Car Defect Radar
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 22, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

149 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
71

Most reports here involve transmission slipping. Of these, 2 mention a crash.

transmission slipping 27fluid leaks 12
A recent report: Discovered leaking fluid on 9/12/2026. Scheduled service with local Acura dealer on 9/15/2026 and found that the leak is AFT from unserviceable seal between the transmission and transfer case. The…
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Discovered leaking fluid on 9/12/2026. Scheduled service with local Acura dealer on 9/15/2026 and found that the leak is AFT from unserviceable seal between the transmission and transfer case. The recommended repair from dealer is to replace both transmission and transfer case for $15,000. This is a significant issue for a vehicle that had been well maintained.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764689 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Minor
12

Most reports here involve sudden stalling.

sudden stalling 5software faults 3corrosion 2
A recent report: Design flow at the CORROSION BUILT UPAT SENSOR CONNECTOR. Water gets in and corrodes connector. Causing over $8000 in repairs for the following: COMPLETE FLOOR WIRE HARNESS EXTENDING TO STROKE…
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Design flow at the CORROSION BUILT UPAT SENSOR CONNECTOR. Water gets in and corrodes connector. Causing over $8000 in repairs for the following: COMPLETE FLOOR WIRE HARNESS EXTENDING TO STROKE SENSORS- CORROSION BUILT UPAT SENSOR CONNECTOR CAUSING FAULT IN FLOOR HARNESS.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11743255 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Worth reading
16

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 2 mention an injury.

software faults 7loss of braking 6premature wear 3
A recent report: Asymmetrical wear on the front brakes. The outer pad wears out completely while the inner pad( with the brake wear sensor) shows almost no wear. The dealer (Park Place Acura, Plano Texas) brought…
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Asymmetrical wear on the front brakes. The outer pad wears out completely while the inner pad( with the brake wear sensor) shows almost no wear. The dealer (Park Place Acura, Plano Texas) brought this to my attention on November 3, 2025 saying only the front pads needed replacing but did not disclose the asymmetrical wear. I took the vehicle back to the Dealer January 15, 2026 for repair after discovering the asymmetrical pad wear and pointed that out to them. The brakes can completely wear to the backing plate on the outer pad while showing no wear issues with the brake sensor on the inner pad. This condition creates an unpredictable and uneven braking response that constitutes a safety defect, as the brake wear indicator system fails to alert the driver to actual brake wear on the outer pad. The brake wear sensor is designed assuming symmetrical pad wear. When wear is asymmetrical, the sensor fails to trigger a warning, leaving the driver unaware of a dangerous condition. The dealer has finally replaced the pads and rotors, symptoms of the problem but, has not addressed the underlying cause of the problem...the calipers. I have received the vehicle back from the dealer but did not sign a release and the issue remains open. The vehicle currently has approximately 29,400 miles. I have taken this issue to Acura corporate(Honda Motor Company) and they have it under review but keep delaying with no confirmed resolution. I sent a certified letter to American Honda Motor Company, Acura client relations on February 3, 2026 and they signed for it on February 11, 2026 and contacted me by email on March 11,2026. Acura took 28 days to respond to my certified letter and has provided no resolution timeline since.The vehicle was under the original manufacturers warranty at the time of this issue and notification.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11728752 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Worth reading
27

Most reports here involve loss of steering. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

loss of steering 12corrosion 4
A recent report: While driving at approximately 35 mph on a surface street with my wife and five-year-old son in the vehicle, the electric power steering system failed and steering assist was reduced. The instrument…
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While driving at approximately 35 mph on a surface street with my wife and five-year-old son in the vehicle, the electric power steering system failed and steering assist was reduced. The instrument panel simultaneously displayed and cycled through multiple warnings including "Electric Power Steering System Problem — Steering Assist Reduced," "Brake System — Brake Hold System Problem," Vehicle Stability Assist, and Hill Start Assist. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms of any kind prior to this failure; the first indication was the failure itself while the vehicle was in motion. On the two engine starts following the incident, the same dashboard warnings reappeared, although power steering and vehicle operation seemed normal. On the two starts after that, the vehicle started with no warnings and no indication of any problem. So the steering effort increased during the initial failure and I was unable to rely on power assist while moving in traffic, which created a risk of loss of directional control and a crash for my occupants and other road users. On Aug 11,2026, the vehicle was taken to an authorized Acura dealer, which confirmed a stored diagnostic trouble code and diagnosed a failure of the VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) modulator-control unit, recommending replacement. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or an insurance representative. No repairs have been performed to date and the vehicle and component remain available for inspection upon request. Mileage at the time of failure was 40,090. I have video of the instrument panel recorded during the event and it is available upon request. I have reviewed complaints filed with NHTSA describing what appears to be the same simultaneous multi-system failure on 2022 and 2023 Acura MDX vehicles.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11756386 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
3

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

software faults 1airbags not deploying 1
A recent report: Airbags: I was driving on interstate five when traffic had come to a slow stop. The vehicle far behind me not paying attention and hit me going at a very fast speed that forced my car into a box…
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Airbags: I was driving on interstate five when traffic had come to a slow stop. The vehicle far behind me not paying attention and hit me going at a very fast speed that forced my car into a box truck in front of me. My car was found to be a total loss. Zero airbags were deployed with either impact. The hood completely crunched and dash broke open inside vehicle.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11633527 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Worth reading
17

Most reports here involve premature wear. Of these, 1 mention an injury.

premature wear 1fluid leaks 1
A recent report: The malfunction was both rear drains from the sunroof were clogged and possibly kinked. The dealership might still have the components but did not give us access to them. The clog caused the water to…
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The malfunction was both rear drains from the sunroof were clogged and possibly kinked. The dealership might still have the components but did not give us access to them. The clog caused the water to enter the vehicle and accumulate. In addition to wet carpeting, an electrical component shorted and failed damaging the Infotainment system. If this had happened during vehicle operation with water moving around, electrical systems could suddenly fail while driving. The vehicle was inspected by the insurance adjustor but was deemed a maintenance issue even though there exist no maintenance instructions or dealership directives for maintenance or inspections. Owner maintenance would not be possible as special tools would be needed without which damage to the drain lines might occur. There was no warning, messaging, or instructions that maintenance was necessary for this item or that it could fail. The first sign was the sound of sloshing water in the vehicle during driving and the failure of the infotainment system. As a remedy, the dealership insisted on replacing the drain lines rather than cleaning them out, which implies that either the dealership was creating extra work for themselves or the drain line could not easily be cleaned.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11747106 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
3

Most reports here involve transmission slipping.

transmission slipping 1
A recent report: Vehicle has a service bulletin issued by NHTSA and Honda/Acura of North America refuses to acknowledge it or fix the problem. for 4 years. Service Bulletin 24-025

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11725742 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 149 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2021 and 2026, roughly 28 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.