2022 Acura MDX Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2022 Acura MDX most often describe drivetrain problems, especially a failure where the transfer case and transmission splines wear or shear and the vehicle drops to front-wheel drive, frequently discovered through a leak, humming noise, or clunk. Complaints also cover sudden automatic braking by the low-speed and collision-mitigation systems, battery drain and cascading electrical warnings, water entering through sunroof drains, and steering noises or assist loss. Many reports come in past 60,000 miles, though electrical and braking complaints appear much earlier.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Loss of all-wheel drive (transfer case / transmission

   • 54 complaints (34%)
   • median 97,000 mi at 4.6 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $14,000 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe a clunk, bang, or humming noise from the drivetrain, sometimes with no warning light at all, after which the vehicle stays in front-wheel drive. Dealers and independent shops reportedly find worn or stripped splines between the transmission and transfer case, along with fluid leaks, and quote replacement of both units. Several complaints say the repair was proposed at a substantial cost. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 135,000 miles, often noticed on acceleration from a stop or after a routine service.

   What to check: Have a shop check whether the rear driveshaft turns freely while the transmission is in Park, and look for fluid weeping at the transmission-to-transfer-case joint. Ask for service records showing whether the driveline fluid has been inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My transfer case and transmission splines stripped out as I was leaving a parking lot on a rainy day... i heard a bang... went to dealer, they confirmed drive shift to rear wheels not turning. Today July 3rd 2026, my MDX-2022 With 92k miles is at the Acura dealer... I fortunately have an Acura Precision warranty.... which will cover my repair...”

   NHTSA complaint #11748203, filed 2026-07

   “My less than 5 year old car had a leak coming from the center front of the car. Acura Service said the transfer case and transmission connection spindles were damaged and transmission seals are leaking. They recommended a replacement of both transmission and transfer case, at a cost of over $13,000, and that is after Acura Customer Service gave me a 10% discount on the repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #11771251, filed 2026-10
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brakes applying on their own (low-speed and collision

   • 15 complaints (9%)
   • median 41,000 mi at 2.7 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle braking hard by itself at low speed, such as pulling into a parking lot or passing an intersection with nothing in front, and in some cases the brakes acting on their own at road speed. Owners report dealers often could not duplicate the event, while others were told software updates were available for related sensor systems. Reported at a wide range of mileages, from a few thousand miles upward, typically during low-speed maneuvering or driving with no obstacle ahead.

   Recall 24V064000Recall 26V3320002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any brake or sensor-related software updates have been applied, and test-drive at low speed in a parking lot to see whether the automatic braking engages unexpectedly. Request any stored diagnostic codes from the dealer.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have experienced several incidents where I am driving on open road with no obstructions in front of my vehicle and the collision braking feature suddenly engages. This has led to vehicles behind me almost rear ending my car due to the unexpected, strong, and abrupt nature of the braking on open road.”

   NHTSA complaint #11678638, filed 2025-08

   “As I was turning right (slowly accelerating from a complete stop) into a shopping center parking lot, I was entering into the lane behind a vehicle that had just passed in front of me (and was headed in the same direction I was going to turn). My 2022 Acura MDX Low Speed Braking Control system engaged for no reason. The breaks slammed hard bringing the car to a hard, sudden stop, and I thought I had been rear-ended by the car behind me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11702150, filed 2025-11
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering noise, assist loss, and multiple warning lights

   • 30 complaints (19%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners report a clunk, click, or knock from the steering area while turning, and in some cases a sudden loss of power steering assist together with a cluster of warnings for stability, hill-start, and brake-hold systems. Complaints describe dealers sometimes finding a loose outer tie rod end nut, and other times being unable to find stored codes. Reported from low mileage up to around 40,000 miles, often during low-speed turns or highway driving.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Turn the wheel lock to lock while stationary and at low speed and listen for clicking or knocking; ask whether the tie rod end nut and related steering bulletins have been addressed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Suspension clicking noise when turning wheel to from one end to another. I found that the outer tie rod end ball joint wasn’t torque down. I double checked the lower ball joint and found it wasn’t torque down as well. The clicking went away after torquing down the outer tie rod joint.”

   NHTSA complaint #11478020, filed 2022-08

   “On feb 9th 2024 as I was driving to work the steering wheel randomly locked forcing me across th eother lane and into a stone wall. Honda north america took control of the car, removed the parts and I still do not have the car back . They have offered no money and have not repaired the car. I feel they are aware of the problem and used this incident to try to cover the problem up and make it go away. I fear for the family of 4 traveling and heading into a dump truck.. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11603363, filed 2024-07
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Battery drain and electrical warnings

   • 12 complaints (8%)
   • median 42,579 mi at 3.2 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe repeated battery failures and replacement, with the screen staying on or the infotainment system going blank, and sometimes a cluster of system errors appearing while driving. Some complaints also mention audio popping or no sound, which service bulletins attribute to a coax cable terminal in the audio network. Reported from roughly 20,000 to 45,000 miles and across several years of ownership.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask how many times the battery has been replaced and whether the audio network cable and battery bulletins were performed; check that the display turns off with the ignition.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle has a battery issue, we replaced the battery twice in two years still the issue might happened again and again. Once the battery start draining energy, everything start blinking and car stops all of a sudden in the middle of the road because of brake assistance problem. All the system errors come up. It is very scary to drive the vehicle with my kids inside. All system in car works with battery. service center told me that this kind of cars needs bigger battery and company only put small batteries in the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11633182, filed 2024-12, 42,579 miles

   “I've recently been in touch with an Acura dealership about my vehicle's wireless charger not working. So shortly after purchase I made my complaint that the wireless charger pad is not charging my phone. They've replaced the pad but still not charging my Samsung ultra 22+ unless the car is parked and sitting still. They've asked me to allow time for researching the issue and taken all the make model details from my phone. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11563544, filed 2024-01
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Sunroof drain leaks and sunroof/moonroof noise

   • 11 complaints (7%)
   • typically at 2.1 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Complaints describe water entering the cabin from clogged or cracked rear sunroof drains, soaking carpet and in some cases damaging the audio amplifier or infotainment system. Others report popping from the roof area and, in a few cases, the glass shattering while driving. Reported within the first few years of ownership, often after heavy rain or a car wash.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Inspect the headliner, cargo area, and carpet for water stains or dampness, and ask whether the sunroof drains have been cleaned or repaired. Open and close the sunroof to listen for popping or binding.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Issues with the sunroof frame. I've notice popping from the car roof Acura is aware of this issue they've put out a bulletin but only covering cars that have less than 50k miles and are under 4 years old. After researching I see a lot of people are having similar issues where the screws come lose and the sunroof frame breaks causing some sunroof to shatter.”

   NHTSA complaint #11732981, filed 2026-04

   “2022 mdx sunroof shattered while driving however stayed in place because I got my sunroof tinted and dealership told me to go through insurance I called acura relations and they are investigating no one properly inspected or looked at it”

   NHTSA complaint #11513912, filed 2023-03

Buying note. Given the number of drivetrain complaints, a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks the transfer case and rear driveshaft is worthwhile, along with service records for the electrical and brake software updates. Ask for the warranty status, since several owners report repair estimates in the thousands of dollars for driveline work.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.