Is the 2016 Acura MDX reliable?

The 2016 Acura MDX has 504 complaints filed with NHTSA (4.8x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: avoid. Most common issue: ENGINE problems.

What are common problems with the 2016 Acura MDX?

Top problems: ENGINE (155 complaints, avg repair $500); TRANSMISSION (110 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (41 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2016 Acura MDX?

Yes, there are 7 recall(s): FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS. Contact any Acura dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Acura MDX?

The 2016 Acura MDX gets 23 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2087. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

Is the 2016 Acura MDX often stolen?

Theft risk tier for the Acura MDX: low. HLDI insurance loss data suggests lower-than-average theft claims for this model.

How much does it cost to insure a 2016 Acura MDX?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2016 Acura MDX is approximately $1,759/year (suv-luxury class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2016 Acura MDX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Acura MDX has 504 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.8x the segment average of 105. The most common issue is engine problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: on 9/3/15, i was pulling into my garage when all the warning lights on the dashboard went off - transmission, check engine, lane detection light etc. since i was going out of town the next morning, i put it in reverse and drove directly to the dealer. the car was in "limp mode" and i could only dr. There are 7 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 8 crash reports 8 injuries

504

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

4.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ENGINE

155 complaints

31%

• ON 9/3/15, I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE WHEN ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WENT OFF - TRANSMISSION, CHECK ENGINE, LANE DETECTION LIGHT ETC. SINCE I WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN THE NEXT MORNING, I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. THE CAR WAS IN "LIMP MODE" AND I COULD ONLY DR
• VERY SIMILAR TO NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10762375. AFTER 3-4 DAYS OF DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH TRANSMISSION SYSTEM U0401, VSA PROBLEM, HILL START ASSIST PROBLEM ETC ETC ETC. THE SUV WOULD NOT SPEED ABOVE 35-40 MILES AND SHAKE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED CRACKED SPARK PLUG, IGNITION C
• TRANSMISSION FAILED. THIS 9 SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS A FLUID HEATER IN IT THAT HAS RADIATOR WATER SUPPLIED TO IT. CAR WAS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY AND MAKING A BEEPING NOISE AT 20 TO 25 MPH. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON 06/11/16 WITH 8,800 MILES ON IT. THEY CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THE 2 WAY VALVE BETWEEN T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“ON 9/3/15, I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE WHEN ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WENT OFF - TRANSMISSION, CHECK ENGINE, LANE DETECTION LIGHT ETC. SINCE I WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN THE NEXT MORNING, I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. THE CAR WAS IN "LIMP MODE" AND I COULD ONLY DR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2016 Acura MDX

Based on 252 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 35K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

115

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 31K mi · 74 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

In line with typicalmedian 10K mi · 24 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 21K mi · 22 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SPEED CONTROL

In line with typicalmedian 30K mi · 18 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

In line with typicalmedian 15K mi · 8 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

STEERING

In line with typicalmedian 32K mi · 6 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (7)

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP29/01/2019

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Acura MDX, 2015-2019 Acura TLX and 2015-2017 Honda Accord vehicles, equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine. Particulates in fuel may adhere to the internal components of the fuel pump, reducing its performance.

Risk: Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the fuel injection engine control unit (FI-ECU) software and, if necessary, replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 25, 2019. Owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's recall number for this recall is P3W. Honda's recall number for this recall is N3X.

Low theft risk

Low theft rates typically correlate with lower comprehensive-coverage insurance premiums.

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2016 Acura MDX

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$2,087

Per month

$174

Per mile

17.4¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,527/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,778/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2016 Acura MDX

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,759

Full coverage / month

$147

Liability only / year

$688

vs US avg

+5%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (suv-luxury)1.35x

× theft risk0.90x

× safety rating0.94x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1759

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Acura MDX Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

30K mi

Engine coolant

60K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

15K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

Uses Maintenance Minder — actual intervals adjust based on driving conditions. Values shown are typical.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Acura New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

4 yr / 50K mi

Powertrain

6 yr / 70K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

4 yr / 50K mi

Includes 3 years complimentary maintenance for 2025+

These are the terms for a new Acura. If you're buying a used 2016 MDX, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Acura dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 504 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: ON 9/3/15, I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE WHEN ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WENT OFF - TRANSMISSION, CHECK ENGINE, LANE DETECTION LIGHT ETC. SINCE I WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN THE NEXT MORNING, I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. THE CAR WAS IN "LIMP MODE" AND I COULD ONLY DR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: THE 9 SPEED ZF TRANSMISSION HAS UNPREDICTABLE BEHAVIOR INCLUDING: DELAYED SHIFTING LEADING TO PAUSES IN POWER, DELAYED DOWN SHIFT DURING ATTEMPTS AT HIGHWAY SPEED ACCELERATION, JERKY SHIFTS, CAR REMAINS IN NEUTRAL WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. VERY UNSAFE CONDITION DUE TO UNPREDICTABLE EFFEC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE ACURA LANE KEEP ASSIST SYSTEM (LKAS) MIS-READS SOME INTERSECTIONS AND JERKS THE WHEEL TOWARD A SIDE STREET ONLY TO QUICKLY TRY TO COMPENSATE BY JERKING BACK. THERE IS ONE INTERSECTION IN PARTICULAR THAT THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY. THE DEAL SAYS THE SYSTEM IS WORKING PROPERLY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: ON 9/3/15, I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE WHEN ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WENT OFF - TRANSMISSION, CHECK ENGINE, LANE DETECTION LIGHT ETC. SINCE I WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN THE NEXT MORNING, I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. THE CAR WAS IN "LIMP MODE" AND I COULD ONLY DR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 7 recalls have been completed — free at any Acura dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)