2012 ACURA MDX Recalls, Complaints & Safety

Oil consumption/burning Cylinder rings

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 126,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 159,000.

Does not have anchor for the seat. A recall was placed by NHTSA

See attached document for complaint.

On 11/30/24 I heard a slight whirling sound while driving. On 12/1/24 I drove from Point A towards my home. Along the way the oil light flashed. I stopped at Advance Auto Parts, 15 miles from Point A. I checked the oil and it read as it should on the dip stick. No oil was needed. I drove straight home, a distance of 30 miles, and parked the car. When my son arrived home he started the car and there was a knocking sound. He shut it off. He stated that he felt it to be the rod bearings. He then changed the oil as previously planned as supplies were already in the car. He checked the oil and found a slight glitter in it indicating the rod bearing issue. The car remained parked until 12/26/24 when it was taken to an independent service center, round trip of 18 miles, who confirmed that the rod bearings were the issue. The car was parked again and only started to move about 50 feet into the garage prior to a snow storm. It has not been started since. My safety was put at risk as the engine could have, and will, fail when driving. The engine had previously been repaired at an Acura dealer for an oil consumption issue in accordance with service bulletin 19-006. Honda refused to honor the recall previously offered due to this known failure. The car was picked up on 12/8/22 with 92,954 and purchased finalized on 1/4/23. The oil consumption issue was first noted on 2/12/23 at 97,088 miles. Car was serviced and oil changed on 2/16/23 at which time the oil consumption issue was diagnosed by the selling dealer. Oil was continually added until work was completed on 3/21/23 at 99,425 miles. The new issue with the rod bearings (that were not changed with the first repair as they should have been) was first noted at approximately 137,840 miles. This is now the second engine failure for this car. The car is available for inspection. The car has not been inspected by any entity other than the initial diagnosis on 12/26/24.

The engine consistently consumes too much oil between service events. The low oil light comes on. I had this problem for over 8 years and the dealership said it was not a problem until now and they want me to pay for it. The oil control rings have been clogged since 2016 and progressively gotten worse. The clogged rings cause restriction of oil to return to the crankcase. This causes a decrease in available oil and may cause overheating that could lead to engine fire. Acura should fix the oil control rings to function properly. They have identified this in the past, through a service bulletin (19-006). I have performed 97% of my oil changes at Acura dealerships.

Consistently getting low oil notification shortly after getting oil changes. This has been happening since 2017. Dealer does a oil consumption test and says it is not a problem. However I cannot go between oil changes without getting the notification. I have no oil leaks. Furthermore, I have had 'oil' services done over the past 5 years that never fix the problem. I'm afraid this is doing damage to the vehicle and can put us in danger if oil level is too low. Dealer continues to say it isn't a problem. And when they try to fix it, it doesn't work. This began in 2017

This vehicle unrealistically burns oil. 5-6 quarts of oil is added to engine between oil changes.

THIS VEHICLE BURNS SO MUCH OIL. I USE 5 QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES IN THIS VEHICLE. UNREAL! SO DISAPPOINTED IN HONDA.

S25 S25 recall fuel system 2012 Campaign Number 12V063000

DONE everything Dealer suggested and still having problems with random misfires in 1,2 and 3 cylinders, changed spark plugs, fuel injectors, ignition coils and compression test and changed rear CAT. Still check engine light come on sometime then the SUV driving good, and sometimes it drive ruff, check engine light come on then go off then come back on with same codes: random misfire.

My Sunroof exploded.

11/17/2020 Acura battery of our 2012 Acura MDX failed & was replaced under manufacturer warranty, via comp was provided. 6/29/2021 Acura battery failed again. Dealership did not honor warranty claiming manufacturer Acura would not pay for replacement. Dealership said I needed to contact Acura Client Relationship which I did. ACR initially said dealership was at fault & the battery should be replaced under warranty. I asked for a client number & was placed on 10 minute hold. When agent returned she changed her story saying battery was not under warranty even though it had been replaced under warranty in November 2020. Their reason was I ‘did not pay for the battery.’ This is not true as I did pay a prorate portion of the replacement in November & the original battery I purchased with the certified vehicle purchase. The ACR agent declined to provide me a claim number. I talked to the dealer service manager Andrew Jackson & the service tech writer Tevin Jackson. I requested contact information for an Acura Zone or Regional Manager. Andrew stated he would speak to general manager - Cecil Turner. I followed up with Andrew, was told that Acura Client Relations have no record of my call (I have itemized billing & therefore proof of the call including duration) & he asked me to call back to get a claim number. I did this & obtained a claim number which I provided to Mr. Jackson. I followed up again & was told the Regional representative was going to try & obtain an Acura Loyalty Card. Weeks later I checked on this again & was told they were still trying. While the dealership is not at fault & my claim of Fraud is not directed at Acura of Little Rock or Mr. Tevin, Mr. Andrew or Mr. Cecil (even though as a 21 year customer of this dealership he has not bothered to contact me in any way) I am very dismayed that the manufacturer Acura – an American Honda com. The repeated battery failures are a real & present safety danger. Acura batteries are garbage.

The airbag light is on I went to have the airbag replaced. I was told I couldn't get my airbag replaced because it was a CANADIAN vehicle and they couldn't get the part etc. to replace it. So I have a Canadian vehicle that was not disclosed to me at the time of purchase. What can I do to resolve this issue? I purchased the Suv from Walt Sweeny 6315 Harrison Avenue Cincinnati Ohio 45247Auto Center 877- 300-3930. I spoke with the owner once and other person. No resolution has come about yet.

MY AIRBAG LIGHT WON'T GO OFF. SHOWING AN ERROR WHEN HOOKED UP TO THE MACHINE

ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, MY SUV HAD A MESSAGE ALERT COME ON WHILE I WAS SITTING STILL AFTER JUST STARTING MY VEHICLE IN WALMART PARKING LOT AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING, SAYING TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL; OIL LEVEL LOW. ALSO, JUST RECENTLY, MARCH 27TH I HAD TO ADD OIL TO MY VEHICLE AGAIN; 3/4 OF A QUART LOW ON OIL. THE VERY NEXT MORNING, I HAD ANOTHER ALERT COME ACROSS MY MESSAGE BOARD SAYING TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL- OIL LEVEL LOW. SO I CHECKED IT AGAIN, IT SHOWED AT THE TOP OF THE HASH MARKS ON THE DIPSTICK AS IT SHOULD. SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON THERE UNLESS IT'S A MALFUNCTION OF SORTS OR A SENSOR ISSUE. I CHECK MY OIL WHEN I FILL UP MY GAS TANK. ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY SUV WAS BURNING/ USING OIL. I HAVE TO KEEP PUTTING OIL IN DUE TO A LOW OIL LEVEL LOOK ENTIRELY TOO OFTEN. I'VE HAD TO PUT OIL IN MY ENGINE AT LEAST TWICE A MONTH. AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST ENOUGH TO TOP IT OFF, I'M TALKING ANYWHERE FROM 3/4 OF A QUART TO 3 QUARTS OR MORE AT TIMES. THERE ARE NO LEAKS, NO PUDDLES OR OIL SPLATTER ON THE BOTTOM OF MY TRUCK OR IN MY DRIVEWAY. MY TRUCK IS HAVING A SEVERE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM. I KNOW THERE WAS AN EXTENDED VEHICLE WARRANTY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THIS THAT EXPIRED APRIL OF 2021-I DID NOT GET THIS VEHICLE UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 2020. ALSO, I DID DO THE THOUSAND MILE TEST AND IT FAILED MISERABLY. NO ONE CAN TELL ME IF IT WAS FIXED OR NOT, BUT OBVIOUSLY, EITHER WAY, IT DID NOT GET FIXED OR THE FIX DID NOT WORK. IT IS A COSTLY FIX AND IT IS A MANUFACTURER FAIL, NOT MINE. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE IT CREATES ANY FUTURE PROBLEMS OR YEARS UP THE PISTONS IN MY ENGINE OR LOCKS UP. ANY HELP OR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! THANK YOU.

MY 2012 ACURA MDX HAS AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE THAT ACURA IS AWARE OF BEING A PROBLEM, HOWEVER IT IS NOT OFFERING TO COVER THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH FIXING THE ISSUE. MY VEHICLE BURNED THROUGH MORE THAN 2 QUARTS OF OIL IN A MATTER OF 1 MONTH. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AS IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. LACK OF OIL COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL.

SHUDDERING WHEN GOING BETWEEN 20-40 MILES.

THE TRANSMISSION BROKE EVEN AFTER THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE. SPENT MORE THAN $5,000 WITH THE DEALER TO FIX IT.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I REACHED MY DESTINATION AND TURNED OFF MY VEHICLE, I THEN RESTARTED MY VEHICLE AND THE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I TOOK A PICTURE OF THE LIGHT FOR PROOF. STILL ON FOR 3 WEEKS NOW. I CHECKED AND MY VIN IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST FOR THE AIRBAG.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I REACHED MY DESTINATION AND TURNED OFF MY VEHICLE, I THEN RESTARTED MY VEHICLE AND THE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I TOOK A PICTURE OF THE LIGHT FOR PROOF. IT DID GO OFF LATER IN THE DAY. IT HAS COME ON INTERMEDIATELY SINCE THAT DAY. I CHECKED AND MY VIN IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST FOR THE AIRBAG.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INFORMING THE DRIVER TO GO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEITH ACURA (2300 CAPITAL SUMMIT CT, RALEIGH, NC 27616, (919) 803-8700) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAGS ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

METAL PIECES WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID.REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE WITH ACURA OF WAPPINGER FALLS, NY 12590. SPENT $5190.04 FOR REPLACING TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTOR WITH REMANUFACTURED UNIT. FEW YEARS BEFORE HAD ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES JUST AT 55,000 AND WAS TOLD THAT INTERNAL GASKET OIL CONSUMPTION WAS NOT PART OF THE ENGINE PROBLEM. *TR

WINDSHIELD WIPER DOESN'T WORK, ELECTRONIC STEERING FAILED

Fire

WINDSHIELD WIPER DOESN'T WORK, ELECTRONIC STEERING FAILED

Fire

MY 2012 MDX MODEL IS CONSUMING EXCESSIVE MOTOR OIL, AFTER 3000 MILES DRIVING , I'M DOWN TO 1 1/4 QUARTS. THE TEST WAS DONE AND OIL CHANGED ON TWO OCCASIONS ON 3K MILES AND 2K MILES . ALL THIS IS HAPPENED DURING 8 MONTH OF THE MY OWNERSHIP.

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR I TRY TO TAKE IT BACK TO GET IT WAS BECAUSE THE CAR RPM FLUCTUATE ABOUT 1500-2500 RPM RANGE AND 30-40MPH CAUSES THE CAR TO JERKS LIKE ITS TRYING TO GO AND BRAKING AT THE SAME TIME. IT DOES THIS CONSISTENTLY IN CITY STREETS SOMETIMES IT DOES THAT ON THE HIGHWAY. ESPECIALLY GOING UP HILLS. I JUST DON'T FEEL SAFE AT ALL WHEN THE CAR ACTS UP LIKE THAT. I TAKE IT BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT FROM THEY KEEP SAYING IS NORMAL I EVEN TOOK IT TO ACURA DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN SAYS ITS NORMAL AND THAT I NEED TO PRESS ON GAS HARDER. THIS IS BULLSH*T.

AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I PARKED IT, TURNED IT OFF AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE.

Fire

AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I PARKED IT, TURNED IT OFF AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE.

Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ACURA MDX. FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED AND DISCOVERED THAT THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) NUMBER: B19-006 ON MAY 18, 2019. THE TSB WAS A WARRANTY EXTENSION TITLED 'ENGINE OIL EXCEEDS CLIENT EXPECTATIONS'. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CROWN ACURA RICHMOND (8704 W BROAD ST, HENRICO, VA 23294) FOR AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND WAS INFORMED TO COME BACK WHEN THE OIL WAS LOW AFTER DRIVING 3,000 MILES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER ON OCTOBER 17, 2019 AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE SINCE IT WAS CLOSE TO 3,000 MILES. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE OIL CONSUMPTION FAILURE OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS AND FELT LIKE THEY AND THE DEALER WERE NOT HELPFUL ONCE THE OIL CONSUMPTION FAILURE WAS DISCOVERED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED FOLLOW-UP CALLS TO ADDRESS THE FAILURE AND WAS NOT ALERTED OF THE TSB WHEN IT WAS ISSUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,420.

MOISTURE GETS INTO THE BACK-UP CAMERA CASING, CAUSING LACK OF VISIBILITY ON BACKUP CAMERA SCREEN, CREATING AN UNSAFE SITUATION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THEIR SPOUSE ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE OF THEIR DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING AND THEY HEARD AN ABNORMAL WHISTLING SOUND. AFTER THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PRODUCE SMOKE. THE CONTACT'S WIFE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THEY HEARD AN ABNORMAL CRACKING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT MADE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE. THE CONTACT CALLED MUNGENAST ACURA OF ST.LOUIS (13720 MANCHESTER RD, MANCHESTER, MO 63011 (314) 822-2872) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE TEST READ THAT A NEW ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

Fire

TAKATA RECAL: PERHAPS A MONTH AGO I ATTWEMPTED TO GET INFORMATION RE RECALLS FOR THIS CAR ON YOUR SITE. THE ANSWER WAS THAT IOT HAD DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS. I CONTACTED A DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT I WAS MISTAKEN. I AM ASKING IF YOU HAVE ANY EVIDENCE OF SUCH A DEFECT AND COULD PROVIDE ME WITH INFORMATION TO SHOW THE DEALER IF THERE HAS BEEN A DEFECT IN THE PAST.

THE CAR USES EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL. I HAVE TO ADD AT LEAST TWO QUARTERS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGE.

WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGH AT HIGH SPEEDS 80 MPH THEN I GO TO GET OFF AN EXIT THE STEERING WHEEL VEHICLE SHAKES AND VIBRATES THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND TIRES.

HUMMING, MOANING OR DRONING LIKE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE NOISE INCREASE AS YOU INCREASE SPEED. THE VEHICLE DRIVE NORMAL NO SHAKING OR JERKING.

I RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM ACURA FOR REGARDING ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. THIS COULD AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ENGINE. ACURA IS AWARE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE REGARDING THIS, HOWEVER THEY ARE REQUIRING THAT AN OIL CHANGE BE DONE THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE FOR THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. ACURA SHOULD PREFORM THE INSPECTION EITHER IN ANOTHER MANNER, OR THEY SHOULD PROVIDE THE OIL CHANGE AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE IF THAT IS THE ONLY OPTION TO CHECK IF THIS IS AN ISSUE. THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AT ANOTHER SERVICE CENTER THAT MAY BE LESS EXPENSIVE THAN WHAT THE DEALER CHARGES. IT SEEMS THAT ACURA IS TRYING TO BENEFIT FROM THEIR OWN ISSUE.

ACURA MDX 2012 - PERSISTENT SLOW START OF THE ENGINE; ENGINE IS STRAINING TO TURN OVER/START. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY 4 TIMES, CHECKED ALL POSSIBLE PROBLEMS (STARTER, SPARK PLUGS ETC.) BUT SAME RANDOM, PERIODIC PROBLEM OF THE ENGINE STRUGGLING TO START. RELATED PROBLEM: FUEL TANK APPEARS TO BE SOMEWHAT LOOSE; WHEN I BUY GASOLINE, I CAN SEE THE GAS TANK MOVE. IN ADDITION, IT IS DIFFICULT TO FILL UP THE CAR WITH GAS; THE GAS PUMP CUTS OFF BEFORE THE GAS TANK IS TO THE "FULL" LEVEL. MY GUT TELLS ME THAT THESE 2 PROBLEMS ARE SOMEHOW AFFECTING MY CAR STARTING. MY CAR HAS ONLY 51,000 MILES ON IT. I TAKE GOOD CARE/MAINTAIN IT. I HAVE READ OTHERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM!!! ACURA SHOULD FIX THIS! TOO EXPENSIVE OF A CAR; WHERE IS THE QUALITY??? THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM OF MY 2012 ACURA MDX . PLEASE HELP.

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR MY RPMS FLUCTUATE AND MY CAR CAN'T SEEM TO GET INTO GEAR. IT IS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND VERY SCARY AT TIMES. IT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND ALSO A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE CONSUMERS PROBLEM. ACURA SHOULD BE LIVING UP TO THERE NAME BY FIXING THIS PROBLEM. ACURAS SHOULD NEVER HAVE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THATS WHY MY HUSBAND AND I ARE LOYAL CUSTOMERS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTING.

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON THE DASH BOARD, SAYING CHECK AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS HAPPENS EVERYDAY WHEN DRIVING.

CHECK AIR BAG SYSTEM KEEPS COMING ON.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WHEN MY SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES BY ME AND I WAS NOT DRIVING UNDER AN OVERPASS