2016 Acura MDX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
93/100
#2 most-complained of 15 MDX years
The 2016 Acura MDX ranks 2nd worst out of 15 model years, with a Complaint Index of 93 and 374 NHTSA complaints. Engine problems dominate at 49% of complaints, backed by 7 recalls including engine and fuel system issues, earning it an Avoid verdict relative to other MDX years.
- Complaints
- 374
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes / fires
- 10 / 5
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22
- 19 city / 26.5 hwy
Top 2016 Acura MDX problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine182 (49%)
- Transmission & Powertrain111 (30%)
- Electrical System46 (12%)
- Other42 (11%)
- Fuel System31 (8%)
- Structure & Body23 (6%)
- Brakes21 (6%)
- Lane Departure14 (4%)
- Steering12 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (3%)
What owners report
- Engine compartment catches fire while driving or after parking, sometimes with a burning plastic smell coming through the vents beforehand.
- Vehicle unexpectedly accelerates or lurches forward at low speed, including while backing out of a driveway or in a parking area.
- Brake pedal fails to respond during low-speed maneuvers, resulting in collisions with parked vehicles or barriers.
- Steering or suspension component snaps suddenly at low speed, causing loss of control and impact with other vehicles.
- Engine shuts off unexpectedly while idling or stopped, leading to a rear-end collision when the vehicle behind moves forward.
2016 Acura MDX recalls
7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V365000Jun 4, 2026Structure & Body880,514 vehicles
Structure:frame and members
American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.
Risk: Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.
- NHTSA 25V259000Apr 17, 2025Electrical System152,800 vehicles
Interior lighting
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid light assembly and wiring harness, which can cause the interior and exterior lights to fail, including the lid lights, position lights, license plate lights and taillights.
Risk: Vehicle lights that fail to illuminate can decrease visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wiring and install a fuse harness, replace the lid light, and repair the body dust sealer, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2025. Owners may contact Acura's customer service at 1-800-382-2238. Acura's number for this recall is FLI. Vehicles included in this recall that were previously repaired under NHTSA recall number 19V-256 will need to have the new remedy completed.
- NHTSA 23V858000Dec 18, 2023Fuel System2,490,460 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
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.
Remedy: 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. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
2016 Acura MDX fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19 MPG
- Highway
- 26.5 MPG
- Combined
- 22 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,650
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2016 compared with other MDX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Acura MDX reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2016 MDX ranks 2nd worst of 15 model years for this model, with a Complaint Index of 93 and 374 complaints, mostly tied to the engine.
- What problems does the 2016 Acura MDX have?
- Owners most often report engine problems (49% of complaints, median mileage at failure 52,000), followed by transmission and powertrain issues (30%) and electrical system problems (12%).
- Does the 2016 Acura MDX have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2016 Acura MDX, covering the engine, fuel system, electrical system, and structure/body, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2016 MDX compare to other MDX years?
- The 2016 model's Complaint Index of 93 is higher than most other MDX years, including 2010-2013 (Best, index 0-21) and 2015 (Good, index 29), placing it among the worse years for this model.