10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
7,710 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Acura MDX electrical problems

electrical problem

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2018 Acura MDX Owner Comments

problem #10

Mar 082023

MDX

  • miles

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

Keyless Access/TPMS Control Unit is failing. Vehicle randomly behaves where all dash lights blink on and off, head lights turn on, car alarm intermittently alarms, and motorized steering wheel moves. It is unknown if there is any malfunction to ADAS or other systems due to this random behavior. Vehicle cannot be parked with the battery connected as all of these events intermittently happen and drains the battery. The behavior is so startling and a concern to drive that it is unknown if it will completely fail and shutdown while driving. For example, the Keyless Control Unit could potentially fail to recognize the key while driving and then the vehicle would shutdown as if being stolen. Vehicle has been inspected by the dealer, confirmed malfunction and noted occurence with other customers vehicles of same make and model. Diagnostic report by dealer states the failing component.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #9

Oct 062022

MDX

  • miles
The car was bought in November, 2018, and is still under warranty. In the morning of October 3, 2022, The car would not start. The voltage of the battery was measured to be about 11.5 V. A new battery was bought and put in by myself on October 4, 2022, since I did not realize that the battery was still under warranty. Everything looked normal on October 5, 2022. But in the morning of October 6, 2022, the headlights were found to be on even though nobody was around the car parked in the garage. Sometimes the alarm would go off. This happens randomly but frequently ever since. An appointment was made with the dealer, and the car was checked out on October 10, 2022. The dealer determined that the Keyless Module Unit was faulty, but the part was on back order. The service advisor assured me that it should be safe to drive the car. Ever since, the car has been trying to start itself frequently and randomly. It would turn on the headlights, move the driver seat, go through the engine turnover cycle, etc. Sometimes it also moved the window shield wipers, or sounded the alarm even though the car was not locked. Being afraid of driving the car, I started to ask for a loaner or rental car from the the dealer on October 12, 2022, and have been talking to both Acura warranty department and the dealership since. Today (October 24, 2022) the car would not start, and had been towed to the dealership. Now it has been more than a week, I still cannot get a rental car from Acura, even though the service director from the dealership also had a concern about the safety of driving the car or leaving the car unattended.

- Glenwood, MD, USA

problem #8

Feb 012022

MDX

  • miles
Brake light is not working properly, I was pulled over with a warning

- Syracuse , NY, USA

problem #7

Nov 152021

MDX

  • miles

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

In San Diego on 11/15/2021, my daughter side swiped a parked vehicle in residential area driving about 30 miles. No airbags deployed. A minute later the car stopped and would not start and started to have smoke and flames come from under hood and through inside windshield and dash. My daughter was able to get out and take her 3 year old son out of his carseat and run for their lives as the car completely became engulfed in flames.Thank God they made it out alive. Police and Fire department showed up. Car was a total loss, everything was burnt. One day the Acura MDX fires will take someone's life. Called Hoehn Acura in Carlsbad Ca and sent service manager Skip about 12 pictures of the completely burnt vehicle. He never returned my calls after leaving several messages. Also left message with general manager and no return call. They don-€™t care. They only appear interested when you are buying the vehicle. I did file a claim with Acura corporate office and still no word from them either. I have read many cases about the MDX going up in flames for no reason, even in the driveway or drive in your neighborhood. Not sure why they have not recalled this or tried to solve the issue. I am asking for someone to look into this as this is not an isolated incident before lives are lost. Once I get police report I will also send you pictures as well. Thank you.

- Soledad, CA, USA

problem #6

Jan 272021

MDX

  • 45,000 miles
Multiple times I have been traveling on the highway and my car would suddenly decrease in speed and stall out. I would go from 75mph to 45mph very quickly. It would then suddenly accelerate again and go back to normal. This is extremely dangerous and could lead to a deadly accident.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #5

Jan 042019

MDX

  • 5,600 miles
Nine different electrical failures in twenty seven weeks on a new 2018 Acura MDX technology package. That's one failure every three weeks. Six problems have occurred one time, three problems are still intermittent, the most concerning is the heated seat feature. The circuit closes without activation. Occasionally when the vehicle is started, the led indicator lights are on. Several times it has affected the drivers seat, once the passenger seat, and once both seats. Once the vehicle was put in reverse, the rear camera activated and continued to work as I drove forward to my destination. Once I walked passed the vehicle with the wireless remote in my pocket and the vehicle unlocked itself without touching the door. Another time both side mirrors tilted down regardless of where the mirror switch was on the driver door. Several times the radio would not activate when the on/off button was pressed. Several problems with the hands free link system. I pressed the talk button it says no device found. Press talk button, give phone command it says no device paired.. press talk button, give phone command, display shows call history. Press talk button and give phone command, then call B%##%,voice continually says pardon. Turn back wiper on and back off, wiper continued to work for about two minutes. I parked the vehicle with the electric parking brake on, when I started vehicle later, message in display read, trouble with electric parking brake take to dealership. Service department says no code found.

- Chapin, SC, USA

problem #4

Dec 122018

MDX

  • 12,000 miles

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

Takata recall: Correction for complaint #11164408. Rear view camera remains in the reverse position when I shift from reverse to drive. Consequently, I am driving with a view of the road behind me. This has happen three times. I reported this to Acura of peora, AZ. They kept my car for a day but didn't resolve the problem. I was told they were contacting Acura headquarters and would get back to me because they couldn't replace a $3000 system without approval from Acura headquarters.

- Buckeye, AZ, USA

problem #3

Dec 122018

MDX

  • 12,000 miles
Takata recall: Review camera remains on when I shift from reverse to drive. Consequently, I am driving looking at the road behind me on the screen.

- Buckeye, AZ, USA

problem #2

Sep 132018

MDX

  • 2,500 miles
After switching to drive from reverse the nav display would not switch back from the back up camera while driving ahead, when a car would be anywhere near mine on the road, still in drive, whether idle at a stop light or in motion on the street, the back up sensors that respond to passing cars did not beep. I tried pressing the back button, nav button, settings button & turning the car on/off all failing to fix the problem. The camera remained on even while in park once I arrived home.

- Foster City, CA, USA

problem #1

Jan 011965

MDX 6-cyl Diesel

  • miles
[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

- Tangier, CA, USA

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