What 70 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT HEARD NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 60-65 MPH OR HIGHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ODI 10819685

VEHICLE PURCHASED USED WITH 47K MILES ON IT. BY THE TIME I NOTICED THE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM (WHICH I CERTAINLY DIDN'T EXPECT) THE USED CAR WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I AM CURRENTLY BURNING 1 QT OF OIL EVERY 1K MILES. AS THE VEHICLE HAS A FACTORY 70K POWERTRAIN WARRANTY I BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL ACURA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL AND ACCEPTABLE UNDER ACURA GUIDE LINES. I EXPLAINED IN MY 38 YEARS OF DRIVING MANY VEHICLES MOST OF THEM NEW THAT I HAD NEVER OWNED ANYTHING THAT BURNED OIL UNTIL I PURCHASED AN ACURA WHICH IS COMPLETELY CONTRARY TO WHY PEOPLE PURCHASE EXPENSIVE HIGH END VEHICLES FROM REPUTABLE CAR COMPANIES IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEY ARE CURRENTLY MONITORING THE CONSUMPTION NOW BUT I HOLD OUT LITTLE HOPE AS I HAVE READ ON DIFFERENT ACURA MDX FORUMS THAT ACURA IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS. I DID READ WHERE HONDA WAS FORCED TO RECALL 1.6 MILLION 3.5L ENGINES FOR THIS VERY ISSUE AND ONLY OFFERED TO EXTEND THE FACTORY WARRANTIES AS A RESULT. THESE ENGINES ARE OF THE SAME BASIC DESIGN SAVE FOR THE ACURA 3.7L HAS NO CAST IRON SLEEVES HENCE THE LARGER DISPLACEMENT. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL CAUSE A PREMATURE FAILURE OF MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND SPARK PLUGS. I HAD BELIEVED THAT EMISSION REQUIREMENTS WERE TO STRICT TODAY TO ALLOW FOR ANY OIL CONSUMPTION (BURNING) UNDER THE EPA'S STRICT GUIDE LINES. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE THAT THIS WOULD EVEN BE AN ISSUE IN SUCH A MARQUIS BRAND SUCH AS ACURA. SINCE HONDA WOULD FAR OUTSELL THE ACURA BRAND THERE WERE NO DOUBT FAR MORE COMPLAINTS FOR THE 3.5L ENGINE THEN THE SMALLER SELLING 3.7L ENGINE OF SIMILAR ARCHITECTURE. I HOPE THAT MORE CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME PREDICAMENT WILL COME FORWARD TO PROVE THAT THE SAME ISSUE EXISTS WITH THE SIMMILIAR ACURA ENGINE. PLEASE CALL OUT THIS MATTER WITH ACURA WHILE I CONTINUE TO HOPE FOR THE BEST OUTCOME WHICH WOULD FULLY NECESSITATE A NEW SHORT BLOCK.

NHTSA ODI 10812054

WHILE PARKING, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS IF THE ACCELERATOR WAS FLOORED, AND THE CAR ONLY CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING A BLOCK WALL. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV UNTIL THE CAR WAS PUT INTO PARK AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. I COULD HEAR THE TIRE SCREECHING LIKE "BURNING RUBBER" WHEN IT ACCELERATED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE CAR LURCH FORWARD WHILE DRIVING FOR THE PAST 2 WEEKS. BUT IT WAS HARD TO REPRODUCE, AND I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN AND HOW IT HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10512803