2013 Acura MDX Owner Complaints

A 2013 ACURA MDX VEHICLE (ADVANCE MODEL) WAS BOUGHT IN THE ACURA DEALER ON JULY 27, 2013. STARTING ON OCTOBER 2013, STRONG SMELL OF FUMES HAS SPORADICALLY BEEN SENSED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, MAKING IT UNCOMFORTABLE TO BREATHE. SINCE NOVEMBER 5, 2013, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP (THREE TIMES) TO TARGET THE CAUSE OF THE FUMES. THE SMELL OF FUMES INSIDE THE CABIN ARE SENSED NOT ONLY WHILE DRIVING AT 10MPH, 40MPH, OR 60MPH BUT ALSO ON SHORT DISTANCE RIDES, DURING RAINY DAYS AND WHILE WAITING FOR A LIGHT TO CHANGE (THE SMELL WAS ALSO SENSED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN THE WINDOWS WERE DOWN). ON THE SECOND SERVICE APPOINTMENT, THE SHOP VERIFIED THE A/C SYSTEM AND THE RECIRCULATION CASE OF THE AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) SYSTEM WAS SEALED; BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SPORADIC SMELL OF FUMES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE DECEMBER 23 AND NOT RETURNED SINCE THEY DO NOT FIND WHY THE VEHICLE EMITS SUCH STRONG FUMES THAT SURPASSED THE A/C SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS HARDLY BEEN USED DUE TO THE SAFETY AND HEALTH CONCERN. AS OF TODAY, THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DETECTED NOR CORRECTED. *TR

1/17/2014

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

2/3/2015

BACK-UP CAMERA VIDEO / NAVIGATION MODULE, AND STEREO / CLOCK SCREENS REMAINED BLANK AFTER STARTING ENGINE, PLACING CAR IN REVERSE GEAR AND MOVING SLOWLY DOWN DRIVEWAY IN AN APPROXIMATE TIME FRAME OF 3-4 MINUTES. ALL SCREENS CONTINUED TO BE BLANK AFTER EXITING DRIVEWAY, STOPPING, THEN PLACING CAR IN DRIVE AND TRAVELING 5-7 MPH ON STREET. STOPPED VEHICLE AT STOP SIGN AFTER TRAVELING 200 YARDS. RE-ENGAGED REVERSE, THEN DRIVE GEARS WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. BOTH SCREENS FINALLY ACTIVATED, SHOWING CORRECT TIME AND BLUETOOTH CONNECTION STATUS ON STEREO SCREEN, AS WELL AS REAR CAMERA VIDEO PICTURE ON NAV MODULE SCREEN WHILE REVERSE GEAR ENGAGED. SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS SINCE PURCHASING THIS USED VEHICLE IN MAY 2012. *TR

7/30/2013

A 2013 ACURA MDX VEHICLE (ADVANCE MODEL) WAS BOUGHT IN THE ACURA DEALER ON JULY 27, 2013. STARTING ON OCTOBER 2013, STRONG SMELL OF FUMES HAS SPORADICALLY BEEN SENSED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, MAKING IT UNCOMFORTABLE TO BREATHE. SINCE NOVEMBER 5, 2013, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP (THREE TIMES) TO TARGET THE CAUSE OF THE FUMES. THE SMELL OF FUMES INSIDE THE CABIN ARE SENSED NOT ONLY WHILE DRIVING AT 10MPH, 40MPH, OR 60MPH BUT ALSO ON SHORT DISTANCE RIDES, DURING RAINY DAYS AND WHILE WAITING FOR A LIGHT TO CHANGE (THE SMELL WAS ALSO SENSED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN THE WINDOWS WERE DOWN). ON THE SECOND SERVICE APPOINTMENT, THE SHOP VERIFIED THE A/C SYSTEM AND THE RECIRCULATION CASE OF THE AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) SYSTEM WAS SEALED; BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SPORADIC SMELL OF FUMES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE DECEMBER 23 AND NOT RETURNED SINCE THEY DO NOT FIND WHY THE VEHICLE EMITS SUCH STRONG FUMES THAT SURPASSED THE A/C SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS HARDLY BEEN USED DUE TO THE SAFETY AND HEALTH CONCERN. AS OF TODAY, THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DETECTED NOR CORRECTED. *TR

1/17/2014

TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM...... I BOUGHT A USED 2012 MDX WITH 4300 MILES 5 MONTHS LATER I HAD THIS ISSUE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A ACURA DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT BUT I DID FEEL SAFE SO I TRADED IT IN FOR A NEWER MODEL THINKING IT WOULD BE BETTER...LONG BEHOLD THE 2013 MDX I GOT DID THE SAME THING 5 MONTH LATER. THE DEALER NEVER TOLD ME AFTER BRING THE FIRST CAR BACK THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THESE CARS. AND SOLD ME A SECOND ONE , WHICH BY THE WAY I LOSS $8000 ON THE FIRST CAR FOR TRADING IT IN SO SOON.I ONLY TRADED IT IN BECAUSE I DID FEEL SAFE AND I TOLD THEM THAT..LUCKY I BOUGHT WARRANTY BECAUSE THE 2013 MDX HAD 6700 MILE AND WARRANTY WAS UP......

7/4/2016

I PURCHASED A 2013 ACURA MDX FROM HONDA OF BOWIE ON JULY 1, 2O16. THAT SAME DAY I HAD TO BRING IT BACK BECAUSE THE AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK. ON FRIDAY, JULY 9 I HAD TO BRING IT BACK BECAUSE THE NAVIGATION DOES NOT WORK, THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE UNDER THE CAR AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED. I BELIEVE THIS CAR HAS SEVERAL ISSUES AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLD TO ME. THE CAR HAD JUST COME IN (AS I WAS TOLD)AN D IT HAD NOT GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS REQUIRERD FOR USED CARS BEFORE BEING SOLD. I INITIALLY WENT THERE TO TRADE MY KIA AND BUY A USED CAR. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO BUY A NEW CAR BECAUSE OF THE NEGATIVE EQUITY. SO I DID NOT TRADE MY KIA AND BOUGHT A USED ACURA FOR 40,000. THIS CAR HAS MANY ISSUE WITH IT,

7/11/2016

PURCHASED THIS A AT A USED CAR FROM ACURA OF LOS GATOS AN PICKED THE CAR UP LATE ON JAN 27TH 2016. AT NOON ON FEB 5TH (JUST ABOUT 7 DAYS) THE CAR SUDDENLY STOP WHEN TRYING TO PULL UP TO THE DRIVE WAY OF MY FRIEND HOUSE. THE ENTIRE CAR IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A SMALL STREET, BLOCKING CARS FROM MOVING. CAR CAN'T GET STARTED EVEN WITH JUMPER FROM A TOWING COMPANY. THE CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO LOS GATOS ACURA AND FEW HOURS LATER WE WERE TOLD THE THE ENTIRE ENGINE IS GONE. WE PURCHASE THIS USED CAR BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A NEW CAR JUST ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD AND DRIVEN JUST ABOVE 25,000 MILES AND SUPPOSED TO RUN THROUGH ALMOST 200 POINTS CHECK FROM LOS GATOS ACURA, BUT IT FAILED IN OUR FACE AND WE ARE FEAR FOR OUR LIVES DUE TO THE REASON THAT WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH THAT THE CAR BROKE DOWN IN A MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IN A LIGHT TRAFFIC AREA. IF THE ENGINE DID BREAK DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF FAST AND HIGH TRAFFIC FREEWAY, OUR LIVES COULD BE IN SERIOUS DANGER.

2/18/2016

TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM...... I BOUGHT A USED 2012 MDX WITH 4300 MILES 5 MONTHS LATER I HAD THIS ISSUE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A ACURA DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT BUT I DID FEEL SAFE SO I TRADED IT IN FOR A NEWER MODEL THINKING IT WOULD BE BETTER...LONG BEHOLD THE 2013 MDX I GOT DID THE SAME THING 5 MONTH LATER. THE DEALER NEVER TOLD ME AFTER BRING THE FIRST CAR BACK THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THESE CARS. AND SOLD ME A SECOND ONE , WHICH BY THE WAY I LOSS $8000 ON THE FIRST CAR FOR TRADING IT IN SO SOON.I ONLY TRADED IT IN BECAUSE I DID FEEL SAFE AND I TOLD THEM THAT..LUCKY I BOUGHT WARRANTY BECAUSE THE 2013 MDX HAD 6700 MILE AND WARRANTY WAS UP......

7/4/2016

THE VEHICLE SHOWS ALL TROUBLE CODES, VSA STABILITY, TRAILER STABILITY, ALL WHEEL DRIVE, ENGINE SYSTEM. ERROR. ONCE CODE COMES ON LOSS OF POWER AND STABILITY CONTROL. *TR

6/9/2013

HAVING PROBLEMS WITH DELAYED ACCELERATION MAINLY WHEN I ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC. WHILE DRIVING MAINLY ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR WILL RANDOMLY AND RHYTHMICALLY START ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING BETWEEN 1500-2000RPMS

1/5/2016

THE VEHICLE SHOWS ALL TROUBLE CODES, VSA STABILITY, TRAILER STABILITY, ALL WHEEL DRIVE, ENGINE SYSTEM. ERROR. ONCE CODE COMES ON LOSS OF POWER AND STABILITY CONTROL. *TR

6/9/2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REBOOTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,800. UPDATED 12/01/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STAED A NON-ACURA DEALER IDENTIFED THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY AS DEFECTIVE. UPDATED 01/20/15

10/2/2014

EMERGENCY FLASHERS WERE STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. WE HAD PULLED OVER BRIEFLY ON THE FREEWAY AND TURNED ON THE HAZARD FLASHERS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE WANTED TO RESUME DRIVING BUT THE FLASHERS WOULD NOT TURN OFF FOR A COUPLE MINUTES, SO WE DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE. THE SWITCH DID NOT RESPOND, DURING A COUPLE MINUTES OF PRESSING THE SWITCH. UNKNOWN WHY THE SWITCH BECAME STUCK OR HOW IT BECAME UNSTUCK.

7/3/2015

BACKUP CAMERA HAS EXTREMELY POOR PERFORMANCE IN LOW LIGHT OR NIGHT TIME SETTINGS IF THERE IS NO OTHER AMBIENT LIGHT LIKE STREET LIGHTS. REVERSE LIGHTS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO BE ABLE TO SEE OBSTACLES OR DANGERS IN THE BACKUP MONITOR. BODY PANELS PRODUCE A BLIND SPOT REQUIRING THE BACKUP CAMERA TO SEE BEHIND YOU. THE BACKUP CAMERA HAS SHIFTED ANGLE SLIGHTLY CAUSING THE MARKINGS INTENDED TO ALLOW BACKUP INTO PARKING SPACES TO BE OFF CENTER AND GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO AN INAPPROPRIATE PARKING ANGLE. THIS LOW LIGHT PERFORMANCE ISSUE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO OWNERS FOR SOME TIME, IN LIGHT OF ACURA'S NEW RECALL RELATED TO BACKUP CAMERAS THIS WARRANTS INVESTIGATION AS WELL.

10/1/2018

THE VEHICLE SHOWS ALL TROUBLE CODES, VSA STABILITY, TRAILER STABILITY, ALL WHEEL DRIVE, ENGINE SYSTEM. ERROR. ONCE CODE COMES ON LOSS OF POWER AND STABILITY CONTROL. *TR

6/9/2013

BACK-UP CAMERA VIDEO / NAVIGATION MODULE, AND STEREO / CLOCK SCREENS REMAINED BLANK AFTER STARTING ENGINE, PLACING CAR IN REVERSE GEAR AND MOVING SLOWLY DOWN DRIVEWAY IN AN APPROXIMATE TIME FRAME OF 3-4 MINUTES. ALL SCREENS CONTINUED TO BE BLANK AFTER EXITING DRIVEWAY, STOPPING, THEN PLACING CAR IN DRIVE AND TRAVELING 5-7 MPH ON STREET. STOPPED VEHICLE AT STOP SIGN AFTER TRAVELING 200 YARDS. RE-ENGAGED REVERSE, THEN DRIVE GEARS WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. BOTH SCREENS FINALLY ACTIVATED, SHOWING CORRECT TIME AND BLUETOOTH CONNECTION STATUS ON STEREO SCREEN, AS WELL AS REAR CAMERA VIDEO PICTURE ON NAV MODULE SCREEN WHILE REVERSE GEAR ENGAGED. SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS SINCE PURCHASING THIS USED VEHICLE IN MAY 2012. *TR

7/30/2013

MY 4 YEAR OLD WAS IN A BOOSTER SEAT IN THE BACK SO SEAT BELT WAS ON HIM. WHEN WE WENT TO UNBUCKLE THE SEATBELT IT LOCKED. WE ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO UNLOCK IT, WE TESTED ALL THE OTHER SEATBELTS WHICH DID LOCK AND UNLOCK. WE COULD NOT GET IT UNLOCKED AND HAD TO GO INTO A LOCAL RESTAURANT AND BORROW SCISSORS TO GET HIM OUT. WE TRIED FOR 15 MINS AT LEAST TO GET THE SEAT BELT UNLOCKED AND EVERY TIME IT SEEMED TO GET TIGHTER. MY 4 YEAR OLD HAD NIGHTMARES THAT EVENING ABOUT THE SEAT BELTS AND RED MARKS ON HIS SHOULDER. IT IS SCARY TO THINK WE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET HIM OUT IN AN EMERGENCY. *TR

6/20/2014

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE, THE IGNITION ON, WHEN IT SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN AND DECELERATED. I MANAGED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ONTO MY STREET, ALTHOUGH THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTARTED IT WITH NO PROBLEM. I DID HAVE A SMALL WALLET (DIMENSIONS WERE @ 4IN BY 5IN, WEIGHT @ 3 OZ) ATTACHED TO THE KEY WHILE IT WAS IN THE IGNITION. I CONTACTED THE ACURA DEALERSHIP THE SAME DAY AND WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT HE WAS UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH OR RECALL ON THE IGNITION. *TR

8/24/2014

BACKUP CAMERA HAS EXTREMELY POOR PERFORMANCE IN LOW LIGHT OR NIGHT TIME SETTINGS IF THERE IS NO OTHER AMBIENT LIGHT LIKE STREET LIGHTS. REVERSE LIGHTS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO BE ABLE TO SEE OBSTACLES OR DANGERS IN THE BACKUP MONITOR. BODY PANELS PRODUCE A BLIND SPOT REQUIRING THE BACKUP CAMERA TO SEE BEHIND YOU. THE BACKUP CAMERA HAS SHIFTED ANGLE SLIGHTLY CAUSING THE MARKINGS INTENDED TO ALLOW BACKUP INTO PARKING SPACES TO BE OFF CENTER AND GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO AN INAPPROPRIATE PARKING ANGLE. THIS LOW LIGHT PERFORMANCE ISSUE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO OWNERS FOR SOME TIME, IN LIGHT OF ACURA'S NEW RECALL RELATED TO BACKUP CAMERAS THIS WARRANTS INVESTIGATION AS WELL.

10/1/2018

Internal vehicle fire started around front passenger seat and burned for an unknown amount time before it extinguished on its own while vehicle was off and parked. Fire department was contacted upon fire discovery and they confirmed it was out, could be electrically related, and disconnected my battery Vehicle is available for inspection for the time being (pending insurance). If I or any passenger was in the vehicle they could've been seriously injured or died. There were no warning lamps or issues of any prior problem.

11/7/2021

During driving, Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) will activate and "BRAKE" light will blink, indicating that you should apply brakes. This happened multiple times. Finally the CMBS warning light came on permanently. I took my car to Acura Dealership for repairs. They informed me that it was a software issue and update of the software should resolve this problem.

7/25/2022

Warning message appeared 1/17/25. Inspected by Price Acura service department 1/20/25. Checked online recall for airbags. Multiple airbag recalls are mentioned for Acura, including my make and model. This vehicle has approximately 92,000 miles and I am the original owner. Would like to know if this $1800 charge would be covered under recalls already listed as this is apparently a problem existing in many other similar vehicles.

1/21/2025

Unknown

6/20/2025