Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2019 Acura MDX owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2019 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended and to exceed 5 MPH. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the roadway. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact did not agree with the diagnosis. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,692.
The contact owns a 2019 Acura MDX. The contact stated that the vehicle shifted to park while driving at an undisclosed speed. The engine and EVAP system warning lights were illuminated. There was a leak from the Evaporative Emission Control (EVAP) system. The vehicle was previously taken to the local dealer for NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
Starting having an issue over the last few weeks where the car will shut off as it should with the idle start/stop enhanced but when I release the brake, the car goes into neutral and doesn't start... have had this happen 4 times already and was finally rear ended today due to this fault.
I think this recall needs to be expanded: Honda and Acura have recalled 2019 and 2020 vehicles including the CR-V and Accord for fuel pumps which can malfunction and cause the engine to lose power. My wife recently had her 2019 MDX stall on her in an intersection and she had to turn off the car and turn it back on so it would work. It sounds exactly like the below: "While driving, the vehicle shifts into Neutral, the transmission indicator comes and DTC P0657 (actuator supply voltage circuit/open) is stored. The driver will not be able to select any other gear until the vehicle is turned off and restarted. …
My 2019 Acura MDX with 100K miles stalled on the road with several alerts on the dashboard and went into Parking mode with no further movement. Had several alerts stating Transmission failure, Blind Spot monitoring failure, Auto break system failure and vehicle stalled on the road. Had similar issues previously where the steering jammed and vehicle was stalled on the signal, took it to Acura dealer and they had to fix some circuit / reset the circuit board. Was ok for few months and last week the car stalled with Parking sign on. Towed the car to the Dealer service center, they diagnosed and identified there is a failure with transmission. They quoted around 10000 dollars for replace new and 7000 for used transmission. This is huge money, hence called Acura customer care for any review/support but they claimed this issue is not in their current recalls or claims, so cannot support. …
At only 44,318 miles, my 2019 Acura MDX began showing clear transmission problems in the lower gears - including delayed acceleration, gear slipping, and jerky movement when starting or turning at low speed. These symptoms posed an immediate safety risk, especially when merging into traffic or making turns across oncoming vehicles. I first brought the car to Oakland Acura, which incorrectly diagnosed it as a transfer case issue. Their misdiagnosis delayed the repair process and added unnecessary cost and time. I then had the vehicle evaluated at Acura Concord, where it was correctly diagnosed as transmission failure in the lower gears. An independent, certified mechanic also confirmed the same diagnosis. …
The contact owns a 2019 Acura MDX. The contact stated while attempting to make a left turn from a complete stop, the vehicle shut off inadvertently. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an unknown software update was performed under an unknown recall. Additionally, the contact stated that upon pressing the park(P) button to park the vehicle, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the vehicle responded after several attempts. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was jerking upon depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and related the failure to the recall; however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. …
While making a very normal commute, my 2019 Acura MDX began running very roughly, slowing rather abruptly. The check engine light began flashing, and several warning messages were displayed on the message center of the vehicle display unit. The vehicle would not accelerate, and would not attain a reasonable speed while in traffic. With the hazard lights on, I was able to move to the side of the road, but it was very difficult as I was unable to exceed 15-20 mph. The vehicle was taken to the dealership for repair. The dealer investigated and found the timing belt had "jumped time" causing the engine management system to set multiple misfire codes, and was described as the cause of the failure. I am aware certain 2018-2019 Acura MDX models were recalled for timing belt issues, but this particular vehicle was determined to be outside of the group of vehicles involved in the current recall. …
The transfer case is blown, with metal debris collected in it. This has caused the all wheel drive to not work because the transfer case is not sending any power to the rear wheels. The car dashboard doesn't register that that transfer case isn't working, so it it thinks the all wheel drive is working, when it isn't. A bad transfer case can cause the car to lose control or traction when it needs to use the all wheel drive system or completely stop while on a highway because it can lead to damage to other parts of the power train. This has been confirmed by an independent service center. There are no warning lights telling me the transfer case is blown or that there are any issues with the power train. The only sympton I noticed was a high pitched sound when driving. These symptoms first appeared about 3 weeks ago.
While driving, the vehicle experienced a sudden internal mechanical and electronic transmission failure. Without warning, the vehicle shifted itself directly into Park while navigating the busy intersection of [redacted] and [redacted]. This caused a complete loss of propulsion and left the vehicle entirely immobilized in the middle of a high-speed junction. The vehicle could not be moved, creating an immediate, severe highway safety hazard that required an emergency 911 police response to manage traffic and protect the vehicle from being rear-ended. The dealership scan tool later pulled diagnostic code P0730 (Incorrect Gear Ratio) along with multiple clutch performance failures (P07A4, P07A2, P07A8).
Transmission complaints in other MDX years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2019 Acura MDX?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2019 Acura MDX, 16% of the model year's 190 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2019 Acura MDX transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2019 Acura MDX, though it has 9 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2019 Acura MDX transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 30,000 miles, and 50% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.