RoadVitals

2013 Acura MDX Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
10
Latest Jun 20, 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.
34%
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.
1
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 engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 10 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 engine

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

EngineFuel system
Filed Jun 20, 2025

Unknown

NHTSA ID
11668249
Incident
Aug 27, 2024
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 24, 2023

The 2013 Acura MDX has a problem with the pistons in the engine which causes excessive oil consumption. This was the subject matter of a class action suit described in the website entitled Acura Oil Consumption Settlement. This defect should be subject to a recall and American Honda should be required to repair or replace the pistons.

NHTSA ID
11523749
Incident
Mar 8, 2019
Engine
Filed Nov 7, 2022

I changed the oil in my car with synthetic 4k miles ago. About 1k miles ago I started getting an error that said low oil level. I went back into the lube shop to see what was going on, they said there was no leakage or issues there but there was hardly any oil in my car and that it was probably burning oil. I searched for issues with my 2013 MDX burning oil and an issue in 2019 with clogged oil control rings came up but said that the warranty extension would only be good to 2021. I found out this will be $5k to fix. I was never alerted of this issue and would like to submit a complaint about not being notified that this was even an issue in my car. I would like Acura to fix my vehicle since I never received the alert that this was a known issue in my car.

NHTSA ID
11492600
Incident
Nov 7, 2022
Engine
Filed Oct 25, 2022

It is having oil consumption issues .

NHTSA ID
11490753
Incident
Jan 12, 2022
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 9, 2021

I have a 2013 Acura MDX with an estimated 87k miles. Over the past 3 months, the engine will cut off while I'm driving and the steering wheel and brakes lock up. This has happened about 5 times in a three-month period. There are no warning lamps on my dashboard and no codes appeared during the diagnostic tests. My mechanic is unable to reproduce the issue. I have two young sons and am terrified of driving them in the MDX. The engine failure happens very randomly as it's cut off while driving at varying speeds.

NHTSA ID
11424043
Incident
Jul 9, 2021
Engine
Filed Dec 28, 2019

I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AFFECTING MY VEHICLE FROM ACURA (2013 MDX) I TOOK THE CAR AS INSTRUCTED TO BRIDGEWATER ACURA AND THEY PERFORMED AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER THE CAR HAD TO CONSUME AT LEAST 1 QUART OF OIL PER 1,000 MILES. THE DEALER STATED THAT MY CAR SHOWED THAT MY CAR CONSUMED 1 QUART AT THE FIRST 1,000 MILES, AND 1/2 QUART EACH TIME AT THE FOLLOWING 3 -1,000 MILE MARK. SO ACURA WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR NECESSARY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. AFTER THIS I HAD AN NEW OIL CHANGE DONE AND AFTER TRAVELING 4,260 MILES AND BEFORE I WAS DUE FOR ANOTHER OIL CHANGE THE LOW LEVEL INDICATOR CAME ON. SURE ENOUGH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF DCH HONDA IN OLD BRIDGE, NJ VERIFIED THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF OIL. THE DIPSTICK WAS NOT REGISTERING ANY OIL ON IT. I HAD AT THAT TIME AN OIL CHANGE DONE TO SAVE MY ENGINE EVEN IF ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATION AND CAR COMPUTER I WAS NOT DUE FOR ONE FOR ANOTHER 3,000 MILES. MY CAR IS OBVIOUSLY BURNING MORE OIL THAN EXPECTED AT 77,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE. I AM NOT AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER AND DON'T IDLE THE CAR. I SUSPECT THE TEST WAS NOT DOCUMENTED CORRECTLY SINCE I AM CONSUMING CLOSE TO 5 QUARTS OF OIL PER 4,260 TRAVELED MILES. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A NEW TEST DONE AND PROPERLY WITNESSED BY ME THIS TIME.

NHTSA ID
11291712
Incident
Dec 9, 2019
Mileage
13 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 18, 2016

PURCHASED THIS A AT A USED CAR FROM ACURA OF LOS GATOS AN PICKED THE CAR UP LATE ON JAN 27TH 2016. AT NOON ON FEB 5TH (JUST ABOUT 7 DAYS) THE CAR SUDDENLY STOP WHEN TRYING TO PULL UP TO THE DRIVE WAY OF MY FRIEND HOUSE. THE ENTIRE CAR IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A SMALL STREET, BLOCKING CARS FROM MOVING. CAR CAN'T GET STARTED EVEN WITH JUMPER FROM A TOWING COMPANY. THE CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO LOS GATOS ACURA AND FEW HOURS LATER WE WERE TOLD THE THE ENTIRE ENGINE IS GONE. WE PURCHASE THIS USED CAR BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A NEW CAR JUST ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD AND DRIVEN JUST ABOVE 25,000 MILES AND SUPPOSED TO RUN THROUGH ALMOST 200 POINTS CHECK FROM LOS GATOS ACURA, BUT IT FAILED IN OUR FACE AND WE ARE FEAR FOR OUR LIVES DUE TO THE REASON THAT WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH THAT THE CAR BROKE DOWN IN A MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IN A LIGHT TRAFFIC AREA. IF THE ENGINE DID BREAK DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF FAST AND HIGH TRAFFIC FREEWAY, OUR LIVES COULD BE IN SERIOUS DANGER.

NHTSA ID
10836993
Incident
Feb 5, 2016
Mileage
25,913 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
Engine
Filed Aug 24, 2014

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE, THE IGNITION ON, WHEN IT SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN AND DECELERATED. I MANAGED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ONTO MY STREET, ALTHOUGH THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTARTED IT WITH NO PROBLEM. I DID HAVE A SMALL WALLET (DIMENSIONS WERE @ 4IN BY 5IN, WEIGHT @ 3 OZ) ATTACHED TO THE KEY WHILE IT WAS IN THE IGNITION. I CONTACTED THE ACURA DEALERSHIP THE SAME DAY AND WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT HE WAS UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH OR RECALL ON THE IGNITION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10627877
Incident
Aug 23, 2014
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

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 .