Service Bulletin - The transmission has intermittent harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Acura MDX powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2019 Acura MDX have filed 29 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
29
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 MDX | 10 |
| 2016 MDX | 109 |
| 2017 MDX | 62 |
| 2018 MDX | 22 |
| 2019 MDX (this page) | 29 |
| 2020 MDX | 18 |
| 2022 MDX | 49 |
| 2023 MDX | 6 |
1crash
What stands out
Owners have filed 29 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service Bulletin - The transmission has intermittent harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - Due to a running change at the start of production for model year 2019 MDX, the MIL coming on with DTC P0716 does not apply and was removed throughout this service bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - The transmission has intermittent harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration, or the MIL comes on with DTC P0716 (VNM Performance).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"Service Bulletin - The vehicle may exhibit several of the following symptoms: - Multiple indicators are on. - No communication with the i-HDS. - The option fuse (7.5 A) is blown. - MDX: Fuse E21 - TLX: Fuse B7 - MDX: It is hard to shut off the engine. - TLX: The transmission will not shift from park."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2019 Acura MDX vehicles describe widespread powertrain failures starting as early as 13,000 miles. Transmission issues dominate the complaints: vehicles unexpectedly shift to neutral at traffic lights, during highway deceleration, and when attempting acceleration or lane changes. Some owners report the transmission entering "limp mode"—severe power loss requiring restart to resume normal operation. Diagnostic code P0657 (actuator supply voltage) is cited in reference to TSB 15-034, which describes transmission-to-neutral shifts and calls for TCM/PGM-FI software updates.
Engine power loss is the second major category. Multiple owners report sudden loss of power while driving at highway speeds or merging into traffic—RPM drops or the engine stalls entirely—forcing drivers to coast to the shoulder or restart the vehicle. One owner waited a year for recall work related to engine connecting rod bearing defects (Recall 23V-751), yet still experienced power loss. Another reports timing belt jumped time at 52,600 miles (well below Acura's 100,000-mile service interval), despite his vehicle being excluded from the existing timing belt recall.
Less common but significant: transfer case failure disabling all-wheel-drive without warning lights; auto-stop system stalling the vehicle at stop lights and freezing controls for up to 15 minutes; and accelerator pedal lag during critical maneuvers. Repair costs range from $7,000 to $9,600 for transmission replacement. Acura has referenced open recalls, technical service bulletins, and lawsuit groups but denied warranty coverage on many failures, citing the vehicle as "outside recall" despite low mileage or acknowledged defects.
Same Acura MDX powertrain reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2020 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission failure in lower gears and limp mode
Transmission fails to engage properly in lower gears or shifts unexpectedly to neutral at stops, requiring restart. Owners report delayed acceleration, gear slipping, jerky shifts, and vehicles entering 'limp mode' with loss of power. Multiple narratives describe the transmission shifting to neutral at traffic lights, at highway speeds during deceleration, or when attempting to accelerate. Some owners cite diagnostic code P0657 (actuator supply voltage circuit/open) and reference TCM/PGM-FI software updates per TSB 15-034.
When: As early as 44,318 miles; also reported at 30,000, 52,600, 72,692, 100,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission shifts to neutral unexpectedly at stops or during driving; Delayed or jerky acceleration from stops; Gear slipping in lower gears; Limp mode activation during highway driving; Loss of power when attempting to accelerate or merge; Hard shifting between 35-60 mph; Laggy throttle response; Vehicle will not shift out of neutral without restart
Codes mentioned: P0657
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealer quotes ranging from $7,000 (used transmission) to $9,600+ (new transmission). One owner paid out-of-pocket for transmission replacement at 100K miles. TCM software updates mentioned in TSB 15-034.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 15-034 describes transmission shifting to neutral with DTC P0657, requiring PGM-FI and TCM software updates and PCM idle learn procedure. Acura offered limited assistance; one owner received only $900 discount on $9,600 repair despite low mileage. Acura stated transmission failures outside current recalls; referred some owners to lawsuit groups instead of warranty support.
Engine power loss and stalling during driving
Engine suddenly loses power or stalls while driving, forcing drivers to coast to shoulder or restart vehicle. Occurs at highway speeds, during acceleration, lane changes, or merges. Some owners report RPM drop without stall; others experience complete loss of power requiring extended coast or restart. One owner reports fuel pump malfunction recall for similar symptoms on CR-V/Accord (2019-2020) may apply.
When: Multiple incidents reported; some ongoing over months to a year
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of engine power while driving; Engine stalls at traffic lights or during highway driving; RPM drop during acceleration or lane change; Vehicle speed drops abruptly from 60-70 mph to 20 mph when attempting to accelerate; Check engine light flashing (sometimes with unknown warning lights); Vehicle enters limp mode after extended highway driving; No warning lights prior to failure in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports dealer replaced connecting rod through oil pan and noted timing belt work needed within 5K miles. Owner concerned job was rushed. Another owner has been waiting almost a year for recall work to be completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner references fuel pump recall for 2019-2020 CR-V and Accord (TSB 15-034 cited). Recall 23V-751 (engine connecting rod bearing defect) was open on at least one vehicle at time of failure. One dealership attempted to charge diagnostic fee despite owner identifying symptoms as recall-related.
Timing belt jumped time / premature timing belt failure
Timing belt slips or jumps time at low mileage, causing engine misfire codes and severe loss of power. One owner's vehicle exhibited this at 52,600 miles despite Acura recommendation for 100,000-mile replacement interval. Acura had issued a recall for certain 2018-2019 MDX models for timing belt issues, but affected vehicle was determined to be outside recall group.
When: 52,600 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine running very rough; Abrupt slowing of vehicle; Check engine light flashing; Multiple misfire codes set; Vehicle unable to accelerate or attain reasonable speed in traffic; Unable to exceed 15-20 mph
Codes mentioned: Multiple misfire codes
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed timing belt jumped time; repair cost not specified in narrative.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2018-2019 Acura MDX timing belt recall exists, but affected vehicle was determined to be outside the recall group despite low mileage and no prior engine work.
Transfer case failure with AWD inoperative
Transfer case fails with metal debris collected internally, disabling all-wheel-drive system. Dashboard does not alert driver that transfer case or AWD is non-functional, creating false sense of security. High-pitched noise noted as early symptom. Independent service center confirmed diagnosis.
When: Symptoms appeared 3 weeks prior to report
Symptoms owners cite: No power being sent to rear wheels; High-pitched sound when driving; All-wheel-drive system inoperative without warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosis confirmed by independent service center; repair cost not stated.
Auto-stop system malfunction causing engine stall and loss of control
Vehicle stalls and shifts to neutral at stop lights with auto-stop engaged. Brake becomes difficult to depress, parking brake engages on its own, entire dashboard lights up, and vehicle will not shift or respond to controls for extended period (up to 15 minutes). This occurred both before and after recent auto-stop software recall update. Poses serious safety risk with children in vehicle.
When: One occurrence prior to recall, at least one after recall update
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle abruptly turns off and shifts to neutral at stop light; Brake becomes very difficult to depress; Parking brake engages on its own; Entire dashboard illuminates; Vehicle will not shift or respond to input; Vehicle will not turn off or restart for extended period (up to 15 minutes)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall performed within 2 weeks prior to second occurrence; failure persisted after recall update.
Accelerator pedal unresponsiveness / delayed throttle response
Accelerator pedal becomes non-responsive or slow to respond when depressed, delaying engine response. Occurs during highway driving and lane changes. RPM may drop but engine does not stall. One owner reports this during wet road conditions on highway with surrounding traffic.
When: One incident at 65 mph on NJ Turnpike (8/28/25); another incident during freeway merge
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal non-responsive for 3-5 seconds; RPM drops without engine stall; Vehicle speed diminishes during acceleration attempt; No warning lights prior to event; Slow acceleration response after pressing gas pedal
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner notes Google search revealed several class action lawsuits regarding this issue.
Synthesized from 29 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Transmission is very laggy when stepping on gas pedal causing late takeoffs. It may damage internals. Also very hard shifting at certain speeds
I think this recall needs to be expanded: Honda and Acura have recalled 2019 and 2020 vehicles including the CR-V and Accord for fuel pumps which can malfunction and cause the engine to lose power. My wife recently had her 2019 MDX stall on her in an intersection and she had to turn off the car and turn it back on so it would work. It sounds exactly like the below: “While driving, the vehicle…
Engine failure due Dealership refusal to fix recall items. Engine completely stop working in between drive.
In front of the red light on the way to work in a morning, I stopped my MDX, then when the red light changed to green, I pressed gas pedal to cross over the street, but unfortunately, my car was pulled backward, and meanwhile, I heard a loud sound of Bang from my mdx. I suspect that the loud sound must be from the gears conflicting in the transmission when automatic transmission shifts. Moreover,…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2019 Acura MDX?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2019 Acura MDX?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 29 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 29 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 29,817 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/Acura/MDX.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.