10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
178 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.

2020 Acura MDX engine problems

engine problem

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2020 Acura MDX Owner Comments

problem #8

Jun 242024

MDX

  • miles

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

upon turning right, the car lost power, degraded acceleration as if someone is holding and pulling the car to move forward. The traffic behind me expected me to cathup with the speed on the road but due to loss of power and engine hesitation i got honked and was luck to avoid a crash from behind on a busy road. Acura dealership in Dallas dont have parts since a very long time. They have pleant of new cars to sell but not repair.

- Frisco, TX, USA

problem #7

Jun 012024

MDX

  • miles
I stopped at a stop sign and the car went into N without me changing anything. The car wouldnt go back to D or P mode even when I pressed the buttons. I had to turn off the car and turn it on again to make it function properlty. This happened twice within 5 mins.

- Westford, MA, USA

problem #6

Jan 012024

MDX

  • miles
I've experienced stop and stall issues with my vehicle three times and the Acura dealership said they couldn't locate but kept my vehicle for a few days and said it was the battery. I have a new battery but same issue occurred two more times. There is definitely an electrical problem with this vehicle's system. The radio randomly stops working, no sound or buttons stop at any given time and also heat/air buttons switch by themselves. Shift paddles sometimes does not slow down vehicle, in most cases it accelerates.

- Petaluma, CA, USA

problem #5

Aug 192023

MDX

  • miles

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

When putting the vehicle in "Drive" it unexpectantly rapidly accelerated causing me to aggressively brake the vehicle. It's happened twice and could easily have crashed into surrounding property or pedestrians. I brought the vehicle to the Dealership but considering it is an intermittent problem they couldn't duplicate the situation. Acura said they have no record of anything like this happening. There were no electronic lights or indicators that warned me of a malfunction. The first occurrence was several months ago, and the latest occurrence happened two days ago

- Swansea, MA, USA

problem #4

Apr 252023

MDX

  • miles
While braking into a parking spot, vehicle experienced sudden unintended acceleration. Brake did not engage, car rapidly surged forward over parking block, sidewalk and hitting building. Previously in day, car would not recognized key fob, would not unlock and would not start even though stepping on brake that would not depress. I had no control over vehicle, and this could have hit pedestrians on sidewalk or storefront. Thankfully no one hurt, and did not occur in traffic or on the road. The dealership was contacted immediately, and they declined to inspect vehicle, codes or EDR statign that's not what they do. I have asked dealership 3 times. Insurance contacted immediately, and they to will not investigate, saying up to Honda and dealership. Honda stating they don't do investigations, and Insurance should do that. Round and round we go. No one assisting. Auto Body referred by dealership unable to investigate and do not have equipment to do so and stating dealership and Honda tech needs to do this investigation. Several messages displayed the day of incident prior to incident and electrical issues seem to have started immediately after recall or warranty work to reprogram auto stop function. First instance of electrical issue was on 4/1, when car would not open, or unlock even with new battery in key fob. This continued over next 3 weeks sporadically. 4/24 car would not start, displaying "must press down brake" to start, but brake would not depress. Finally worked. Same thing 4/25 in morning. In evening car would not unlock for some time, finally opened, then would not start displaying "Key fob not detected". Finally started. Message remained displayed. 15 min, after, when parking, car accelerated forward without warning. This is a short summary, and a detailed summary is available. Vehicle remains untouched at autonomy hoping to get investigation completed. Too scared to drive this vehicle now..

- Wildomar, CA, USA

problem #3

Sep 262022

MDX

  • miles
Problem started 1 month ago. As I approached the round about I am at very slow speed, and for no action on my part, my MDX accelerates! Fortunately it has only happened as my vehicle is coasting or I am applying the break slowly. This is happening more and more. It has over 20K miles on it.

- Urbana, OH, USA

problem #2

Apr 292022

MDX

  • miles
Starting around 20,000 miles, my car started to majorly hesitate when I would step on the pedal trying to accelerate. Over time the problem became increasingly worse to the point where the car would slip into neutral causing a major hazard driving on the tollway when my car would decelerate when stepping on the gas pedal. This has caused me to have several very close near accidents. The dealership would keep saying that they could not replicate the problem. I have taken my car in on 8 separate occasions for this safety concern (4 different Honda/Acura dealerships trying to get help since the place I bought the car wouldn-??t not help with a solution.) My car has also begun back rolling (15+ feet) when in drive. And yesterday, suddenly accelerated from 0 to 35 when waiting for our driveway gate to open. There are major issues with sudden acceleration when driving a speeds under 20mph and deceleration issue when stepping on the gas pedal trying to accelerate. I have opened a report with Honda over a year ago and keep getting the run around.

- Carrollton, TX, USA

problem #1

Jan 112021

MDX

  • 1,420 miles
While driving at highway speeds with the adaptive cruise control engaged, the vehicle detects vehicles to the right (same direction of travel) or at times vehicles to the left (opposite direction of travel) and abruptly applied backing. No vehicles will actually be in lane of travel of the vehicle to cause action. On a 87 mile drive (one way to work) happens more than eight times on first drive and over ten time on second drive. Vehicle has under 1500 miles on it and was purchased brand new. Taken to Acura and told to turn off lane departure system unless in city traffic. System turned off and did not correct issue. The abrupt braking causes drivers behind to abruptly brake, increasing risk of crash, and also angers them because they think you are 'brake checking' them. Weather was cloudy or clear.

- Wentzville, MO, USA

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