YearToAvoid

2023 Acura MDX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

36/100

#10 most-complained of 15 MDX years

The 2023 Acura MDX has 39 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls, with a complaint index of 36 and a rank of 10th of 15 model years — a 'Good' verdict relative to other MDX years. Top issues involve Transmission & Powertrain (26%), Brakes (21%), and Electrical System (21%).

Complaints
39
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21
19 city / 25 hwy

Top 2023 Acura MDX problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain10 (26%)
  2. Brakes8 (21%)
  3. Electrical System8 (21%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras7 (18%)
  5. Other6 (15%)
  6. Engine4 (10%)
  7. Steering4 (10%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (10%)
  9. Structure & Body3 (8%)
  10. Fuel System1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Brake pedal reportedly goes spongy and can sink to the floorboard, sometimes requiring multiple dealer visits.
  • Owners describe sudden loss of all safety-system functions (AWD, lane keeping, adaptive cruise, automatic braking) along with tailgate malfunctions.
  • Electrical faults reportedly cause dash warning lights to illuminate along with a temporary loss of power steering while driving.
  • A fuel leak was reported from the gas tank area due to a fuel line retainer clip that was not installed during assembly, which also prevented the vehicle from starting.
  • The automatic emergency braking system reportedly engaged unexpectedly at low speed with no obstacle present, nearly causing a rear-end collision.
  • Some owners report a high-pitched whistle noise near 57-63 mph that the dealer said was normal, and separation of the front seat bolster on Type S trims.
2023 Acura MDX complaints: complaints filed per month6Nov 2022Feb 2024Mar 2025Aug 2025Dec 2025Apr 2026Sep 2026
56 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2022 to Sep 2026; peak Sep 2023 (6).

2023 Acura MDX recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V332000May 21, 2026Airbags98,892 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    Honda (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.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers 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.

  2. NHTSA 25V391000Jun 12, 2025Brakes259,033 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages

    Honda (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."

    Risk: A 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.

    Remedy: Dealers 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.

2023 Acura MDX fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
25 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,800
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2023 compared with other MDX years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2020Avoid79221822.5
2022Avoid86152221
2023Good3639221
2024Good4339221
2025Avoid100105321

All Acura MDX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Acura MDX reliable?
NHTSA data shows 39 complaints and a complaint index of 36, ranking it 10th out of 15 MDX model years with a 'Good' verdict relative to other years of the same model.
What problems does the 2023 Acura MDX have?
The largest complaint categories are Transmission & Powertrain (26%), Brakes (21%), and Electrical System (21%), followed by Collision Avoidance & Cameras issues at 18%.
Does the 2023 Acura MDX have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2023 MDX: one for airbag seat weight sensors and one for a brake pedal pivot pin that was not secured properly.
How does the 2023 MDX compare to other MDX years?
With a complaint index of 36, the 2023 MDX ranks better than years like 2016 (93), 2020 (79), and 2022 (86), which carry 'Avoid' verdicts, and is close to the 2024 MDX (43, 'Good').
What is the median mileage for MDX complaints in 2023?
Across all reported issues, the median mileage at failure is 32,453.5 miles, though brake complaints show a much lower median of 3,500 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.