2007 Acura MDX Owner Complaints

The driver's seat wiring harness on my daughter's 2007 Acura MDX has failed under normal operating conditions. The physical adjustment and movement of the driver's seat causes the factory wiring harness to over-tension and fracture internally. This has resulted in an intermittent, escalating failure of the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), throwing diagnostic trouble code DTC 71-11 ("open circuit in the driver's seat position sensor"). This is a known manufacturer engineering defect documented under Acura Technical Service Bulletin TSB 11-023. This defect poses an immediate safety hazard because the vehicle's computer automatically disables the driver's side airbag safety deployment when the circuit loses connection. The manufacturer is currently refusing to cover the repair due to the age of the vehicle, despite it being a critical safety-restraint system failure that leaves the driver unprotected in a collision. (The exact date of first onset is estimated, as this safety defect is an ongoing, intermittent electrical failure that began several months ago but only recently became more frequent. We also were originally unaware that the airbag warning light coming on meant the airbags were disabled, or we would have brought the car in sooner.)

NHTSA ID

11741869

Incident

Jan 1, 2026

As I was driving on 278 headed south traveling at approximately 65mph, the radio shut off as well as the car. There was a warning light that said "Check emission" The ABS light would come on as well I had to try to get the car into the far right lane and restarted the car. I was able to restart the car and made it home with the car periodically completely shutting off. As I was driving the radio would briefly go on and off as well. This was the first time this had happened. The safety issue was that there was absolutely no warning and at the time I was traveling with traffic. There was nothing that could have caused this other than some type of mechanical failure.

NHTSA ID

11488824

Incident

Oct 10, 2022

The engine does not start at once and when the key is turned off to try again, the engine explodes and the upper part of the engine case is completely torn off. At this time, there was a huge explosion sound like a bomb exploding and a lot of black smoke came out. It's not really a rocket engine, which is a huge force, but I really don't understand how much pressure was applied in the engine of an ordinary car, so that the engine cover was broken by the explosion. Even if a person intentionally smashed the engine cover like this, it would be impossible. If such an accident occurred while running, it is thought that there would have been many casualties. Although it is an old car, it was used without any problems until yesterday, and it is understandable that the car does not start even if there is a problem. I think that such a big engine explosion produced a problematic engine by Honda Acura. There must be various engineering reasons for the explosion, but we believe that it is a problem that should never happen again by identifying the cause, so we report it with photos. Please investigate to find out the cause and prevent further accidents.

NHTSA ID

11484554

Incident

Sep 4, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURES WHERE THE POWER DOORS UNLOCK AND LOCK WITHOUT WARNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE WINDOWS WOULD RAISE AND LOWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.

NHTSA ID

11398763

Incident

Dec 1, 2020

Mileage

84,000 mi

MY 2007 ACURA MDX IS EXPERIENCING A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP. ACURA ISSUED AN EXTENSION ON THE WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT THAT EXTENSION ONLY LASTED SEVEN YEARS. AS SOMEONE WHO ACQUIRED THE CAR AFTER 2014 I WAS AUTOMATICALLY NOT QUALIFIED IN THIS COMMON PROBLEM. ACURA HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR OTHER MODEL CARS BUILT IN THIS SAME YEAR USING THE SAME POWER STEERING PUMP. YET THE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 12V222000 DOES NOT INCLUDE MODEL MDX. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW "WHY" MDX WAS NOT ALSO PART OF THE RECALL SEEING AS THOUGH IT IS THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS, AND PARTS USED FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP, HOSES, AND SEALS.

NHTSA ID

11349871

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

Mileage

105,000 mi

THE RADIO AND NAVIGATION INTERMITTENTLY GO ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING.MY ABS,CHECK EMISSION SYSTEM,SHAW-D WILL GO OFF. CAR WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE IM DRIVING AND I LOSE ALL POWER. I LOSE POWER TO LOCKS, WINDOWS AND BACK HATCH. SOME DAYS WHEN STARTING THE CAR IT WONT TURN OVER AND START UP. SOMEDAYS AFTER DRIVING AND I TURN THE CAR OFF, I LOSE ALL POWER. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL JUMP INTO GEAR AS I AM ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ID

11320917

Incident

Mar 31, 2020

Mileage

133,000 mi

OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS HAVE HAD TO INEXPLICABLY JUMP MDX WHEN IT FAILS TO START, USUALLY AFTER SITTING OVER NIGHT. (CONFIRMED NO AUXILIARY POWER LEFT ON.) WILL BE FINE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, AND SYMPTOMS REAPPEAR. HAVE NOW CHANGED BATTERY TWICE IN PAST YEAR. FOUR MONTHS AFTER MOST RECENT BATTERY CHANGE, BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN. THIS TIME AFTER JUMPED THE CAR THREW SOME ADDITIONAL WARNING LIGHTS AROUND CHARGING SYSTEM. AFTER TRYING TO RETURN TO THE PARKING SPACE, THE CAR STARTED WAS NOT DRIVING PROPERLY, SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL. AFTER READING FORUMS ONLINE MY SYMPTOMS MATCH VERY CLOSELY TO OTHERS THAT HAVE A HANDSFREELINK ISSUE ON THIS MODEL MDX. (PARASITIC POWER DRAW.) CONTACTING ACURA TODAY, AS THIS TIME THE CAR IS NOT DRIVE-ABLE.

NHTSA ID

11289796

Incident

Dec 18, 2019

Mileage

122,000 mi

ENGINE SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVE ON THE ROAD REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED. WHEN THIS HAPPENS CAR LOST TOTAL ELECTRICAL POWER RESULTING IN BLACKOUT, NOT ABLE TO TURN ON HAZARD LIGHT ALSO, STEERING WHEEL IS TIGHT UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE.. NEED TO RESET NAVIGATION CODE, AND AUDIO CODES TO RESTART GPS NAVIGATION RESPECTIVELY. I WAS

NHTSA ID

11281663

Incident

Nov 21, 2019

Mileage

115,000 mi

HANDS FREE LINK DRAINING BATTERY AFTER SITTING FOR A COUPLE DAYS IT'S ON VARIOUS ACURA MODELS. PEOPLE MAKING YOUTUBE VIDEOS ON HOW TO UNPLUG THEM TO KEEP THE BATTERY FROM DRAINING. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11271756

Incident

Sep 15, 2018

Mileage

195,000 mi

AT 9 PM MY MDX CAUGHT FIRE AND I DID NOT USE IT AFTER 11 AM THAT DAY SO IT WAS SITTING FOR 12 HOURS AND IT CAUGHT FIRE

NHTSA ID

11252090

Incident

Aug 27, 2019

Mileage

170,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WILL FREQUENTLY LOSE ELECTRICAL POWER. DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS COME ON, THE RADIO SHUTS OFF AND SOMETIME I'LL HAVE TO RESET THE RADIO AND NAVIGATION CODES. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, SOMETIMES DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOTHING AND THEN SUDDENLY IT WILL BEGIN TO MOVE. I'M VERY CONCERN THE UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM WILL CAUSE A WRECK IF I LOSE ENGINE POWER, ESPECIALLY IN A CURVE.

NHTSA ID

11243441

Incident

Aug 12, 2019

Mileage

131,000 mi

IN THE 2007 AND SOME LATER MODELS OF THE ACURA MDX THERE IS A POWER DRAIN DUE TO THE BLUETOOTH MODULE ON THE VEHICLE. IF VEHICLE SITS FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS, IT HAS TO BE JUMP STARTED. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A BATTERY PREMATURELY DUE TO THE CONSTANT DRAIN. ACURA'S SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE BLUETOOTH MODULE AT THE CUSTOMERS EXPENSE. THE OTHER SOLUTION IS TO DISCONNECT THE BLUETOOTH MODULE CURRENTLY IN THE VEHICLE WHICH I HAVE DONE. WITH MORE STATES PASSING LAWS DUE TO THE DANGER OF BEING ON A CELLPHONE WHILE DRIVING, THIS FURTHER SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD FALL UNDER A SAFETY RECALL. I FAIL TO SEE WHY THE CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO CORRECT A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AND CHECKED WITH ONLINE FORUMS TO FIND THE PROBLEM I'M REFERRING TO HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM ACROSS THE BOARD.

NHTSA ID

11217759

Incident

Aug 28, 2017

Mileage

179,000 mi

I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL FULLY CLOCKWISE WITH THE CAR OFF WHILE IT WAS IN MY GARAGE. AS I WAS STRAIGHTENING THE WHEEL, IT BECAME COMPLETELY LOOSE AS IF SOMETHING IN THE STEERING SHAFT OR A CONNECTION HAD BROKEN. THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN FREELY IN BOTH DIRECTIONS WITHOUT TURNING THE WHEELS. THE LOWER U-JOINT THAT COUPLES THE SHAFT TO THE GEAR BOX BROKE. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS GREATER FORCE ON THAT PART WHILE THE CAR IS OFF (NO POWER STEERING), BUT THE STRENGTH OF THAT JOINT SHOULD HAVE SUFFICIENT SAFETY MARGIN TO WITHSTAND THIS. WHAT IF IT WAS JUST DAMAGED ENOUGH AT THAT POINT THAT IT STILL WORKED, BUT WENT ON TO FAIL IN THE HIGHWAY? 70 MPH AND NO WAY TO STEER THE CAR. SCARY. THE CAR IS OVER 10 YEARS OLD AND HAS JUST UNDER 200000 MILES, BUT I WOULD EXPECT A COMPONENT THIS CRITICAL TO BE ONE OF THE LAST THINGS TO FAIL ON A CAR.

NHTSA ID

11210301

Incident

May 27, 2019

Mileage

195,000 mi

I OWN A 2007 ACURA MDX WHICH HAS HAD A NUMBER OF INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OVER THE YEARS. I HAD TO REPLACE THE HANDSFREE LINK MODULE A FEW YEARS AGO AT THE DEALER. THE YELLOW CHECK OIL LEVEL LIGHT HAS COME ON FOR NO REASON FOR YEARS. IT GOES ON FOR A SECOND THEN OFF. A FEW MONTHS AGO THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 'FRIED' AND I HAD TO BUY A NEW BATTERY AND NEW ALTERNATOR. RECENTLY I HEAR A BUZZING SOUND WHEN I USE THE TURN SIGNALS AND THE HAZARDS DO NOT WORK AT ALL. LAST NIGHT THE CAR DIED ON THE INTERSTATE- THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT DARK, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO GET ONTO THE SHOULDER. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THEN STARTED IT AGAIN. WHEN IT WORKS THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE OPERATION BUT THIS CAR IS NOW UNRELIABLE AND DANGEROUS. I SEE THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 40 COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME THING NOTED ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM REFERRING TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE, ABOUT THE CAR DYING FOR NO REASON WHILE IN MOTION AND THAT NO ACURA DEALER SEEMS ABLE TO FIX IT AND ACURA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM OR DO A RECALL THE CAR IS NOW AT MY MECHANIC TO SEE IF HE CAN FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG BUT ALL THE COMMENTS I SAW ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM INDICATE THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN A DEFINITIVE DIAGNOSIS MADE BY ACURA OR ANYONE ELSE, AND THERE IS NO ACTIVE RECALL EITHER THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ALSO INDICATE THAT THE DOORS AND WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE WHEN THE CAR STALLS OUT AND OCCUPANTS CAN BE TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR

NHTSA ID

11171901

Incident

Jan 23, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

I'VE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES ELECTRICAL WITH MY VEHICLE THE MOST TROUBLING WAS THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY THEN IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED!!!! IN ADDITION TO THIS, THE NEXT ISSUE IS BATTERY PERFORMANCE. THE BATTERY IS CONSTANTLY DRAINED. IN THE 11 YEARS THAT I OWNED THE VEHICLE, THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. (I INITIALLY THOUGHT THIS WAS ASSOCIATED WITH MY BLUETOOTH BEING CONNECTED BUT I'VE DISCONNECTED THIS MANY YEARS AGO AND THE ISSUES STILL PERSIST. I WAS STRAINED ON WINTER BECAUSE THE BATTERY DRAINED AND WAS STUCK AT THE AIRPORT FOR 3 1/2 HOURS WAITING FOR AAA. LASTLY, I TURNED MY CAR ON THIS PAST SUNDAY WHEN MY MIL DISPLAY "CHECK TRANSMISSION." I BROUGHT THE CAR TO ACURA FOR SERVICE AND THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT THE GEAR POSITION SENSOR MUST BE REPLACED. THIS IS ANOTHER ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT PROBLEM OF A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. TOO MANY ELECTRICAL ISSUES!!!

NHTSA ID

11161131

Incident

Dec 9, 2018

Mileage

140,000 mi

I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON MOTHER'S DAY 2017. DURING THE FOLLOWING MONTH I HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON NON-STOP, I STARTED RECEIVING ERROR CODES, THEN ON THE WAY TO THE AIRPORT (ONE THE INTERSTATE), THE CAR LITERALLY TURNED OFF. WE ROLLED TO THE AIRPORT WITH NO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AT ALL, THEN THE CAR FINALLY DIED, THANK GOODNESS WE GOT OUT BECAUSE FOR A FEW MINUTES WE WERE LOCKED IN THE CAR! WE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, THE BATTERY, 3 OF THE 4 (O2) OXYGEN SENSORS, NOW THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE CHECK STARTING SYSTEM LIGHT ARE ON. TODAY, THE CAR DIDN'T START TWICE AND I HONESTLY FELT AT RISK JUST TRYING TO DRIVE HOME TODAY. SO ALL THIS HAS BEEN FROM MOTHER'S DAY 2017 TO NOW! SEPTEMBER 20, 2018. THE LIGHTS AND CODES DON'T STOP ON THIS CAR!

NHTSA ID

11130525

Incident

Jun 2, 2017

Mileage

137,000 mi

MY 07 ACURA MDX HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT RESETS WHILE DRIVING. NAVIGATION AND RADIO TURN OFF AND ON AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED.

NHTSA ID

11112598

Incident

Jul 19, 2018

Mileage

171,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING SOME LIGHTS IN PANEL START LIGHTING UP, GPS TURNS OFF, ENGINE RUNNING BUT WONT ACCELERATE AND AFTER FEW SECONDS WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL. TOOK TO ACURA THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICTEST BUT CAN'T FIND NO ISSUE. THIS IS LIFE THREATENING. NEED ACURA TO ACT ON THIS.

NHTSA ID

11102713

Incident

May 1, 2018

Mileage

10 mi

TAKATA RECALL: I RECENTLY PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, I WAS MAILED A HARD COPY OF AN AIRBAG SETTLEMENT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT INVOLVING HONDA MOTORS AND TAKATA. I HAVE THE NOTICE IN MY POSSESSION, CITING MY VEHICLE AS ONE OF THE DECLARED RECIPIENTS WITHIN THE SETTLED CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. I AM SIMPLY CONDUCTING MY DUE DILIGENCE IN REPORTING MY VEHICLE AS IT HAS BECOME MY PROPERTY AND HENCE, MY NEW PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11053842

Incident

Oct 18, 2017

Mileage

55,072 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 ACURA MDX. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE THE CONTACT'S GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COLUMBIA ACURA INC. (10979 MONTGOMERY RD, CINCINNATI, OH 45249 (513) 530-0100), BUT NO DIAGNOSTIC FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND AND THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO SUPERIOR ACURA (5555 DIXIE HWY, FAIRFIELD, OH 45014 (513) 829-8500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY CABLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT NO RECALLS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11030576

Incident

Sep 29, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

JUST LIKE THE OTHER COMPLAINTS THE CAR SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN DRIVE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING. ACURA HAS OFFERED LITTLE HELP WITH THE ISSUE. VERY UNSAFE AND DESERVED OF A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11013565

Incident

Aug 7, 2017

Mileage

107,000 mi

WIRING HARNESS FOR AIRBAG ERROR CODE CHECK AIRBAG 71-1

NHTSA ID

11011542

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

THE VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY SHUT OFF AND RESTART WHILE IN MOTION AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHETHER ON THE HIGHWAY OR SURFACE STREETS. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY RHYME OR REASON AS TO WHY.

NHTSA ID

10993879

Incident

Jun 6, 2017

Mileage

121,953 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE GPS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING CEASED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO DAYS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,500. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

10983467

Incident

Apr 27, 2017

Mileage

103,500 mi

HAD A BIG RAIN STORM THE OTHER DAY. GOT INTO MY CAR AFTER IT BEING PARKED AT WORK ALL DAY AND FOUND IT WAS LEAKING FROM "C" PILLAR. TURNS OUT, SUNROOF DECIDED TO FLIP UP ON ITS OWN DURING THE DAY WITH THE CAR PARKED AND OFF. TOOK CAR TO MY LOCAL SHOP WHO HAS BEEN FAMILIAR WITH ACURA ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I TOLD HIM TO DISCONNECT THE WIRES TO THE SUNROOF FUNCTION COMPLETELY. I DONT NEED TO USE THE SUNROOF OR HAVE IT DECIDE TO OPEN ON ITS OWN AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE CAUSED EVEN MORE SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, BUT LUCKILY WATER DID NOT PENETRATE TO THE OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THIS IS THE THIRD MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE. THERE ARE SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE MDX AND ACRUA/HONDA REFUSES TO ISSUE ANY RECALL OR EVEN ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS, WHICH ARE PROMINENT IN THIS VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

10970707

Incident

Mar 31, 2017

Mileage

90,500 mi