RoadVitals

2013 Acura MDX Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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 Nov 7, 2023
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.
28%
of 29 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.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 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 electrical

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

Electrical
Filed Nov 7, 2023
Fire reported

The contact owns a 2013 Acura MDX. The contact stated that he was about to drive the vehicle when he noticed the front passenger-side headlight was flickering. The contact stated he decided not to drive the vehicle. The contact stated when he looked at the vehicle again he noticed the vehicle was on fire from the passenger side headlight. The contact stated a fire report was filed and the contact was informed that the fire origin was due to an electrical malfunction. There were no injuries reported. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

NHTSA ID
11554069
Incident
Nov 4, 2023
Mileage
158,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jul 25, 2022

During driving, Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) will activate and "BRAKE" light will blink, indicating that you should apply brakes. This happened multiple times. Finally the CMBS warning light came on permanently. I took my car to Acura Dealership for repairs. They informed me that it was a software issue and update of the software should resolve this problem.

NHTSA ID
11475781
Incident
Jul 14, 2022
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Nov 7, 2021
Fire reported

Internal vehicle fire started around front passenger seat and burned for an unknown amount time before it extinguished on its own while vehicle was off and parked. Fire department was contacted upon fire discovery and they confirmed it was out, could be electrically related, and disconnected my battery Vehicle is available for inspection for the time being (pending insurance). If I or any passenger was in the vehicle they could've been seriously injured or died. There were no warning lamps or issues of any prior problem.

NHTSA ID
11439625
Incident
Nov 4, 2021
Electrical
Filed Mar 28, 2021

BATTERY HAS HAD TO BE REPLACE THREE TIMES DURING OWNERSHIP OF CAR. ALSO CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE PURCHASE IN FALL OF 2013, TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. LIGHTS TURN ON AND OFF W/O PROMPTING, CAR DOESN'T TURN OVER WITH PROPER KEY USAGE. DASHBOARD LIGHTS WARNING FLASH, CHECK ENGINE, TPMS. MAJORITY OF ERROR CODES ARE LOSS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ALL MODULES. ELECTRIC WINDOWS AND ELECTRIC SEAT ADJUSTMENT NON-RESPONSIVE.THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED AND IN THE "P" POSITION AND REMAINS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID
11405269
Incident
Mar 28, 2021
Mileage
135,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 21, 2021

PER THE MECHANIC MANY ACURA'S HAVING ISSUES WITH HANDSFREELINK BLUETOOTH WHICH DOESN'T TURN OFF RESULTING DRAINING BATTERY. WE JUST REPLACED OUR BATTERY AND ISSUE STILL PERSISTS. I CALLED ACURA AND THEY SAID THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT CAN NOT DO ANYTHING SINCE OUR VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THIS CAN BE A BIG SAFETY ISSUE SINCE PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED CARS STOPPED MID ROAD DUE TO NO POWER. PLEASE HELP SINCE ACURA IS IGNORING SAFETY OF THEIR CONSUMERS! REFERENCE LINK FOR THE ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY PEOPLE. HTTP://WWW.ACURAPROBLEMS.COM/HANDSFREELINK-BATTERY-DRAW/ HTTPS://TOPCLASSACTIONS.COM/LAWSUIT-SETTLEMENTS/LAWSUIT-NEWS/840256-ACURA-HANDSFREELINK-DEFECT-CLASS-ACTION-LAWSUIT-GETS-TRIMMED/ HTTPS://TERRELLMARSHALL.COM/CLASS-ACTIONS/HONDA-ACURA-CLASS-ACTION/

NHTSA ID
11389302
Incident
Jan 20, 2021
Mileage
80,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 3, 2015
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10680786
Incident
Jan 30, 2015
Mileage
36,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 17, 2014

A 2013 ACURA MDX VEHICLE (ADVANCE MODEL) WAS BOUGHT IN THE ACURA DEALER ON JULY 27, 2013. STARTING ON OCTOBER 2013, STRONG SMELL OF FUMES HAS SPORADICALLY BEEN SENSED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, MAKING IT UNCOMFORTABLE TO BREATHE. SINCE NOVEMBER 5, 2013, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP (THREE TIMES) TO TARGET THE CAUSE OF THE FUMES. THE SMELL OF FUMES INSIDE THE CABIN ARE SENSED NOT ONLY WHILE DRIVING AT 10MPH, 40MPH, OR 60MPH BUT ALSO ON SHORT DISTANCE RIDES, DURING RAINY DAYS AND WHILE WAITING FOR A LIGHT TO CHANGE (THE SMELL WAS ALSO SENSED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN THE WINDOWS WERE DOWN). ON THE SECOND SERVICE APPOINTMENT, THE SHOP VERIFIED THE A/C SYSTEM AND THE RECIRCULATION CASE OF THE AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) SYSTEM WAS SEALED; BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SPORADIC SMELL OF FUMES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE DECEMBER 23 AND NOT RETURNED SINCE THEY DO NOT FIND WHY THE VEHICLE EMITS SUCH STRONG FUMES THAT SURPASSED THE A/C SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS HARDLY BEEN USED DUE TO THE SAFETY AND HEALTH CONCERN. AS OF TODAY, THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DETECTED NOR CORRECTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10560389
Incident
Nov 5, 2013
Mileage
3,272 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 30, 2013

BACK-UP CAMERA VIDEO / NAVIGATION MODULE, AND STEREO / CLOCK SCREENS REMAINED BLANK AFTER STARTING ENGINE, PLACING CAR IN REVERSE GEAR AND MOVING SLOWLY DOWN DRIVEWAY IN AN APPROXIMATE TIME FRAME OF 3-4 MINUTES. ALL SCREENS CONTINUED TO BE BLANK AFTER EXITING DRIVEWAY, STOPPING, THEN PLACING CAR IN DRIVE AND TRAVELING 5-7 MPH ON STREET. STOPPED VEHICLE AT STOP SIGN AFTER TRAVELING 200 YARDS. RE-ENGAGED REVERSE, THEN DRIVE GEARS WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. BOTH SCREENS FINALLY ACTIVATED, SHOWING CORRECT TIME AND BLUETOOTH CONNECTION STATUS ON STEREO SCREEN, AS WELL AS REAR CAMERA VIDEO PICTURE ON NAV MODULE SCREEN WHILE REVERSE GEAR ENGAGED. SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS SINCE PURCHASING THIS USED VEHICLE IN MAY 2012. *TR

NHTSA ID
10532687
Incident
Jul 26, 2013
Mileage
75,086 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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .