2013 ACURA ZDX

Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi

Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1 qt per 1,000 mi or worse), Blue smoke on startup or acceleration, Fouled spark plugs and misfires, Complete engine seizure or spun rod bearings if driven low on oil

Fix: Honda's J37 engine has a known defect where piston rings collapse, allowing oil to burn. Most shops go straight to a reman engine or used low-mileage replacement because honing and re-ringing rarely holds. Expect 18-24 labor hours for engine R&R, plus 6-8 hours for ancillaries. Some opt for short block replacement but full engine swap is more common.

Estimated cost: $6,500-10,000

Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: Transmission slipping or delayed engagement, Milky or strawberry-colored fluid on dipstick, Overheating transmission temp gauge, Complete transmission failure if not caught early

Fix: The factory cooler inside the radiator can rupture internally, allowing coolant into the ATF and destroying clutch packs. Requires radiator replacement, external trans cooler install, full flush of both systems, and often a transmission rebuild or replacement if contamination went unnoticed. 12-16 hours labor if trans needs R&R.

Estimated cost: $4,000-7,500

Symptoms: Recall notice from Acura, SRS light may or may not illuminate, No symptoms until airbag deploys with metal shrapnel

Fix: This is a safety recall but parts availability has been a nightmare. Dealerships replace inflators at no cost but wait times for parts can be 6+ months. Verify recall completion before purchase. 1.5-2.5 hours per inflator at dealer.

Estimated cost: $0 (recall repair)

Typical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunk when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive engine movement during acceleration, Vibration at idle in gear, Visible sagging of powertrain on visual inspection

Fix: The hydraulic transmission mount wears out faster than expected on this heavy vehicle. Replacement requires lifting the powertrain slightly. 2-3 hours labor for mount replacement. OEM parts recommended as aftermarket mounts fail quickly.

Estimated cost: $400-700

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: Rough idle when in 3-cylinder mode, Check engine light with cylinder misfire codes (P0300-P0306), Premature spark plug fouling on deactivated cylinders, Contributes to oil consumption issues

Fix: Honda's cylinder deactivation system on the J37 can accelerate ring wear and cause fouling. Many techs install a VCM defeat device (VCMuzzler or similar) to keep engine in 6-cylinder mode. If oil consumption is already present, this won't reverse damage but prevents further issues. Device install is 0.5 hours, but many owners leave VCM active until problems arise.

Estimated cost: $150-300 for VCM defeat device installed

Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Suspension warning light on dash, Harsh ride or loss of adaptive damping, Clunking over bumps, One corner sitting lower than others

Fix: The electronic dampers are expensive Acura-specific parts. Strut replacement is straightforward (2 hours per corner) but parts cost is brutal. Some owners convert to conventional aftermarket coilovers to avoid $1,000+ per strut. Alignment required after replacement.

Estimated cost: $1,200-1,800 per strut with OEM parts, $1,500-2,500 for full coilover conversion