RoadVitals

2011 Acura MDX Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Sep 17, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 70 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Acura MDX submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 17, 2025

Check engine light continues to come on after repair, lack of power and transmission skip at times. Reverse light dark, unable to see at all.

NHTSA ID
11687765
Incident
Aug 30, 2025
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 28, 2025

The 2011 Acura MDX has a problem with the pistons in the engine which causes excessive oil consumption. This was subject of the matter of a class action suit described on the website entitled Acura Oil Consumption Settlement. This defect should be subject to recall and American Honda should be required to repair or replace this pistons.

NHTSA ID
11657296
Incident
Apr 27, 2025
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 24, 2020

THERE IS SHUDDERING COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION ON SPEEDS OF 30-40 MPH. IT SEEMS LIKE ACURA KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND SENT A RECALL FOR MDX,RDX AND ZDX THAT WERE MADE FROM 2010 TO 2013 BUT MY VIN WASN'T INCLUDED ALTHOUGH I AM FACING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THOSE RECALLED VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID
11301750
Incident
Jul 15, 2019
Mileage
120,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 16, 2019

I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND DISSATISFIED WITH THE 2011 ACURA MDX I PURCHASED NOVEMBER 2018 THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL TYPE OF PROBLEMS FROM THE START FROM OIL ISSUES TO NEEDING THE ENGINE REBUILT TO NOW TIMING BELT ISSUES AND THE ONLY THING THAT IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY IS THE REBUILD AND IT IS NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN UNTIL EARLY 2020 AND THE ONLY THING I'M GETTING IS QUOTES OF 1200 DOLLARS AND SORRY YOUR GOING THRU THIS I AM TIRED OF THAT FROM ONE OF MOBILE MOST RESPECTED DEALERSHIP I WANT IMMEDIATE ACTION ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSPECTED BEFORE IT BECAME A SELLABLE VEHICLE I AM ALSO SENDING THIS RESPONSE TO ACURA AND THE BETTER

NHTSA ID
11280552
Incident
Nov 6, 2019
Mileage
90,213 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 25, 2015

WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING OR TRANSMISSION IS MAKING NOISES, LIKE WHINING, DRONING, OR HUMMING. I HAD THE FRONT HUBS AND BEARINGS REPLACED WITH NEW OEM HUBS AND BEARINGS. THE NOISE HAS CONTINUED!!!

NHTSA ID
10759260
Incident
Jun 9, 2015
Mileage
50,148 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 20, 2013
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE PARKING, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS IF THE ACCELERATOR WAS FLOORED, AND THE CAR ONLY CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING A BLOCK WALL. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV UNTIL THE CAR WAS PUT INTO PARK AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. I COULD HEAR THE TIRE SCREECHING LIKE "BURNING RUBBER" WHEN IT ACCELERATED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE CAR LURCH FORWARD WHILE DRIVING FOR THE PAST 2 WEEKS. BUT IT WAS HARD TO REPRODUCE, AND I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN AND HOW IT HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10512803
Incident
May 18, 2013
Mileage
38,632 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 26, 2012

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE CAR THE BEGAN SHAKING FOLLOWED BY A BOOMING SOUND- SIMILAR TO A TIRE EXPLOSION - AND EVENTUALLY TIRES LOCKED UP CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID. DEALER REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED AS A "REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE" AND REPAIRED. HOWEVER, TWO DAYS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE PROBLEM MANIFESTED AGAIN, THIS TIME THERE WAS NO "SHAKING" AND WHEELS SEEMED TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND CAR TO SKID. *JB

NHTSA ID
10463096
Incident
Jun 1, 2012
Mileage
20,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 13, 2011

WHILE LEAVING A PARKING LOT AND COMING TO A STOP PRIOR TO ENTERING TRAFFIC, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD WHILE BRAKING. THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 ADDITIONAL TIMES SINCE THAT INITIAL EPISODE. CONCURRENTLY, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SHIFT ROUGHLY. I EXPERIENCED "MICRO LURCHES" WHILE ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING; UNDER 40MPH. THESE LURCHES WHILE SHIFTING ARE NOT PRESENT WHEN SPEEDS EXCEED 55 MPH. THE ACURA DEALER INITIALLY INDICATED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS AS NO COMPUTER ANOMALIES WERE DETECTED. AFTER MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS, ACURA SENT A TECHNICIAN TO INVESTIGATE. HE EXPERIENCED THE "MICRO-LURCHES" ON A TEST DRIVE WITH ME AND AFTER CONSULTATION WITH ACURA, AGREED TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. HOWEVER, THEY MAINTAIN THAT THERE IS NO COMPUTER DATA TO EXPLAIN THE UNANTICIPATED ACCELERATIONS I EXPERIENCED AND THEREFORE ACURA DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THESE INTERMITTENT EPISODES OF UNANTICIPATED ACCELERATIONS REPRESENT A SAFETY PROBLEM. DURING MY LAST CONVERSATION WITH ACURA (800382-2238 X 115185), I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER THEY PLAN TO DO. I INDICATED THAT I WOULD BE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. *TR

NHTSA ID
10425235
Incident
Jul 25, 2011
Mileage
19,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Engine29

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .