2023 ACURA MDX

Recalls, Specs & Safety Report

Expert Verdict
⚠️Elevated Concerns

The 2023 Acura MDX presents a mixed reliability profile, primarily due to the single recall related to hydraulic brake pedal issues. With a notable number of complaints concentrated within the initial miles, prospective buyers should remain vigilant about brake performance during early ownership.

Key Factor:Hydraulic brake concerns

πŸ“‹Why This Matters

The presence of a recall concerning the hydraulic brakes in the 2023 Acura MDX is significant, as it can directly impact vehicle safety and driver confidence. A malfunctioning brake pedal could result in diminished stopping power, posing a risk to both occupants and other road users. Given that Acura is known for its high engineering standards and overall quality in this segment, even one recall raises questions about reliability expectations for new owners.

Focus Area:Safety Profile
πŸ“Š

Expert Analysis

  • πŸ“ˆ
    Recall Trend:No Change in recalls
  • ⚠️
    Primary Risk Area:Warning
  • βš–οΈ
    Vs Brand: Better than avg (1.2)
    πŸ“
    Summary: In the context of reliability trends within luxury SUVs, the 2023 Acura MDX's complaint rate appears higher than anticipated given its brand reputation. While Acura typically excels in engineering quality, the reported issues might suggest an area requiring further scrutiny as the model evolves over time.

Safety & Reliability Score

91/100

Score Breakdown

Recall Impact-8
Complaint Impact-1.3
Investigation Impact-0

Technical Specifications

Key specifications for the 2023 ACURA MDX

Model Year2023
MakeACURA
ModelMDX
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle

Safety History Timeline

Nov22
ISSUEFirst Report
Jan23
NEWProduction
Dec25
RECALLRecall Issued

Consumer Complaint Analysis

⚠️

Most Reported Issue

10 complaints (38% of total)
➑️

Complaint Trend

Stable
No trend data
βœ…

Safety Incidents

No critical incidents

Complaint Severity Distribution

Breakdown of 26 consumer complaints by severity level.

🟑Medium
9(35%)
🟒Low
17(65%)
βœ…Good News: No critical or high-severity complaints reported for this vehicle.

Mileage Failure Analysis

βš™οΈEngineering Insight

With peak failure occurrences noted between 0-20k miles, owners should be particularly cautious during the initial phase of vehicle ownership. This early failure range indicates that potential mechanical issues may surface soon after purchase, warranting close attention to braking performance and any unusual behaviors in the first few months.

πŸ“Š Mileage data extracted from 6 of 26 complaints (23% coverage)
0-20k
5 reports (83%)
20k-40k
0 reports (0%)
40k-60k
0 reports (0%)
60k-80k
0 reports (0%)
80k-100k
1 reports (17%)
100k+
0 reports (0%)
* Analysis based on mileage data extracted from consumer complaint descriptions. Actual failure rates may vary.

πŸ› οΈ DIY Diagnosis Center

Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).

Primary Risk Areas

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

🎯Risk Areas & Recommended Actions

Based on recall data, these components require verification:

1

Service brakes, hydraulic

Issue: Brake pedal pivot pin may not be secured properly leading to shifting out of position.

βœ…

Schedule an inspection at your nearest dealership immediately to ensure safe braking functionality.

πŸ”

Inquire about any brake system inspections or repairs performed prior to purchase.

Campaign:23V-123
πŸ’‘Visit NHTSA.gov or contact your ACURA dealer to verify recall completion status.

Official Safety Recalls (1)

Campaign: 25V391000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

Summary

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."

Consequence

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.

Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

NHTSA Investigations

0 investigations
βœ“

No active investigations for this vehicle.

Consumer Complaints

26 total complaints

Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2023 MDX.

Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis

Warning38%
Acceleration Issues15%
Noise12%
Power Loss12%
Accident8%
Engine/PowertrainπŸ”΅ Low
POWER TRAIN

While making a left turn into a parking lot my car exhibited a loud bang noise. It felt as if the car had been hit from the rear. While applying the gas the car jerked and popped in the rear. I had the car towed to a dealership where I was informed the transfer case had " Destroyed itself". The gears broke apart internally. I was also informed that the transmission power take off was destroyed.The car only has 87000 miles on it and has been serviced at recommended intervals. The dealership quoted 19000.00 dollars to repair. The car was out of Acura"s powertrain warranty. I had a third party warranty that I used to repair the car. I was 5 hours away from home when this occurred. I was without a car for 4 weeks. I believe that this is a manufacture problem and is dangerous. There were no warning lights before or after the event. The car has been repaired. I have a video of the dealerships diagnosis of the transfer case and transmission failure.

BrakesπŸ”Ά Medium
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

As slowing down to park in parking space, the automatic braking applies hard and throws you forward. All three times, the vehicle was just entering the parking space and automatically slammed on brakes causing all passengers to lunge forward and seat belt to apply hard, hurting passengers chest. This is a safety hazard as it could cause harm to the passengers and if it happens at higher speeds then could cause a rear end collision if someone is behind us when this happens. This has happened three times in the past month. We have also experienced the cruise control not working once because it though there was a car in front of us when there was not. I turned the cruise off then on and has worked properly since.

Safety SystemsπŸ”Ά Medium
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

I have taken my vehicle to the Acura service department three times for this issue. Each time, they were unable to find a fault code or permanent fix. They have repositioned the front camera and removed an Acura sticker from the windshield, but the problem continues to occur at random. The service department said diagnostic tests show no error, yet the system still triggers false collision warnings. I’m concerned about the safety of driving a vehicle whose collision avoidance system malfunctions without warning. This issue has occurred on city streets and highways, in clear weather, at various speeds. The alerts come on suddenly with no obstruction ahead. Acura has not provided a permanent fix, and I feel unsafe driving the vehicle. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether this is a common defect in 2023 Acura MDX models.

BrakesπŸ”΅ Low
SERVICE BRAKES

The interior breaking pad on the rear passenger side wheel is wearing faster than all other break pads. According to the dealership this is due to defective hold break caliper, a condition which they failed to identify and address this multiple times until a complete rear breaks job was required. As a result perfectly fine breaks have to be replaced because of a single fast wearing break pad. I am not sure if this condition can lead to any safety risks but right now there are significant repair costs being incurred.

ElectricalπŸ”Ά Medium
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES

LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ASSIST REDUCED. My spouse was driving our 2023 MDX approximately 45mph when she ran over a recessed manhole cover which created a bump. The MDX lossed power steering and brake performance reduced. The vehicle was very difficult to turn at that point. The car began to cycle through errors that would not clear until the car's engine could be stopped and restarted: HILL START ASSIST PROBLEM, TRAILER STABILITY ASSIST PROBLEM, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM, LANE KEEPING ASSIST PROBLEM, COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEM PROBLEM, ROAD DEPARTURE MITIGATION SYSTEM PROBLEM, LOW SPEED BRAKING SYSTEM PROBLEM, ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING SYSTEM PROBLEM STEERING ASSIST IS NOT AVAILABLE DO NOT DRIVE, AWD SYSTEM PROBLEM FRONT WHEELS MAY ONLY BE POWERED, BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM BRAKE PERFORMANCE MAY BE REDUCED. All these errors said SEE YOUR DEALER. We took the vehicle in to our local Acura dealer's service department 2 times over the course of 3 days. Both times diagnostics were ran and the car was deemed without problem. The MDX's alignment was ok as well, so the impact of the road hazard was NOT severe.

Engine/PowertrainπŸ”΅ Low
POWER TRAIN

Transfer case became defective and fluids started mixing in with it and in the result of all of that I needed a new transmission as well

Engine/PowertrainπŸ”΅ Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

My 2023 Acura (VIN# [XXX] ) has experienced two separate incidents of sudden, total power loss while driving. In both cases, all dashboard warning lights came on, including the brake light, and the vehicle reduced speed to 20 mph and would not accelerate. The first incident occurred while I was driving on a 55 mph expressway, creating a major safety hazard. I had to maneuver to safety in high-speed traffic. The second incident occurred under similar conditions. The dealer has been unable to resolve the issue. I am filing this report to document the safety risk for investigation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

BrakesπŸ”΅ Low
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,EQUIPMENT

The contact owns a 2023 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal, the pedal unintendedly travelled down to the floorboard, causing the vehicle to unintendedly accelerate. The contact stated that the vehicle exceeded 95 MPH while driving in a 25 MPH zone. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to stop while depressing the brake pedal and drove through a red traffic light. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where an Acura engineer flew in to examine the vehicle. The engineer determined that the driver's side floor mat was faulty, and the floor mat was replaced; however, the failure recurred on three separate occasions and lasted approximately 40 seconds. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 4,000.

Steering/SuspensionπŸ”΅ Low
STEERING

The contact owns a 2023 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and turning the steering wheel, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions; however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that the failure worsened, and the vehicle remained with the dealer for three weeks for an extensive diagnostic test. The contact stated that after three weeks the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

ElectricalπŸ”΅ Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2023 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, on a rough road, the "Brake" warning light illuminated, then several warning lights illuminated. In addition, the contact stated the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the steering wheel failed to function as intended. The contact was able to pull into a parking lot. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and was diagnosed that the wheel sensor had failed, and the calibration was not fully completed by the manufacturer. The vehicle was calibrated, and test driven with a 67-mile drive, and an unknown sensor was replaced. The contact picked up the vehicle and became aware that the "Lane Departure Warning / Drift Lane Assistance" sensor was deactivated. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving 40 MPH, the failure occurred. The vehicle went LIMP Mode and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact was informed that the vehicle needed two system updates. The contact was unsure if the updates had been performed. The contact picked up the vehicle and became aware that the "Blind Spot Sensor" had been deactivated. The contact had not given permission for the deactivation. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,907.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are common issues with the 2023 Acura MDX?

The most prevalent concern reported involves hydraulic brake issues stemming from a recalled component that can affect brake performance. Ensuring that these recalls have been addressed is crucial for potential buyers or current owners.

How reliable is the braking system on the 2023 Acura MDX?

While Acura generally maintains a solid reputation for reliability, specific issues with hydraulic brakes have been noted in this model year due to manufacturing oversights as indicated by NHTSA data. It's advisable for owners to monitor this system closely.

πŸ“ŠYear-over-Year Context

➑️Stable Pattern

Compared to earlier years, the 2023 model shows stable reliability patterns. No meaningful structural change detected in recall frequency between adjacent model years.

🧭What This Means for You

This analysis is particularly important for drivers who navigate steep terrain, tow regularly, or drive in frequent rain or snow.

If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.

πŸ”‘

If You Own This Vehicle

  • Safety Check: Cross-reference your VIN with official ACURA records to ensure no 1 recalls remain open.
  • Unaddressed recalls pose real-world risks. Prioritize scheduling any pending repairs to maintain vehicle integrity.
  • Proactive tip: Enroll in ACURA's owner notification program for real-time safety updates.
πŸ›’

If You're Buying Used

  • Request the VIN from the seller and verify the 'Clean' recall status via NHTSA.
  • This specific MDX year is noted for its strong reliability foundations.

This page is designed to help you decide, not alarm you.

Compare with Similar Vehicles

Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Last updated: February 23, 2026.