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Acura · Compact SUV

2023 Acura MDX

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
76 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns3
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA44
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA22 mpg
2026202520242023202220202019201820172016

The 2023 Acura MDX is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the MDX FWD, is EPA-rated at 22 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 44 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
MDX FWDGasFWD3.5L 6-cyl192622$3,500
MDX AWDGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl192521$3,700
MDX AWD Type-SGasAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo172119$4,100

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 45444, 45446, 45456.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2023 Acura MDX is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

Refer to Comments
98,892 vehicles
ProblemHonda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.RiskAir bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.FixDealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
NHTSA campaign 26V332000reported May 21, 2026Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FLX, XLY
259,033 vehicles
ProblemHonda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."RiskA brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.FixDealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are FLX and XLY.
NHTSA campaign 25V391000reported Jun 12, 2025Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

EL1, AL0
294,612 vehicles
ProblemHonda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type-S, 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type-S vehicles. A software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) may cause an engine stall or a loss of power.RiskAn engine stall or loss of power can increase the risk of a crash or injury.FixDealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EL1 and AL0.
NHTSA campaign 25V031000reported Jan 23, 2025Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

NHTSA defect investigations

Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) — All wheel drive allegation closed

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has completed its review of 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 alleges failures in the interfacing splines between the front wheel drive transaxle and the rear wheel drive power take off unit. 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 reduces vehicle directional control. Most traditional AWD systems utilize mechanical and passive measures. These systems

Opened Mar 6, 2026 · closed Aug 4, 2026 · action DP26001

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine — No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages open

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several �eld reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016

Opened Mar 26, 2025 · action EA25004

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
44complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2022: 1 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 17 · 2026: 17

Most-cited components

Power Train15
Forward Collision Avoidance10
Electrical System8
Service Brakes6
Unspecified4
Steering4

What owners describe

“While making a left turn from an on-ramp, I heard a loud crunch from the drivetrain and experienced a momentary loss of power. Immediately afterward, the front tires began spinning under acceleration. I realized the vehicle was no longer sending power to the rear wheels and had effectively lost its all-wheel-drive capa…”Jul 20, 2026 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2023 ACURAÂ MDX. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 45 MPH an abnormal sound was emitted from underneath the vehicle, and the vehicles steering was being pulled to the right, no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnos…”Jul 15, 2026 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report
“There was a loud noise from under the car, and the car suddenly started to experience wheel spin. It's AWD and should not be spinning the tires. Suddenly losing AWD is dangerous when you expect the car to perform like an AWD car. Dealership said the transmission spline is stripped and needs replaced under warranty. Car…”May 19, 2026 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆15%
SUV AWDnot rated★★★★☆★★★★★not rated15%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Other MDX model years

A

2026 Acura MDX

1 recalls · 7 complaints

D

2025 Acura MDX

4 recalls · 96 complaints

C

2024 Acura MDX

3 recalls · 41 complaints

C

2022 Acura MDX

3 recalls · 171 complaints

F

2020 Acura MDX

8 recalls · 217 complaints

F

2019 Acura MDX

9 recalls · 185 complaints

F

2018 Acura MDX

10 recalls · 164 complaints

F

2017 Acura MDX

8 recalls · 253 complaints

F

2016 Acura MDX

7 recalls · 371 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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