Complaint volume
116 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
116 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2022 Acura MDX, grouped by component category.
Buyer interpretation
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
116 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
The most common categories are power train, unknown or other, steering. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Enriched records include 6 crash reports, 2 fire reports, 4 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage is available on 6 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 52,013 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
116 total complaints on record
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | All Wheel Drive system failure. My vehicle's all wheel drive system failed during a snow storm, it reverted to Front wheel drive only. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | SERVICE BRAKES | Vehicle has a service bulletin issued by NHTSA and Honda/Acura of North America refuses to acknowledge it or fix the problem. for 4 years. Service Bulletin 24-025 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | In January of 2026, when driving under normal conditions, the 2022 Acura MDX made a loud clunking noise and power was temporarily disrupted. The vehicle had to be stopped on the side of the road as the clunking noise persisted. This occurred on a major highway and put the driver and passengers at risk as we had to quickly get to the shoulder. After inspecting the vehicle for any visible signs of damage we continued home without issues. Now, March of 2026, we took the car for routine service and was contacted by the dealership and informed the transfer case and transmission needed to be replaced. The dealership indicating they were in contact with Honda USA to see what they could do for us. A quick search of the Internet revealed NHTSA DP26001, so we now know this issue has occurred on many Acura MDX's of the same year. No warning lamps illuminated. We were unaware that the vehicle was running in 2erWD instead of 4WD. There were no warnings leading up to the event. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN,WHEELS,ENGINE | Please add me to the compliant pool. My transfer case/transmission went out - 2022, 80,000 miles. March 6, 2026 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: DP26001 OPEN INVESTIGATION All wheel drive allegation NHTSA Action Number: DP26001 Components: POWER TRAIN Opened From: March 6, 2026 – Present Summary The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a Petition dated January 9, 2026, requesting an investigation into the loss of the optional all-wheel drive capability in model year (MY) 2021-2023 Acura TLX and MY 2022-2023 Acura MDX vehicles. The Petition contends that the interfacing splines between the transmission and the rear wheel drive power take off unit are failing. Failure of these splines prevents the transfer of drive power to the rear axle, making the vehicle front wheel drive only. The Petition further alleges that this failure results in a reduction of vehicle directional control. The Petitioner cites 48 complaints received by ODI alleging the same failure. ODI will evaluate these complaints to determine if they are related to the failure cited in the Petition and will conduct a technical review under 49 CFR Part 552. This Defect Petition is being opened to evaluate whether to grant or deny the Petition. The Petition can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under NHTSA Number 11712885. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | SUSPENSION | The car threw several warning lights on the dash. The main indicator was that there was a problem with the air suspension: "Adaptative air suspension problem. Please see your dealer." The left airbag on the suspension then popped, rendering the car undriveable as the compressor would constantly blow air to try to inflate the airbag. The car was repaired at an independent facility at the cost of $2900.00 to replace the suspension airbag and the height sensor, as well as recalibrating ADAS. The car had 66k miles at the time of the incident. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The AWD does not work on the vehicle. Multiple mechanics have been unable to diagnose any problems. We assume it has never worked until needed this season | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The rear passenger door actuators have both failed. The rear hatch will not unlock using the touch button. We just received notice that our transmission/transfer case needs replacing. $13K for this. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 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 | Unknown |
| Mar 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 | Unknown |
| Mar 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 | Unknown |
| Feb 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 Towed Medical attention | 65,000 |
| Feb 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 | Unknown |
| Jan 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 | Unknown |
| Jan 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 | Unknown |
| Jan 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 | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | STRUCTURE | 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 | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES | 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 | Unknown |
| Nov 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 | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The roof sunshade motor has failed. It is a known issue with TSB 23-013 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 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 | Unknown |
| Oct 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 | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | STEERING,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I was driving to work yesterday morning- busiest time of day on probably the busiest road in our area. My car started freaking out randomly. It popped up numerous errors. The steering wheel locked up. The brakes weren’t working well. I had a car behind me. THANKFULLY they were paying attention because they were very close to rear ending me. But they dodged me. I finally jerked the wheel and got it pulled over to the side of the road until someone could come get me and take me to work. There could have been a different outcome. After being hit head on in February of this year, this incident was NOT good for my PTSD!!!! My anxiety has been through the roof since this incident with a car that I bought SIX MONTHS AGO! As soon as I can trade this car off and get something else, I will be. We still don’t know what it’s wrong with it. We are going to have it towed somewhere on Monday. This was a major safety risk for me AND for the others on the road!!! If my kids had been in the car, I would’ve been even more upset over the situation. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | ENGINE | The engine suddenly shut off when the vehicle was waiting for traffic light and at full stop. The vehicle would not restart after multiple attempts and had to be towed to dealership. Mechanic at the dealership said the "Idle Stop" feature can drain the battery quickly and had to replace a new battery. We consider this a reportable safety hazard and a potential design defect because 1. The "Idle Stop" feature is turned on by default, though it can be manually turned off. 2. The incident occurred in a very abrupt and unpredictable fashion. The vehicle was started normally about 30-40 minutes before the incidents and has been driven normally in a typical city traffic condition till the incidents occurred. During this period, the computer system did not give off any warning related to a total battery failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | STEERING | When starting the vehicle, the steering column extends to the operating position. When it extends, there is a grinding vibration coming up from the base on the floor. This is a very troubling sound as the entire dashboard vibrates. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | While driving our sunroof exploded. There was a loud pop, I thought a tire, my grand daughter thought a gun shot. We pulled off the road to find the sunroof had cracked down the sides and the back and a crack diagonally. We were traveling so we taped it up and when we returned home took the MDX to the Acura dealer. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |