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. Went in for service and was told that the transmission and Power train Unit would need to be replaced and will be replaced under powertrain warranty by Acura.
2023 Acura MDX powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2023 Acura MDX have filed 9 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 MDX | 29 |
| 2020 MDX | 18 |
| 2022 MDX | 61 |
| 2023 MDX (this page) | 9 |
| 2025 MDX | 4 |
What stands out
Owners are still filing on this — the most recent NHTSA powertrain complaint for this vehicle was logged 23 days ago.
Powertrain accounts for 23% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 4 categories tracked.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
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. Took to dealer and they diagnosed a failure of output shaft from transmission to awd transfer case, currently at dealer getting transmission awd assembly replaced.
My 2023 MDX Type S is currently at Mungenast St Louis Acura. Transfer Case and Transmission are both being replaced at roughly 56,000 miles. I made a turn and heard a loud noise. Because I was under acceleration my car was hard to control when it happened. Scared me and immediately let off the gas.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2023 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 2023 Acura MDX?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 9 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?
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 $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/2023/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.