2023 Acura MDX Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: October 27, 2026 · Filed: October 29, 2026

splines between transmission and power take off unit(transfer case) striped and loss AWD function making vehicle FWD only

Incident: October 1, 2026 · Filed: October 16, 2026

We purchased this 2023 Acura MDX less than a year ago and are under the 4 year 48,000 mile extended warranty, but also purchased warrantees to cover both the interior and exterior of the vehicle to have a worry-free experience for the entire life of the loan on the vehicle at the strong recommendation by the GM of the dealership. We had the vehicle serviced for an oil change on XXX and had no issues with the vehicle and nothing came up on their inspection while servicing. A week went by and we had a rain storm over the weekend and my wife noticed that the floor of the driver side was wet and then noticed the passenger side front was damp as well. She called the dealership to report it and brought the vehicle in right away to see what's going on. We were told that the cost of repair would be $3,450 to replace the rug and clear the drain house and make sure it no longer leaks. We were told they could clean and dry out the rug if wanted to go the least expensive route and would be about $2,000. We were told that because it was caused by external factors (rain and debris) that caused the drain hose to back up and cause water to leak into the car in multiple spots and would not be covered under ANY of the warrantees and would have to be paid out of pocket. After a bunch of discussions and back and forth we were told that we could submit it to our car insurance to help with some of the out of pocket coverage. We did not own the car last fall for enough debris to be in the drains, it is september weather (just officially fall) and only rained out as it does in [XXX]. We have other cars with sunroofs and neighbors with sunroofs with no problems. This repair should not be out of pocket and should be paid at the expense of Acura dealership and not by the owners who have spent thousands on fees, payments, warranty coverage, etc. We do not have the money to pay for this damage and now weeks have gone by with no resolve and are now also concerned with mold issues. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: September 4, 2026 · Filed: October 12, 2026

My vehicle developed a leak at the seal between the transfer case and transmission. I was informed that, due to the original design, this seal cannot be replaced independently. The leak can result in the loss of gear oil and transmission fluid, further transmission damage, and a loss of power to the rear wheels. Repairs involve significant expense, including replacement of damaged components, seals, and both fluids. There were no apparent warning signs other than oil puddles beneath the vehicle. Two extended warranty companies inspected the vehicle and denied coverage, stating that the manufacturer should be responsible for addressing the issue. The vehicle was taken to John Eagle Acura in Houston, Texas, for repairs involving replacement of the transmission and transfer case, along with all associated fluids and seals. I understand that this dealership has repaired other vehicles with the same issue and that similar cases have been reported nationwide. I am concerned that this may be a recurring design-related problem with potential safety implications, particularly because of the possible loss of power to the rear wheels without adequate warning. I request that the manufacturer investigate this issue, review these reported failures, and take responsibility for the necessary repairs.

Incident: December 12, 2025 · Filed: October 3, 2026

These are OE tires on my 2023 Acura MDX. At 22,000 miles a rotating thumping sound was heard and also felt in the steering wheel. The tires were inspected by my Acura dealer on three separate service calls to diagnose. On the 3rd visit the problem was confirmed and determined to be severe flat spots on all 4 tires. Due to the flat spots, these tires are unbalanced and give off a vibration throughout the vehicle and steering wheel. The Acura dealer photographed the tires and filed a claim with Bridgestone. The claim was denied 11 weeks later. This unbalanced condition should be considered a safety issue, especially at high speed where a blow out is possible.

Incident: October 1, 2025 · Filed: October 3, 2026

My 2023 Acura MDX has developed a windshield washer system failure affecting both the front and rear washers. The system is clogged and is no longer able to spray washer fluid properly. I found a documented case involving 2022-and-newer Acura MDX vehicles showing what appears to be the same failure mode: coating on the washer-fluid reservoir can become gel-like, enter the washer system, and clog the filter, pump, lines, and/or nozzles. Video reference: [XXX] The symptoms shown are essentially the same as those on my vehicle. I also found an American Honda service communication concerning the 2022 Acura MDX that specifically requested dealer feedback on vehicles with an inoperative or weak washer-fluid system and asked whether the washer tank and/or filter was clogged. This raises concern that the problem may be recurring across multiple model years and may be related to the washer-system design or materials rather than normal wear. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA can evaluate whether this represents a broader safety-related defect affecting Acura MDX vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: August 18, 2026 · Filed: September 4, 2026

Was exiting I275 onto Westbound Route 32 when the brakes were unexpectedly applied by the vehicle’s safety system. No vehicles were in front or beside me. Very alarming when it happened. This also happed two other times at slower speeds.

Incident: August 14, 2026 · Filed: August 23, 2026

2023 ACURA MDX TYPE S. 28k miles. While merging onto highway, I sped up and at 25 mph, I heard a loud metal clunk from underneath the car. Car still drove and functioned as a two wheel drive instead of AWD. Went in for service and was told that the transmission and Power train Unit would need to be replaced and will be replaced under powertrain warranty by Acura.

Incident: June 25, 2026 · Filed: August 14, 2026

Was driving arround corner and felt a shudder like I had run over something, the felt front tires loosing traction and car jerked into next lane. Took to dealer and they diagnosed a failure of output shaft from transmission to awd transfer case, currently at dealer getting transmission awd assembly replaced.

Incident: July 24, 2026 · Filed: August 4, 2026

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.

Incident: March 14, 2026 · Filed: July 14, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds over a bumpy road surface or a pothole, there was an abnormal metallic sound coming from underneath the passenger’s side of the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where a technician informed the contact that the sound was common after 50,000 miles. The contact was later informed that the cause of the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but the assigned case manager failed to help. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.