Acura MDX Complaints (2022)

182 consumer complaints on file.

#11724349March 14, 2026
POWER TRAIN
2022 Acura MDX Transfer Case and Transmission Failure – Spline Shearing Description of Incident: I am reporting a catastrophic drivetrain failure on my 2022 Acura MDX. This failure occurred at approximately 50,000 miles. The vehicle initially exhibited a leak at the front differential/transfer case gasket. Upon inspection by the dealership, it was confirmed that both the transfer case and the transmission require complete replacement. This failure matches the technical details in the recently opened NHTSA Action Number DP26001. The interfacing splines between the transmission and the power take-off unit (transfer case) have failed, which is a known defect currently under investigation. Safety Concern: This defect causes a sudden and unexpected loss of all-wheel-drive capability. This results in a significant reduction in vehicle directional control and traction, particularly in wet or slippery conditions, posing an unreasonable safety risk to myself and my family. This occurred well within the expected lifespan of a modern powertrain. Resolution: The vehicle is currently undergoing a full transmission and transfer case replacement at the dealership under warranty.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11723962March 12, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Catastrophic Power Take-Off Unit (PTU) and Transmission spline failure on a 2022 Acura MDX Type-S vehicle. Had dangerous loss of traction and unexpected handling characteristics with rough shifting, RPM Surges, Sensor problem LOSS OF Power, Delayed shifting with Jerky ride, and a smell of burning oil or rubber, also would move into reverse and the Drive Letter "D" was blinking. The problem was confirmed by Independent service center and it was inspected by the manufacturer. Messages indicating engine/transmission issues appeared on Jan 4, 2026; *Transmission system problem. Paddle shifters not available. See your dealer. *Emissions system problem. Power may be reduced. See your dealer. * Transmission system problem. Avoid heavy acceleration and High speed. See your dealer. * AWD All Wheel Drive system problem. Only the Front wheels may be powered. See your dealer. Notes: (A.) Transmission system errors and infotainment warnings appeared upon concluding a round-trip 3,000+ miles from Southern California to East Texas and back home to Yuma AZ. (B.) After Honda Motor Co gave a 75% Goodwill Offer to replace control box and valves, they indicated that the transmission also need to be replaced. Furthermore, they rescinded the 75% Goodwill coverage which appears to be based solely on the incorrect assumption that third-party transmission repairs were performed and that the transmission was overfilled.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11723357March 10, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I own a 2022 MDX Type-S. I recently read about complaints about TLX and MDX models losing their AWD system and only resulting to FWD. I was a victim of this in Montana and it was a long fight with Acura / Honda to look at the problem. It was also very dangerous as I worked up in Big Sky and would rely on the AWD system in snowy conditions. This system would always fail. After a long fight, they finally towed my vehicle back to Salt Lake City, where it was purchased from, and replaced a "sensor."
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11722903March 9, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Starting hearing issues late 24 of MDX and TLX losing all-wheel-drive due to splines stripping between the transmission and transfer case. Had car thoroughly inspected and fluid samples taken in December of 24. In February on 25 with a frame rattling bang as I was pulling out onto a street, rear wheel drive went out at 64k. No warning lights and no indicators, dash showed all 4 tires pulling. Dealership verified system was stripped as rear tires were not turning. Also discovered connection between the two units failed allowing water to get in and wash all grease out around the spines. New transmission is two parts number newer than original and transfer case is one parts number newer than original. Also noted transmission and transfer case take less fluids than original. Car feels a lot tighter and smoother on shifting with new units.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11721774March 3, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Driving on the interstate merging from a ramp to go into the highway , heard a loud bang and the car drivetrain started to wobble . Next noticed more torque in front wheels . Transfer case failed internally , all services done at the right mileage by dealer , transmission spline end got wiped out 66,000 miles on vehicle never was abused just going from point A to B.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11721575March 2, 2026
POWER TRAIN
During a winter freeze event, the vehicle was unable to climb a slight incline despite being equipped with all-wheel drive. The rear wheels did not appear to be receiving power, and the vehicle experienced significant wheel slip under light throttle input. This occurred in normal driving conditions and was unexpected given the vehicle’s AWD system. There were no warning lights, diagnostic messages, or fault indicators displayed on the instrument cluster at the time of the incident. The lack of any driver notification made it difficult to identify that the AWD system was not functioning properly. After experiencing the issue, the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership for inspection. The initial assessment did not identify a problem. However, after further review and comparison with a properly functioning vehicle, the dealership confirmed a failure within the SH-AWD system. The affected components were replaced under warranty. The failed components should be available for inspection upon request. The safety concern stems from the absence of warning indicators combined with the loss of intended AWD functionality. In low-traction conditions, the inability of the system to properly distribute power can increase the risk of loss of control, reduced acceleration capability, or inability to safely merge or climb inclines. No prior warning lamps or alerts were presented before the incident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717083February 10, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2022 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 2 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes became stuck or jammed. Later, while driving at approximately 15 MPH, the contact again depressed the brake pedal; however, the brakes failed to respond, remained stuck, and failed to stop the vehicle in an intersection, causing the contact to steer to the right and resulting in a crash with a government dump truck. The driver’s child informed the contact’s husband that the brakes were not working. No warning lights were illuminated at the time of the failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number 25V391000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The driver's iPhone detected the crash and automatically contacted the emergency contact and the state police. The driver sustained injuries to the knee, head, neck, and back and was transported to the hospital for medical assistance. There was no airbag deployment, fire, or police report filed; however, a police officer and the state police were present at the scene and moved the vehicle before photos could be taken. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and later to an auto body shop. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed there were no recalls applicable to the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11716566February 8, 2026
POWER TRAIN
While driving in snow and in light rain noticed the MDX pulling and slipping. I realized that only the front tires were trying to drive the vehicle which was causing the car to pull sideways and slip all over the road. I made an appointment with the ACURA dealership and they found the transmission splines stripped out that drive the rear wheels. There was no warning lamps or indication that anything was broke other than very hard to drive in any kind of snow or rain. Talking with the dealer and looking online this seems to be happening to other MDX s also. My car was fixed under the manufacturer warranty and the transmission and transfer case were replaced.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714278January 29, 2026
POWER TRAIN
While driving a 2022 Acura MDX Advance AWD in snowy conditions, I noticed reduced traction and abnormal drivability. Dealer inspection confirmed a catastrophic failure: the front differential and transmission splines were stripped, causing the vehicle to operate in front-wheel drive only. The dealer verified the failure and documented it as a defect on the repair order. The vehicle was maintained exclusively at the dealership since new, and failure occurred at approximately 76,000 miles, outside the original powertrain warranty. There were no warning lights prior to the failure, but loss of AWD in snowy conditions created a significant safety risk.This is a safety-relevant defect affecting traction and stability in adverse conditions.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714216January 29, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The battery drains quickly. Have replaced the battery twice since 2022. something in the car is draining the battery and making it fail. infotainment screen sometimes stays grey and doesn't go black when car is off. many 2022 mdx owners are having similar battery drain issues requiring frequent battery replacements. please push Acura for a recall and fix.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712561January 21, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My Acura service department notified me at my last oil change that they discovered (accidentally) my transmission / transfer case is damaged and is not transferring power to the rear wheels, rendering the vehicle as 2 wheel drive only. This requires a total replacement costing $16,000 +/-. My research indicates this is likely caused by a faulty splined shaft inside the transmission-transfer case assembly used in the early 2022 MDX vehicles.The dashboard info system for SH-AWD indicates that the car IS in All Wheel Drive and there are no messages indicating a problem with the All Wheel Drive. This has not been a problem during non-snow or other slippery conditions, but recent storms have made this a major safety problem for me. The fact that the car sensing system does not detect this problem could cause serious driving danger for unsuspecting drivers. This also prevents Acura/Honda from acting on this issue publicly as owners of this vehicle have no way of knowing the problem exists until it is too late.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710451January 12, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The vehicle is experiencing a catastrophic mechanical failure of the transfer case/transmission splines, resulting in a 'Loss of Motive Power.' On two occasions while merging into high-speed highway traffic, the engine revved to high RPMs, but the vehicle failed to accelerate for approximately 5 seconds (Mechanical Neutral Drop). These incidents resulted in near-collisions. The vehicle also exhibits violent torque steer and unpredictable handling. The issue was initially reported to an authorized dealer at 70,320 miles but was misdiagnosed as 'no codes were present.' Subsequent inspection by a second dealer confirmed a mechanical failure of the drive splines. This is a purely mechanical failure that does not trigger dashboard warning lights or Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), leaving the driver unaware of the impending drivetrain failure until power is lost. First signs of a problem: Late August 2025 First loss of motive power incident: Early October 2025 Second loss of motive power incident: [XXX] Initial Dealer Report: October 28, 2025 (MetroWest Acura) Confirmation video from Acura of Boston: [XXX] 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
#11702881December 3, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Vehicle is 3 years old with 60K miles. Transfer case became defective under normal driving and with regular recommended maintenance. We did not know this occurred until a recent dealership visit for another issue. We do not know how long this has been an issue. When the transfer case malfunctioned, there were no warning lights and vehicle has been only functioning in front-wheel drive (designed to be AWD) which is extremely dangerous during the midwestern winters as the weight of the rear of the vehicle leads to sway. Issue was detected by the dealership who states the fix is to replace the entire transmission and transfer case.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702586December 2, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
My 2022 Acura MDX A-Spec developed an electrical problem where I heard an extremely loud pop come from the stereo system before it stopped working and then the infotainment screen stopped working as well. I took it to the dealer who determined that a water leak in the sunroof drain plug caused the interior of the vehicle to become saturated with water and cause corrosion to electrical bundles. By searching the internet, I found that this was a known manufacturer’s defect with this specific model that had been made known to the dealership and they did nothing about it. Having an electrical problem could have put us at risk had things stopped working at an inopportune time on the highway or caused a malfunction at a critical time while driving. I submitted a request to Acura for an extended warranty of this problem, but that request was denied. They said that there had been an extended warranty for this issue, but that it had expired somewhere between March 2025 (when my normal warranty expired) and October 2025 (when I took it to the dealership for an evaluation of this problem). Acura wouldn’t say when that was, but I was surprised that they were of no help. As I mentioned, this is a known manufacturer’s defect that should have been checked per my normal maintenance visits, but it was ignored until it became an actual problem. They certainly could have been more proactive and it would have saved us a lot of time and expense.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702150November 30, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
As I was turning right (slowly accelerating from a complete stop) into a shopping center parking lot, I was entering into the lane behind a vehicle that had just passed in front of me (and was headed in the same direction I was going to turn). My 2022 Acura MDX Low Speed Braking Control system engaged for no reason. The breaks slammed hard bringing the car to a hard, sudden stop, and I thought I had been rear-ended by the car behind me. I pressed the gas slowly again and was able to pull into a parking spot and checked my back bumper…PERFECTLY FINE! I googled the issues I experienced and found this is a common problem! This is a dangerous problem! Please hold Acura accountable to fix this issue! For now, I have to remember to turn this Low Speed Braking Control System OFF EVERY TIME I power on my MDX! I am now scared to drive my car!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11700940November 22, 2025
POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES
When the vehicle decelerates—either from high speed or while already moving slowly—it frequently jerks just before coming to a complete stop. This issue is especially noticeable at very low speeds or during final braking, where the vehicle may lurch forward by a few inches unless the brakes are applied firmly. Despite multiple visits to the dealership, including transmission resets and software updates, the problem persists. The dealer has not provided a resolution or adequate follow-up. This behavior poses a serious safety risk, particularly in high-traffic areas where precise stopping is critical.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11700591November 20, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The transmission and transaxle malfunctioned. Evidence was a leak from the transaxle. The dealer confirmed that the vehicle was operating in 2WD mode even though it did not detect any issues from its onboard sensors, and the car thought it was still sending power to all 4 wheels. There were no warning lights that the vehicle was no longer driving in 4wd mode, so the driving dynamics would've been unexpected in conditions that 4wd would normally help, like rain and snow. Unexpectedly experienced tire spin in the rain, for example. The dealer confirmed that both the transmission and transaxle need to be replaced, under the powertrain warranty. The spline between the transaxle and transmission were worn, causing the transaxle to not spin the rear wheels.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11697577November 5, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The roof sunshade motor has failed. It is a known issue with TSB 23-013
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11696762October 31, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Review mirror became detached , rendering it inoperable and a safety concern. Research shows it a known issue and design flaw for the bracket.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11695801October 27, 2025
TIRES
PURCHASED A TIRED FOR GIGA TIRES HAD THE DEALERSHIP , ACURA OF COLUMBUS ATTEMPT TO MOUNT AND INSTALL THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERS A HOLE AND A SLICE ON AND IN THE TIRE, CONTACTED GIGA TIRE FOR AN EXCHANGE THEY STATED THAT THE HOLE IN THE TIRE WAS CAUSED BY ROAD HAZARD, THE TIRE HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN ON, IT BRAND NEW OR CLAIMED TOO BE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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