Home › Cars › Acura › MDX › 2016
2016 Acura MDX problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
74% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Acura MDX are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 94% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 16 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 71%).
Does the 2016 Acura MDX have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 264 of 358 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Acura MDX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (74%), and the largest group is filed under engine (161). For comparison, the 2015 scores 33% and the 2017 scores 64%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Acura MDX years
Of the 13 Acura MDX years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the worst on engine and transmission share (74%). The best is the 2015 (33%). By volume, the 2016 drew 374 complaints (264 drivetrain), against 71 for the 2015 and 256 for the 2017.
Acura MDX years to avoid and best years →
2010 MDX problems · 2011 MDX problems · 2012 MDX problems · 2013 MDX problems · 2014 MDX problems · 2015 MDX problems · 2016 · 2017 MDX problems · 2018 MDX problems · 2019 MDX problems · 2020 MDX problems · 2022 MDX problems · 2023 MDX problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Acura MDX
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 Acura MDX said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 264 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Acura MDX engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2016 Acura MDX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD.…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
Risk: A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Acura MDX, 2015-2019 Acura TLX and 2015-2017 Honda Accord vehicles, equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine. Particulates in fuel may adhere to the internal components of the fuel pump, reducing its performance.
Risk: Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the fuel injection engine control unit (FI-ECU) software and, if necessary, replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 25, 2019. Owners may contact…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2015 Acura MDX 2WD and MDX 4WD vehicles, 2016 Acura MDX 4WD vehicles, 2015-2016 Honda Odyssey vehicles, and 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and 4WD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that were manufactured with insufficient welds which may separate and allow fuel to leak out.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda/Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. The recall began on July 29, 2016. Honda's numbers for this recall…
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Acura MDX? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2016 Acura MDX
Does the 2016 Acura MDX have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 264 of 358 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Acura MDX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (74%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Acura MDX?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Acura MDX is engine: 161 of 374 complaints (43%) name it, followed by power train (111) and electrical system (37). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2016 Acura MDX reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 74% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 94% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Acura MDX years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Acura MDX?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2016 Acura MDX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total: 23V858000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 23V751000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical), 19V060000 (fuel system, other: delivery: fuel pump), and more. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Acura MDX years are better?
Among the Acura MDX years we track, the 2015 (33%), the 2014 (36%) and the 2023 (39%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (74%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/acura-mdx
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.