Engine owner reports: Acura MDX years in the records

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“While driving my 2020 Acura MDX, the vehicle developed an intermittent check engine light and a noticeable engine knocking noise coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to an Acura dealership for diagnosis. According to the certified Acura technician, no diagnostic trouble codes were found stored in the vehicle’s system. However, the technician confirmed there was an audible knocking noise present from the engine during inspection. The technician stated "No engine oil leaks found at this time. Engine. I did verify the noise that you are talking about far as knocking noise goes. Right now, it sounds like it's a lower end noise, possibly crank shaft related. Engine teardown would need to be in place to verify which cylinders are bad and to confirm if the bearing is gone or not.". The vehicle has all service records, including routine oil changes at recommended intervals. The technician also confirmed that the vehicle had oil in it. The vehicle is not part of the existing recall, but the symptoms and description match the known crank shaft rod bearing issue.”

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“Interstate driving 70mph. Sudden engine power loss, vehicle slowed to 50mph. Check engine light came on. Engine knocking noises. Drove car 2 miles to our Acura dealership. Service dept says we have rod bearing failure. Currently deciding how to proceed...used or Reman motor repalcement.”

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“On March 3, 2026 my son was driving our 2020 Acura MDX when we lost power in the middle of an intersection. The following day we had it towed to Montanto Acura in [XXX] where we were told we had a blown engine due to a bad crank shaft and possibly engine bearings. Prior to this the car drove fine with no warning signs. My son who was [XXX] old was at a dangerous intersection and had to wait for help to arrive to move the vehicle out of the intersection. We had to pay to replace the engine a total of 8,747.36 for a used engine. Now fearing for our son's safety we decided to sell the car at a loss and buy him something we can reply on and that won't put him in danger. Although Acura has recalled many engines, our VIN did not come up in that recall, however we have now been affected by the same issue many others had the recall performed on. I have all service records from our dealership to prove the condition. It is unacceptable that a Honda Engine would fail with 105,374 miles and all service work done at the dealership. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“The motor through a misfire code and began making a noise while vehicle was sitting at a red light. Vehicle lost all power and had to be towed. Was quoted my the Acura dealership $9k. Main reason for addressing this concern is because numerous Acura J35 series motors have already been recalled for engine connecting rod issues. While this motor doesn't apparently fall under that recall, odd that it would essentially had the same issue, when it only had 136k miles and has been maintained to factory standards (or better)”

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“MY car has 39200. Miles acura mdx 2020 tech package. Has a rod knocking sound. There was a recall number 23v751000 that i was never notified about. I cant drive car under this vondition may harm engine further. Question is this recall still valid even if I was mot informed or does my cars acura/Honda warranty covers repairs or replacement”

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“While driving my 2020 Acura MDX A-Spec at approximately 63,744 miles, the vehicle suddenly lost all engine power without warning while passing through a busy multi-lane intersection. The loss of propulsion prevented acceleration and forced us to coast across traffic lanes to reach the shoulder, creating a significant safety hazard. The engine would not restart. The vehicle was inspected on 3/17/2026 by Lyle Pearson Acura (Boise, ID). The dealership diagnosed catastrophic internal engine failure with the following findings: spun rod bearing in cylinder #6, excessive metal debris in the oil pan, and bearing seizure to the crankshaft. The technician stated the failure pattern is consistent with the rod-bearing defect described in Acura Safety Recall / Service Bulletin 24-001. Although my VIN is NOT currently included in the recall population, the confirmed failure mode matches the known defect. This suggests the issue may extend beyond currently identified vehicles that are included in Acura Service Bulletin 24-001 and NHTSA recall 23V-751. The vehicle has a salvage title from prior cosmetic damage only; no engine, drivetrain, or structural components were affected. The vehicle has been properly maintained with documented service history. This failure represents a serious safety risk due to sudden loss of power in active traffic conditions, increasing the risk of collision or injury. I request NHTSA review this incident to determine whether additional vehicles should be included in the recall and to assess the broader safety risk.”