2005 Acura MDX Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 180 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2005 Acura MDX overview page.
What owners report
“GEAR SHIFT LEVER BECAME HARDER AND HARDER TO SHIFT OVER THE TIME AND THEN SEIZED. NOTICED HEAVILY CORRODED SHIFT LEVER LINKAGE AT THE TRANSMISSION END…”NHTSA complaint 10626482 — filed 08/19/2014
“I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY CAR JERKED AND THEN WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED…”NHTSA complaint 10598922 — filed 06/17/2014
“TRANSMISSION HAS INTERMITTENT VIBRATION BETWEEN 30-40 MPH. LASTS APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS. ACURA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX THE TRANSMISSION.”NHTSA complaint 10546452 — filed 10/01/2013
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2005 Acura MDX have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2005 Acura MDX: 43 of 180 complaints on file (23.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2005 Acura MDX have in total?
180 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 15 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, 15 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
