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#BS-2016-ACUMDX-48A9

2016 Acura MDXProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 541 owners and 7 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
541
Crashes
17
Fires
5
Recalls
7
TSBs
334
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 541 complaints, 17 crashes, 5 fires, and 7 recalls. This is the worst model year for this vehicle.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

hesitates on acceleration

5 complaints • Severity 6.4/10

$X,XXX
2

transmission shifts erratically

5 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
3

thumping

4 complaints • Severity 7.5/10

$X,XXX
4

lurching

3 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX
5

extremely uncomfortable seats

2 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

173 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 35K miles.

!Inspect the DrivetrainMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

115
0–30K
67
30–60K
39
60–90K
15
90–120K
13
120–150K
8
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (115 reports) • Median: 35K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine (173 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine173 (32%)
Drivetrain113 (21%)
Other40 (7%)
Electrical35 (6%)
Fuel System30 (6%)
Speed Control19 (4%)
Structure:body18 (3%)
Brakes13 (2%)

2016 Acura MDX: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 32% of all reports filed for the 2016 Acura MDX, with 173 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 35,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 35K-mile mark.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 21% of all reports filed for the 2016 Acura MDX, with 113 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2016 Acura MDX, with 35 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Fuel System Issues

Fuel System complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2016 Acura MDX, with 30 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

20
15
34
16
29
17
31
18
78
19
33
20
19
21
24
22
17
23
89
24
100
25
67
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2016 Acura MDX. Recent trend: decreasing.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (7 recalls)

16V417000Jul 2016

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2015 Acura MDX 2WD and MDX 4WD vehicles, 2016 Acura MDX 4WD vehicles, 2015-2016 Honda Odyssey vehicles, and 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and 4WD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that were manufactured with insufficient welds which may separate and allow fuel to leak out.

19V060000Mar 2019

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Acura MDX, 2015-2019 Acura TLX and 2015-2017 Honda Accord vehicles, equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine. Particulates in fuel may adhere to the internal components of the fuel pump, reducing its performance.

19V256000May 2019

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Acura MDX and 2017-2019 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid lights, possibly causing a loss of the tailgate lid lights and the taillights.

23V751000Mar 2024

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.

23V858000Mar 2024

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

+ 2 more recalls in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2016 Acura MDX NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (3)

2 investigations still open: NHTSA is examining whether a defect warrants a recall.

EA25004OpenOpened Mar 2025

No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:CRANK/CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR

PE25008OpenOpened Aug 2025

Engine failure

ENGINE

RQ24013ClosedOpened Nov 2024 · closed Aug 2025

Engine failure

ENGINE

This is the worst model year for the Acura MDX according to owner complaint data. The biggest problem area is transmission.

2016 Acura MDX vs. Class Average (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD)

This vehicle

541

Class avg

421

Complaint volume is roughly in line with other small sport utility vehicle 2wd vehicles from 2016.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 541 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 7 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Acura MDX Model Years

2026202520242023202220202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001
View all Acura MDX years →

2016 Acura MDX: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Acura MDX?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2016 Acura MDX is related to the engine, with 173 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2016 Acura MDX reliable?
The 2016 Acura MDX has 541 complaints, 17 crash reports, and 5 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How safe is the 2016 Acura MDX?
NHTSA rates the 2016 Acura MDX 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 5 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2016 Acura MDX problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2016 Acura MDX have any recalls?
Yes, the 2016 Acura MDX has 7 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Acura MDX problems start?
Based on 257 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 35,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2016 Acura MDX data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 541 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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