CarBrief

The 2016 Acura MDX has 377 owner complaints on file with NHTSA[1], more than any other MDX model year in our data[2]. It also has 7 recalls[3][4][5][6][7][8][9], so check the recall status of any car you are considering.

377owner complaints[1]
7recalls[2]
21–23MPG combined (EPA)[10]
5★NHTSA overall rating[11]

Most reported problems

NHTSA lists 377 owner complaints for this model year[1]. Ten mention a crash, 5 a fire and 5 an injury[1]. No deaths are reported[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one part of the car.

By component group, the engine leads with 172 complaints, and the median mileage at failure is 65,211[12]. The power train follows with 113 complaints, and the median mileage is 31,001[13]. Smaller groups are unknown or other with 40[14], electrical with 38[15] and fuel or propulsion with 28[16].

We also read a small sample of complaint texts for the biggest groups. The sample is too small to say how common any problem is. Here is what owners describe[13][15][12][16]:

Smaller groups include structure with 21 complaints[17], speed control with 19[18] and lane departure with 14[19].

Recalls

NHTSA lists 7 recalls for this model year[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. They are below, newest first. Where a remedy is available, dealers do the work free of charge. Some recalls cover only certain vehicles, so check the VIN of any specific car on NHTSA.gov.

Fuel economy

The EPA lists two ratings for the 2WD MDX and two for the 4WD MDX[10][20][21][22]. All use a 3.5L 6-cylinder engine and premium fuel[10][20][21][22].

Version City / highway / combined MPG EPA annual fuel cost
2WD, front-wheel drive[10] 20 / 27 / 23 $3,550
2WD, front-wheel drive[20] 19 / 27 / 22 $3,750
4WD, all-wheel drive[21] 19 / 26 / 22 $3,750
4WD, all-wheel drive[22] 18 / 26 / 21 $3,900

The EPA bases annual cost on its current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the all-wheel-drive version 5 stars overall, 5 for frontal crash and 5 for side crash[11]. Rollover gets 4 stars, with a rollover risk of 16.4%[11]. The front-wheel-drive version has the same ratings and the same rollover risk[23].

Engine and size

The EPA test car list rates the 3.5L 6-cylinder engine at 290 hp[24]. The size figures below are Canadian-market specifications for the all-wheel-drive SUV, converted to US units. They can differ slightly from US models[25].

Measure Value
Length[25] 194 in
Width[25] 77 in
Height[25] 67 in
Wheelbase[25] 111 in
Curb weight[25] 4,343 lb

How 2016 compares with other years

2001: 224 complaints, 4 recalls20012002: 205 complaints, 4 recalls2003: 206 complaints, 11 recalls2004: 171 complaints, 8 recalls20042005: 180 complaints, 11 recalls2006: 87 complaints, 9 recalls2007: 99 complaints, 0 recalls20072008: 49 complaints, 0 recalls2009: 52 complaints, 0 recalls2010: 45 complaints, 1 recalls20102011: 70 complaints, 0 recalls2012: 76 complaints, 1 recalls2013: 30 complaints, 1 recalls20132014: 172 complaints, 8 recalls2015: 71 complaints, 8 recalls2016: 377 complaints, 7 recalls37720162017: 268 complaints, 9 recalls2018: 170 complaints, 10 recalls2019: 198 complaints, 9 recalls20192020: 229 complaints, 8 recalls2022: 180 complaints, 3 recalls2023: 48 complaints, 3 recalls20232024: 43 complaints, 3 recalls2025: 111 complaints, 4 recalls2026: 9 complaints, 1 recalls2026
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each MDX model year. The 2016 is highlighted[2].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
20012244
20022054
200320611
20041718
200518011
2006879
2007990
2008490
2009520
2010451
2011700
2012761
2013301
20141728
2015718
20163777
20172689
201817010
20191989
20202298
20221803
2023483
2024433
20251114
202691

Among the MDX model years listed by NHTSA, 2016 has the most complaints with 377[2]. The next highest are 2017 with 268, 2020 with 229 and 2001 with 224[2]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so this shows where owners reported more problems, not a failure rate.

On recalls, 2016 has 7[2]. That is fewer than 2017 with 9, 2018 with 10, 2019 with 9 and 2020 with 8[2]. The 2014 and 2015 model years each have 8[2]. The 2021 model year is not in the list.

Should you buy a used 2016 MDX?

This model year has the highest complaint count of any MDX year in our data, with the largest complaint groups being the engine and power train[1][12][13][2]. Recalls are free to fix, but the rear subframe recall has no final remedy yet[3]. Ask the seller for proof of completed recall work and check the VIN on NHTSA.gov. Test drive for smooth shifting and any warning lights, since owners in our sample describe both. On safety, NHTSA gives 5 stars overall[11][23].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Acura MDX?
NHTSA lists 377 complaints[1]. The engine group has 172 and the power train group has 113[1][12][13]. In a sample of power train complaints we read, owners describe hesitation and rough shifting[13].
Does the 2016 Acura MDX have any recalls?
Yes, 7 recalls are on file, covering the rear subframe, tailgate lights, fuel pumps, engine bearings and the fuel tank[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. The rear subframe recall 26V365 has no final remedy yet[3].
What gas mileage does the 2016 Acura MDX get?
The EPA combined rating is 21 to 23 MPG, depending on the version[10][20][21][22]. The 2WD rates 22 to 23 and the 4WD rates 21 to 22[10][20][21][22].
Is 2016 the best or worst year for the Acura MDX?
It has the most complaints of any MDX year listed, at 377[2]. Counts are not adjusted for sales[2].
What safety rating does the 2016 Acura MDX have?
NHTSA gives 5 stars overall and 4 stars for rollover[11][23].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 377 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Acura MDX (10 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 5 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. Owner complaints and recalls for every Acura MDX model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  3. Recall 26V365, filed June 4, 2026: Suspension › Rear. NHTSA recall database
  4. Recall 25V259, filed April 17, 2025: Interior Lighting. NHTSA recall database
  5. Recall 23V858, filed December 18, 2023: Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump. NHTSA recall database
  6. Recall 23V751, filed November 13, 2023: Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine › Hard Parts Internal / Mechanical. NHTSA recall database
  7. Recall 19V256, filed March 28, 2019: Exterior Lighting. NHTSA recall database
  8. Recall 19V060, filed January 29, 2019: Fuel System, Other › Delivery › Fuel Pump. NHTSA recall database
  9. Recall 16V417, filed June 9, 2016: Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly. NHTSA recall database
  10. EPA rating for MDX 2WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 27 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  11. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 172 complaints name the engine component group (2 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 65,211). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. 113 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 31,001). NHTSA vehicle records
  14. 40 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 10,555). NHTSA vehicle records
  15. 38 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 20,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  16. 28 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 44,750). NHTSA vehicle records
  17. 21 complaints name the structure component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  18. 19 complaints name the speed control component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 24,368). NHTSA vehicle records
  19. 14 complaints name the lane departure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  20. EPA rating for MDX 2WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 27 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,750. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  21. EPA rating for MDX 4WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,750. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  22. EPA rating for MDX 4WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  23. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
  24. EPA Test Car List, 2016 Acura MDX with 3.5L 6-cylinder: rated 290 hp. www.epa.gov
  25. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MDX 4DR SUV AWD: length 194 in, width 77 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 111 in, curb weight 4,343 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.