WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE DURING A LEFT TURN, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT WORK. ALL ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. WE NEARLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT BY COASTING INTO THE CENTER LANE. I HAD TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IN ORDER TO GAIN THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AGAIN, BUT ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ON. DROVE IT TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY HAVE YET TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED - ALL DURING THE FIRST 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING DURING THE MORNING. THE LAST INCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS CRASH. *TR
2014 Acura MDX complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2014 record →
THIS IS THE FOURTH INCIDENT OF UNINTENDED ENGINE REVVING WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS FOURTH INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 7121 MILES. WAS IN "REVERSE," POSITIONING THE VEHICLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE I WAS IN "REVERSE" AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. HAD TO FIRMLY PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO HOLD THE CAR FROM RUNNING INTO PEOPLE AND OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND OUR VEHICLE. SHIFTED INTO "NEUTRAL". THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE ONE THIRD OF FULL THROTTLE. I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE ENGINE RETURNED TO IDLE. MY WIFE WAS WITH ME DURING THIS INCIDENT. SHE WAS WITH ME IN THE VEHICLE DURING THREE OF THESE FOUR SIMILAR INCIDENTS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT HEARD AN INTERMITTENT NOISE BEHIND THE DASHBOARD. WHILE MAKING A TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND CAUSED TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL. INITIALLY, THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING MOTOR COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE BRAKES INDEPENDENTLY ENGAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,030.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,800.
TRAVELING 65 MPH ON A FREEWAY WITH ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC) ENGAGED, VEHICLE SUDDENLY BRAKES HARD ON ITS OWN FOR NO APPARENT REASON; DROPPING 10 MPH IN A HEARTBEAT. THE VEHICLE DID NOT PRODUCE A COLLISION WARNING MESSAGE ON THE DASH. THE CARS IN FRONT ON ME WERE WELL BEYOND THE LONGEST 4 BAR RANGE OF THE ACC SO IT WAS NOT DETECTING AND LOCKED ONTO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WERE NO CARS ON EITHER SIDE, NO CAR CROSSING IN FRONT OF ME AND THE ROAD WAS FLAT WITH NO OBSTACLES. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS NOT TAILGATING AS THE SUDDEN DECELERATION COULD HAVE CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION. SUDDEN DECELERATION HAS HAPPENED TWICE DURING THE SIX WEEKS I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. I'VE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ACC IS INCONSISTENT, OFTEN SLUGGISH, IN RESPONDING TO THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC WHEN IT IS DETECTING A CAR IN FRONT OF ME; CREATING ADDITIONAL HAZARD CONCERNS FOR THE DRIVER. *TR..UPDATED 05-27-15 *BF UPDATED 8/28/2017*CN
THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT OF UNINTENDED ENGINE REVVING WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS THIRD INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 5925 MILES. WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN "REVERSE" AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN, IN AN INSTANT, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY REVVED UP WHILE I WAS STILL HOLDING THE BRAKE PEDAL FIRMLY AND SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE JOLTED INTO DRIVE. *TR
THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH WAS ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED, VERY BRIEFLY, WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL MOVING, WITH THE GEAR SHIFT IN STILL IN DRIVE MODE, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THIS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH IF THE CAR ABRUPTLY CHANGED SPEED, LOSS POWER TO OTHER SAFETY CONTROL SYSTEMS, LOSS POWER TO THE AIRBAGS, OR LOSS POWER TO THE BRAKES. *TR
NORTHBOUND I-95, VERO BEACH, FL EXIT 147. PREPARED TO ENTER DECELERATION LANE AT APPROX. 70 MPH, NO PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW. IN DECELERATION LANE, ATTEMPTED TO APPLY BRAKES TO FURTHER SLOW VEHICLE, BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS. AFTER STOMPING ON BRAKE PEDAL 4-5 TIMES IT FINALLY RELEASED AND ALLOWED THE BRAKES TO FUNCTION. THIS WAS THE SECOND EVENT OF THIS TYPE. FIRST OCCURRING 24 DEC. 2013. *TR
I HAVE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 6 MONTH OLD MDX (LESS THAN 5000 MILES). THE CAR IS MAKING GRINDING NOISES AND VIBRATES, INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER HAS DISMISSED MY CLAIMS AND MADE MINOR MODIFICATIONS WITH INSULATION, AND HOODCLIPS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY PRETEND THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE MANAGER HAS HEARD IT ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE CARE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 6 MONTHS AND THEY HAVE HELD MY CAR IN SERVICE FOR OVER 30 DAYS. WHEN WE ATTEMPTED TO PICK UP THE CAR LAST NIGHT, THERE WAS NOW A NEW EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE WITH EVERY TIME I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE. THE ON-DUTY SALES MANAGER HEARD THE NOISE AND INSISTED THAT I LEAVE THE CAR FOR SERVICE. TODAY, THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO ADDRESS THIS NEW ISSUE, AND STILL IGNORING THE OLD ISSUE, WHICH WAS CAUSED WHILE MY CAR WAS IN THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PAST MONTH. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND I FEEL TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY ACURA. THE DEALERSHIP IS ALSO SAYING "THEIR HANDS ARE TIED." I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CALL THEIR NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND THEY HAVE GIVEN ME THE RUN AROUND, INSISTING THAT ALL OF THEIR SUPERVISORS AND CASE MANAGER ARE IN MEETINGS. HOW DO I ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? PLEASE HELP IN THIS MATTER. IF YOU READ ON-LINE MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE NEWLY REDESIGNED 2014 MDX, PRODUCED AT A NEW ALABAMA PLANT. ACURA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS MODEL, BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED ON THE R
OUR VEHICLE IS AN ACURA MDX 2014 WITH THE ADVANCE PACKAGE. ONE FEATURE OF THE PACKAGE IS ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WHICH AIMS TO KEEP THE VEHICLE MOVING AT A STEADY RATE AND AT A SET DISTANCE FROM ANY VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN VEHICLES IN FRONT OF OURS SLOWS DOWN OR A VEHICLE MERGES FROM ANOTHER LANE IN FRONT OF US (EVEN TRANSIENTLY), INSTEAD OF GRADUALLY BRAKING AND SPEEDING UP, THE ACURA PERFORMS SUDDEN DECELERATION WITH HARD BRAKING EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT IS DOING THE SAME SPEED OR GOING ONLY SLIGHTLY SLOWER. AFTER THE HARD BRAKING STARTS, IF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT SPEEDS UP, OUR VEHICLE DOES NOT RECOVER AND START TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. I HAVE A PREGNANT WIFE WHO IS THE MAIN DRIVER OF THE CAR AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL CAUSE HER TO BE REAR-ENDED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THE BACK-UP CAMERA INTERMITTENTLY REMAINED ACTIVATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER REFEREED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO OFFERED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.
DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR IS NOT LOCKING PROPERLY, WE HAVE TO USE THE FORCE LIKE A HEAVY TRUCK DOOR. IT'S NOT SAFE WHEN KIDS ARE SITTING INSIDE. COMPLAINED TO ACURA AND THEY SAY IT'S NOT A BUG, THAT'S HOW THAT DOOR WILL WORK. 10 YEAR DAUGHTER CAN NOT CLOSE THE DOOR ON HER OWN. EVERY TIME DRIVER HAS TO USE MORE FORCE TO CLOSE THE DOOR. *TR
THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT OF UNINTENDED ENGINE REVVING WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 4500 MILES. WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN "REVERSE" AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN, IN AN INSTANT, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY REVVED UP WHILE I WAS STILL HOLDING THE BRAKE PEDAL FIRMLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN "REVERSE". ALARMED, I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE CAR INTO "PARK". THE TRANSITION INTO "PARK" WAS NOT SMOOTH AND THE ENGINE RPM WENT EVEN HIGHER. IT SOUNDED LIKE ONE THIRD OF FULL THROTTLE. MY WIFE WAS IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. ONCE IN "PARK", WE PUT DOWN THE WINDOWS TO HEAR HOW LOUD THE ENGINE WAS REVVING. STILL IN "PARK", I ASKED MY WIFE TO WATCH ME STEP ON AND OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AT LEAST THREE TIMES, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RETURN TO IDLE. I THEN KICKED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE. ACURA CLIENT RELATIONS HAD A "FIELD REPRESENTATIVE" CHECK MY VEHICLE. FOR THE SECOND TIME, ACURA IS CLAIMING THAT NO PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND WITH OUR VEHICLE. *TR
BRAKE PEDAL GETS REALLY STIFFEN UP AND CAR WON'T START UNLESS I DEPRESS THE BRAKE REALLY REALLY HARD. SEEMS LIKE FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LEFT SITTING FOR AWHILE. HAPPENING FREQUENTLY NOW. *TR
THE 2014 MDX IS NOW EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR THAT IS SPLIT VERTICALLY INTO TWO PIECES ONE LARGER AND ONE SMALLER. THE SMALLER MIRROR CREATES THE ILLUSION THAT A PASSING CAR IS CRASHING INTO YOUR VEHICLE. IT IS QUITE DISCONCERTING TO A DRIVER. BOTH MYSELF AND MY SON HAVE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE. IT CAUSES A DRIVER TO REACT TO A DANGER THAT DOES NOT EXIST. *TR
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
9 DEC. 2014 BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS TO ALLOW STARTING OF VEHICLE. AFTER JAMMING FOOT AGAINST THE "FROZEN" BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES PEDAL DEPRESSED ENOUGH TO ALLOW VEHICLE START. NO FURTHER ISSUES THAT DAY. 10 DEC. 2014 SECOND OCCURRENCE OF EXACT ISSUE AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. 24 DEC. 2014 WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 20 MPH ON AN ICE COVERED ROAD, ATTEMPTED TO APPLY BRAKES IN ORDER TO RETARD VEHICLE SPEED WHILE DESCENDING SLIGHT HILL, BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS. AFTER MULTIPLE JAMMING OF FOOT AGAINST BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL FINALLY DEPRESSED ALLOWING ABS AND BRAKE SYSTEM TO FUNCTION SLOWING VEHICLE. *TR
THE INCLUDED INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM, WHICH IS NOW PREDOMINANTLY CONTROLLED BY A TOUCHSCREEN, IS INCREDIBLY SLOW, LAGGY, AND DANGEROUS TO OPERATE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE, ONGOING FAILURES WITH THIS SYSTEM - EVERY TIME I ENTER THE VEHICLE. AS HONDA/ACURA HAS REMOVED OR REPLACED PRIMARY-OPERATION BUTTONS (32 OUT OF 41, BY THEIR COUNT), THE MANDATE TO USE THE OTHER OPERATIONAL SYSTEM (TOUCHSCREEN AND JOG-DIAL) HAS INCREASED THE RISK OF SAFETY INCIDENTS, EXACERBATED BY A SLOW USER INTERFACE RESPONSE AND OFTEN-FAILING VOICE CONTROL SYSTEM. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER ONCE, AND HAS BEEN WAITING FOR A SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR FIVE MONTHS. NEW VEHICLES HAVE AN UPDATED SOFTWARE LOAD, BUT ACURA REFUSES TO INSTALL IT. ACURA CLIENT RELATIONS HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE UPDATES OR A SOLUTION. *TR
MY BRAND NEW MDX HAS HAD ISSUES WITH MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS APPEARING ON THE VEHICLE WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE. THIS INCLUDES CHECK ENGINE WARNING, LANE DEPARTURE WARNING FAILURE, POWER STEERING ISSUE AND POSSIBLY ADDITIONAL WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE DID THIS THE FIRST TIME WHEN I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE AND AT THAT TIME, WAS RESOLVED BY FIXING A LOOSE PLUG. THEN IT DID IT AGAIN WHEN I WAS SUPPOSED TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE MINOR TRIM REPAIRS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2014. THE VEHICLE IS STILL WITH SERVICE AND THEY HAVE YET TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE WARNING LIGHT ISSUE. I WAS ADVISED THAT THEY ARE IN TOUCH WITH ACURA'S TECH LINE ON THIS AND THEY HOPE IT WILL BE RESOLVED SOON. ADDITIONALLY, I COMPLETED FURTHER RESEARCH ON THIS AND NOTED THAT OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH WARNING LIGHTS APPEARING ON THEIR 2014 MDX VEHICLES. HERE IS AN ONLINE REFERENCE THAT I FOUND WHERE OWNERS HAVE POSTED COMMENTS ON THIS: HTTP://WWW.MDXERS.ORG/FORUMS/94-NEW-2014-ACURA-MDX/63666-2014-MDX-ISSUES.HTML. *TR
WHEN COMING TO A SUDDEN STOP THE BRAKE LIGHT WILL FLASH ON THE DASHBOARD ACCOMPANIED BY A BEEPING SOUND FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS. I HAVE BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERS SHIP IN METAIRIE LOUISIANA AND AM TOLD THAT THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE LAST 3 MONTHS. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS FAILING OR THE BRAKE FLUID IS LOW. *TR
YESTERDAY, AFTER BACKING UP, STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, SHIFTED INTO "PARK" WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY REVVED UP TO WHAT SOUNDED LIKE FULL THROTTLE! I PUSHED THE IGNITION BUTTON TO STOP THE ENGINE. AFTER THIS ONE INCIDENT, THE CAR HAS FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. *TR
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2014 Acura MDX → · Every MDX year → · How the figures are calculated →