Tech Line Summary Article - Customers are complaining of a clicking noise from front of vehicle while turning at low speeds. This is a temporary solution to address the issue.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2022 Acura MDX steering problems
severe Owners of the 2022 Acura MDX have filed 18 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 MDX | 3 |
| 2019 MDX | 5 |
| 2020 MDX | 3 |
| 2022 MDX (this page) | 18 |
| 2023 MDX | 4 |
| 2024 MDX | 4 |
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What stands out
Among the 14 model years of Acura MDX in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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 - A clunk, click, or knock type of sound is heard from the steering area while turning due to an outer tie rod end nut that has become loose.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - A clunk, click, or knock type of sound is heard from the steering area while turning due to the outer tie rod end nut becoming loose.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2022 MDXs with a client complaint of noise from the steering gearbox. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2022 MDXs with a client complaint of noise from the steering gearbox. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Seventeen owners of 2022 Acura MDX vehicles report critical steering failures, most commonly a sudden loss of power steering assist paired with lockup of the steering wheel and simultaneous failures of brake systems, stability control, lane-keeping assist, collision mitigation, and other electronic safety features. These cascading system failures occur without warning while driving at speeds ranging from 30 to 50 mph and on busy roads. Owners describe the steering wheel becoming extremely stiff or completely locked, requiring them to force the vehicle to the roadside.
Dealers have identified a steering angle sensor malfunction in multiple cases and attempted recalibration or steering rack replacement, yet the problem recurs for some owners with no guarantee against future failure. One owner reports Acura bought back the vehicle after four months of unsuccessful diagnosis.
A separate but related failure mode involves battery depletion triggering steering and brake warnings, with one battery failing only 15 months after replacement. Two owners also report steering column vibration and grinding sounds during extension/retraction at startup, persisting even after column replacement. Finally, a few complaints cite unresolved steering pull to the right and brake rotor screeching that dealerships dismiss as normal. The tow truck driver in one complaint stated he had transported another 2022 MDX with identical failures the same day, suggesting a potential widespread defect.
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering rack/sensor malfunction with cascading system failures
Sudden loss of power steering assist, often accompanied by steering wheel lockup and simultaneous failures of brake, stability, lane-keeping, collision mitigation, and other electronic systems. Complaints describe the steering becoming extremely difficult or impossible to turn while driving at highway and city speeds. The failure mode appears linked to steering angle sensor malfunction, with some dealers recalibrating sensors to restore function temporarily.
When: Occurs unpredictably while driving, ranging from 800 miles to multiple years of ownership; some complaints cite highway speeds (30–50 mph), others on busy roads or during normal commutes
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks completely or becomes extremely stiff; Power steering assist stops functioning; Multiple warning lights illuminate simultaneously (Brake System Failure, Power Steering Failure, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Keeping Assist, Collision Mitigation Braking, Vehicle Stability Assist, Hill Start Assist, All-Wheel Drive, Adaptive Cruise Control, Trailer Stability Assist, Brake Hold, Low-Speed Braking Control); Brakes become stiff and may not respond normally; Vehicle may slow or stop involuntarily on highway; Issue resolves temporarily after shutting off and restarting vehicle
Codes mentioned: Steering angle sensor malfunction/failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have replaced steering rack, recalibrated/reset steering angle sensors; one owner reported Acura bought back vehicle after four months of diagnosis with no successful repair; extended warranty covered repairs in at least one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura dealer service stated that no recalls were found; one district technician recommended steering rack replacement and indicated Acura would investigate whether a recall is warranted based on volume of affected vehicles; one complaint notes dealer stated steering angle sensor recalibration is a known issue with no guarantee against recurrence
Battery failure triggering steering and brake system warnings
Battery depletion or failure causes loss of power steering, brake function, and illumination of multiple warning lights. Some complaints indicate the battery was replaced only 15 months prior to failure. The vehicle may not start or may start only after several minutes, with power steering indicator light coming on before or after the no-start condition.
When: Occurred during startup or shortly after starting to drive; one incident at 8 minutes into drive; battery failure noted despite recent replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Electric power steering system indicator light illuminates; Vehicle will not start or fails to start initially; All warning lights illuminate on dashboard; Steering wheel locks and brakes become inoperative; Vehicle may start after 5 minutes of waiting
Codes mentioned: Battery failure/depletion
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced battery; battery had been replaced only 15 months prior to this failure
Steering wheel pull (drift to the right)
Vehicle continuously pulls to the right during normal driving. Dealership performed three separate repair attempts, wheel alignment, and claimed the issue was due to road crowning or customer-caused minor rear-end damage, despite owner denying such damage and tire inspection confirming no abnormal wear.
When: Persistent throughout ownership; vehicle has 24,000 miles and was affected early in ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulls consistently to the right; Issue persists after wheel alignment attempts; Confirmed caster and camber misalignment detected
Codes mentioned: Caster/Camber misalignment
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership performed three repair attempts, wheel re-alignment; independent tire shop (American Tire) confirmed caster and camber issue but stated only Acura can adjust it
Steering column vibration and grinding on extension/retraction
Grinding vibration noise emanates from the steering column base when the column extends to operating position at startup. In another case, loud vibration occurs when the steering wheel retracts. Entire dashboard vibrates with the grinding sound. One vehicle had the steering column replaced once already but the issue persists at under 16,000 miles.
When: At startup when steering column extends; one case with grinding during retraction; low mileage (under 16K miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding vibration from steering column base; Entire dashboard vibrates in sympathy with grinding noise; Issue occurs during steering column extension at startup; Loud vibration during steering column retraction
Repairs/costs cited: Steering column was replaced once on one vehicle but grinding vibration issue recurred; issue persists at less than 16,000 miles
Brake noise (rotor screeching) unresolved by dealership
Extreme screeching noise from brake rotors during braking. Dealership has been visited multiple times and stated the noise is normal. Brake warning light also illuminates, raising safety concerns.
When: During braking; occurs repeatedly across multiple service visits
Symptoms owners cite: Extreme screeching noise from brake rotors; Brake system warning light illuminates; Owner reports feeling unsafe due to noise and warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership stated the noise is normal and did not repair
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Third time with the same issue. Steering wheel vibrates loudly when retracting. Car has already had the steering column replaced once and issue is still there. Car has less than 16K miles and driven locally only.
I was driving to work yesterday morning- busiest time of day on probably the busiest road in our area. My car started freaking out randomly. It popped up numerous errors. The steering wheel locked up. The brakes weren’t working well. I had a car behind me. THANKFULLY they were paying attention because they were very close to rear ending me. But they dodged me. I finally jerked the wheel and got…
While driving the vehicle and while it was in motion, I received a wave of faults. The power steering, lane departure, brake system, brake hold system, vehicle stability assist, hill start assist, trailer stability, and adaptive cruise control all failed. Consequently, the steering wheel locked completely while the car was in motion. I couldn’t steer at all, and the car was in motion! I…
Had steering trouble with your 2022 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 steering problem on the 2022 Acura MDX?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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/2022/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.