What 359 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid

I just got back home from Walmart, went in my house to get a few things and head to my camper. I had to get one last thing ,so I started to drive over town I noticed a plastic burning smell ,I thought someone was burning trash, so I keep going ,the smell got worse,so I stopped and was going to check what it was and smoke started coming out of the vents,so I turned around drove car home,as I was pulling into my drive ,I noticed the wiring harness fell from behind glove box ,on fire on the floor. We got car in driveway and got out,tried to extinguish the fire but couldn't, so grab everything out of the car,and the car became totally engulfed in flames,the car was totally gone from this electrical short.

NHTSA ODI 11750455

The contact's daughter owned a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 70 MPH on an interstate, another driver crashed into the rear passenger's side and the front passenger's side of the vehicle, causing the vehicle to spin clockwise. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The driver hit her shoulder and lower back against the driver's side door. The driver later received medical assistance and was being treated for lower back and shoulder injuries. No police report was filed. The rear tires were damaged and became flat. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and the vehicle was later towed to the dealer's auto body shop, where it was totaled. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 92,900.

NHTSA ODI 11681791

I was involved in an accident 12/13, 2023. No airbags deployed, however, my seatbelt locked up. A new seatbelt was ordered through Acura soon thereafter 12/23. At the time this was ordered, I was told that there was no ETA as there is a national backorder. Fast forward to today, my car has been fully repaired and is still sitting in the local repair shop because there are still no seatbelts available. I have filed complaints with Acura corporate, and have a claim number that I would be more than happy to provide. Acura corporate has advised the repair shop that it will be at least six months to one year until a seatbelt is is available I also have documentation on the “ expedited order” that was placed for the seatbelt in 12/2023. The insurance company, USAA, is now looking at totaling my car simply because we cannot find a seatbelt. The local Acura dealers, and our car repair shop cannot believe that cannot seem to get a seatbelt for me, and it’s been four months. On my research online, it appears that Acura may be legally obligated to manufacture, and provide this part. I wanted to report this to the proper regulatory agency to ensure that this has been documented. The car is completely drivable, given the lack of safety restraint. I also am aware that I am not alone in this complaint, as many other MDX owners are experiencing the same I am not sure how to proceed from here and I’m hoping that you may be able to help Thank you so much for your time and consideration

NHTSA ODI 11579595

The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds through a parking area, his foot slipped and the vehicle unintendedly accelerated, coming to a complete stop after crashing into an 8-inch barrier. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. A Police report was not filed, and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the driver's side seat belt needed to be replaced following the crash but informed the contact that Part Number: 04818-TZ5-A00ZC was unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that parts were not yet available. A case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11578057

The trunk opens like it should, but then closes after the lift gate reaches the top. It will close on your head if you don't move out of the way, which is what happened the first time because I didn't know what was happening. You can stop the lift gate from continuing to close, but then you can hurt your arm due to the force the door is closing with, as there is no auto censor for the door to know something is blocking the path. This event has been reproduced over 50 times in the last week. About 10% of the time, the lift gate works normally. I have an appointment at the dealership in 3 days. Based on a search of TSBs, this problem has been reported multiple times since at least 2019. It had been working normally until this week, started 2/10/24 and is still occurring when I open the trunk. No warning messages appear.

NHTSA ODI 11572417

First on off glitching when ever accessory mode is used WHILE IN MOTION, FIRST BRAKELIGHT HAD WARNING THEN WARNING ABOUT TRAILER STABILITY ASSIST. WHEN I WENT IN REVERSE, THE WHOLE DASHBOARD INCLUDING THE NAVIGATION SCREEN WENT BLACK AND THE CAR FELT LIKE THE ENGINE STOPPED. THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES. I DON'T THINK THE ENGINE ACTUALLY STOPPED THOUGH BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR. THE BRAKE LIGHT ERROR MESSAGE HAS OCCURRED DRIVING FORWARD AS WELL, BUT NOT ACCOMPANIED BY THE BLACKOUT OF THE DASH AND NAV PANEL. Steering becane stiffer ALL OF THIS HAPPENED WHILE IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI 11492993

The contact's wife owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while his wife was reversing out of the driveway with his grandchildren in the rear seats, she stopped the vehicle to check for incoming traffic but the vehicle switched gears to drive on its own and accelerated forward. The contact's wife depressed the brake pedal but it failed to respond and the vehicle crashed into his unoccupied vehicle that was parked ahead in the driveway. The driver's airbags deployed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's wife parked the vehicle. There were no injuries sustained. A police report was not filed. The contact stated that his wife switched gears to reverse and attempted to reverse the vehicle. The vehicle only reversed for 2 feet and switched gears back to park. The contact stated that the vehicle continuously switched gears to park whenever they attempted to reverse. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 37,592.

NHTSA ODI 11448015

IN SEPTEMBER 2020, CAR RANDOMLY TURNED OFF WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT (ON BUSY INTERSECTION) DURING IDLE MODE CAUSING THE CAR BEHIND US TO HIT WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO MY CAR SINCE THE CAR WASN'T MOVING AT WAS HIT AT LOW SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 11389169

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY INSIDE THE VEHICLE! LUCKY US POLICE WAS AROUND TO HELP EVERYONE OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11324088

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, WHEN DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND IMPACTED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS NOT INJURED. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES BUT WAS NOT AWARE IF MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT COLLISION CENTER. THE VEHICLE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V060000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER) AT NORRIS ACURA (8559 BALTIMORE NATIONAL PIKE, ELLICOTT CITY, MD 21043) ON 10/11/2019. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE RECALL REMEDY THE VEHICLE HAD A FUEL LEAK. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, HOWEVER STATED SHE WOULD BE REASONABLE FOR DIAGNOSES AND REPAIRS FEES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,053.

NHTSA ODI 11316652

I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT ON A BUSY STREET ON A VERY BRIGHT DAY AND DID NOT SEE THAT THE STOP LIGHT I WAS APPROACHING HAD TURNED RED. WHEN I REALIZED IT WAS RED, I BRAKED RAPIDLY OF COURSE BUT STILL GOING AT A PRETTY GOOD SPEED I HIT THE STOPPED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE COLLISION WAS BETWEEN DRIVERS SIDE OF MY MDX AND RIGHT REAR OF A MEDIUM-SIZED WHITE JEEP. MY 17 YR OLD SON WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND HIS AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HOWEVER MY DRIVER BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH SEAT BELTS LOCKED UP. THE IMPACT WAS VERY STRONG ON DRIVER SIDE GIVEN THAT IS WHERE WE HIT. FORTUNATELY, MY SEAT BELT KEPT ME FROM HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. MY ONLY INJURIES ARE NECK ACHE, HEAD ACHE, SEAT BELT BRUISES, AND RINGING EARS. MY CONCERN IS FOR FUTURE USE OF MY CAR. IF THE DRIVER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY GIVEN THIS HARD OF A HIT, I DO NOT BELIEVE IT WILL DEPLOY IN ANY COLLISION. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH ACURA REQUESTING THEM TO INSPECT THE AIRBAG AND BLACK BOX TO DETERMINE WHY IT DID NOT DEPLOY AND THEY SAID THAT AIRBAGS ARE DESIGNED TO ONLY DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED AND IN THIS CASE THE CARS COMPUTER DETERMINED IT WAS NOT NEEDED HENCE THERE IS NO REASON TO INSPECT IT FURTHER. I BELIEVE THAT IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE IMPACT WAS LESS THEN THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE ALSO DEPLOYED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER ALSO SUPPOSEDLY REQUESTED ACURA TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND THEY ALSO DID NOT GET ANY FAVORABLE ACTION FROM ACURA. HONDA/ACURA OF AMERICA RETURNED MY PHONE CALLS TWICE AND SIMPLY SAID THERE IS NO SUPPORTING INFORMATION INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG OR CARS COMPUTER SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THEY ALSO DID NOT ASK ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ACCIDENT IN WHICH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION COULD BE PROVIDED. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR ON THE CAR IS OVER $12K.

NHTSA ODI 11271252

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER WAS SHAKEN UP BY THE INCIDENT, BUT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO RALLYE ACURA (1750 NORTHERN BLVD, ROSLYN, NY 11576, (516) 625-7070); HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT DUE TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO BE ACCESSED TO PROVIDE A TECHNICAL ANALYSIS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS TO REPAIR THE COLLISION DAMAGES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT ISSUED ANY BRAKE SYSTEM RECALLS FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11195368

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE WHEN THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT EXITED THE HIGHWAY, PARKED, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. SMOKE AND FLAMES ENGULFED THE VEHICLE FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE POLICE ARRIVED SHORTLY AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ODI 11184352

I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT AROUND 20-25 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEAR A LOUD SNAPPING SOUND. I IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT JERKED HARD TO THE RIGHT HITTING TWO PARKED VEHICLES. UPON INSPECTION, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE REAR CONTROL ARM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL SNAPPED, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI 11055687

FORWARD/FRONT COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEM DIDN'T ENGAGE ENOUGH TO REDUCE OR AVOID IMPACT OF THE COLLISION. MY VEHICLE TOOK A RIGHT TURN AT ABOUT 20-25 MPH AND TRAVELLED LESS THAN 2-2.5 CAR LENGTH BEFORE GETTING ONTO THE CURB AND HITTING AN IRON PILLAR ABOUT 2 FEET HIGH ON SIDE WALK. IT WAS A SIDE FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL DIRECTLY HIT THE IRON PILLAR. THE VEHICLE SPEED WASN'T REDUCED TO MITIGATE IMPACT/DAMAGE FROM THE COLLISION AND VEHICLE TOOK FULL IMPACT OF THE COLLISION. THE FORWARD/FRONT COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEM MUST BE EVALUATED TO ASSESS SUITABILITY TO AVOID COLLISION WITH OBJECTS OF LOW HEIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 10762377