Acura MDX TYPE S problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
30 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
45,572 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2022 to 2025 model years. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 30 complaints (90.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 17 | 56.7% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 13.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 27 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
Power Train: 27; Electrical System: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 1; Suspension: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 28 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 14 |
2023: 6; 2025: 10; 2026: 14
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 17 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11523907 · 2023-05-25 (May 25, 2023)
Vehicle experienced reduced power and many alarm messages came up. I pulled to the side of the road to get out of traffic. I turned off the engine and attempted to restart, the engine would run for 5 seconds and then shutdown. I learned later that the turbo outlet hose had become detached from the hose fitting. It was under the motor and only accessible when the vehicle was on a hoist. The real reason for my complaint is that with the engine unable to stay running, the transmission could not be shifted to neutral and there is no shift lock fea…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11523907 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11647519 · 2025-03-10 (March 10, 2025)
My transfer case went out at an unknown mileage with no indication on my dash that there was a failure. It converted the vehicle to front wheel drive while indicating it was still having the back wheel spinning on the all-wheel drive indicator on the dash. During a recent snowstorm, there were multiple instances when I pulled out from an intersection thinking I had good traction I'm pulled out and then my wheels started spinning almost causing an accident. I thought that was weird so I brought it to my local Acura dealer and explained what happ…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11647519 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11520807 · 2023-05-07 (May 7, 2023)
Rear brake gets rocks stuck, a lot of people are complaining for this, Acura is not taking actions to correct this, This can be dangerous if the brakes fails for having a rock stuck in the calipers
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11520807 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11544331 · 2023-09-13 (September 13, 2023)
While driving and happened multiple times, vehicle senses phantom objects or nothing at all but hard brakes on its own which also causes the seat belt to tug on abdomen (wife was pregnant at the time, unfortunately had a miscarriage at 14 weeks which could have been a cause). After the second time, the forward facing camera was replaced per Honda/Acura technical support. Once camera was replace vehicle would hard brake on it's own again which lead me to installing a dash cam to have proof which I provided to service to share with their technica…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11544331 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11723962 · 2026-03-12 (March 12, 2026)
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;…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11723962 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11751644 · 2026-07-20 (July 20, 2026)
While making a left turn from an on-ramp, I heard a loud crunch from the drivetrain and experienced a momentary loss of power. Immediately afterward, the front tires began spinning under acceleration. I realized the vehicle was no longer sending power to the rear wheels and had effectively lost its all-wheel-drive capability. The instrument display continued to indicate that power was being sent to the rear wheels even though the rear wheels were not receiving power. This gave an inaccurate indication of the vehicle’s operating condition. The…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11751644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11750629 · 2026-07-15 (July 15, 2026)
The contact owns a 2023 ACURA MDX. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 45 MPH an abnormal sound was emitted from underneath the vehicle, and the vehicles steering was being pulled to the right, no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was advised that that the PTU/PTO was faulty as metal shavings were found in the transfer case and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mi…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11750629 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1