2011 Acura MDX Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year write most often about engine oil consumption that starts in the 60,000-80,000 mile range and worsens with mileage, with many saying the dealer measured the rate and called it normal or pointed to an expired warranty extension. A smaller but consistent group describes the moonroof glass breaking at highway speed, and others report transmission shudder at low speed or the engine revving and the vehicle surging forward while braking.

1. 1
   Engine

   Excessive engine oil consumption

   • 19 complaints (27%)
   • median 95,000 mi at 8.7 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2015–2023

   Complaints describe the oil level dropping long before the next scheduled change, in some cases a quart every 500 to 1,000 miles, with no puddle under the car and no visible smoke. Some owners report the low oil pressure light coming on, a rattling sound on acceleration, or a burning smell; a few say the engine felt down on power while merging. According to the complaints, dealers ran an oil consumption test, described the rate as within guidelines, or cited an expired warranty extension, and some owners were told the piston and ring parts were backordered. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 130,000 miles, with several owners saying it began around 60,000-80,000 and worsened as mileage climbed.

   10 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for records of an oil consumption test and whether the piston and ring repair under the extended warranty was completed. Check the dipstick level at inspection and ask how often oil has been added between changes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Excessive oil consumption. Acura claims burning 1 qt every 1,000 miles is acceptable. Based on web search many other owners of the same vehicle are having the same problem. My guess is that it's a rather prevalent problem given how few people actually regularly check their oil and I'm certain the service technicians aren't informing the customer when the oil level is unacceptably low.”

   NHTSA complaint #10920340, filed 2016-10, 62,000 miles

   “On sept 11 2019 my mechanic notified me of a problem with my 2011 Acura MDX. He said it was excessively burning oil. He said to contact Acura/honda because they identified it as a problem with some of their cars. I called that same day and was told that yes, there is a defect in my make and model car and that had issued a warranty to cover the repairs, but unfortunately, because I was 11 days too late, they would not fix the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11255809, filed 2019-09, 127,000 miles
2. 2
   Other or unknown

   Moonroof glass breaking at highway speed

   • 9 complaints (13%)
   • median 93,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2017–2023

   Complaints describe the sunroof glass breaking suddenly at freeway speed with nothing nearby that could have hit it, usually with a loud bang and fragments falling toward the interior shade. Owners say the noise startled them at the wheel, and one reports leaving the road before regaining control. Several say the dealer did not mention a recall and quoted a replacement, and one owner went to an auto glass shop instead. Reported mostly between about 70,000 and 95,000 miles where mileage was given, typically while driving at highway speed.

   What to check: Inspect the moonroof panel for chips, cracks or signs of replacement, and ask whether the glass has ever been changed. Several owners note that having the interior shade closed kept broken glass out of the cabin.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Sunroof glass exploded spontaneously while driving on highway about 80mph with little traffic and clear skies. Luckily, the sunroof interior slide cover was closed preventing the glass shards to fall into the vehicle. Took car to a local Acura dealer and they did not mention a recall and needed time to order a new part and schedule service. Declined their service and went to an auto glass service for pending repairs. I believe this was no fault of my own and I wasn't aware of this sunroof issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11231614, filed 2019-07, 70,000 miles

   “I was traveling along an interstate and heard a deafening sound. I lost control of my vehicle, left the interstate and was heading down an embankment when I finally regained control of my vehicle. I made it back to the interstate and pulled off at the next exit. I heard the sound as if something that was pertaining to my roof. When I pulled back the inside sunroof cover glass started coming into my car. I looked and my sunroof had a large hole in it and from the look of the glass pushing outward it exploded. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11047083, filed 2017-11, 73,876 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder and rough low-speed shifting

   • 5 complaints (7%)
   • median 35,074 mi at 3.2 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2011–2025

   Complaints describe shuddering or vibration through the vehicle at around 30-40 mph, rough or lurching shifts in stop-and-go driving, and in some cases a whining or droning noise from the front that continued after the wheel bearings were replaced. One owner reports the car shaking, a loud bang and the wheels locking, traced to a rear differential failure that returned after the repair. Owners say dealers found no fault codes, called the behavior normal, or replaced parts, and one was told the vehicle was not included in a related recall. Reported from under 20,000 miles to about 120,000 miles, with the low-speed shudder most often described between 30 and 40 mph.

   What to check: On a test drive, hold a steady 30-40 mph and feel for shudder, hesitation or a droning noise, and check for transmission and differential fluid service records. Ask whether any transmission or differential work has already been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There is shuddering coming from the transmission on speeds of 30-40 MPH. It seems like Acura knew of the problem and sent a recall for MDX,rdx and zdx that were made from 2010 to 2013 but my VIN wasn't included although I am facing the same problem as those recalled vehicles.”

   NHTSA complaint #11301750, filed 2020-01, 120,000 miles

   “While driving on highway the car the began shaking followed by a booming sound- similar to a tire explosion - and eventually tires locked up causing vehicle to skid. Dealer repair shop diagnosed as a rear differential failure and repaired. However, two days after the repair, the problem manifested again, this time there was no shaking and wheels seemed to lock up while driving at 40 MPH causing driver to lose control and car to skid.”

   NHTSA complaint #10463096, filed 2012-06, 20,000 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Engine revving and surging at low speed

   • 5 complaints (7%)
   • median 29,316 mi at 2.6 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2017

   Complaints describe the engine revving and the vehicle pushing forward while the driver is braking or stopped, in parking lots, at stop lights and while pulling up to a wall or building. Owners say the revs climbed into the upper range and that shifting to neutral or park and shutting the engine off was the only way to stop it. According to the complaints, dealers could not reproduce the problem or suggested relearning the control modules, and one owner was told to drive the car and come back if it happened again. Reported between roughly 20,000 and 50,000 miles, usually at low speed while parking or waiting in traffic.

   What to check: This is difficult to screen for on a short drive, so ask whether the throttle body or engine control software has been serviced and have stored fault codes read with a scan tool.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car experienced unintended acceleration in a shopping center parking lot. 4th time this has occurred (very intermittent). Car was stopped while in drive waiting for traffic in front of me when the engine starting revving...had to keep my foot down on the brake to avoid hitting the fellow in front of me. Forced the gear shift back into neutral then revving subsided. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10562309, filed 2014-01, 50,000 miles

   “While parking, the car suddenly accelerated as if the accelerator was floored, and the car only came to a stop after hitting a block wall. The engine continued to rev until the car was put into park and the engine turned off. I could hear the tire screeching like burning rubber when it accelerated. Prior to this incident, I've been experiencing the car lurch forward while driving for the past 2 weeks. But it was hard to reproduce, and I was in the process of trying to figure out when and how it happens.”

   NHTSA complaint #10512803, filed 2013-05, 38,632 miles

Buying note. The item worth verifying first is oil consumption: check the dipstick, ask for consumption-test and warranty-extension records, and expect to add oil between changes on a higher-mileage example. Also inspect the moonroof glass and take a steady 30-40 mph test drive to check for transmission shudder.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 56 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.