Last updated: 2026-10-10

2022 Acura MDX Reliability Report
The 2022 Acura MDX has good reliability, but stripped transmission and transfer case splines can cost over $13,000 to fix.
Recalls
1
Complaints
90
Complaint Rate
20.2per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$571
Annual Fuel Cost
$3,150–$3,650
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
The first Fourth-generation year sits mid-pack among MDX years, with stripped transmission and transfer case splines as its main weakness.
Top Issues to Watch
- POWER TRAIN (22)
- STEERING (17)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (8)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2022 is the first model year of the Fourth generation (YD8/9/YE1; 2022).
- First-year models may have unresolved issues from the new design.
- Redesigned for the 2022 model year.
- Refreshed in 2025.
- 4th generation MDX (US).
What this means for buyers
First-year models carry more risk — early production issues are common. Consider waiting for the second year if reliability is a priority.
Compare 2022 pricing and recall counts against 2023+ before deciding.
2022: Fourth generation (YD8/9/YE1; 2022) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2025: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
Should You Buy the 2022 Acura MDX?
Good reliability puts this first Fourth-generation MDX above average among 2022 SUVs, though it lands in the middle of the eight scored MDX years. Model-wide repair costs run $571 a year against $807 for the class, and the crash-test rating is 5 of 5 stars. The 2023 rates better.
The big risk is the drivetrain. The splines between the transmission and transfer case can strip, leaving the SUV in front-wheel drive, usually with no warning light. Owners notice slipping or sway in snow and rain. Failures cluster between 60,000 and 84,000 miles, and the fix is a new transmission and transfer case at over $13,000. Steering is the second pattern. Power steering can cut out or the wheel can lock amid a flood of warnings, and one owner reported a wall crash. Federal records show one air bag recall.
Ask for service records covering the transmission and transfer case, and confirm the air bag recall work was done. A 2023 has fewer complaints and is worth pricing alongside.
Compared to the 2023 Acura MDX, which scored 6 points higher. See also the 2020 Acura MDX for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +$236 cheaper to maintain than avg luxury midsize SUVs
- +Low major repair risk (8%)
- +Low recall count
Cons
- −Above-average complaint rate for SUV
- −POWER TRAIN issues reported (22 complaints)
- −STEERING: Power steering cuts out or the wheel locks while driving (17 complaints)
Compare 2022 Acura MDX With
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 1 manufacturer recall issued
Other
HIGH RISK- POWER TRAIN (22)
- STEERING (17)
Recall Overview
1
recall on record
The 2022 Acura MDX carries 1 recall — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
20.2
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 13.5
Safety Incidents
4
Crashes
2
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2022 Acura MDX Recall Details
1 recall has been issued for the 2022 Acura MDX. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
AIR BAGS
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Consequence
An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024, October 18, 2024, and August 2025. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
Buying a used 2022 Acura MDX? Check its history first
Power train problems lead owner complaints about the 2022 Acura MDX, and 1 recall was issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2022 Acura MDX NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 15.1%
Safety Technologies
Acura MDXRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4Maintenance rating: 4 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$571
vs $807 avg for luxury midsize SUVs
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
0.4
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
8%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
Acura MDX Resale Value
The Acura MDX is estimated to retain about 56.9% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
This benchmark covers the Acura MDX model overall and is not specific to the 2022 model year.
- Value Retained
- 56.9%
- Depreciation
- 43.1%
- Listings Analyzed
- 154
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.
Explore Acura MDX depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comMPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
19–22 MPG
Running cost: $3,700–$4,200/yr
Fuel + repair
17–19 city / 21–26 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2022 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDX FWD 3.5L 6-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S10) | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,150 |
| MDX AWD 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S10) | 19 | 25 | 21 | $3,300 |
| MDX AWD Type-S 3.0L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S10) | 17 | 21 | 19 | $3,650 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2022 Acura MDX.
Ask for service records showing any transmission or transfer case replacement, and have a mechanic check the drive splines.
Accelerate hard from a stop on gravel or wet pavement and check whether the rear wheels drive or only the fronts spin.
Check the battery's age and test results, and ask how many times it has been replaced.
Drive on an open road at 30 to 50 mph and watch for automatic braking with nothing ahead.
Start the car several times and listen for grinding or vibration as the steering column extends.
Run the VIN for open recalls, including airbag campaign 24V064000 and brake campaign 25V391000.
Inspect the panoramic roof glass for cracks and ask whether it has ever been replaced.
Look for a sagging front corner or suspension warning lights, and listen for clicking while turning the wheel lock to lock.
2022 Acura MDX Common Problems by Component
90 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
POWER TRAIN
22 complaintsThe splines between the transmission and transfer case strip, which cuts power to the rear wheels and leaves the SUV in front-wheel drive. Most reports mention no warning light. Drivers notice slipping, pulling or sway in snow and rain, or a dealer finds the damage during routine service. Some report popping on takeoff, RPM surges, or about 5 seconds with no acceleration while merging. Failures cluster between 60K and 84,000 miles. The fix is a new transmission and transfer case, with repair bills over $13,000. Other reports describe jerking just before a stop.
STEERING
17 complaintsSafety-relatedPower steering cuts out or the wheel locks while driving. This usually comes with a flood of warnings for brakes, stability control, lane keeping and collision mitigation. Brakes may feel stiff, and the car can slow by itself. Restarting often clears the fault, and dealers often cannot reproduce it. Repairs mentioned include a new battery or a steering rack. One report describes a crash into a wall after the wheel locked. Other complaints cover a grinding vibration when the power column extends or retracts, which continued after a column replacement, and a steady pull to the right.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
8 complaintsThe panoramic glass roof shatters while driving, with a loud bang owners compare to an explosion or a gunshot. Reports mention no impact and no bad weather, and one roof broke twice. The sunshade or window tint sometimes holds the glass in place. In one case, glass shards caused a minor injury. Owners say dealers sent them to their insurance, with repair quotes of $1100 to $1400 on a car less than 30 days old. Separate reports describe the rearview mirror coming off its bracket and the engine shutting off at a stop.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (8 complaints)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
8 complaintsBatteries drain and fail early, and some owners have replaced them twice in two years. A weak battery can set off a cascade of system warnings, cause a stall after auto idle stop, or stop the car from restarting for several minutes. Other reports cover low-speed braking control slamming on with nothing in the way, a brake warning light that keeps coming back, a failed roof sunshade motor tied to a service bulletin, and a driver-side water leak that disabled keyless entry at 7k miles.
SERVICE BRAKES (5 complaints)
SERVICE BRAKES
5 complaintsSafety-relatedThe brakes feel stuck or fail to stop the car. There are two crash reports, each with an injury. One owner tied a crash to recall campaign 25V391000. The other crash happened while shifting from reverse into drive at 17,956 miles. Other complaints cover reduced-braking warnings, auto brake hold not holding, rear brakes that squeal and grab, and brief seizing or shudder at 40 to 65 MPH. A single front pad and rotor wearing out early shows up at 8K and 21k miles.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (5 complaints)
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
5 complaintsCollision mitigation braking slams on with nothing ahead. It happens on open highways around 50 mph and on empty residential streets below 30 mph. Drivers report near rear-end collisions with cars behind them. One report has the car stopping in the middle of a busy intersection. Another says the accelerator stopped responding while the system braked on and off. A dealer suggested metal guardrails could cause interference. None of the reports describe a fix.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (4 complaints)
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
4 complaintsThe capless filler neck grabs the fuel nozzle and can pull loose from the vehicle when the nozzle is removed. One owner says this happens about 75% of the time. Other reports cover a fuel door that will not open electronically, which leaves only the manual release behind a cargo-area panel. Owners also report higher than expected fuel use. In another case, a dealer refused the product update for cars that may not restart after auto idle stop because the vehicle came from Canada.
SUSPENSION (4 complaints)
SUSPENSION
4 complaintsA front air strut can burst while driving. That corner of the car drops about 6 inches and a string of warning lights comes on. The replacement part was backordered, which kept the car off the road. A Type S owner says the air suspension absorbs nothing over potholes and expansion cracks. The tires and rims take the hit, and one tire and two rims have been replaced. Other reports cover a failed lower ball joint and a clicking tie rod end that was never torqued down.
AIR BAGS (3 complaints)
AIR BAGS
3 complaintsSafety-relatedAirbags did not deploy in a high-speed rear-end crash that pushed the car into a truck and totaled it. That report also lists a fire and an injury. A second complaint covers recall campaign 24V064000, where the repair part was not yet available and the wait dragged on. A third links brake warnings and phantom braking at 41,000 miles to the side airbag sensors. A software update fixed it.
ENGINE (2 complaints)
ENGINE
2 complaintsSafety-relatedA fire started in the front passenger wheel well while the car idled at a red light, at 26,000 miles. It began as white smoke and the fire department put it out. No injuries are reported, and the report gives no cause. The other complaint describes the engine shutting off at a full stop and not restarting, so the car had to be towed. The dealer blamed battery drain from the auto idle stop feature and replaced the battery.
When Do 2022 Acura MDX Problems Start?
Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.
Best & Worst Acura MDX Years
Best Acura MDX Years to Buy
Based on reliability index score2024
2023
2022
(Current Model)
Acura MDX Years to Avoid
Acura MDX Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 64/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 64/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 62/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 73/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 79/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 79/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 76/100 | Good |
| 2026 | 79/100 | Good |
Acura MDX Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2022 Acura MDX reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2022 Acura MDX?
Does the 2022 Acura MDX have transmission problems?
Has the 2022 Acura MDX been recalled?
Is the 2023 Acura MDX more reliable than the 2022?
Don’t buy a 2022 Acura MDX without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2022 Acura MDX
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2022 Acura MDX does best on recall impact (88/100) and worst on complaint severity (55/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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