The component system that has failed is the Front Diff/Transmission area. Driveshaft spinning freely in park with rotations to rear wheel. I was driving home and heard a noise that sounded like something broke. Immediately pulled over and had Vehicle towed. I had my kids and husband in the vehicle with me. I'm glad we weren't driving on the highway. The vehicle was brought to Friendly Acura in Middletown, NY. They were able to diagnose the problem. I had an aftermarket warranty (Endurance Warranty Co.) awesome refused to pay for my vehicle starting it was a "pre-existing" condition. When I tried to explain to them this was not the case, they still wouldn't approve my claim after my vehicle was at Acura for 5 weeks and having 2 of their inspectors come out. Due to the amount of the repair (approximately $15,000), I am unable to pay for this repair. I had Acura out my vehicle back together and the vehicle is currently sitting in my drive way. There were no warning lights at any time prior, during or after failure of components.
2022 Acura MDX transmission complaints
Page 3 of 4: complaints 41 to 70 of 74, newest first, as owners wrote them.
My wife has felt for quite some time that the traction on our 2022 Acura MDX is lacking. She first attributed it to tires, but after replacing them in November of 2024 she said that the issue was still present. She mentioned it to the Service Advisor at Bloomington Acura but we don't recall the exact timing of that and don't have a record of it. In February of 2026, while driving in snowy conditions we arrived at a vacation property. In driving up the driveway, the MDX got stuck. We got out of the car to try to push it and noticed that the rear wheels weren't rotating (I would expect them to on an AWD vehicle when the front wheels spin). We were able to put wood pieces under the front tires and get the vehicle up the driveway. We reported it to the dealer, who told us that if there were no warning lights there was no issue. We asked if they could test it because AWD wasn't working. We didn't get far but asked during a recent oil change if they could test the AWD. We had to push for that but they did test. They indicated that the rear drive rotated freely, indicating that "splines" between the transmission and transfer case had failed and it would cost $14,000 to repair (our MDX is now beyond the mileage threshold of the power train warranty. I then researched and learned that this issue is under the federal safety agency investigation DP26001. Customers don't have a reasonable way to know that AWD isn't working; we have brought it up previously with no way of "proving" that it isn't working (no warning lights). We believe that Acura should extend the power train warranty and repair our vehicle. The dealer let us know that they have another customer with the same issue right now. I don't believe that dealers file reports to the federal safety agency and imagine this issue is bigger than the number of complaints filed. AWD isn't needed by many, but it affects our safety in snowy conditions.
My 2022 MDX purchased new in 2021 experienced an unexpected loss of AWD functionality at 5 years old with 77000 miles when the splines of the transfer case sheared with the transmission. The failure reverted the car to FWD and became very easy to lose traction in anything but ideal road conditions. There were no signs of this failure. No warning lights, no indication on the AWD power distribution monitor, and no sounds or other indications. I rigorously followed all maintenance schedules and performed all regularly scheduled maintenance at the Acura dealership. There have been numerous times when I am attempting to accelerate from a stop while turning onto a busy road where the unexpected loss in traction resulted in me nearly causing an accident. I took in my vehicle for service on 5/22/26 and they confirmed the issue is the transfer case spline failure as noted by many other Acura SH-AWD vehicles with the active the federal safety agency investigation. I would like to add my complaint to that filing and highlight the insidious danger that comes with the failure when the vehicle suddenly does not perform as expected. Given that my vehicle was barely behind the powertrain warranty period when the failure occured, I am now expected to cover an enormous bill that covers the replacement of the transmission and transfer case.
My car was purchased from Impex Auto Greensboro, Nc one owner with 71,000. The car fax never stated any major accidents or damage. March 2026 after having my car for 1.5 years I now need a new transmission that costs $15k. I filed a Goodwill claim with Acura since all warranty’s have expired and I did not purchase an extension. The claim was denied and I’m responsible for the repair of a 4 year old car’s transmission.
I am submitting this complaint regarding my 2022 Acura MDX Advance, currently with 71,007 miles. After completing the standard transmission fluid service around the 60,000-mile maintenance interval, I began noticing abnormal drivetrain/transmission behavior that was not present before. At times, the vehicle feels as if the transmission is slipping, hesitating, or failing to transfer power smoothly. Acceleration can feel delayed, uneven, or weaker than normal, and on some occasions the vehicle seems to surge or accelerate slightly in a way that does not feel consistent with normal pedal input. This is a safety concern because the vehicle may not respond predictably when accelerating from a stop, merging, passing, or driving at highway speeds. A delay, slip, surge, or loss of expected acceleration could increase the risk of a crash, especially in traffic. The symptoms appear to involve the transmission, drivetrain, torque converter, transfer case, software calibration, or related components, but I am requesting a proper investigation to determine the actual cause. My concern is that this issue could worsen or affect other 2022 Acura MDX vehicles if it reflects a broader defect. I am requesting that the federal safety agency document this complaint and review whether 2022 Acura MDX models may have a safety-related issue that can cause slipping, hesitation, surging, delayed acceleration, or loss of expected power after normal maintenance. Acura should evaluate whether owners need inspection, repair, software updates, or other corrective action.
I own a 2022 Acura MDX SH-AWD with approximately 85,000 miles. The issue began suddenly while driving around 5 mph when two loud bangs were heard from the rear drivetrain/transfer case area. After the initial incident, the vehicle was driven home, and the problem became consistently noticeable during any acceleration from a stop or low speed. The drivetrain would clunk/slip during acceleration and exhibited abnormal engagement behavior. Due to concern about causing further drivetrain damage or a potential safety issue, the vehicle was subsequently towed to an Acura dealer for diagnosis. The Acura dealer confirmed that both the transfer case and transmission require replacement due to “worn teeth on splines.” The repair estimate specifically states: “REPLACE TRANSFER CASE AND TRANSMISSION DUE TO WORN TEETH ON SPLINES.” Estimated repair cost is approximately $11,400. I have photographs and repair documentation related to the failure. This failure created a potential safety concern because the drivetrain was no longer operating normally and produced loud clunking/slipping during acceleration from stops and low speeds. A drivetrain or power transfer failure could increase the risk of loss of propulsion or inability to accelerate normally into traffic. The issue was reproduced and confirmed by the Acura dealer. The vehicle has been regularly maintained, including drivetrain fluid services, through Acura/Honda service facilities. There were no warning lights, dashboard messages, or electronic indications before or after the failure event. The only indication was the loud banging noise from the drivetrain/transfer case area and the resulting abnormal drivetrain behavior during acceleration. The service manager also indicated they had seen several similar cases involving this issue.
The contact owns a 2022 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the all-wheel drive (AWD) system became inoperable. The contact stated that when attempting to engage the AWD function, the system failed to operate and the vehicle would transition into four-wheel drive operation. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the federal safety agency hotline for further assistance and advised the contact not to contact the manufacturer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
Transfer case failure limiting all wheel drive system. Needs new transmission and transfer case at 83000 miles.
Complete drivetrain failure while accelerating from a complete stop in the middle of a busy intersection. No warning lights or hazard messages were activated before or after the failure. The car made a massive clunking/banging sound and continued to clunk on acceleration. The car had to be towed to the dealership. My children were in the car with me, and we had just driven on the highway for 45 minutes before this failure. Luckily, my husband was behind me, and I activated hazards until I could pull over safely. It was jerking and clunking so badly that I was barely able to steer. It was terrifying since my two young children were in the car, and they were both screaming from the noise. I believe I would have been rear-ended if my husband had not been behind me due to the sudden jerk from the failure, as I was the first car in the left turn lane. This is not the first issue I have had with the transfer case in this vehicle. The affected transfer case and drive train were replaced only 7 months prior due to a faulty transfer case and a severe clunking sound. This vehicle has had repeated drivetrain failures without warning, resulting in loss of traction and control. The recent failure reflects a completely stripped spline connecting the transfer case and transmission. This will be the 4th transfer case this vehicle has had at only 64K miles. All recommended maintenance and care have been completed at the certified Acura dealership since the vehicle was purchased. Recently, the 60K services were completed just 3 months prior to the current failure. The vehicle is currently at the dealership for repairs under warranty, as it needs a new transmission and another transfer case. I have not yet received the documentation, as the car is not in my possession, but I will provide it once I receive it. See the attached documentation from the previous failure, dated 6/3/2025, to establish a pattern of catastrophic drivetrain failure.
I was at a stop light, when the lights turned green, I accelerated and heard a loud bang underneath the vehicle. The sound was so loud I thought I had been rear ended. I got out to inspect the vehicle and did not see any damages. I got back into the vehicle and put it in drive to get to the closed gas station. When I started driving, I heard clunking sounds underneath vehicle. I put on my hazards and drove slow. After about 50-100 ft the clunking sounds went away. No lights on the dash or anything. I then got vehicle towed to my father’s shop to inspect what was going or what happened due to not feeling safe driving. One of his employees looked up the cause of the noise and had found that the differential splines or transfer case would strip and cause a loud bang. Which happens on a lot of these acuras. He put vehicle on lift, and put it into drive. The front wheels would spin, but not the rear wheels. He said that indicates the transfer case is bad
Experienced loss of all wheel drive with no notification, warning lights, etc. Vehicle is only in front wheel drive. Issue caused the vehicle to perform very poorly in inclement weather and myself, wife and children became stuck in the snow. The problem has been confirmed with Acura dealership. Currently it is in the shop awaiting further info.
The AWD system failed and now its only FWD
My vehicle stopped handling as it usually had and I at a significant decrease in traction and slid off the road and slammed into a road sign. No injuries but significant damage to the vehicle. It seemed as though the all-wheel drive was not working. No warning lamps and computer system indicated that all four wheels were getting power. Took it to dealer and they confirmed that the all-wheel drive system has failed. Splines in the transfer case stripped and transmission needs to be replaced
In January of 2026, when driving under normal conditions, the 2022 Acura MDX made a loud clunking noise and power was temporarily disrupted. The vehicle had to be stopped on the side of the road as the clunking noise persisted. This occurred on a major highway and put the driver and passengers at risk as we had to quickly get to the shoulder. After inspecting the vehicle for any visible signs of damage we continued home without issues. Now, March of 2026, we took the car for routine service and was contacted by the dealership and informed the transfer case and transmission needed to be replaced. The dealership indicating they were in contact with Honda USA to see what they could do for us. A quick search of the Internet revealed the federal safety agency DP26001, so we now know this issue has occurred on many Acura MDX's of the same year. No warning lamps illuminated. We were unaware that the vehicle was running in 2erWD instead of 4WD. There were no warnings leading up to the event.
Please add me to the compliant pool. My transfer case/transmission went out - 2022, 80,000 miles. March 6, 2026 the federal safety agency CAMPAIGN NUMBER: DP26001 OPEN INVESTIGATION All wheel drive allegation the federal safety agency Action Number: DP26001 Components: POWER TRAIN Opened From: March 6, 2026 – Present Summary The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received 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 contends that the interfacing splines between the transmission and the rear wheel drive power take off unit are failing. Failure of these splines prevents the transfer of drive power to the rear axle, making the vehicle front wheel drive only. The Petition further alleges that this failure results in a reduction of vehicle directional control. The Petitioner cites 48 complaints received by ODI alleging the same failure. ODI will evaluate these complaints to determine if they are related to the failure cited in the Petition and will conduct a technical review under 49 CFR Part 552. This Defect Petition is being opened to evaluate whether to grant or deny the Petition. The Petition can be viewed at under the federal safety agency Number 11712885.
The AWD does not work on the vehicle. Multiple mechanics have been unable to diagnose any problems. We assume it has never worked until needed this season
The rear passenger door actuators have both failed. The rear hatch will not unlock using the touch button. We just received notice that our transmission/transfer case needs replacing. $13K for this.
2022 Acura MDX Transfer Case and Transmission Failure – Spline Shearing Description of Incident: I am reporting a catastrophic drivetrain failure on my 2022 Acura MDX. This failure occurred at approximately 50,000 miles. The vehicle initially exhibited a leak at the front differential/transfer case gasket. Upon inspection by the dealership, it was confirmed that both the transfer case and the transmission require complete replacement. This failure matches the technical details in the recently opened the federal safety agency Action Number DP26001. The interfacing splines between the transmission and the power take-off unit (transfer case) have failed, which is a known defect currently under investigation. Safety Concern: This defect causes a sudden and unexpected loss of all-wheel-drive capability. This results in a significant reduction in vehicle directional control and traction, particularly in wet or slippery conditions, posing an unreasonable safety risk to myself and my family. This occurred well within the expected lifespan of a modern powertrain. Resolution: The vehicle is currently undergoing a full transmission and transfer case replacement at the dealership under warranty.
Driving on the interstate merging from a ramp to go into the highway , heard a loud bang and the car drivetrain started to wobble . Next noticed more torque in front wheels . Transfer case failed internally , all services done at the right mileage by dealer , transmission spline end got wiped out 66,000 miles on vehicle never was abused just going from point A to B.
During a winter freeze event, the vehicle was unable to climb a slight incline despite being equipped with all-wheel drive. The rear wheels did not appear to be receiving power, and the vehicle experienced significant wheel slip under light throttle input. This occurred in normal driving conditions and was unexpected given the vehicle’s AWD system. There were no warning lights, diagnostic messages, or fault indicators displayed on the instrument cluster at the time of the incident. The lack of any driver notification made it difficult to identify that the AWD system was not functioning properly. After experiencing the issue, the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership for inspection. The initial assessment did not identify a problem. However, after further review and comparison with a properly functioning vehicle, the dealership confirmed a failure within the SH-AWD system. The affected components were replaced under warranty. The failed components should be available for inspection upon request. The safety concern stems from the absence of warning indicators combined with the loss of intended AWD functionality. In low-traction conditions, the inability of the system to properly distribute power can increase the risk of loss of control, reduced acceleration capability, or inability to safely merge or climb inclines. No prior warning lamps or alerts were presented before the incident.
While driving in snow and in light rain noticed the MDX pulling and slipping. I realized that only the front tires were trying to drive the vehicle which was causing the car to pull sideways and slip all over the road. I made an appointment with the ACURA dealership and they found the transmission splines stripped out that drive the rear wheels. There was no warning lamps or indication that anything was broke other than very hard to drive in any kind of snow or rain. Talking with the dealer and looking online this seems to be happening to other MDX s also. My car was fixed under the manufacturer warranty and the transmission and transfer case were replaced.
While driving a 2022 Acura MDX Advance AWD in snowy conditions, I noticed reduced traction and abnormal drivability. Dealer inspection confirmed a catastrophic failure: the front differential and transmission splines were stripped, causing the vehicle to operate in front-wheel drive only. The dealer verified the failure and documented it as a defect on the repair order. The vehicle was maintained exclusively at the dealership since new, and failure occurred at approximately 76,000 miles, outside the original powertrain warranty. There were no warning lights prior to the failure, but loss of AWD in snowy conditions created a significant safety risk.This is a safety-relevant defect affecting traction and stability in adverse conditions.
My Acura service department notified me at my last oil change that they discovered (accidentally) my transmission / transfer case is damaged and is not transferring power to the rear wheels, rendering the vehicle as 2 wheel drive only. This requires a total replacement costing $16,000 +/-. My research indicates this is likely caused by a faulty splined shaft inside the transmission-transfer case assembly used in the early 2022 MDX vehicles.The dashboard info system for SH-AWD indicates that the car IS in All Wheel Drive and there are no messages indicating a problem with the All Wheel Drive. This has not been a problem during non-snow or other slippery conditions, but recent storms have made this a major safety problem for me. The fact that the car sensing system does not detect this problem could cause serious driving danger for unsuspecting drivers. This also prevents Acura/Honda from acting on this issue publicly as owners of this vehicle have no way of knowing the problem exists until it is too late.
When the vehicle decelerates—either from high speed or while already moving slowly—it frequently jerks just before coming to a complete stop. This issue is especially noticeable at very low speeds or during final braking, where the vehicle may lurch forward by a few inches unless the brakes are applied firmly. Despite multiple visits to the dealership, including transmission resets and software updates, the problem persists. The dealer has not provided a resolution or adequate follow-up. This behavior poses a serious safety risk, particularly in high-traffic areas where precise stopping is critical.
Acura Headquarters USA 1919 Torrence Boulevard Torrence, California 90501 Mr. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] Email: [XXX] Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing your company to the attention of whomever oversees the product development and design of the 2022 ACURA MDX and to warn them that certain system features and design flaws of this make and model vehicle will undoubtedly lead to the death of someone in the near future as was nearly the case with myself and spouse very recently. On Sunday [XXX], my spouse and I attended church services that morning. Fortunately, after services our Acura MDX did start as usual, and we began our journey home.Upom arriving home, we backed our car into our garage and during that process thankfully I had the wits to unlock the passenger and driver side door mechanisms. Once we enteredthe garage and at thta point, our car went absolutely DEAD. Our car stayed dead for the next 5 1/2 hours. Had I not unlocked those doors, we would have been trapped inside for that duration of time, only to be found dead fron suffocation and asphysxiation from being in a car with all the windows rolled up, no power to the vehicle and no way to get out, while beingdeprived of oxygen. AT that point, your manufactured vehicle became a death trap for us.We're the fortunate ones who lived through the experience and to be able to tell the story. Others may not be so lucky to tell theirs and there will be others. We wanted the manufacturer to understand the full implications of our letter and to stress in the strongest terms possible that this is a very serious matter that will eventually cost lives, as it nearly cost us ours. The vehicle in question is VIN# [XXX] and was last serviced at Vandergriff Acura in Arlington, Texas on 6/13/2025 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
We were at a stop sign. I went to hit the gas and then a warning flash on the screen that there is a problem with the rear axle of the all wheel drive and that it was switching to front drive only. During that 5-10 seconds we went through the intersection on creep mode, 2-5 mph max. I felt helpless. My wife has had it happen to her 2 times. My first experience was tonight and it could have been bad if there was a car on the road we were crossing.
My vehicle has 80,000 miles. It has a popping sound when accelerating from stop. Dealership found metal chunks in the transmission and transfer case. Luckily I brought the problem to them before catastrophic failure while driving. Both are needing complete replacements.
There were two major failures in my vehicle within a couple of weeks. The first was a lower ball joint failure. The passenger side lower control arm was replaced. The second major failure was the transfer case seal on the transmission failed and the transmission is being replaced. The vehicle has been serviced since its new purchase at Acura dealerships.
Transmission issue… grinding and not accelerating…. When it is at a stop and moving again .. turning with accelerating.. it moves really slow
After 4 times of taking the vehicle to two dealerships for the same concerns, I am having the following problems with my vehicle at this time:: wind/whistling/whining noise heard while driving and has gone unresolved. The car consistently makes a whining/whistling noise when reaching speeds between 40-65mph and has been a known issue with this year make and model per documentation provided to me by the dealership.
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