Acura MDX 2015 Owner's Guide

20Quick Reference Guide
Handling the Unexpected
(P441)
Flat Tire
(P443)
● Park in a safe location and repair the flat
tire using the tire repair kit.
● Park in a safe location and replace the
flat tire with the compact spare tire
located under the cargo area.
Indicators Come On
(P470)
● Identify the indicator and consult the
owner’s manual.
Vehicles with tire repair kitVehicles with compact spare tire
Engine Won’t Start
(P462)
● If the battery is dead, jump start using a
booster battery.
Blown Fuse
(P479)
● Check for a blown fuse if an electrical
device does not operate.
Overheating
(P468)
● Park in a safe location. If you do not see
steam under the hood, open the hood,
and let the engine cool down.
Emergency Towing
(P480)
● Call a professional towing service if you
need to tow your vehicle.

21Quick Reference Guide
What to Do If
The power mode does not
change from VEHICLE OFF
(LOCK) to ACCESSORY.
Why?
●The steering wheel may be locked.●Move the steering wheel left and right
after pressing the ENGINE START/STOP
button.
The power mode does not
change from ON to
VEHICLE OFF (LOCK). Why?
The shift lever should be moved to
(P
.
Why does the brake pedal
pulsate slightly when
applying the brakes?
This can occur when the ABS activates, and does not indicate a
problem. Apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. Never
pump the brake pedal.

22Quick Reference Guide
The rear door cannot be
opened from inside the
vehicle. Why?
Check if the childproof lock is in the
lock position. If so, open the rear
door with the outside door handle.
To cancel this function, push the
lever to the unlock position.
Why do the doors lock
after I unlocked the doors
using a remote
transmitter?
If you do not open the doors within 30 seconds, the doors are
relocked automatically for security.
Why does the beeper
sound when I open the
driver’s door?
The beeper sounds when:●The exterior lights are left on.●The power mode is in ACCESSORY.
Why does the beeper
sound when I start driving?
The beeper sounds when:●Driver and/or front passenger are not wearing their seat belts.●The parking brake lever is not fully released.

23Quick Reference Guide
Why does the beeper
sound when I turn the
engine off?
The beeper sounds when you turn off the engine with the
driver’s door open.
Why do I hear a screeching
sound when I apply the
brake pedal?
The brake pads may need to be replaced. Have your vehicle
inspected by a dealer.
Unleaded gasoline with a
Pump Octane Number
(PON) of 91 or higher is
recommended.
Is it possible to use
unleaded gasoline with a
Pump Octane Number
(PON) of 87 or higher on
this vehicle?
Unleaded gasoline with a Pump Octane Number (PON) of 91 or
higher is recommended.
Use of lower octane gasoline ca n cause occasional metallic
knocking noise in the engine and will result in decreased engine
performance.
Use of gasoline with a pump octane less than 87 can lead to
engine damage.

24

25
Safe Driving
You can find many safety recommendations throughout this chapter, and throughout this manual.
For Safe DrivingImportant Safety Precautions.............. 26
Important Handling Information ......... 28
Your Vehicle’s Safety Features ............ 29
Seat Belts About Your Seat Belts ........................ 31
Fastening a Seat Belt .......................... 34
Seat Belt Inspection ............................ 38 Airbags
Airbag System Components ............... 39
Types of Airbags ................................ 42
Front Airbags (SRS) ............................ 42
Driver’s Knee Airbag .......................... 46
Side Airbags....................................... 48
Side Curtain Airbags .......................... 50
Airbag System Indicators .................... 51
Airbag Care ....................................... 53 Child Safety
Protecting Child Passengers ............... 54
Safety of Infants and Small Children .. 56
Safety of Larger Children ................... 64
Exhaust Gas Hazard Carbon Monoxide Gas ....................... 66
Safety Labels Label Locations .................................. 67

26Safe Driving
For Safe DrivingThe following pages explain your vehicle’s safety features and how to use them
properly. The safety precautions below are ones that we consider to be among the
most important.Important Safety Precautions■Always wear your seat belt
A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags are designed to
supplement seat belts, not replace them. So even though your vehicle is equipped
with airbags, make sure you and your passengers always wear your seat belts, and
wear them properly.■Restrain all children
Children ages 12 and under should ride properly restrained in a back seat, not the
front seat. Infants and small children should be restrained in a child seat. Larger
children should use a booster seat and a lap/shoulder seat belt until they can use the
belt properly without a booster seat.■Be aware of airbag hazards
While airbags can save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to occupants
who sit too close to them, or are not properly restrained. Infants, young children,
and short adults are at the greatest risk. Be sure to follow all instructions and
warnings in this manual.■Don’t drink and drive
Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to respond to
changing conditions, and your reaction time gets worse with every additional drink.
So don’t drink and dri ve, and don’t let your friends drink and drive, either.
1Important Safety Precautions
Some states, provinces and territories prohibit the use
of cell phones other than hands-free devices by the
driver while driving.

27
uuFor Safe Driving uImportant Safety Precautions
Safe Driving
■Pay appropriate attention to the task of driving safely
Engaging in cell phone conversation or other activities that keep you from paying
close attention to the road, other vehicles, and pedestrians could lead to a crash.
Remember, situations can change quickly, and only you can decide when it is safe to
divert some attention away from driving.■Control your speed
Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher
the speed, the greater the risk, but serious injuries can also occur at lower speeds.
Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the maximum
speed posted.■Keep your vehicle in safe condition
Having a tire blowout or a mechanical failure can be extremely hazardous.
To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire pressures and condition
frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled maintenance.

28
uuFor Safe Driving uImportant Handling Information
Safe Driving
Important Handling InformationYour vehicle has higher ground clearance than a passenger vehicle designed for use
only on pavement. High er ground clearance has many advantages for off-highway
driving. It allows you to travel over bumps, obstacles, and rough terrain. It also
provides good visibility so you can anticipate problems earlier.
These advantages come at some cost. Because your vehicle is taller and rides higher
off the ground, it has a higher center gravity making it more susceptible to tripping
or roll over if you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles have a significantly higher
rollover rate than other types of vehicles. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. As a reminder,
make sure you and your passengers always wear seat belts.
1 Important Handling Information
For information on how to reduce the risk of rollover,
read:
2 Driving Guidelines for Your Utility Vehicle
P. 329
2 Off-Highway Driving Guidelines P. 322
Failure to operate your vehicle correctly might result
in a crash or a rollover.

29
uuFor Safe Driving uYour Vehicle’s Safety Features
Continued
Safe Driving
Your Vehicle’s Safety FeaturesThe following checklist will help you take an active role in protecting yourself and
your passengers.
1Your Vehicle’s Safety Features
Your vehicle is equipped with many features that
work together to help protect you and your
passengers during a crash.
Some features do not require any action on your part.
These include a strong steel framework that forms a
safety cage around the passenger compartment,
front and rear crush zones, a collapsible steering
column, and tensioners that tighten the front seat
belts in a sufficient crash.
However, you and your passengers cannot take full
advantage of these features unless you remain seated
in the correct position and always wear your seat
belts. In fact, some safety features can contribute to
injuries if they are not used properly.
67891012
Safety Cage
Crush Zones
Seats and Seat-Backs
Head Restraints
Collapsible Steering Column
Seat Belts
Front Airbags
Side Curtain Airbags
Door Locks Side Airbags
11
Seat Belt Tensioners/Seat Belt
e-pretensioners
*
67
89
9
10
11
11
12
7
Knee Airbag
10
* Not available on all models