Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2015 Acura MDX submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2015 Acura MDX. It was later discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 82,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 167,000.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2015 Acura MDX. The contact stated that upon retrieving the Carfax report of the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 105,000, and the mileage on the Carfax report was 215,000 in July 2025. The MVA was contacted and referred the contact to the Police Department, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance.
For the last 50k miles we've taken our Acura MDX to the dealership for regular oil changes. Almost every visit results in a bad battery. We've had the dealership replace a side mirror due to the electrical and several batteries as well. They've kept it for several days diagnosing issues but haven't to this day found out what's wrong with it. Now my back taillight stopped working, we bought another one and replaced it for it to work for a couple months and stop working again. Now we've taken it to another place for diagnosing, they have said the inter taillight assembly and wiring needs replaced. Seems like this has been the issue the entire 6 yrs we've been complaining. The dealership says they took care of the problem already, clearly this is a safety issue when driving at night especially. Having a taillight that works off and on is not my idea of safe or "fixed" according to the dealership.
VEHICLE STOPS ACCELERATING WHILE DRIVING AND LOSES POWER WITHOUT WARNING. MULTIPLE ENGINE LIGHTS GO OFF: CHECK ENGINE, EMISSION SYSTEM PROBLEM, ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM PROBLEM, POWER STEERING SYSTEM EPS PROBLEM, VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST VSA PROBLEM, HILL START ASSIST PROBLEM, TRAILER STABILITY ASSIST PROBLEM. CAR STARTS SMOKING EXCESSIVELY. RETURNED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES IN JUST A FEW DAYS AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM APPEARS TO RESOLVE AND THEN RETURNS AFTER DRIVING NO MORE THAN 10 MILES. INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN 45 MPH SPEED ZONES WHERE WE HAD THE ABILITY TO PULL OVER AND GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. THIS WILL BE CATASTROPHIC IF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AS THE EFFECT OF THIS MALFUNCTION IS EQUIVALENT TO HITTING THE BREAKS WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED. CAR IS CURRENTLY BACK WITH THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 3RD TIME IN 4 DAYS. ACURA MDX DRIVERS SHOULD BE ALERTED TO THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY - IT HAPPENS WITH NO WARNING.
VEHICLE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, WHICH THE DEALERSHIP WAS VISITED FOR REPEATEDLY. THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRED WHEN THE WEATHER WAS VERY COLD, USUALLY BELOW ZERO (F), AND INVOLVED MULTIPLE DISFUNCTIONAL SENSORS ALL DISPLAYING INOPERATIVE. WHEN THESE SENSORS DISPLAYED ERRORS, THAT COMPONENT OF THE CAR WOULD NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. (ONE TIME THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE COLLISION MITIGATING SYSTEM, AND THE BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED ON AN ICY ROAD AT FULL SPEED--ANOTHER THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AWD WHICH TURNED THE VEHICLE INTO A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION). DEALERSHIP DISCOVERED AFTER MULTIPLE VISITS, AND WHEN WE TOLD THEM WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO PURSUE A LEMON LAW PROTECTION ON THE VEHICLE, THAT IT WAS A POWER CONTROL MODULE THAT WAS BAD. THIS WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE RAN MOSTLY ERROR FREE FOR SOME TIME AFTER. ON THE MORNING OF 2/15/2018, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IN ORDER TO WARM UP. WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE SOMEWHERE BEHIND THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WE PUT THE FIRE OUT USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE AS I WOULD HAVE BEEN 5 MINUTES LATER, AS I HAD NO FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN THE CAR; AND ALSO THANKFULLY THERE WAS NOT GOING TO BE A PASSENGER IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING, AS THE FLASH WAS IMMEDIATE AND INTENSE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. FURTHER, IT DID NOT CATCH OUR HOUSE OR SHOP ON FIRE WHEN IT WENT, AS IT COULD HAVE. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. DOCUMENTATION OF NUMEROUS PROBLEMS (RECEIPTS OF VISITS TO DEALERSHIP) AND PHOTOS OF DAMAGE TO CAR AFTER FIRE ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
AUTOMATIC SAFETY DOOR RELOCK FAULTY. THE REMOTE WAS USED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE REAR DOOR WAS OPENED AND THE BABY WAS PLACED IN THE CAR SEAT. THE DIAPER BAG WAS THEN PLACED ON THE FLOOR OF THE BACK SEAT. DOORS AUTOMATICALLY RE-LOCKED AFTER 30 SECONDS WITH BABY AND CAR KEYS STUCK INSIDE. 911 WAS CALLED TO RESCUE THE BABY AND BUST OPEN THE DOOR. THIS SHOULD ABSOLUTELY NEVER HAPPEN. AFTER CHANGING THE SETTINGS TO 90 SECONDS, THE CAR STILL LOCKS AT 30. ACURA DENIES HEARING THIS HAPPEN. ACURA SAYS THERE IS NO WAY TO DISABLE THIS "FEATURE".
WHEN OPENING THE AUTOMATIC TRUNK IT STARTS COMING AND FALLING DOWN RAPIDLY AS TO ALMOST HAVE OUR HEADS TRAPPED. IT'S A DEATH AND INJURY AWAITING TO HAPPEN. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH ACURA DEALERSHIP AND ACURA CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY REFUSE TO NOTATE THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND RESOLVE. THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR A NEW PART WHEN IN NO WAY DID WE CAUSE THIS MALFUNCTION TO OCURR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LED HEADLAMPS FAILED TO FUNCTION IN GENERAL AND DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE DEALER (MIKE HALE ACURA, 5601 STATE ST, MURRAY, UT 84107, (801) 263-0202) WAS CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE A SOLUTION. THE SERVICE CENTER MANAGER STATED THAT HE WOULD FURTHER ADDRESS THE MATTER; HOWEVER, AN APPOINTMENT HAD NOT YET BEEN SCHEDULED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
I WAS APPROACHING THE RED LIGHT ABOUT MAKE COMPLETE STOP , SUDDENLY MY CAR SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THEN THE ENGINES SHUT OFF, I HAVE TO PUT IT BACK INTO PARK START UP AGAIN, I START FOR COUPLES TIME BEFORE IT LET ME ENGAGE TO DRIVE MODE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THEY CHECK BUT THEY FOUND NOTHING. FEW DAYS LATER IT HAPPEN AGAIN.
THREE MONTHS AFTER OWNING THIS 2015 MDX MY POWER STEERING FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING (EPS FAILURE) AND MAKING A LEFT TURN. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THIS SAME EPS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES WITHIN 11 MONTHS WITH THE VEHICLE, ALWAYS WHEN TURNING LEFT. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES, THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 15,000 MILES ON IT. TWICE THIS HAPPENED IN PARKING LOTS AND TWICE IT HAPPENED WHEN DRIVING ON MAJOR ROADS WHILE TURNING. IT HAD TO BE TOWED ALL 4 TIMES AS THIS RENDERS IT UNDRIVEABLE AND UNSAFE.
KEYLESS ENTRY COMMUNICATION ISSUE ON 2015 ACURA MDX FOR REFERENCE, KEY FOB LOCATED IN PURSE. PURSE DRAPED OVER RIGHT SHOULDER AND RESTING AGAINST THE CAR DOOR, KEY FOB NOT SITTING NEXT TO A CELL PHONE. KEYLESS ENTRY WILL NOT UNLOCK WHEN HANDLE PULLED OR LOCK WHEN BUTTON ON DOOR HANDLED PUSHED WITH INDEX FINGER. TO SOLVE, KEY FOB MUST BE PULLED OUT OF MY PURSE AND LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON PRESSED. MY PURSE MUST BE PLACED AGAINST THE TAILGATE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM FOR THE SENSOR TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SIGNAL AND UNLOCK. MY KEY IS IN EXACTLY THE SAME LOCATION IT WAS THE THREE YEARS I OWNED MY 2013 AUDI Q5. NO PROBLEMS WITH KEYLESS ENTRY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF I NEED TO GET INTO MY CAR QUICKLY (E.G. DUE TO BEING FOLLOWED, FEELING UNSAFE IN A PARTICULAR LOCATION, NIGHTTIME IN A DARK PARKING LOT, PUTTING KIDS AND GROCERIES IN THE CAR, ETC.). I HAVE PUT ITEMS DOWN ON GROUND OR IN CART, UNZIP PURSE AND GET KEY FOB OUT. DEALER REFUSING TO FIX PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY CANNOT REPLICATE. REFERENCE NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10945870; 10759256; 10725514
OUR MDX HAS HAD NUMEROUS INFOTAINMENT ISSUES. THE TAILGATE WILL OPEN WITHOUT BEING PRESENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK ON OCCASION ON DRIVERS SIDE WITH KEY FOB. WIPERS WILL COME ON WITHOUT ANY MOISTURE ON VARIOUS TIMES. BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. REAR BRAKES WILL HANG UP AND THEN RELEASE WHILE MOVING SLOWLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS IF THE CELL PHONE AND KEYLESS FOB WERE IN THE SAME LOCATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED THAT SOME CELL PHONES MIGHT INTERFERE WITH THE KEYLESS SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE KEYLESS SYSTEM. HOWEVER, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROPER REMEDY WOULD BE FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 11/09/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN. ONLY REAR DOORS OPENED, WITH THE TAILGATE HAVING LITTLE MINOR ISSUES. UPDATED 1/25/2015 *JS *CN
THE OWNER'S GUIDE OF THE VEHICLE SAYS: "TO LOCK: PRESS THE DOOR LOCK BUTTON ON ANY FRONT (OR REAR) DOOR HANDLE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF. IF THE REMOTE TRANSMITTER IS INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK." BUT ON 5/20/15, AFTER MY SISTER PLACED HER 6 MONTH OLD BABY IN THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE BACK OF THE PARKED ACURA AND WAS READY TO DRIVE OFF, ALL DOORS WERE LOCKED WITH BABY AND THE REMOTE TRANSMITTER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. 911 WAS CALLED AND FIREFIGHTERS BROKE THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW TO SAVE THE BABY FROM OVERHEATING. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO ACURA WHO SAID IT WAS A NORMAL BEHAVIOR, EVEN THOUGH ITS OWNER'S GUIDE SAYS THE OPPOSITE. ACURA PEOPLE SAID THEY HAD A VIDEO SHOWING THE DOORS WOULD LOCK WITH THE REMOTE TRANSMITTER INSIDE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THAT WAS NOT PUBLIC INFORMATION. THAT MAKES ME WONDER - IF THE REMOTE TRANSMITTER CAN BE LOCKED INSIDE A PARKED VEHICLE, WHY DO THEY SAY "IF THE REMOTE TRANSMITTER IS INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK." IN THE OWNER'S GUIDE? I WOULD THINK THAT EITHER THEY PUT A WRONG STATEMENT IN THE OWNER GUIDE OR THEY DON'T WANT TO ADMIT THE DEFECTIVE LOCKING SYSTEM. ...UPDATED 07/30/15 *BF UPDATED 10/23/2017*CN
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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