UsedScore

2023 Acura MDX: Too new to judge

The 2023 Acura MDX has been on the road for 47 months, short of the five years we need to rate it. Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA so far. That's 1.1× the rate other MDX years drew in their first 47 months, per vehicle sold.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (34% of complaints).

Complaint index
1.1×
partial: first 47 months
Rank
Not ranked
rated after five years
Complaints
44
in 47 months so far
Recalls
3
campaigns
4th generation, 2022–today · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2022 Acura MDX A-Spec

Photo: 2022 Acura MDX A-Spec · Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Powertrain34% · 15 complaints
  2. Brakes18% · 8 complaints
  3. Electrical18% · 8 complaints
  4. Driver assistance16% · 7 complaints
  5. Steering9% · 4 complaints
  6. Suspension7% · 3 complaints
  7. Speed control7% · 3 complaints
  8. Body and structure5% · 2 complaints
  9. Engine2% · 1 complaints
  10. Fuel and propulsion2% · 1 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Powertrain

Owners describe sudden, unexpected failures of the transmission or all-wheel-drive transfer case, often marked by loud noises and a temporary loss of power or traction while driving. Dealers frequently found stripped splines or internal transfer case damage, replacing these parts under warranty, though repairs sometimes took weeks and a few owners could not get the issue confirmed.

Warning signs:
Owners report loud clunking, popping, or grinding noises from underneath the vehicle, wheel spin, momentary power loss, or a shudder while turning, usually without warning lights.
What shops did:
Dealers typically diagnosed a failed transfer case, power take-off unit, or transmission and replaced these components under warranty, though some cases remained undiagnosed or unresolved for extended periods.

“the splines between the transmission and the front power takeoff unit had stripped”

“Dealership said the transmission spline is stripped and needs replaced under warranty.”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (3)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 26V332000May 202698,892 vehicles

    Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 25V391000June 2025259,033 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

    Risk: A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 25V031000January 2025294,612 vehicles

    Electrical system: software · Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type-S, 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type-S vehicles. A software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) may cause an engine stall or a loss of power.

    Risk: An engine stall or loss of power can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

    Fix: Dealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Acura sent NHTSA 131 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2023 MDX. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • B24-047 · December 2024A coaxial cable terminal was not manufactured to proper specifications.
  • B24-058 · December 2024Under certain circumstances when reversing near a chain-link fence or highly reflective surfaces, a parking and back-up sensor system abnormal message may be displayed in the multi-information…
  • ONL6M309172024 · September 2024Owner Notification Letter - A coaxial cable terminal was not manufactured to proper specifications.
  • BBOM07302024902 · July 2024Dealer Message - A coaxial cable terminal was not manufactured to proper specifications.
  • BTI&07082024902 · July 2024Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
  • B24-025 · June 2024Customers may experience screeching, squeaking, rubbing, or scraping from the rear wheel area due to rocks getting caught between the rear brake disk and splash guard.
  • BTI&05312024901 · May 2024Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
  • BTI&05172024902 · May 2024Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

All 2023 MDX bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2023 Acura MDX reliable?
The 2023 Acura MDX has been on the road for 47 months, short of the five years we need to rate it. Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA so far. That's 1.1× the rate other MDX years drew in their first 47 months, per vehicle sold. Ratings compare MDX years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2023 MDX problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (34%), the brakes (18%) and the electrical system (18%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2023 Acura MDX been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2023 Acura MDX, the most recent in May 2026 (air bags). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Acura. The 2023 Acura MDX on NHTSA.gov · How we rate