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2023 Acura MDX problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
39% of relevant owner complaints on the 2023 Acura MDX are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 56% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2023 Acura MDX have transmission problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 17 of 44 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Acura MDX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (39%), and the largest group is filed under power train (15). For comparison, the 2022 scores 55%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2023 compares with other Acura MDX years
Of the 13 Acura MDX years with enough complaints to score, the 2023 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (39%). The worst is the 2016 (74%), the best the 2015 (33%). By volume, the 2023 drew 44 complaints (17 drivetrain), against 176 for the 2022.
Acura MDX years to avoid and best years →
2010 MDX problems · 2011 MDX problems · 2012 MDX problems · 2013 MDX problems · 2014 MDX problems · 2015 MDX problems · 2016 MDX problems · 2017 MDX problems · 2018 MDX problems · 2019 MDX problems · 2020 MDX problems · 2022 MDX problems · 2023
The rest of the picture on the 2023 Acura MDX
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 17 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2023 Acura MDX fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2023 Acura MDX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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. 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…
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2023 Acura MDX? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2023 Acura MDX
Does the 2023 Acura MDX have transmission problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 17 of 44 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Acura MDX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (39%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Acura MDX?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2023 Acura MDX is power train: 15 of 44 complaints (34%) name it, followed by service brakes (8) and electrical system (8). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2023 Acura MDX reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 39% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 56% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Acura MDX years we score, it ranks 3rd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Acura MDX?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2023 Acura MDX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 25V031000 (fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Acura MDX years are better?
Among the Acura MDX years we track, the 2015 (33%) and the 2014 (36%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2023 (39%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/acura-mdx
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.