My 2014 MDX tech AWD's battery failed this week (while on vacation 7 hrs from home). After packing for the trip the car wouldn't start, the dealer sent the service van to jump us in the garage. We stopped at the dealership where they checked the battery and said it was good, and said we must have "left the doors open too long" while we packed. I was not convinced but we started off on our trip. Sure enough we we stopped for a break five hours later, the car would not start. I got a jump from a helpful stranger and we continued without shutting the car off to our destination. The local dealer saw us and gave me a loaner RDX for the day, but they we an hour and 40 min. from our place at the beach. They said that the battery also tested fine on the tester, but it would not start for them, so they used another tester which showed faults. I had them keep it and troubleshoot the electrical systems, no faults found. New battery is working, but I have a spare from my boat in the rear just in case for now. Disappointing for a 52 k SUV with only 6k miles.

 

replace the battery with a better battery and dont rely on acura.


the sears die hard platinum series is one of the best batteries available.

 

Did you get any other warnings or just it would not start? My alternator on my RDX wasn't putting out enough voltage and was stealing power from the battery until it failed. I got low charge warnings along with sh-awd fault codes. Acura said it was the battery and wanted to replace; but, the battery was new and under warranty from Interstate. Interstate said the battery was 100% good when I tested with them later that day. Acura re-tested my electrical and found the alternator was going bad; which, I assumed they did a complete test the first time.

A few years earlier on the same vehicle, I had a slow power draw that ran down the battery after 48hrs. I did not notice the problem because I usually drive the vehicle every day. Wasn't until after a long holiday weekend and the car sat for 3 days when I noticed the problem. It was just bad relay that needed to be replaced to correct the power drain.

 

If it fails again you definitely have some parasitic losses somewhere, they can be a biatch to find. My RL had the same issue and it was found to be a bad trunk opener "touch" button on the trunk itself (the mdx has one too), but unfortunately, it can be a myriad of things. The 30 min door open thing is bull. The brand of battery is also a moot point a new battery should not fail. Good luck, hopefully it was just a bum battery.

 

No warning, just would not start. No warning lights, difficulty starting or anything.

 

Bottom line OEM batters are sub-par.....5XX cold crank.....

I always replace the OEM battery at about 6 months to avoid these headaches due to cheap oem batteries...I just put a Sears Die Hard Platinum battery in my 04 RL yesterday after the Interstate Plus lasted me 7 years...It has a 885 cold crank and should last 10 years or so....worth every dollar of $225.00 plus tax....you get what you pay for....starts in 1 second!
Dealerships LOVE the dying Battery syndrome....its how they generate $$$$$

 

Update
After a return home and about 500 miles, everything seems ok, so I guess it was just a bad battery.