What 69 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Acura MDX

I saw previous warning when I pulled my credit report on Experian, but I am not seeing any recalls currently. My driver side taillight is malfunctioning. It appears there is a problem with the seal which is allowing water to get inside the assembly, causing it to short out. I realize this vehicle is a 2015 but thought I would mention in case this is still an issue under recall.

NHTSA ODI 11728195

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2015 Acura MDX. It was later discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 82,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 167,000.

NHTSA ODI 11720021

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2015 Acura MDX. The contact stated that upon retrieving the Carfax report of the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 105,000, and the mileage on the Carfax report was 215,000 in July 2025. The MVA was contacted and referred the contact to the Police Department, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance.

NHTSA ODI 11700325

All of a sudden the brakes are automatically applied with collision avoidance amber coming on dash heads up display while I am on freeway approximate speed 30-40 mph with no apparent vehicle in front.this has also happened at lower speeds in local driving roads.Braking is pretty severe and dangerous could be rear ended by other vehicles ..This is a Collision mitigating system falsely coming on with no vehicle in front very dangerous.It has happened about 3 times intermittently. Taking in vehicle to local Acura dealer on 24 th June 2025 for check up

NHTSA ODI 11667443

The contact owns a 2015 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the tailgate lid lights did not function as intended. The contact was pulled over by the local Police and was informed that the taillights were not operating. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with failed tailgate lid lights. The contact was informed that the tailgate lid lights needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised that the manufacturer had denied the repair under warranty or unknown recall repairs. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced by the dealer, and the previous dealer performed a recall repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V256000(Exterior Lighting); however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The manufacturer denied the repair under warranty because of the failed recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000.

NHTSA ODI 11647955

The contact owns a 2015 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact pulled over onto the shoulder of the roadway. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. In addition, the contact stated that the engine had been repaired by the dealer less than a month before the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,700.

NHTSA ODI 11639599

Paint peeling on roof (white diamond pearl paint).

NHTSA ODI 11636349

For the last 50k miles we've taken our Acura MDX to the dealership for regular oil changes. Almost every visit results in a bad battery. We've had the dealership replace a side mirror due to the electrical and several batteries as well. They've kept it for several days diagnosing issues but haven't to this day found out what's wrong with it. Now my back taillight stopped working, we bought another one and replaced it for it to work for a couple months and stop working again. Now we've taken it to another place for diagnosing, they have said the inter taillight assembly and wiring needs replaced. Seems like this has been the issue the entire 6 yrs we've been complaining. The dealership says they took care of the problem already, clearly this is a safety issue when driving at night especially. Having a taillight that works off and on is not my idea of safe or "fixed" according to the dealership.

NHTSA ODI 11611045

Acura issued Warranty Extension TSB 19-029 on 2014-2016 MDX with white diamond pearl paint. The extension covers the roof and rear door. My roof began peeling in or around 2022 and the roof was repainted without issue. The rear door just showed signs of the defect in August 2024, and the issue is clearly the same manufacturer defect as identified in the document, however, Acura is unwilling to correct the defect due to the warranty period now being expired.

NHTSA ODI 11608615

The contact owns a 2015 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, he observed condensation in both taillights and the taillights did not illuminate as intended. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the lid light needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred with the right taillights. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,163.

NHTSA ODI 11579573

See attached letter for complaint

NHTSA ODI 11578083

The contact owned a 2015 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while exiting the car wash parking lot, the vehicle was in neutral. The contact entered the vehicle. The contact attempted to shift the gear into drive, however the gear shifter was inoperable and did not move. The contact stated the vehicle independently accelerated and was unstoppable. The vehicle crossed a busy parking lot, the vehicle went up two embankments, crashed into a lamp pool, and then into a tree before coming to a complete stop. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. All the air bags deployed. The contact sustained several injuries and received medical attention at the local hospital. The vehicle was deemed as a total loss. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.

NHTSA ODI 11571677

Tail lights (rear running lights) don’t work, when break light and turn lights work

NHTSA ODI 11553025

The sun/moon roof glass on our 2015 Acura MDX spontaneously shattered while my wife was driving down a major thoroughfare in our area. If the inside cover below the glass had been open, my wife could have been seriously injured by falling shards of glass. Furthermore, she could have been easily distracted and involved in an accident by the loud, exploding sound of the glass shattering. An inspection by myself and the dealer service department determined no external force or object caused the glass to shatter. It happened spontaneously. Nevertheless, the dealer's assessment is that the shattering was not caused by a manufacturing defect. When I contacted Acura Owner Support, I was told no other incidents of this kind have been reported even though I pointed out the the representative that a Class Action lawsuit has been filed against Acura for this very same issue.

NHTSA ODI 11528062

transmission torque converter shudder during 20 to 45 mph.

NHTSA ODI 11484993

TRANSMISSION SLIPS,AND HESITATES TO SHIFT NORMALLY AND THEN GOES NORMAL AGAIN. VEHICLE IS IN MOTION WHEN THIS OCCURED ,IT HAPPENED WHILE CRUSING AT 35 MPH, AND AT 50 MPH, STREET ,AND HIGHWAY. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES TO FIND THE ISSUE AND ANYWAYS END UP WITH NO ANSWERS, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH 25,000 MILES AND IT NOW HAS 125,000 PROBLEM HAS NOT GOTTEN BETTER OR WORSE HAS BEEN THE SAME. THE BRAKE WARNING ALSO POPS UP RANDOMLY WHEN NO OTHER CARS ARE NEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11464338

Torque converter shutter at speeds of 30mph - 45mph causing erratic acceleration fluctuations. I addressed the concern with the dealership at around 72,000 miles (just out of manufacturers warranty). I told there was a fluid recall. They changed the fluid which remedies the issue. The transmission fluid has to be changed every 5,000-10,000 for the vehicle to perform with a less noticeable transmission shudder. Manufacturers recommends changing every 30,000 miles to prevent transmission slipping. I did contact Acura and they dismissed my concerns, stating I drove the vehicle too much. After researching online this seems to be a common concern/problem other Acura MDX owners are experiencing.

NHTSA ODI 11442215

WHILE CAR IS SHIFTING IDLE HANGS AND SHUTTERS AROUND 1600-2000 RPM. LEFT FRONT AND REAR SHOCKS HAVE LOUD NOISES WHEN TRAVELING OVER BUMPS.

NHTSA ODI 11414706

APPEARS TO HAVE ISSUES SHIFTING FROM D4 TO D5 OR WHILE IN D5. ROUGHLY AROUND 1.6K RPM THE VEHICLE SOUNDS LIKE IT IS DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS. I THINK IT MIGHT BE A TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11383219

TRANSMISSION SLIPS ,AND HESITATES TO SHIFT NORMALLY AND THEN GOES NORMAL AGAIN. VEHICLE IS IN MOTION WHEN THIS OCCURED ,IT HAPPENED WHILE CRUSING AT 35 MPH, AND AT 50 MPH, STREET ,AND HIGHWAY. .

NHTSA ODI 11348639

WHEN TURNING SLOWLY (IE PARKING LOTS), THERE IS KNOCKING/CREAKING SOUND HEARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALER CONFIRMED NOISE BUT NOT ABLE TO SAY EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG OR WHY OTHER THAN TO SAY THAT IT NEEDS FRONTS AXLES ON BOTH SIDES REPLACED AT COST OF $1200+. IN MY OPINION, THEY DIDN'T PROPERLY DIAGNOSE IT (AND REALLY ARE JUST GUESSING AT PROBLEM). THEY ONLY TEST DROVE IT AND THAT IS NOT ONLY WAY TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. IT APPEARS TO BE A PRODUCT QUALITY ISSUE IN MANUFACTURING. THE CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD AND HAS 70,000 MILES. ALL SIGNS SHOWED THAT IT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BY PREVIOUS OWNER AND NOW BY ME. I HAVE HAD IT FOR ABOUT YEAR WHEN IT HAD 65000 MILE. AT THIS STAGE OF ITS LIFE, IT SHOULD NOT NEED AXLES REPLACED. IF THIS WAS A GM CAR, I'D SAID THAT'S PROBABLY TRUE BUT THIS IS AN ACURA WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. THE CAR HAS NOT EVEN BEEN BROKEN INTO AT THIS MILEAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11331362

I WAS DRIVING 80 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD GARNISH FLEW OFF THE CAR. AFTER INSPECTION, IT APPEARS THE CLIPS THAT HOLD THE GARNISH ON WERE BROKEN.

NHTSA ODI 11320641

ON 01/18/2020. I CAN NOT START MY 2015 ACURA MDX ANYMORE WHEN I WAS ON THE WALMART PARKING LOT, POWER STEERING SYSTEM ( EPS) PROBLEM " LIGHT WAS ON, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP. THE CAR HAS 61,035 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11300249

VEHICLE SHUDDERS AT 35-40 MPH, THE SHUDDERING IS HARDER WHEN GOING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE. IT SEEMS THAT THE VEHICLE DOESN'T WANT TO SHIFT DOWN A GEAR. I HAVE TO EITHER LET GO OF THE GAS OR GIVE IT MORE GAS FOR THE SHUDDERING TO STOP.

NHTSA ODI 11258246

ON PARTICULARLY COLD DAYS IN TEXAS BETWEEN 30 AND 45 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, MY ACURA WILL NOT START. THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS WORK, BUT THE ENGINE REVS UP FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS THEN IT TURNS OFF. AFTER THAT THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR STABILITY CONTROL, POWER STEERING EPS, LANE DEPARTURE ASSIST, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, EMISSION SYSTEMS, HILL START ASSIST, COME ON AND STAY ON BUT THE ENGINE IS OFF. AFTER I TRY TO TURN IT ON AND TURN IT OFF COMPLETELY FOR OVER FIVE TIMES, THEN THE ENGINE CAME ON AND THE MDX WAS DRIVEABLE. WHILE WE DROVE, THE WARNING LIGHTS STAYED ON. WHEN WE GOT TO OUR DESTINATION, WHICH WAS ABOUT 3 MILES, TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON, ALL THE WARNING SIGNS WERE GONE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENS, THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO. THE NIGHT BEFORE, THE BLINKERS WERE ACTING UP. THE LEFT BLINKER SIGNAL INSIDE, WAS SOLID GREEN AND THE SIGNAL LIGHT OUTSIDE WAS FLASHING VERY DIMMLY AND SLOW, THE CLICKING SOUND TO ALERT THAT THE SIGNS LIGHT WAS ON WAS NOT CLICKING. THE RIGHT BLINKER SIGNAL INSIDE FLASHED BUT DID NOT MAKE THE CLICKING SOUND TO ALERT THAT IT IS ON, THE LIGHT OUTSIDE BLINKED NORMALLY. TODAY EVERYTHING IS BACK TO NORMAL.

NHTSA ODI 11184340