2006 Acura MDX Problems

What owners report

Complaints for this model year center on the automatic transmission: owners describe a shudder or judder during light acceleration, usually between about 30 and 45 mph, and some later report internal transmission failure. A second recurring theme is the shifter interlock, where the key can be removed and the vehicle can roll while not in Park. Airbag-inflator recalls and occasional warnings from the stability-assist system also appear in the sample.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder/judder at 30-45 mph

   • 25 complaints (29%)
   • median 68,700 mi at 5.0 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2015

   Owners describe a shudder, vibration or grinding felt through the vehicle when accelerating lightly, most often in the 30-45 mph range or between 20 and 45 mph. Many say a dealer replaced the torque converter and/or applied a transmission software update, and several report the symptom returned afterward. Some complaints describe the shudder progressing to a transmission that would not shift, lost reverse, or needed replacement. Most reports fall between roughly 26,000 and 100,000 miles, often first noticed within months of purchase.

   What to check: Test drive at a steady light throttle between 30 and 45 mph and feel for vibration or judder, and ask for service records showing whether the torque converter or transmission software was ever updated or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought 2006 MDX may 2010 with 107,000 km, now coming to 110,000 after putting 3k I am starting to get vibration/shudder/grinding between 40-65kmh while accelerating, lugging power when I turn right or left on slow 20kmh. I guess this vehicle still under power train warranty to fix this issues or do I have any other option to resolve this issues.”

   NHTSA complaint #10345591, filed 2010-07, 109,000 miles

   “Second complaint-I own a 2006 Acura MDX I am the first owner bought SUV new-on november 2010 I receive a recall notice from american honda motor co., inc. To bring SUV in to Acura dealer for technician to update software for transmission. The update will help transmission operate properly, assure longer life-before taking SUV in I had no complaint SUV was operating great. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10525498, filed 2013-07, 56,300 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Key can be removed and vehicle rolls when not in Park

   • 7 complaints (8%)
   • median 110,000 mi at 7.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2018

   Complaints describe removing the key with the shifter left in Drive or Neutral and the vehicle then rolling as if in neutral; in several cases it rolled into another vehicle or a pole. Some owners link the behavior to the ignition interlock and report that the dealer replaced the ignition switch or key interlock. A few say the condition persisted after the recall work was done. Reported from very low mileage up to about 200,000 miles, often noticed while parking.

   Recall 12V573000

   What to check: With the engine off, try removing the key with the shifter in Drive and Neutral, and check with a dealer whether recall 12V573000 for the ignition switch interlock was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2006 Acura MDX can be stopped and keys removed without shifting to park. We noticed this in an incident in a shopping mall parking lot when car was parked and mistakenly left in drive. Keys were removed and cars started rolling as if it were in neutral. Since the incident we have verified that keys can be removed when it is not in park. The car will roll freely when it is in drive or reverse. From another report on your site on 3/24/2009 we are not the only ones with this issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10327019, filed 2010-04, 62,134 miles

   “I had the recall for the interlock defect done on my Acura 2006 MDX on march 15, 2015. Parked in my garage, I got out of the car taking the keys out of the ignition not realizing it was in neutral. I walked briefly into the house and back out only to find my car was starting to roll out of my garage. I ran to jump in and try to stop the car, only to have the open door catch my other vehicle in the drive and damage it along with the Acura. Neighbors came to my rescue after hearing me call out for help. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10534171, filed 2013-08, 142,600 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag inflator recall and replacement delays

   • 15 complaints (17%)
   • median 157,500 mi at 13.3 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2019

   Complaints describe difficulty getting front airbag inflators replaced under recall, including a dealer declining the work because of wiring found in the way. Other reports mention airbags failing to deploy in a crash, or deploying with smoke and alarm activation. Several recall campaigns and warranty-extension bulletins cover driver and passenger inflators for this model year. Reports span a wide mileage range, including vehicles above 100,000 miles.

   Recall 19V501000Recall 19V499000Recall 19V182000Recall 17V029000Recall 16V344000Recall 15V32000011 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for proof that both driver and passenger inflator recalls were completed on this VIN, and confirm with a dealer whether any campaign is still open.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 3/9, I was parking my 2006 MDX in an indoor parking garage. About 15 feet from a wall, it took off real fast. I pressed harder on the brakes, but it slammed into the wall so hard. The air bag deployed, smoke came out & the alarm went off until a passerby disconnected the battery. I couldn't stand up for a few minutes. My insurance co. Decided it was totalled & had it towed to our house instead of a body shop, then only gave me its book value. I still have many bruises all over my body and my nose bled for a while and was swollen for a week. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11192247, filed 2019-03, 170,000 miles

   “The contact owned a 2006 Acura MDX. While the contact's vehicle was idling at a traffic light, it was rear ended by another vehicle. The contact heard an abnormal noise and the front driver's seat fractured in half. Also, the seat belt became detached during the impact. The air bag deployed. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact sustained injuries to the left knee, back, neck, and hip. The contact was transported via ambulance to the hospital for medical attention. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11280937, filed 2019-11, 145,000 miles
4. 4
   Electronic stability control

   Stability-assist warnings with hard or unusual braking

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • median 148,000 mi at 13.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2022

   Owners report the VSA and related warning lights coming on, sometimes with the brake pedal feeling stiff or the vehicle slowing on its own. A few describe the vehicle pulling or being thrown side to side while braking at low speed in a parking lot. Complaints mention that recall 13V092000 covers the stability-assist unit on some vehicles, and that lights returned after the work was done. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 150,000 miles.

   Recall 13V092000

   What to check: Check whether recall 13V092000 was performed on this VIN, and watch for VSA warning lights or a hard brake pedal during a low-speed test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “As I was driving in a parking lot, I went to apply my brakes as I am turning my car. The brakes felt hard all of a sudden even though I barely applied pressure. The break petal had a grinding sound and applied extreme pressure to break my car by itself. It felt as if my car was being thrown from side to side. This happened several times in parking lots. This has also happened about 3 times on the highway. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11230957, filed 2019-07, 98,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2006 Acura MDX. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vsa and the ecu warning lights illuminated. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was undetermined. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13v092000 (service brakes, hydraulic, traction control system). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10781547, filed 2015-10, 105,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Battery drain traced to HandsFreeLink module

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe batteries going dead after the vehicle sits for a couple of days, with the HandsFreeLink Bluetooth module or navigation unit suspected as the drain. Some owners report replacing batteries repeatedly and using a battery disconnect switch as a workaround. Dealer messages in the input note an investigation into HandsFreeLink not working or the battery being too low to start the engine. Reported at a wide range of mileages, including low-mileage vehicles.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the HandsFreeLink module has been diagnosed or disconnected, and check whether the battery holds a charge after the vehicle sits unused for a few days.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There is a paracytic battery drain causing new batteries to fail. Troubleshooting says Hands Free Link system may be reason for drain/ dead battery. Or, the Navigation system. There are endless electrical issues within 5 fuse boxes. I’ve done this manually, it’s slow. I know a diagnostic meter would help! So, I’ve installed a battery switch inside car. Must turn off each night! You’d think I’d have a mobile battery charger by now. But thankfully road side service has been a life saver. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11593583, filed 2024-06

   “Bought a new MDX. Battery failed the first day(8/28/2006). 100 month battery replaced. Battery failed 2/24/2009. Acura had no explanation for battery problems. Warranty book said do not drive can cause someone being killed. We had car towed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10259906, filed 2009-02, 11,239 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the transmission's behavior at light throttle between 30 and 45 mph, and confirm on the VIN that all open airbag, stability-assist and ignition interlock recalls have been completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.