NHTSA has received 43 owner complaints about the 2023 Acura MDX, or 11.7 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.28, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 92 model-year 2023 vehicles we track, it ranks #28 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Acura models its rate is 58% lower; against other Luxury SUVs it is 22% lower.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Complaints filed between 2022-11-09 and 2026-08-23. Median delay from incident to filing: 13 days.
43Complaints
11.7Complaints per year on the road
0.28Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
3Recalls
4.7%Share involving a crash or fire
22Last 12 months
Analysis
The previous model year (2022) drew 36.2 complaints per year, more than this one. The following model year (2024) drew 15.0 per year, more than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2023 model collected 10 complaints, 88% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain (34.9% of complaints), followed by Electrical (18.6%) and Brakes (14.0%). Transmission / powertrain complaints are 3.0 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Within Transmission / powertrain reports, owners most often mention “transfer”, “transmission”, “awd”, “loud” and “underneath”. 2 reports (4.7%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 2 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 31 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was the third year (37% of incidents). In the last 12 months 22 new complaints were filed, versus 13 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for this model year. 16% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses. 2 NHTSA defect investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “All wheel drive allegation” (opened 2026-03-06, closed 2026-08-04).
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles0.28
vs. other Acura models0.42
vs. other 2023 models0.28
vs. other Luxury SUVs0.78
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (10)0.12
1) I was struck by a vehicle that ran the stop sign at 50mph. After the impact my vehicle continued rolling forward and wouldn’t stop. I ended up a block away from the accident and my emergency brake, brake pedal and center console brake would not engage.
Electrical · 2026-02-19 · ODI 11718987 · Crash
I was maneuvering to park my car in a parking lot. Driving down the traffic lane of the parking lot, I slowed, braked and turned left 90 degrees into the parking space with my foot still on the brake.
Interior & equipment · 2023-08-25 · ODI 11540685 · Crash
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.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-08-23 · ODI 11758889
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.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-08-14 · ODI 11757047
The contact owns a 2023 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions.
Other · 2026-04-08 · ODI 11730005
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER Campaign 26V332000 · 2026-05-21
Summary: 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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES Campaign 25V391000 · 2025-06-12
Summary: 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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are FLX and XLY.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM Campaign 25V031000 · 2025-01-23
Summary: 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.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EL1 and AL0.
DP26001 · POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) · Opened 2026-03-06 · Closed 2026-08-04 · Model years: 2022, 2023
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has completed its review of 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 alleges failures in the interfacing splines between the front wheel drive transaxle and the rear wheel drive power take of…
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop EngagesOpen
EA25004 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · Opened 2025-03-26 · Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
On June 3, 2022, the Oï¬ce of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several ï¬eld reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traï¬c light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The su…
Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2023 Acura MDX?
43 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2023 Acura MDX, or about 11.7 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2023 Acura MDX?
The most common category is Transmission / powertrain, accounting for 34.9% of complaints.
Does the 2023 Acura MDX have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 safety recall(s) for this model year. 2 NHTSA defect investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “All wheel drive allegation” (opened 2026-03-06, closed 2026-08-04).
Is the 2023 Acura MDX still generating complaints?
In the last 12 months 22 new complaints were filed, versus 13 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
How does the 2023 Acura MDX compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 43 owner complaints about the 2023 Acura MDX, or 11.7 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.28, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 92 model-year 2023 vehicles we track, it ranks #28 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Acura models its rate is 58% lower; against other Luxury SUVs it is 22% lower.