What 168 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid

ABS VSA malfunction light comes up constantly and car rattles when brakes are used. It’s constantly turned on even with good road conditions. There are millions of customer complaints on the web about this issue and I believe this should be logged as a major issue which should be logged a recall and offered as a fix to customers who have these car models and issues. My daughter was driving the car and experienced issues on freeway when braking. The car slipped to the side when brakes were pushed and the whole car was shaking and unstable.

NHTSA ODI 11564824

WHILE DRIVING IN A MAIN ROAD, SMOKE STARTED TO FILL THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY, OPENED THE HOOD, THERE WAS FIRE THAT WAS RAPIDLY EXPANDING. CALL 911, BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED (ABOUT 4 TO 5 MINS), THE FIRE CONSUMED THE ENTIRE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11384631

FLAMES AND FIRE SHOT OUT FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE VENTS AND UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND GLOVE COMPARTMENT, ENGULFING THE VEHICLE INTO FLAMES RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET.

NHTSA ODI 11234471

I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET BACK HOME WHEN A HAZE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS. THAT TURNED INTO BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, UNDERNEATH/BEHIND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. FROM THAT SMOKE, A FIRE STARTED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET, TURNED THE CAR OFF, GRABBED MY SON WHO WAS IN A CAR SEAT IN THE BACK AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR SAFELY. NOT A MINUTE AFTER WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID AN INVESTIGATION AND CLASSIFIED IT AS UNDETERMINED, BUT MECHANICAL IN NATURE. WE BOUGHT OUR ACURA BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER IN 2014 AND HAVE ONLY HAD IT SERVICED AT THE ACURA DEALER. WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR, OTHER THAN REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT THE CAR WOULD BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11230364

I AM 27 YEARS OLD FEMALE THAT WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH MY BOYFRIEND AND HIS MOM. MY BOYFRIENDS MOM WAS THE DRIVER, I WAS THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AND MY BOYFRIEND WAS IN THE BACK SEAT. BOTH MY BOYFRIENDS MOM AND I WERE WEARING OUR SEATBELTS. AFTER HANGING OUT FOR THE DAY MY BOYFRIENDS MOM WAS DROPPING US OFF AT HOME AND THAT WAS WHEN IT HAPPENED. AS SHE WAS BACKING UP OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE ACCELERATOR MUST HAVE GOTTEN STUCK BECAUSE THE CAR FLEW ACROSS THE DRIVEWAY DOWN A HILL OVER A BASKETBALL COURT AND DIRECTLY INTO A TREE! THINKS THE VEHICLE WAS GOING 30-40 MPH AND BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I HAD BEEN INJURED AND AFTER GOING TO THE HOSPITAL AND HAVING X-RAYS DONE, THE DOCTORS HAVE SAID I HAVE A FRACTURE (L2) TO MY SPINE. THANK GOD NO SURGERY WAS NEEDED ALTHOUGH IT REALLY SUCKS TO HAVE A COMPRESSED VERTEBRA NOW! THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON JUNE 28, 2017 AND SINCE THE ACCIDENT I HAVE BEEN WEARING A LUMBAR BRACE IN ORDER TO HELP SUPPORT MY SPINE/BACK.

NHTSA ODI 11020141

MY NAVIGATION UNIT HAS BEEN UPDATED AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE LINES FOR NAV TRAFFIC CANNOT BE EASILY SEEN. THIS WAS FIXED IN 2015 AND 2016 ACURA MDX W/ NAV BUT HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED FOR THE 2014 MDX UNITS. THE TRAFFIC LINES ARE VERY FAINT AND UNREADABLE TO WHERE TOO MUCH TIME IS SPENT TRYING TO SEE TRAFFIC WHILE DRIVING. THIS WILL RESULT IN ACCIDENTS DUE TO DIVERTED ATTENTION. ACURA/HONDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE THE 2014 MODEL WAS RELEASED, AND STILL REFUSES TO RELEASE A FIRMWARE UPDATE TO MAKE THE TRAFFIC LINES BETTER VISIBILITY LIKE THEY DID FOR 2015 AND LATER. EVEN MY 2006 RL WAS EASIER TO SEE. WE WERE REAR ENDED NEAR UC DAVIS IN DAVID CALIFORNIA IN MAY 2017. WHILE I WAS ABLE TO ANTICIPATE 70 MPH TRAFFIC MAKING A SUDDEN STOP BECAUSE MY PASSENGER WAS USING NAV TRAFFIC ON THEIR PHONE, AND THEY WARNED ME OF THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION, IF I HAD BEEN LOOKING AT THE NAV UNIT TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT WHAT TRAFFIC WAS LIKE AHEAD WE WOULD HAVE HIT THE CAR AHEAD OF US TOO INSTEAD OF JUST BEING REAR ENDED. THE OTHER CAR HIT US SO HARD IT WAS TOTALED. THIS VISUAL ISSUE NEEDS TO BE FIXED EITHER AS A RECALL OR BY AN OPTIONAL UPDATE. THE 2017 NAV DISK UPDATE I TRIED FROM ACURA DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. THE MDX FORUMS ARE FULL OF THE COMPLAINT FOR THE 2014 MDX WITH NAV, AND PEOPLE ARE QUITE ANGRY ABOUT IT. ESSENTIALLY WHAT ACURA HAS DONE IS ADD A DISTRACTION ON THE 2014 MDX WITH NAV THEN FIX IT IN THE 2015 AND LATER MODELS BUT NOT FIX IT IN THE 2014.

NHTSA ODI 11005851

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A ROD IRON FENCE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,323. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ODI 10917899

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON A SNOWY DAY, THE VEHICLE SLID ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE FAILURE IMPACTED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE, BUT ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD SHAPE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI 10816966

UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION AND FAILURE OF COLLISION MITIGATION SYSTEM 2014 ACURA MDX ADVANCED. ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT A STRIP MALL PARKING LOT LOCATED 1 MILE FROM MY RESIDENCE WHERE I WAS GROCERY SHOPPING. WEATHER 65 F SUNNY. HEAVY PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC. I WAS PARKED HEAD IN DIAGONALLY. I PLACED MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL,PLACED THE SUV IN REVERSE,LIFTED MY RIGHT FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL, DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND SLOWLY BACKED OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE,STRAIGHTENING THE WHEELS IN THE PROCESS.I PLACED MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, SHIFTED TO DRIVE, AND PLACED MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND WITHOUT ACTUALLY DEPRESSING THE PEDAL THE ENGIN REVED UNCONTROLLABLY AND THE SUV SURGED FORWARD 100 FT AT INCREASING SPEED BEFORE COLLIDING IN A DOMINO FASHION WITH A ROW OF 6 VEHICLES PUSHING ONE OF THE VEHICLES OVER ONE OF THE ADJACENT VEHICLES BEFORE VEERING OFF TO THE SIDE AND TRAVELING AN ADDITIONAL 200 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP.THE DRIVERS SIDE CHEST AND KNEE BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN I IMPACTED WITH THE FIRST VEHICLE.I DO NOT REMEMBER IF I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE.THERE WERE NO INJURIES.THE DAMAGES TO MY SUV WERE EXTENSIVE. MY INSURER DECLARED IT A TOTAL LOSS.I HAVE PHOTOS TAKEN AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT SHOWING SKID MARKS AND THE DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLES BEFORE THEY WERE MOVED. MY INSURER HAD MY VEHICLE EXAMINED BY AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN.HE CONCLUDED THAT I SIMULTANEOUSLY STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR BECAUSE OF THE PEDAL WARE PATTERN. ALSO THE DIAGNOSTIC PORT DID NOT SHOW AN ERROR CODE.HE DID NOT EXAMINE THE EVENT DATA RECORDER (BLACK BOX). I DO NOT AGREE WITH HIS CONCLUSIONS. I BELIEVE I DID NOT STEP ON THE PEDALS SIMULTANEOUSLY. IN RETROSPECT I BELIEVE THAT I ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED ONE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS LOCATED ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN I WAS BACKING UP AND STRAIGHTENING THE WHEELS.

NHTSA ODI 10732013

I GOT INTO A PARKING SPACE, AND PUSHED THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR JUMPED ONTO THE SIDEWALK. I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND THEN THE CAR STARTED SPEEDING UP. THE CAR CRASHED THROUGH THE WINDOW OF AN EMPTY STORE. I TRIED TO PUSH THE BRAKE EVEN HARDER BUT IT DID NOT WORK. THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT THE WALL INSIDE THE STORE. I WAS IN A SHOCK. LUCKILY, NOBODY WAS INJURED. I FOUND SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET BUT COULD NOT FIND A RECALL FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE. ONE OF THE PREVIOUS CLAIMS STATES: "ACURA IS CLAIMING THAT NO PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND WITH OUR VEHICLE." THIS IS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND COULD RESULT IN FATALITIES. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO DO IN ORDER THIS ISSUE TO BE INVESTIGATED SERIOUSLY?

NHTSA ODI 10711851

2014 ACURA MDX. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE ENTERING THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE BRAKE. *MW THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH THE BACK OF THE GARAGE AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE CONSUMERS HOME AND VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10663878

DEFECT SHOWS AS IMMEDIATE LOSS OF TOE ALIGNMENT IN BOTH FRONT TIRES, LANE KEEP ASSIST COMPUTERIZED FEATURE IN UNABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL RIGHT, AND STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR IS UNABLE TO REMAIN FIXED AT ZERO. STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR: FORCES THE VEHICLE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC BY AUTOMATICALLY DURING FRONT WHEELS TWO AND FIVE DEGREES WITH MAXIMUM TURNING FORCE APPLIED WHEN THE ROAD PRESENTS ANY COMBINATION OF CURVED, TILTED, AND BUMPY CONDITION. STEERING WHEEL HAND SENSOR ? COMPUTER APPLIED OVER-STEER FORCES THE CAR LEFT OR RIGHT SEVERAL DEGREES DEPENDING ON HAND POSITION. IDS: THREE SETTINGS FORCE STEERING WHEEL SEVERAL DEGREES LEFT OR RIGHT DURING BRAKING DEPENDING ON LAST APPLIED STEERING ADJUSTMENT. WHEN THE ROAD IS A COMBINATION OF CURVED, SUBSTANTIALLY SLOPED, OR BUMPY THE COMPUTER WILL APPLY MAXIMUM COMPUTERIZED TURNING FORCE TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL UP TO 45 DEGREES LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC EVEN WHEN THE ROAD SLOPES AND/OR CURVES AWAY FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC. A SERIES OF SOFTWARE COMMAND CONFLICTS AND OVERRIDES BETWEEN IDS, STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR, STEERING WHEEL SENSOR FOR HAND POSITION, RADAR, AND ROAD POSITION SENSOR, AND OTHER-VEHICLE SENSORS ROUTINELY CAUSE THE COMPUTER TO PERFORM UNINTENDED DRIVE INTO INCOMING TRAFFIC WITH MAXIMUM COMPUTER APPLIED FORCE. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PROVIDE DEALERS COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT THAT ALIGNS STEERING WHEEL SENSOR WITH NAVIGATION COMPUTER, RADAR, INTERNAL/EXTERNAL SENSORS, IDS, AND STEERING WHEEL HAND SENSOR UNLESS THE CONSUMER IS WILLING TO PAY $700 IN EQUIPMENT TRANSFER COSTS. MANUFACTURER DEMANDS DEALERS DENY SERVICE OR AVOID WRITING WORK ORDERS THAT CONTAIN ANY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WITH STEERING WHEEL SENSOR, RADAR, COMPUTER-INTEGRATED HARDWARE, OR IDS. INSTEAD VERBALIZE COMPUTER-RELATED ISSUES WITH REPAIR TECHS TO AVOID REGULATORY REPORTING AND CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW REQUIREMENTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10671950

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM RE COPY OF LETTER TO ACURA USA VICE PRESIDENT JOHN MENDEL REGARDING 2014 ACURA MDX THROTTLE PROBLEM AND REQUESTING INSPECTION TO ENSURE SAFETY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ON THE MORNING OF NOVEMBER 17, 2014, WHILE ENTERING THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH THE BACK OF THE GARAGE AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGED TO HER HOME AND THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10663851

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, ANOTHER VEHICLE SLIGHTLY BUMPED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND CAUSED IT TO ROLL AWAY IN REVERSE AND DOWN A HILL. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10558344