and will be taking my car to Acura YET AGAIN for a checkup. I was driving with my kids in the car and stopped at a red light. When the light changed, I put my foot on the gas and noticed that my car would not move. That’s when I looked down and saw that the car was in neutral. I tried to put it back in drive and it kept telling me to “Shift to Park” and would not let me shift. I panicked as I had several cars behind me on a very busy road but I put my emergency lights on to signal that my car was not operable. After trying again 3 times and turning the car off completely/using keys to lock/unlock doors, it finally turned on and I could drive it again. I took my car to Acura about this in the past and they advised they could not replicate the error and that it was most likely my battery. My battery was changed and I’ve had this happen 2 times again.

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Months until failure

56 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Engine failure

SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

67 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11711138

I was at a red light with the idle stop automatically triggered. When the light turned green, and I pressed the accelerate pedal, the car would not move. I looked and saw the car had shifted itself to N (neutral) when it should have stayed at D (drive). I pressed the "D" button to drive but it stayed in N. There was a green light around the N button indicating the selected button. I had to turn off the car, turn on the car two times before the car recognized I wanted to press the "D" button. The screen by the steering wheel had some sort of message but I don't recall what it said. The word "accessory" might have been part of the message. This is absolutely a safety risk for myself and others. I had cars behind me at the green light honking. I had to turn on the hazard lights and wave to them out the window. If the driver before me did not pay attention, they could have hit me. This is the second time this has happened.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

67 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Engine failure

ENGINE

26 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11481241

(4/2021). While cruising on a 2 lane hwy the power went to zero. All I could do was coast to the shoulder. Restarted and was on the go. If I was passing another car and this happened when there was oncoming traffic I could had a head on collision. This occurred twice on the same 3 day vacation Another time (8/2022) While cruising at normal speed and acceleration in the passing lane on the interstate all of a sudden the power went zero. All I could do was coast into the median to get out of traffic. I didn’t have time to check for warning lights. Just restored the engine and all was fine. Totally scary and unsafe. Dealer says they’ve had no similar complaints. Only thing to do is have it checked but if can’t duplicate the problem or find a code nothing they can do Thinking of selling it due to not knowing what deadly situation I may be in when it reoccurs. Internet chats are saying it happens to others as well. Where is the recall that should exist?

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Months until failure

26 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Other

LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

71 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11737175

Faulty forward facing camera affixed internally on windshield. Adaptive Cruise Control will not function. Lane Keeping Assist will not function. Collision Mitigation Braking may be unavailable. Vehicle detects oncoming traffic in opposing lane as a potential collision, causing braking system to engage and causing a risk of a collision or being struck from the rear despite no vehicle ahead except on the opposite side of the road. Acura can not find anything wrong with the vehicle. Recently all warning lights for high beams, braking system, LKAS, road departure, front end collision, etc flash on vehicle. Multiple people with Acura and Honda vehicles have reported the same issue with the front windshield sensor camera, yet no recall, instead they have paid thousands to replace a faulty camera system. Acura quoted $2000 for replacement of camera. Vehicle operationally runs fine. Why has nothing been done despite numerous, repetitive issues with this safety hazard?

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

71 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Electrical system failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

41 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11557785

While coming to a stop the engine start stop engaged causing the engine to turn off completely and would not restart when the throttle was pressed . The transmission shifted into neutral and the push button start would not fire the engine. Car would not go back to park. After locking and unlocking the door 30 seconds later it reset and the engine refired. This occurred with traffic flowing behind me and caused the car to be placed in neutral and the driver having no control over the vehicle. If this had occurred in an intersection while turning, the driver and occupants of the vehicle could be in significant danger of an accident. I took the car to the Acura dealer the next day and was told they had several complaints of this kind but would need to duplicate the issue on my car to assist me. If they could not duplicate the issue then the could not help me. At this time, it has not been inspected by the manufacturer. There were several warning lamps that came on when the car turned off.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

41 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Other

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

49 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11603951

Sunroof Explosion. On [XXX], I was driving southbound on [XXX] north of the [XXX] exit (about 15 miles north of Chicago, Illinois). It was mid to late morning, sunny, 75 degrees. I drove over some pavement that was under repair but was not marked as being under repair. Within 60 seconds I heard a loud bang or explosion. My sunroof cover was closed and heard glass falling onto the cover. I exited the highway and saw that the glass was broken in the center of the sunroof. There were no rocks or objects in the sunroof and no evidence that anything had impacted the sunroof. The vehicle is available for inspection however, I am in the process of clearing the glass so that I can operate the vehicle during the month that it will take for a replacement glass to arrive. The problem has not been confirmed by a dealer, the component has not been inspected by anyone other than myself. There were no warnings prior to the incident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

49 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Engine failure

STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

74 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11756994

Engine turns off while in drive or stopped at a red light/stop sign. It has happened 7-10 times withing the last couple of months, but 3-4 times within the last week. Out of the four times it happened, my family's safety was at risk, because the car was in drive, and could've caused us to get into an accident. During the other occasions, we were moving in reverse and stopped at a stop sign. Complaint was made with Acura of Bay Shore in Long Island, NY, at which time an update of computer engine was performed but issue wasn't fixed due to back-order part that needs to be replaced. Unfortunately, just yesterday (August 13, 2026) car turned off at light causing a road hazard to vehicles and my family stuck in a large intersection. Multiple engine lights turned on, but I was unable to turn the car on or move it. approximately 10 min later, I was able to turn the car on and move it to safe location. I spoke to Acura of Bay Shore, and it is a known issue but till this date, isn't fixed. Vehicle is a hazard and can cause serious bodily harm/or death. thank you

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

74 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Other

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE

65 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11704183

I drove my car in the morning and parked it in the lot for about an hour. After I came back and started my car, the following multiple safety systems displayed on my dashboard at the same time: - Lane Keeping Assist Problem - Collision Mitigation System Problem - Road Departure Mitigation System Problem - Auto High Beam Problem - Adaptive Cruise Control Problem When I took it to the dealership on the same day to diagnose this, they came back and said it was an internal failure with the camera and quoted me around $2200 to replace and recalibrate the camera. These lights just came on out of nowhere, I had no repairs or modifications with my windshield and there were no accidents of any sort. This appears to be a widespread problem among 2020 Acura MDX vehicles with similar camera modules. A malfunctioning front camera can prevent the vehicle from automatically braking or maintaining lanes, hence increasing the risk of collision. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate the front multi-purpose camera system on the 2020 Acura MDX for potential defect and safety hazard.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

65 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Engine failure

ENGINE

71 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11737478

While driving my 2020 Acura MDX, the vehicle developed an intermittent check engine light and a noticeable engine knocking noise coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to an Acura dealership for diagnosis. According to the certified Acura technician, no diagnostic trouble codes were found stored in the vehicle’s system. However, the technician confirmed there was an audible knocking noise present from the engine during inspection. The technician stated "No engine oil leaks found at this time. Engine. I did verify the noise that you are talking about far as knocking noise goes. Right now, it sounds like it's a lower end noise, possibly crank shaft related. Engine teardown would need to be in place to verify which cylinders are bad and to confirm if the bearing is gone or not.". The vehicle has all service records, including routine oil changes at recommended intervals. The technician also confirmed that the vehicle had oil in it. The vehicle is not part of the existing recall, but the symptoms and description match the known crank shaft rod bearing issue.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

71 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Steering failure

STEERING

8 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11403791

Temporarily loss control of my vehicle when I was exiting the parkway and needed to steer around to avoid a stop car my car just took a big rock in motion from side to side. The steering is very unresponsive, vehicle hesitates when accelerating rapidly and when turning they is no stability. Also my breaking doesn't react the way it should it's very delayed. All of the things that the dynamic mode is supposed to enhance appears not to be functioning. I went to the dealer several times they said they couldn't find anything but yet the problem continues. They also said they reset and relearned some parts of the car in an attempt to rectify the issue I was experiencing. The problem still exists. Many times when I come to a stop on a hill the car roll backwards. I was given the same Model on one of my visits to the dealership as a loaner. And it ran like a totally different car the way the car should run it was the same year same Model. Everything was more responsive the steering the breaking the suspension even when I started the car the start up sound was much more aggressive. Please help!

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

8 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Engine failure

ENGINE

69 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11729475

On March 3, 2026 my son was driving our 2020 Acura MDX when we lost power in the middle of an intersection. The following day we had it towed to Montanto Acura in [XXX] where we were told we had a blown engine due to a bad crank shaft and possibly engine bearings. Prior to this the car drove fine with no warning signs. My son who was [XXX] old was at a dangerous intersection and had to wait for help to arrive to move the vehicle out of the intersection. We had to pay to replace the engine a total of 8,747.36 for a used engine. Now fearing for our son's safety we decided to sell the car at a loss and buy him something we can reply on and that won't put him in danger. Although Acura has recalled many engines, our VIN did not come up in that recall, however we have now been affected by the same issue many others had the recall performed on. I have all service records from our dealership to prove the condition. It is unacceptable that a Honda Engine would fail with 105,374 miles and all service work done at the dealership. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

69 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Engine failure

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

13 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11432894

The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving 30-35 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond and would not move. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that after depressing the drive button several times, she was able to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who determined that the contact had inadvertently depressed an unknown button on the steering wheel causing the vehicle to shift to neutral. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove to her destination. The contact stated the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle inadvertently stalled while driving. Several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle or veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V215000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) as a possible solution to the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 3,000.

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Months until failure

13 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Engine failure

ENGINE

53 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11626538

I started to here a very light knocking noise on cold starts. I made an appointment with my dealership to check it out. The earliest appoint they had open was a bout a week out. A few days later I was driving on the highway and the knocking noise suddenly became very loud and all the dashboard lights came on. The vehicle lost power and I barely coasted off the highway before the MDX came to a complete stop. I called AAA and had the car towed to the dealer. The next day they called me and told me it had been a connecting rod bearing failure and needed an entire new engine for $25,000.00. I was in total shock. I googled what happened to me online and found this is happening to many acuras and hondas. The dealer said there is absolutely no warranty and they cant do anything even though there are articles online and from NHTSA saying this is a common problem and under investigation. I was forced to replace the engine in my car because I still have a loan on it and dont know what else to do. The engine basically blew up on the highway in heavy traffic and was extremely dangerous and now acura wants nothing to do with the repairs. I think this situation deserves investigation.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
View report details

Months until failure

53 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Other

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

61 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11673234

I been having deceleration problem and shut down unexpectedly problem with my Acura MDX 2020 truck. I can be driving my truck normally and out of no where my truck would lose power slow down and eventually shut off completely. I avoided like 5 car accidents with this incident happened to me. I have bring the truck to Acura and they are not fixing my problem.i am scared to dead to drive my own truck. I always drive with my kids in my truck. Please help I don’t know what else to do. This truck is going to get me in a nasty car accident and I can even lost my life. Back in 2024 in September I was driving on 78 on my way to Jersey City, I was driving like 65 miles, my truck slow down lose power and eventually turned off. Someone almost hit me from behind. On Wednesday July 02/2025 I was driving like 20 miles approaching a red light to stop once I press the break pedal my truck completely shuts off. I needed to wait like 1 minute or 2 to turn on. Also on Thursday July 3/2025. I was on my way to the hospital with my kids and my truck turn off completely on a Burger King drive through. That day I took my truck again to Acura to check on it. They told me nothing was wrong with my truck.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
View report details

Months until failure

61 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Electrical system failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

68 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11722797

During the summer of 2025, the auto idle engine railed to restart while at a stop light. We had to shut off and restart the car. We took it to the car dealer and they did some sort of software update. It happened again in January 2026 while at a stop light off a highway exit ramp. We took it to a different dealer because we were living in a different city at the time. In their computer system, they could see the repair that had been done. They did some sort of other update and submitted it as a warranty repair for Acura (which the other dealer had not done). They noted there was one other repair that could be done, but Acura would not allow them to do both at once and this update usually fixed it. However, it happened again in February 2026. The engine did not restart from auto idle, this time at a stop light toward the beginning of an eight hour road trip back home. Fortunately, turning off the engine and starting it back up worked. We took it back to the second dealer and they did the additional repair authorized by Acura and submitted as a warranty repair. Three incidents of the auto-idle not restarting the engine in less than a year is not acceptable. The car is unrealiable.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
View report details

Months until failure

68 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Other

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE

65 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11701938

While driving my 2020 Acura MDX with 29,647 miles, all AcuraWatch safety systems suddenly failed at once, including Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keeping Assist, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Automatic High Beams. Multiple warning messages appeared simultaneously. This disabled forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure/lane keeping functions, creating a serious safety risk. The dealer inspected the vehicle and confirmed an internal failure of the multipurpose front camera/radar unit, and recommended replacement of the entire assembly. The repair estimate is 2,200. The dealer stated the component has failed and cannot be repaired. This issue is widely reported by many Acura owners of similar model years, and appears to be a recurring defect. The failure occurred without any impact, damage, or modification. The vehicle is available for inspection. The symptoms began suddenly and all warnings appeared at the same time. Because this failure disables critical collision-avoidance and lane-keeping systems, it presents a significant risk to the driver and others on the road. I believe this should be investigated as a safety defect.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
View report details

Months until failure

65 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Other

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE

63 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11685108

My 2020 Acura MDX is throwing up multiple dashboard warnings related to the camera sensor—involving systems like Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Collision Mitigation, and Road Departure Mitigation. These systems rely heavily on the Multipurpose Camera Unit mounted near the rearview mirror. I took it to my Acura Dealership Service and they concluded it's the Multipurpose Camera Unit that's causing all these dashboard warnings. They are charging me $1800+ for a new one to be installed. I have researched and googled this issue online, and there were hundreds and hundreds of comments from Honda car owners that have faced this issue, especially Honda and Acura models made in 2019-2020. Many have bought a used camera unit for approx. $150 online and got it installed & calibrated. Others have said that this camera unit is so HOT to the touch since it's located under the windshield. I agree with a lot of these Honda/Acura owners that this malfunction of this camera is a safety issue for the car drivers and others around them since these codes just pops out suddenly making the drivers so nervous during driving. Also, these cameras under the windshield get so, so hot that it could also start a combustible hazard. These units should be encased in a heat-tolerant case/cover and not metal.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
View report details

Months until failure

63 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Engine failure

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

47 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11589456

I purchased this car in September of 2023 with 23,000 miles on it then I received a recall in December 2023. I purchased tires for my car at the dealership and they scheduled my car to have this recall to be fixed on Monday May 13, 2024. I brought the car in on Monday and received a call on Saturday May 18, 2024 to pick my car up from the dealership that it was fixed. I took my car to get gas and two lights on my dash board came up one about my emergency brakes and the other code stated that there is a engine problem and immediately bring the car to the dealership less than one hour of picking it up from a so called recall repair that I was told was going to take two weeks to fix ended up less than 5 days and the car is back at the dealership less than a hour of picking the car up today. I am pissed off and the car is a $40,000 car I paid for with these types of problems when Iam paying a $680 a month on the car note and can’t drive it . BTWay the car smelled of burnt oil while driving it back to the dealership when the lights came on. I want my money back on this recall I need to let you know that is why I bought a new car so I wouldn’t have to deal with this big ass migraine. The dealership needs to replace my car period in my eyes this can’t be fixed it already has to many problems and issues with this vehicle.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
View report details

Months until failure

47 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Other

TIRES

34 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11517193

Safety issue for Continental Cross Contact LX Sport tires that were OEM tires on 2020 Acura MDX. I've had to have 3 nails removed from tires in just over 2 years of owning this car. So I've had tires inspected quite a bit. Also, every time I had oil changed (at Acura), they would rotate the tires and also inspected them. Every trip to Discount Tire, I was asked if I was rotating the tires because they noticed uneven wear. Now at 29K miles, the current rear tires are at 4/32 and front at 6/32. Latest nail removal visit, the discount tire rep mentioned he was going to research these tires and why they would be wearing this prematurely. He noted the rear tires had exceptional wear on the outer tread and noted this could cause the tread to separate. This concerned me so I researched myself and found many instances of complaints where this line of tire has failed due to that exact issue, the tread separated and their tire immediately went flat. The driver had to get off the road quickly and safely to avoid a wreck. Further research revealed that this tire HAS been recalled, but only for 3 specific sizes, which does not include the size of tire on my Acura. The complaints covered a multitude of vehicle brands that most likely use these as OEM and a wide range of sizes of this tire line. Including Acura, Audi, Tesla, Chevy blazer, VW, and Jaguar. I believe the whole tire line needs to be recalled, not just 3 sizes, for everyone's safety.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
View report details

Months until failure

34 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Other

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

29 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11493304

When the brake is suppressed at a Stop sign or stop light, the vehicle has an Auto Idle stop feature which shuts off the engine completely to preserve fuel. The vehicle is supposed to restart once the brake is released. In my case, there have been multiple times when the brake is released but fails to restart and go. I have encountered the issue in the following scenarios: 1. Getting off the freeway, if there is a line getting off the freeway, then the vehicle will potentially shut off and fail to restart. This is a safety hazard as the driver behind me or others behind at a distance can potentially hit the vehicle. 2. At a Stoplight, especially when making a left turn, the vehicle will shut off and fail to restart. It takes more than 8 secs to restart/reengage by restarting manually. If there are any vehicles attempting to go behind me or at a distance, then they can potentially hit my vehicle. This is a huge risk to my family and I, to assist in our safety, we end up having to turn on our hazard lights. This is unacceptable especially since this is a 2020 vehicle with under 45k miles. I have attempted to reach out to the Acura service team, Customer relations team and even called the Warranty department. However, they were not taking ownership on the issue and responded as it has not been reported before. Based on forums, the issue is being encountered by other owners as well. Hopefully, this can be sorted in the near future for safety of my family.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
View report details

Months until failure

29 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Engine failure

ENGINE

66 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11711475

On December 4th I noticed a rattling sound when I was driving. It worsened when my car would rev above 2RPMs and before shifting. It also would make a terrible grinding sound when I started the car. I had about 1/4 of a tank of gas and thought that maybe that was part of the issue. After filling up, the sound was not as loud, but was still present when I started the car and upon accelerating. I took my car to my Acura dealership on December 5th. Within an hour of having the car they called to tell me that the engine needed to be replaced due to a connecting rod failure. They told me that the car is no longer safe to drive and that the repairs would be required in order to continue to use the vehicle safely. There was no warning sign. My only other concern is that the downshifters of this vehicle have never worked properly. I have mentioned this to the dealership multiple times and even drove the vehicle with their representative to recreate the issue. The car would accelerate and lurch forward upon utilizing the downshift feature. This would also cause the vehicle to over-rev which I am concerned was problematic to the connecting rod failure. Additionally, the vehicle has always made a grinding noise upon starting the engine, but the dealership assured me this was normal. Acura is unwilling to cover the full cost of replacement even though this vehicle has been maintained per the manufacturer's recommendations. There are approximately 90,000 miles on this vehicle.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
View report details

Months until failure

66 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Electrical system failure

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES

48 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11712781

The following issues occur on a 2020 Acura MDX with low 50k miles, maintenance was done regular whenever a maintenance schedule appear. For the past few years after purchasing the vehicle we started getting a non-start engine with the key fobs and automatic side mirrors did not open or close when parked. Brand new batteries were replace for the key fob and later the Car Battery and the issue occurs intermittently, this was brought to the attention of the dealership and each time (documented) that they were not able to reproduce when they turned off the vehicle, this was mid 2024 06-13-2024 and sporadically continues till this year 2026. The dealership did not test or trace the electrical system as they were told to reproduce the issue first as it will happen at that moment. A new recent event 2025 has also occur and was brought to the dealerships attention, a warning message indicating - Electric Parking Brake Problem follow by a Emissions System Problem will appear. This was also "reset" by the dealership and indicated it was safe to drive but event reoccurs every few months. A 2nd opinion to another mechanic indicated it can be the emergency brake system to be faulty and driving the vehicle when the message appears may cause an immediate stop, advised us to have the dealership reach out to the manufacture. No word from either for the past year. Any open recall for my VIN was done once we were notified and a New Car Battery replaced and new batteries in key fobs - issue continues. Please assist Thank you

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
View report details

Months until failure

48 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Other

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

59 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11658374

I was in traffic on a major highway during rush hour, and my car went into neutral on its own in the middle of the highway. I was unable to put it in drive, restart it, turn it off or do anything else. The car truck behind me almost hit me and other cars were honking their horns as they changed lanes and drove past me. It was extremely frightening and unsafe as my car sat there without moving, on a major highway, in the middle of rush hour, at 5:35 pm. This happened before and I reported it to the dealership in 2024, and took my car in on three different occasions. In November 2024, less than a year after I purchased the certified pre owned car, it shifted into neutral twice within 20 minutes while I was driving intown, and again later than day as I exited a highway. The third time, I was able to get a video of it on my phone. The dealer said they could not reproduce the problem but fortunately, I sent them the video that shows the oil, battery, ABS, ACC, brake, road departure system, tire pressure, LKAS, brake system and other lights were all on. They said they addressed the issue then. This time around, in April 2025, they told me that they were unable to reproduce the issue but that it was because my battery tested low. Nothing was mentioned about a battery in November when the battery was still under warranty. Now they are saying it is the battery. There were no warnings before the car stalled. This is concerning and very unsafe. I cannot upload videos to this report so I have uploaded a few screenshots from it.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

59 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Engine failure

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

69 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11725507

While driving my 2020 Acura MDX A-Spec at approximately 63,744 miles, the vehicle suddenly lost all engine power without warning while passing through a busy multi-lane intersection. The loss of propulsion prevented acceleration and forced us to coast across traffic lanes to reach the shoulder, creating a significant safety hazard. The engine would not restart. The vehicle was inspected on 3/17/2026 by Lyle Pearson Acura (Boise, ID). The dealership diagnosed catastrophic internal engine failure with the following findings: spun rod bearing in cylinder #6, excessive metal debris in the oil pan, and bearing seizure to the crankshaft. The technician stated the failure pattern is consistent with the rod-bearing defect described in Acura Safety Recall / Service Bulletin 24-001. Although my VIN is NOT currently included in the recall population, the confirmed failure mode matches the known defect. This suggests the issue may extend beyond currently identified vehicles that are included in Acura Service Bulletin 24-001 and NHTSA recall 23V-751. The vehicle has a salvage title from prior cosmetic damage only; no engine, drivetrain, or structural components were affected. The vehicle has been properly maintained with documented service history. This failure represents a serious safety risk due to sudden loss of power in active traffic conditions, increasing the risk of collision or injury. I request NHTSA review this incident to determine whether additional vehicles should be included in the recall and to assess the broader safety risk.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
View report details

Months until failure

69 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Engine failure

ENGINE

49 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11605689

My MDX will randomly shut itself off while at a red light. It takes MULTIPLE attempts to get it restarted. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others was put at risk and continues to be at risk! This has happened at a highway red light multiple times. I am impeding the flow of traffic at an intersection with EIGHT lanes and FOUR lanes cross traffic. People move through this intersection extremely fast. This puts me at risk of causing an accident, injury the occupants of my vehicle and the occupants of the other involved vehicles. There is no warning as to when this will occur and there are no warnings at the time of the actual event either. I called the dealership and the service department acknowledged there have been others with the same issue. Acura is aware of the issue yet there is NO RECALL?? There is a Service Bulletin issued January 2023 by Acura admitting to the issue and it shows how Acura will resolve the issue for affected vehicles. If Acura is aware of the issue and the dangers of it, why have they not issued a recall to rectify the situation? The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. I have a service appointment with the local dealership. There are no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the failure. The first occurrence was about four months ago. The second occurred three months ago. It occurred again today. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT AND LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN. SOMEONE COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO ACURA’S NEGLIGENCE!!!

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
View report details

Months until failure

49 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Other

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

55 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11638647

I'm not sure if there is a problem with any of the components, but the radar sensor malfunction impacted the vehicle's braking system. Situation: On [XXX], I was driving with my wife and her nephew from my home (Ankeny, IA) to Indiana on [XXX] [XXX] and [XXX] [XXX] . It was snowing that day. As usual, there were other vehicles on the highway, semi-trucks, pickup trucks, cars. The snow was splashing on to my front bumper, lights, radar sensor and windshield. As it was snowing, I did not engage the cruise control feature. We were around 30 miles from Iowa City, I was passing a semi-truck, a message was displayed on the dash to clean the radar sensor. I thought of pulling over in a safe spot to clean it up. At the same time, "front collision off" and "brake system" icon lite up. The road also changed from downhill to uphill. Suddenly, the vehicle started swaying in my lane, towards the semi-truck wheels and towards the guard rails. I was able to control the steering and come to a stop. That was a near death experience. I got my breath for a minute and cleared the radar sensor. After cleaning the radar sensor, the vehicle was driving fine going up and down the rolling hills of Iowa. Concern: Why a blocked radar sensor should impact the braking system? I understood the impact to adaptive cruise control and front collision features. Are the traction control, ABS, or some other system disabled due to malfunction of the radar sensor? Can the radar sensor wires being bad disables the braking ability? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
View report details

Months until failure

55 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Other

LANE DEPARTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

74 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11756689

While driving on a residential street under normal daylight conditions, the forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking system failed without warning. A dashboard message appeared instructing me to clean the windshield and stating that collision avoidance services were unavailable. The windshield was clean and unobstructed. There was no precipitation, glare, or debris. The failure occurred while the vehicle was in motion. I had no indication of whether the vehicle was safe to continue driving or whether I should stop immediately, and no way to know whether the fault was limited to the camera or whether other systems were affected. There was no prior warning, no gradual degradation, and no fault indication before this event. I purchased this vehicle in part for its advanced driver assistance systems and rely on forward collision prevention in daily driving. That protection is now unavailable, and I am driving without a crash avoidance system I was sold and expected to have. I took the vehicle to an authorized dealer for diagnosis. The dealer determined that the forward facing camera module must be replaced and recalibrated, and quoted 2,700. No recall or technical service bulletin was identified. I believe this constitutes a safety defect. A primary crash avoidance system failed spontaneously under normal operating conditions on a vehicle marketed on its safety technology. The repair cost is also high enough that many owners will defer or decline it, leaving vehicles on public roads with disabled collision avoidance. I request that NHTSA investigate the failure rate of this camera module and consider a safety recall.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
View report details

Months until failure

74 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Other

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,BACK OVER PREVENTION

61 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11708481

This is a safety-related defect involving the multipurpose front camera used for Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) on the 2020 Acura MDX. The multipurpose front camera failed without warning, resulting in the simultaneous loss of multiple ADAS safety features, including (but not limited to) Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking, and Road Departure Mitigation. These features are integral to the vehicle’s active safety systems and driver awareness. The failure required full replacement of the front camera assembly. The total repair cost was approximately $2,300, which I was required to pay out of pocket because no recall or extended warranty coverage was available. This failure creates a significant safety concern because: * The loss of ADAS functions occurred suddenly and without driver fault. * The driver may rely on these systems for collision avoidance, lane control, and adaptive braking. * The vehicle remains drivable, but with materially degraded safety capabilities compared to its certified design. * There is a risk that drivers may not immediately recognize the loss of functionality or may assume partial systems are still operational. After experiencing this issue, I discovered numerous reports from other Acura MDX owners describing identical multipurpose front camera failures, often at similar mileage, with similarly high repair costs. This suggests a potential systemic defect rather than isolated wear or misuse. I respectfully request that NHTSA review this issue to determine whether this represents a safety-related defect requiring investigation and possible recall. Given the role this component plays in multiple safety systems, I believe this issue warrants formal evaluation.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
View report details

Months until failure

61 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Other

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

30 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11526247

On two separate occasions (December 2022 and April 2023), the Collision Mitigation System (CMS) of our 2020 Acura MDX improperly engaged. On the first occasion, the CMS abruptly engaged the braking system without warning. There was no car in front of the car, but there was a car in a turn lane to the right of the car. There was no reason for the system to engage. Both the driver (my wife) and the passenger (daughter) reported back pain from the incident. The driver received physical therapy for the event. The dealer (Gary Force Acura) and Honda America were notified. The dealer examined the car and found no issues or failures. On the second occasion, the car was changing lanes at a slow rate of speed while approaching an intersection and a stopped car well in front of the Acura. The CMS again abruptly slammed on the brakes in a manner not corresponding with the risk or danger of the situation. A collision with the car behind our car was fortunately avoided by the driver of the other car. The violence of the braking system caused damage to the braking system. No injuries were incurred. Again, the dealer and Honda America were notified, and the car was again examined. No issues or failures were identified outside of the brake repair. On both occasions, individuals were put at risk. The dealer was not able to reproduce the problem. The dealer said a CMS warning to brake should have come on before the CMS engaged. On both occasions, no warnings were observed until the actual braking event started. We are not comfortable driving the car, particularly with a student driver in the family. In most cases, we turn the CMS off before driving the car. The intent is to dispose of the car due to concern associated with the CMS.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
View report details

Months until failure

30 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Other

SUSPENSION,WHEELS

72 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11750239

A federal safety recall was performed on the vehicle to install a rear subframe reinforcement kit. Before the recall repair, the vehicle operated normally and had no vibration at highway speeds. Immediately after the recall repair, a new vibration developed above approximately 60 mph. The vibration is felt primarily from the rear of the vehicle, occurs only while accelerating, becomes most noticeable between 60 and 80 mph, and disappears immediately when the accelerator is released while maintaining the same speed. The condition is repeatable and remains unresolved. The vibration creates concern for loss of vehicle stability and control at highway speeds because it occurs while the drivetrain is under load. No warning lights or diagnostic messages appeared before or after the repair. The vehicle has been inspected by both the dealership that performed the recall repair and an independent repair facility. To eliminate other possible causes, the front hub and bearing assembly were replaced and all four tires were remounted and dynamically balanced. Those repairs did not eliminate the rear vibration. The dealership attributed the condition to unrelated maintenance items, including tires, wheels, and brakes, but did not identify a defect with the recall repair or determine whether the rear subframe installation, rear differential mounting, driveshaft, or other components disturbed during the recall procedure contributed to the new vibration. The timing of the failure is significant because the vibration began immediately after completion of the federal recall repair and was not present beforehand. The component is available for inspection upon request. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether the recall remedy or repair procedure may have introduced a drivetrain or rear suspension condition affecting vehicle safety.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

72 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Electrical system failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES

34 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11520536

While braking into a parking spot, vehicle experienced sudden unintended acceleration. Brake did not engage, car rapidly surged forward over parking block, sidewalk and hitting building. Previously in day, car would not recognized key fob, would not unlock and would not start even though stepping on brake that would not depress. I had no control over vehicle,and this could have hit pedestrians on sidewalk or storefront. Thankfully no one hurt, and did not occur in traffic or on the road. The dealership was contacted immediately, and they declined to inspect vehicle, codes or EDR statign that's not what they do. I have asked dealership 3 times. Insurance contacted immediately, and they to will not investigate, saying up to Honda and dealership. Honda stating they don't do investigations, and Insurance should do that. Round and round we go. No one assisting. Auto Body referred by dealership unable to investigate and do not have equipment to do so and stating dealership and Honda tech needs to do this investigation. Several messages displayed the day of incident prior to incident and electrical issues seem to have started immediately after recall or warranty work to reprogram auto stop function. First instance of electrical issue was on 4/1, when car would not open, or unlock even with new battery in key fob. This continued over next 3 weeks sporadically. 4/24 car would not start, displaying "must press down brake" to start, but brake would not depress. Finally worked. Same thing 4/25 in morning. In evening car would not unlock for some time, finally opened, then would not start displaying "Key fob not detected". Finally started. Message remained displayed. 15 min ,after, when parking, car accelerated forward without warning. This is a short summary, and a detailed summary is available. Vehicle remains untouched at autonomy hoping to get investigation completed. Too scared to drive this vehicle now..

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

34 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Other

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE

57 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11653259

### 1. **What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?** The rearview camera system in my 2020 Acura MDX has malfunctioned. The camera, which is integral to several safety systems in the vehicle, has failed, causing significant safety concerns. The vehicle is available for inspection by an Acura dealership or independent service center upon request. ### 2. **How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?** The malfunction of the rearview camera directly impacts the **Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)**, **Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)**, and **Lane Departure Warning (LDW)** systems. These systems rely on cameras and sensors to detect obstacles, maintain a safe following distance, and alert the driver when switching lanes. Without the proper function of the rearview camera, these safety systems become unreliable, increasing the risk of head-on collisions, rear-end accidents, or unintended lane changes, which could lead to a serious crash. Furthermore, the area surrounding the malfunctioning camera becomes dangerously hot, posing a burn risk when touched, which adds another safety hazard. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes I have taken the vehicle to a dealership for a formal inspection, I have confirmed the issue through the consistent malfunctioning of the camera. The overheating and failure of the camera have been present since the issue began, and I have communicated this to Acura's customer service. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer beyond the initial communication with Acura’s customer service. No inspection has been conducted by the police or insurance representatives. However, I have made Acura aware of the problem, and the customer service team, led by Account Manager Monica

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

57 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Electrical system failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

52 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11621400

I came to a stop at a stop sign. The start/stop feature activated and the engine shut off. When I lifted my foot off the brake, the engine did not restart (as it's supposed to), and then vehicle automatically shifted itself into neutral (without any of my doing). I put the emergency flashers on to alert other motorists, hoping to avoid a rear-end collision as I was stopped in the middle of an intersection in rush hour traffic. At this time, the battery light illuminated. The engine light illluminated as well. I had to forcefully and unusually push the brakew pedal towards the floor as the vehicle was drifting backwards. At this time, the vehicle would not shift into park. Then "PARK" illuminated, so I attempted to reapply the brake hoping that when I let up from the brake the car would start again (like the usual procedure). The vehicle then shifted into park, but the engine had not restarted. I pressed the on/off red button to follow normal procedures for turning the vehicle off. With my foot remaining on the brake, I pressed the off/on red button to start the engine as usual and the engine finally restarted. Afraid for the safety for myself and other motorists, I put the vehicle into drive and I pushed the button to stop the stop/start system from engaging. No codes generated during this. This is a safety issue for several reasons. First, I was stuck in the middle of a busy intersection where a large volume of cars travel through each day. It was rush hour, so the roads couldn't be more filled. Someone coming around the corner who might not have been prepared to stop could have hit me. Likewise, I could have been hit while in the intersection. Secondly, once the vehicle failed to turn back on, the Washington Grove (Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services - MCFRS) was responding to a vehicular file nearby on I-270 and had I not have been able to move in time, some of their vehicles likely wouldn't have made it through because my vehicle was blocking the lane.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

52 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Engine failure

ENGINE

53 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 8, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11629488

There is a clear engine knock. I have a recording of it both on video and audio, my engine performance and gas mileage has gotten worse. I picked up on the sound about 6 weeks ago and called (Mueller Acura), said I would have it checked at the next oil change. The dealer (Mueller Acura of Merrillville) has had my Acura MDX, for two days two weeks ago and for the last 7 days, currently. The didn’t tear down the engine completely. But they told me they had their master mechanic and Honda’s (from another shop Team Honda) Master mechanic came down and used a camera and I have a bad tensioner, bad rockers, and a bad cam shaft. I’ve been speaking with an outside mechanic who is a Honda certified Master mechanic who now runs an independent shop. Acura, says I have a bad camshaft, bad rockers, and bad tensioner. They said I need all of those replaced as well as the $3000 100K service. They are deeply discounting what they quoted me because I’ve documented well and made so many trips out there to physically show them the engine knock (right now they want $3606 to fix and then they will listen again). They finally heard it at the back of the engine. I’m in a rental and it’s costing me daily. The independent shop says the correct answer is you have a bad engine and they need to check the crank shaft, the head, and the rod bearings, in addition. He said if I changed the oil myself I would probably see metal particles in the oil and if I fix it I’m wasting my money as the entire engine is in need of replacement. It only has 86K miles on it and should not have these issues. I don’t think I should have to pay, and I need my vehicle back. I’m now without a vehicle and they are demanding I give them an answer by Monday at 7am on whether or not I’m fixing it. They won’t put anything in writing as they want to keep it kept quiet until I make a decision. The service manager is now trying to talk me into trading but not at their dealership. I feel like May need to contact an attorney.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
View report details

Months until failure

53 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

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