2016 Acura MDX · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 39owner reports
- 29,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Nov 18, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
111 of the 374 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 39 of those describe transmission shudder.
Tick what matches of 39 reports
Transmission shudder on other MDX years
No other MDX model year has enough reports of transmission shudder for a sheet of its own. See every MDX year.
What this problem usually is
This is the biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (9 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the MDX
All wheel drive allegation. Closed aug 4, 2026.
None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 10,000 and 38,000 miles, from the 27 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Acura MDX that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
The transmission has intermittent harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration.
SERVICE BULLETIN IN A 9-SPEED A/T, THE ATF LEVEL IS CRITICAL. IF ITS TOO HIGH, THE TRANSMISSION COULD SHIFT HARD. IF ITS TOO LOW, THE TRANSMISSION COULD SLIP. THIS TRANSMISSION ALSO DOESNT USE A DIPSTICK. TO CHECK THE ATF LEVEL, YOU NEED TO RUN A SPECIAL PROCEDURE.
What owners wrote
“When car is started, attempting to slowly accelerate in reverse or forward you will experience a loss of drive power, transmission does nothing. Then all of a sudden transmission responds and you lurch forward or reverse. Very unsafe situation. Other cars not sure if your moving or stationary.”
Filed Nov 18, 2025
“Transmission slips and make chirp sound, and failed completely during driving at 86000”
Filed Oct 18, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 39 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 94 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 82 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 47 reports