RoadVitals

2016 Acura MDX Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
9
Latest Jul 31, 2026
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.
2%
of 364 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.
0
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 headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Acura MDX submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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 exterior lighting

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

Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 31, 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and attempting to open the trunk, the contact became aware that the inner driver’s side taillight was inoperable. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V256000 (Exterior Lighting); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The independent mechanic stated that the taillight needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.

NHTSA ID
11753988
Incident
Jul 25, 2026
Mileage
149,000 mi
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Apr 9, 2026

The contact owns 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that after the State Inspection was completed, the State Inspector informed the contact that the vehicle had failed the inspection due to an inoperable driver's side tailgate light. The contact was also informed that there was moisture inside the tailgate lid light assembly, and that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V259000 (Exterior Lighting, Interior Lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred the dealer for the repair. The contact was informed that there might be a reimbursement if the VIN became included in a future recall. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 99,217.

NHTSA ID
11730113
Incident
Apr 8, 2026
Mileage
99,217 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 6, 2026

I have a 2016 MDX. The big red light on my tailgate on the passenger side stopped working. I had been driving at night and only found out when a friend mentioned it to me. I al concerned driving due to safety issues with being less visible to other drivers. I tried changing the bulb with two new ones (correct size 7440) and it still does not work. I noticed online that there is a safety recall for such lighting issues, though it is not showing as recall for my VIN. I called Chevy Chase Acura to ask about the recall and they said there are no recalls listed for my vehicle. I made an appointment for 1/7/26 at 1:15pm anyway to have it looked at. Following that, I called Honda's recall department and they said there previously had been a recall in effect but it expired on 11/30/25. I have been out of town caring for my mother who had cancer and recently passed on 12/18/25. I was not previously aware of the recall. From my reading online, due to this being a safety recall, it should still be eligible for recall repairs up to 15 years of the car's age. I am hoping for some assistance in getting this matter resolved.

NHTSA ID
11709254
Incident
Jan 6, 2026
EngineExterior lighting
Filed May 24, 2025

This specific vehicle has an issue with the starter and flywheel breaking up for no reason. After being replaced twice, they were broken again in three months. The suspension has also been broken many times, and even after replacing the entire four sides, it still did not fix the problem. It also produces a rubber smell when driven over than 1 hour non stop

NHTSA ID
11662888
Incident
May 9, 2025
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Apr 30, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that the driver's side rear taillight bulb had burned out. The contact replaced the bulb, but the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the driver's side rear taillight failure was intermittent but was a persistent failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the failure and determined that there was water inside the taillight assembly which caused the bulb to short circuit. The mechanic informed the contact that the taillight assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V259000 (Exterior Lighting, Interior Lighting); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.

NHTSA ID
11657737
Incident
Apr 4, 2024
Mileage
141,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 30, 2024

Rear inner tail light on driver side is not working (34155-TZ5-H03). There is active recall on models between 2014-2019 but when checked my VIN it shows it is not covered. I went through the detail of recall and it can be clearly seen that the damage is same as shown in the recall. I will appreciate if someone can provide how do we know that my VIN was not impacted as there could be subcomponent which could have led to same issues as others from this period. I will appreciate if a prompt action can be taken and my vehicle can be added to the recall list as well. Thanks!

NHTSA ID
11633157
Incident
Dec 7, 2024
ElectricalInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Sep 3, 2024

My vehicle has been going off on its own when it is off, the lights starts to flicker on the outside and on the dashboard, the seats malfunction on its own so does the steering wheel causing the steering wheel to move up and down adjusting on its own, the car alarm will go off all the time, and I hear a noise coming from under the hood. It’s so bad that I have to take out the battery and leave it cause this problem will continue until the battery is dead, sometimes it will cause all the lights to come on and stay on all night, mean while the vehicle is not even turned on when all this is happening, I search couple video and websites only to see other people having the same problem with this specific type of vehicle, this problem been consistent for months and it makes the car unable to drive.

NHTSA ID
11612452
Incident
Apr 20, 2022
Exterior lightingPowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Dec 19, 2019

VEHICLE ACCELERATION IS SLUGGISH AT STOP AND GO. DURING HIGHWAY SPEED, IF TRANSMISSION IS IN LOW CRUISING GEAR AND YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE, TRANSMISSION IS SLUGGISH. ISSUES WAS CORRECTED AT DEALER. DEALER FOUND 1 FAULTY TRANSMISSION COMPUTER CODE. NEW SYMPTOMS AFTER COMPUTER FIX, OVER ACCELERATION AND HARSH SHIFT POINTS. DEALER ADVISED TO DRIVE 500 MILE AFTER COMPUTER REFLASH. INTERIOR LIGHT DO NOT DIM AFTER A FEW SECONDS. INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF REGARDLESS OF LOCKING VEHICLE. REAR SUSPENSION HAS A 0.55 CAMBER DIFFERENCE, VEHICLE HAS 26,765 MILES. I ASKED DEALERSHIP SERVICE TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE. DEALER NEVER ADVISED ON ISSUES.

NHTSA ID
11290005
Incident
Nov 4, 2019
Mileage
200 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 14, 2015

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT ON COUNTRY ROADS,UP AND DOWN HILLS, A DARK LINE APPEARS ACROSS THE TOP HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD. LEAVING A VIEW OF 40 -50 FT. YOU CAN ONLY SEE THREW THE BOTTOM HALF OF WINDSHIELD. VERY DANGEROUS!! I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR ALL THE SAFETY FEATURES IT HAS ON IT BUT NOW I CAN'T DRIVE IT AT NIGHT. WENT TO DEALER AND THEY TESTED HEADLIGHTS ON A WALL WITH A BLACK LINE AND THE LIGHTS HIT 2-3 INCHES BELOW THAT LINE. WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE. I WANTED IT RAISED A BIT BUT WAS TOLD THE LIGHTS WERE JUST FINE AND CAN'T BE ADJUSTED. I HAVE READ SOME COMPLAINTS ON THIS VERY SUBJECT. I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO TEST DRIVE THIS CAR ON DARK, HILLY, COUNTRY ROADS THAT HAVE NO STREET LIGHTS. I ALSO FINE THAT ON HIGHWAYS, LIKE THE TURNPIKE, LOW BEAMS JUST DON'T GO REACH OUT FAR ENOUGH. I JUST WONDER IF THESE JEWEL EYE HEADLIGHTS ARE LINED UP CORRECTLY? THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS AND I HOPE THERE IS A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10790358
Incident
Nov 2, 2015

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 .