Transmission Shifts Erratically

2016 Acura MDX

This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Acura dealer.

8.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$4,500
Average Mileage:
39,500 miles
Total Complaints:
4 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (3 reports)
  2. replace transmission (1 reports)
2016 Acura MDX transmission problems

transmission problem

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2016 Acura MDX Owner Comments

problem #4

Mar 042016

MDX Tech V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Still having the same issue even though I changed the transmission the dealer at 18k miles. Experience erratic shift patterns, such as a sensation of acceleration while coasting down hills, and very hard surging when braking.

- Xuan D., Jurupa Valley, US

problem #3

Jan 182021

MDX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,000 miles

First time reporting complaint with Acura MDX 2016 transmission but it has had sporadic issues for past 4 years. Acura continues to deny there is a transmission issue even though they also recommend the steps to fix when minor issue of transmission surging. Last night on interstate, transmission shifted to neutral and slowly died. Luckily I was in right lane of toll road - on winter night, it could have been much worse if in the left lane with rapidly declining speed and nothing to do. Car towed (again) to Acura dealer and this time need to replace the transmission for $4500.

Curious if others with 2nd transmission had any issues? Also if class action lawsuit being considered for the transmission redesign on the 2016 Acura MDX given the widely reported transmission issues - before there are serious crashes & injuries/deaths.

- Deb L., Westlake, US

problem #2

Nov 162016

MDX AWD, Tech Package V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 7,500 miles

I wish I could categorize my experiences with this vehicle into ONE category, but that's not the case here. I'm an automotive enthusiast, and I know a lot about cars, having worked on many vehicles and brands in my youth. I believe I KNOW my way around vehicles. That being said, we went out on a limb, and purchased a brand new 2016 MDX and were SO excited to be at the point in our lives that we could afford a "luxury" vehicle such as this. Unfortunately, it didn't work out like that.

This vehicle has disappointed us in ways we cannot even describe. The Transmission (which everyone complains about) shifts erratically and without warning. I believe that having NINE gears could be the problem here. We lost the ability to roll up the passenger side window from the driver's side. Luckily, it would still go up and down from the passenger side, but not before soaking the car's interior in a car wash incident. The Bluetooth features are - at best - sketchy, and won't allow you to change from one phone to the other, even when you are in Park. The Rear Camera is not clear in the display, unknown reason. We've had it in to the dealer for all these (and more) issues, and it always turns out the same: "This is normal for this vehicle"... They replaced a window regulator for the passenger window issue, but this is the only "legitimate" fix they have performed that's actually fixed anything, to our knowledge.

The Brake Warning System routinely alerts us to brake, even though there are no vehicles in front of us. It also does this when it thinks you're too close to another vehicle in front of you, even though you've got your foot ON THE BRAKE...

Part of the problem here is that manufacturers are taking excessive liberties with these vehicles, taking many decisions OUT of the driver's hands, and letting the vehicle think for itself... this is ridiculous, and a testament to how the establishment thinks individuals need that kind of "correction" when they're driving a motor vehicle, and many other tasks, for that matter. What is touted as "safety" for the driver amounts to over-engineering the vehicle without proven technologies that will WORK properly when called upon.

We are VERY dissatisfied with this vehicle. We have been a LONG TERM Toyota family and have never had the kinds of issues with either the brand new or the used Toyotas we've ever purchased. I've been driving over 40 years at this point, and think I know my way around a vehicle, so my opinions stem from lots of experience. I was driving for a living about 35,000 miles per year for many years of my life, and I draw on that experience when assessing this vehicle's reliability and performance.

I believe that some of these issues are directly reflective of the amount of "toys" (electronic features) that Acura put in this vehicle, and others like it. I believe that if you're going to make a vehicle this technologically advanced, you're going to have glitches. But we never expected to have THIS MANY of them with an Acura, a brand with a (supposedly) excellent reputation such as theirs.

- Steve L., Leander, TX, US

problem #1

Jul 132016

MDX AWD, Tech Package V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 7,500 miles

My only reason to post this in the Transmission section was to reference to my original post, which is in the Miscellaneous section of these complaints for this vehicle. I thought it important to put it there, because besides the Transmission, we have had a host of other problems which were worth mentioning. Thank you.

- Steve L., Leander, TX, US

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