Acura MDX Complaints

319 consumer complaints on file.

#11756323August 11, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2022 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally rough grinding sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle operated normally for a while. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer determined that there was a failure within the transfer case, causing the vehicle to be operable only in Front Wheel Drive. Additionally, there was debris inside the transmission. The vehicle was repaired out of pocket. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756035August 10, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My vehicle was stopped at a busy intersection, idling in the automatic stop mode. When my husband moved his foot from the brake to the accelerator, the car stalled, orange alarm alerts went off, and the car was completely dead and stalled without power. The car needed to be restarted, and it took a few attempts to accomplish that task. I have had the same problem before with this car and have had it into the dealer at least two times without resolution.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756025August 10, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY/WIPER
I am reporting a potential safety defect involving the rear windshield glass on my Acura MDX. The rear windshield unexpectedly shattered while the vehicle was stationary, with no known impact or contact with an outside object. I was present when the glass shattered and immediately took multiple photographs and videos before the vehicle was moved. Based on what I observed, the glass appeared to break outward rather than from an outside object striking the vehicle. I later drove the vehicle from my home to the Acura dealership after being advised to do so. By the time the vehicle was inspected, portions of the shattered glass were understandably missing. The dealership later identified an area of missing glass as a possible “point of impact,” although I witnessed the event and there was no impact. I am submitting this complaint because I am concerned that the rear glass may have failed spontaneously and could represent a safety issue. Unexpected glass shattering could potentially occur while a vehicle is being driven and could startle a driver, expose occupants to broken glass, or impair visibility. I am also aware that Acura has previously issued technical service information regarding rear windshield glass on certain RDX vehicles shattering without external impact. I understand that my vehicle is an MDX and may not be covered by the same issue, but I believe the circumstances warrant documentation and review for a possible pattern.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755686August 8, 2026
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Auto Idle Restart failed three times in traffic at red light. Have to shift to Park and push Start button. Nothing happens for several seconds, then engine starts.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755315August 6, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2025 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while at a complete stop at a traffic light, the vehicle unexpectedly shut off and failed to restart. After approximately 15 minutes, the vehicle restarted, and the contact drove into a parking lot before driving to the residence. No warning lights illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure the following day, and a service appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 14,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755172August 6, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2022 Acura MDX. The contact stated that drops of fluid were discovered on the floor of the garage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for diagnosis, and the contact was informed that transmission fluid was leaking due to a failure of the Power Take Off (PTO) unit and transmission spline, causing the transmission to overheat and leak fluid. The contact was informed that the transmission and PTO unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 97,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754719August 4, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My 2023 MDX Type S is currently at Mungenast St Louis Acura. Transfer Case and Transmission are both being replaced at roughly 56,000 miles. I made a turn and heard a loud noise. Because I was under acceleration my car was hard to control when it happened. Scared me and immediately let off the gas.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754436August 3, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Went to get into my 2024 Acura MDX parked car this morning temperature around 68 degrees and noticed the back window of my 2024 MDX had shattered out. There was a large section of glass missing and the glass looks as if it was pushed from the inside out. The vehicle had not been driven or started since the last evening. It seems as though this was a problem with prior Acura models in previous years. Went to the dealer and talked to the technician who said it is not covered under Acura warranty. This is definitely a safety issue as I could have been driving down the interstate when this happened putting my life and others in danger. I can only assume this is an issue Acura is aware of with the class action lawsuit that had been filed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754284August 2, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While at a stop light, the vehicle had automatic start/stop on and failed to restart when the gas pedal was applied. The car went into park but still seemed like it was on, even though it was not. I had to remain calm, put on my hazards, and attempt a couple of times to reboot the vehicle. This has happened at least three times since I purchased my 2025 Acura MDX in November 2025.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754100July 31, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I am writing to formally report a serious and recurring safety defect with my 2025 Acura MDX A-Spec (VIN [XXX]) involving the Auto Idle Stop system. The engine repeatedly fails to restart after the Auto Idle Stop feature shuts it off. When my wife releases the brake pedal (for example, at a traffic light), the vehicle either stalls completely or experiences a major delay before restarting sometimes lasting more than 20 seconds, leaving the my wife unable to accelerate. This creates an immediate and unacceptable safety hazard, particularly in intersections or heavy traffic. I previously brought the vehicle to Acura of Langley regarding this exact issue. Despite that visit, the problem has continued. Most recently, on today, while my wife was driving with my kids, the vehicle again entered Auto Idle Stop at a traffic light. When the light turned green, the engine completely shut off and would not restart for more than 20 seconds. This left her stranded in traffic and unable to move the vehicle, creating a clear risk of collision. This is not an isolated complaint. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened Engineering Analysis EA25004 into precisely this condition “No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages” affecting, among other models, 2016–2025 Acura MDX vehicles. American Honda has also issued dealer communications specifically seeking 2023–2025 MDX vehicles with client complaints of no auto re-start after Auto Idle Stop for inspection prior to any repair attempts. Class-action investigations and prior litigation involving related Idle Stop failures further underscore the known nature and seriousness of this defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754009July 31, 2026
ENGINE
I am submitting this complaint regarding my **2025 Acura MDX**, which I currently lease. The vehicle has an ongoing starting system malfunction that has not been resolved despite multiple service visits. I believe this issue presents a significant safety risk. The primary issue involves the **Auto Idle Stop/Auto Start-Stop system**. When the vehicle automatically shuts off at a red light, stop sign, or while idling, it will occasionally fail to restart when I release the brake or attempt to accelerate. Instead of restarting normally, the vehicle hesitates, stutters, or remains off. This creates a dangerous situation because the vehicle is unexpectedly disabled while in traffic, increasing the risk of being rear-ended or causing an accident. In addition to the Auto Idle Stop issue, the vehicle also has problems during the initial startup. When I attempt to start the vehicle using the push-button ignition, it frequently fails to start on the first attempt. I often have to press the start button a second time before the engine starts, and even then, the engine stutters or hesitates before finally turning over. This should not occur in a brand-new 2025 vehicle. I have taken the vehicle to the dealership multiple times for this issue: * During the first visit, I was told the battery was the cause. * During the second visit, the starter was replaced. * After the problem continued, I returned again. The dealership tested both the battery and the replacement starter and advised that both components were operating properly. * The dealership then opened a case with Honda/Acura engineering for further investigation. Despite these repeated repair attempts, the issue remains unresolved. I have been told that it is likely a software issue and that engineers are "looking into it." In the meantime, I was instructed to simply disable the Auto Idle Stop feature every time I start the vehicle. This is not an acceptable solution. I do have videos but it will now allow me to up
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753972July 31, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2022 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while the vehicle was receiving a routine oil change, the rear wheels failed to rotate. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission and transfer case needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the drive shaft was moving freely while in park. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,984.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753342July 28, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Took car in for oil change and service tech saw that there was transmission fluid leaking. They then found that the splines were sheared off going into the transfer case and transmission. We received new transmission and transfer case. So far everything is working. We did not get any warning that there was an issue until we took it to the dealership. Putting in the case as this seems to be a common issue on type s models.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753157July 27, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Vehicle exhibited a fluid leak at the rear of the engine near the transmission/transfer case junction. An independent shop is currently evaluating; suspected power take-off unit failure. This matches the failure pattern described in NHTSA Defect Petition DP26001 covering 2022-2023 Acura MDX and 2021-2023 Acura TLX for interfacing spline failure between the transmission and the rear-wheel-drive power take-off unit. Separately, while pulling out into traffic, the vehicle hesitated and failed to accelerate as commanded, chugging briefly before delivering power. This nearly resulted in a collision. No warning lamps or messages appeared at any time. Whether this drivability event and the fluid leak share a cause is UNKNOWN, but I am reporting both given the open defect petition on this component. Vehicle at approximately 75,000 miles, outside powertrain warranty by roughly 5,000 miles. Manufacturer declined assistance when contacted. Component is available for inspection upon request. Sudden loss of all-wheel drive without warning is a safety concern in Michigan winter driving conditions Repair has been quoted at approximately $3,600 for the transfer unit alone, plus labor, with no manufacturer assistance offered.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752296July 23, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system unexpectedly deactivates during cold weather conditions, creating a sudden loss of traction and compromising vehicle stability control on winter roads."
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752070July 22, 2026
POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The splines to the transmission and front transfer case are worn and stripped and that is causing a bad transmission fluid leak. The fix for this unfortunately is to replace the Transmission and the Transfer case assy. I am not getting any support from Acura, as this is a known problem according to the dealer. Acura is not cooperating and the cost to repair is $14,000. I noticed a transmission fluid leak, so I took the vehicle into the Acura dealership. No check engine light came on, no notification that there was a catastrophic failure occurring to my car. I've been reading that this is happening to several other Acura vehicles as well.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751959July 21, 2026
STEERING, SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:BODY
The vehicle developed repeated front‑end structural and steering problems shortly after purchase. During normal driving, it produced loud popping, creaking, and clunking noises when turning, entering driveways, or driving over small inclines. Steering felt inconsistent and the front suspension felt unstable. These symptoms created a serious risk of loss of control. A dealer confirmed the problem multiple times and replaced several major components, including the left front strut, the left front lower control arm, and the front shock absorber fork. The most serious finding was cracked welds in the front subframe, requiring the entire subframe to be replaced. A cracked subframe weld is a structural failure that can affect steering stability and crashworthiness. The issues were reproduced and documented by the dealer on multiple visits. The manufacturer’s engineering team was involved due to the severity and difficulty of diagnosis. Despite repeated repairs and extended time out of service, the same steering and suspension symptoms continued, and the vehicle was returned multiple times with ongoing issues. There were no warning lights or messages before the failures. The defects occurred during low‑speed maneuvering and normal driving conditions. The vehicle did not perform like a safe, structurally sound new vehicle, and the repeated structural and steering failures pose a safety risk to occupants and others on the road.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751559July 20, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Began to notice a knocking noise from lower engine compartment in late May 2026. No warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms. Dealer (Zimbrick Acura, Middleton WI) confirmed on 06/30/26 that noise was coming from transmission assembly. Dealer identified that the transmission was leaking fluid from the output shaft seal, and upon disassembly identified that the interfacing splines between the transmission and the rear wheel drive power take off unit (PTU) were failing. Dealer ultimately replaced transmission and PTU. This is the same issue as described in a previous petition (no. 11712885) but was identified prior to complete loss of all-wheel drive.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751202July 17, 2026
ENGINE
Four times in 18 months, with the most recent happening last month and today, I was at a stoplight and turned my manual idle off. The light changed and the car would not move despite me stepping on the gas. It told me to restart the car which I did but the first attempt didn’t work to restart. After a few minutes I tried restarting again and it struggled but did. I was very worried as there was a car behind me who thought we were moving with the green light and fortunately he moved to the other lane to avoid a collision as it took me a minute to figure out the car had stopped before putting in my hazards.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11750945July 16, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Humming noise from drivetrain. Took vehicle to Acura dealer and was diagnosed as: Loss of all wheel drive due to interfacing spline failure between transmission and transfer case resulting in only front wheel drive. Found open investigation NHTSA with other vehicles experiencing the same failure. DP26001
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Acura MDX