Acura transfer cases blowing prematurely

[@iwhineTL]

Appreciate the effort to bring awareness to this. I've been trying to bring this to light on various platforms and asking those who had their transfer cases fail to file a complaint with NHTSA. Unfortunately many believe that this is a 1st year production issue, now only limited to 21 and 22 models, owners fault, blown out of proportion and of course "no problem with mine".. it's not bs, there's clearly an issue and owners being told that 8-9k to repair if it wasn't covered under warranty.. it's better to be aware and come as one to try to have Acura do the right thing because they won't unless they are forced to.. Unfortunately these vehicles are not what was hyped to be and now all their ugly has shown.

[@BCautosutions]

@@iwhineTL yup. Tons of potential flushed down the drain.

[@nickcivic21]

I’m thankful for you channel when driving my TLX type 23 a bit spirited on some back roads it legit cut power hard and then just came back on a hard turn… It was the first time pushing car well past break in period…. It was on a left turn both time…… wow!! I do have extended warranty but…. I’m sorry to say I have traded my baby girl in and going back to Honda for four years I’m going to try the civic hybrid 25 touring I have a much longer commute with job replacement!!! Soo i need to pay this civic off!!!! Make it like a nice hybrid lmao type R….. and then I will find a dream car once again!! Thanks for being a great KZbinr and inspired me to try my TLX!! Had her from 5/1/23 til now and put 32k miles on it soo she was driven a lot of gas money!! Lol

[@BCautosutions]

@ best of luck with the civic hybrids! Those things look great and have plenty of usual-able power especially for a commuter.

[@truonghthe]

@@BCautosutions I am pretty sure this is why major tuner refuse to touch the platform despite it been out for almost 4 years now. It sad that a performance trim of the vehicle can't even handle stock power. Acura need to head back to the drawing board and redesign the transfer case. Kuddo for you to put a video together for proper diagnostic of the failure.

[@truonghthe]

@iwhineTL but let Acura loyal elites tell you that it no issue, only BMW has blowing up issue. Looks like BMW and Acura has switching place in reliability department.

[@mgpgmglg]

We appreciate you pulling the leg work on this for all of us out here. ‘24 TLX S owner since February and I’d hate to think this could be its Achilles heel. Please keep up the great work.

[@BCautosutions]

@@mgpgmglg thank you for watching and best of luck!

[@SATO_FD2R]

*_If anyone has this issue, PLEASE report it to the NHTSA or your appropriate organizations._*

[@BCautosutions]

@@SATO_FD2R I have provided the link in the description ✅

[@SATO_FD2R]

@@BCautosutions This is going to help us all out in the long run. Thanks for bringing this to the light so more people are aware!

[@BCautosutions]

@ you got it

[@yourvacationlandrealtor]

This happened to me 😢

[@BCautosutions]

@ how did your experience go as far as the repair process. Stock car?

[@cassideyousley406]

The foremost accessible expert on the Type S on KZbin. You doing this community a MASSIVE service.

[@BCautosutions]

@@cassideyousley406 🙌

[@lauraandino8209]

‘21 TLX Type S w/36k when transfer case & transmission had to be replaced for this exact reason. Happened exactly as you said. I caught the large bang on my dash cam. Scared the crap out of me! I bought it used and it was previously owned by P2R so I believe they probably launched it a few times although I never did. They took it to the track a bit according to their KZbin channel. My bang happened as I was pulling into traffic a little heavy footed like always but not crazy. New one feels a little different but it’s AWD again 😊

[@BCautosutions]

@@lauraandino8209 ahh yes I remember that car and talking to the owner at the time (Wil) good dude. Happy you got it back on the road!

[@Dano-MX5]

I don’t know the details but was at my Acura dealership just yesterday visiting a couple friends in the service department. Cory, the one tech asked his boss if he ordered the transmission for the TLX he has in his bay. I asked if it was a vintage model and he said no, a 2023. Hmmmm

[@BCautosutions]

@@Dano-MX5 I’m confused as to what you mean by vintage model. Also was the car there with a broken transfer case?

[@Dano-MX5]

@ …I bought a 2001 Acura CL Type S brand new back in the day. At 22k miles the transmission blew. I thought maybe that was what they were dealing with, an Acura from that era. I mentioned in my post here that I didn’t have any details about the repair they were doing…all I know they have ordered a new transmission for a 2023 TLX. I was at the dealership to visit a friend and didn’t ask any more questions about TLX. Whether the issue is your transfer case/transmission problem I have no way of knowing.

[@BCautosutions]

@ ahh yes those transmissions were terrible. It was another rough stretch for Honda at that time period. Luckily the 10at is a lot better in that regards but now we are presented with a new and different point of failure.

[@abenj6235]

See the dealer. “No need to we’re already here.” Lol

[@BCautosutions]

@@abenj6235 lol someone picked that up 😅

[@TLXMAL]

Been waiting on this one

[@BCautosutions]

@@TLXMAL 🙌🙌

[@robdswingingcrypto6228]

My 22 type s is sitting at 16k miles. Maybe this summer I’ll get it over to my brothers performance shop and get it pulled. I’ll check the splines for any wear. I was trying to get somewhere in the 550-600 hp range but that may have to wait

[@BCautosutions]

@@robdswingingcrypto6228 blown trans/case? Was it denied by Acura to be covered?

[@robdswingingcrypto6228]

@ no I’m still good. Just thinking about pulling it to see if there’s any signs of damage.

[@BCautosutions]

@ ahh ok well that may be helpful

[@C4Gixxer]

I just got my 2021 Type S back from the dealer after having the transfer case and transmission replaced... car only had 46k miles on it My replacement PN: are 1 06200-6T2-A02RM ATR KIT and 1 29000-5YK- 060 TAKEOFF UNIT, POWER

[@BCautosutions]

@C4Gixxer thanks for sharing. Was the trans on back order? If so, how long did it take to be completed?

[@C4Gixxer]

The car was diagnosed at the dealership the day after Thanksgiving. The car went back to the dealership December 16 and the repair was completed on the 23rd of December. It took that long for them to locate the parts due to backorder issues.

[@BCautosutions]

@ figured. Thanks for sharing

[@SpicyMcGeezaks]

Did they do any redesign with the new parts? If not, isn’t this likely to happen again?

[@TheBreakfastLover]

@@SpicyMcGeezaks the part number changed from 2021 to 2022, unclear if it was sufficient though, time will tell

[@sdalexander8505]

Noticed some seepage around the transfer case drain bolt on our 22’ Ridgeline at 28k miles. I need to get it checked out when some recall work gets done soon.

[@BCautosutions]

@@sdalexander8505 let me know what they find.

[@sdalexander8505]

@ sure. BTW I asked about a valve adjustment on my 2017 Si and they said that they will not do valve adjustments unless the engines are misfiring and throwing codes. One of the service advisors said valve adjustments haven’t been necessary since like 90s b series engines. Some bs. I might just try it myself. It kinda looks fun. Only thing i worry about is sealing the valve cover back on correctly.

[@BCautosutions]

@ wow. I can’t believe they told you that. They should be ashamed of themselves.

[@sdalexander8505]

@@BCautosutions maybe they’re worried about valve cover leaks coming back when doing that work. Why refuse to do a 600-800$ customer paid job though? I understand only an enthusiasts would request that job to be done as preventative maintenance… but it seems like cake work for someone who knows how to do it right.

[@BCautosutions]

@ absolutely. Sounds like laziness or maybe lack of qualified techs to do a job like that.

[@MrSamPhoenix]

It was always magic to me how splines of any kind in vehicles handle all that power/torque. Mainly because of how small the mentioned splines are.

[@BCautosutions]

@@MrSamPhoenix yep. I think much bigger splines may be needed although that will probably add some noise

[@DDIYNETWORK]

Thanks for going over 5w30 and 0w30 tho I was hoping you would go over the benefits of switching to 5w30. Thanks in advance

[@NO-END]

Yup I wanted to know why he switched from 0w20 to 5w30.

[@BCautosutions]

@@DDIYNETWORK that will come in a Q&A video. 😅

[@Timbuckley01]

@@NO-ENDbetter protection in hot conditions. If you run your car hard long enough the oil loses viscosity. This is why the M3 comes with 60w oil. Honda will sell you a Type R with dot 3 brake fluid and 0-20 oil. Not track ready. But if you’re going to the track you probably already know this.

[@MrBianconeri90]

There is a lot of oils which meets GF-6A spec with 5w30 viscosity index. 5w30 is better if engine has oil dilution problem but it also brings a lot of benefits in wear protection. Another thing is fuel consumption. The same engine in mercedes benz were switched from 5w40 to 0w20 in later years, without any mechanical changes. Ecology😅

[@aspecreviews]

6:35 you will also IMMEDIATELY notice the lack of torque vectoring on the track or on a back road - there will be SEVERE understeer if you corner hard.

[@BCautosutions]

@@aspecreviews correct

[@Kennzo_g]

Thank you for all that you do bro!

[@BCautosutions]

@@Kennzo_g 🙌✅

[@gyzfr6]

I wonder if the aftermarket would jump in and beef up these parts.

[@nickcivic21]

I’m thankful for you channel when driving my TLX type 23 a bit spirited on some back roads it legit cut power hard and then just came back on a hard turn… It was the first time pushing car well past break in period…. It was on a left turn both time…… wow!! I do have extended warranty but…. I’m sorry to say I have traded my baby girl in and going back to Honda for four years I’m going to try the civic hybrid 25 touring I have a much longer commute with job replacement!!! Soo i need to pay this civic off!!!! Make it like a nice hybrid lmao type R….. and then I will find a dream car once again!! Thanks for being a great KZbinr and inspired me to try my TLX!! Had her from 5/1/23 til now and put 32k miles on it soo she was driven a lot of gas money!! Lol

[@BCautosutions]

@@nickcivic21 civic hybrid will not disappoint

[@ItsAlive111]

13:29 this spline stripping is a material issue of the shaft and the hub part in the tranfer case. You need to send the hub and shaft spline pieces to a steel alloy testing lab to compare differences in the material strength and hardness

[@BCautosutions]

@@ItsAlive111 we will get to that point. Before that I want to see what the changes are in the transfer cases.

[@star9732]

Honda and really all car manufacturers suffer from an extreme lack of communication. They should would be open to discussing these issues and the solutions they are attempting. Any new part number should come with an explanation of changes.

[@BCautosutions]

@@star9732 your making sense, stop it 😅. I completely agree.

[@Mr_BUSINESS_24_7]

they do !!! To the technicians that work for the manufacturer. So, if you want the technical breakdown, you'd have to talk to an advisor at the dealership and possibly the technician or shop foreman. Or wait until one of these factory trained technicians or Foreman's makes a video explaining it.

[@BCautosutions]

@ nobody at a dealer level is gonna take these apart as they won’t get paid to do so. American Honda has to do this and investigate internally.

[@pjq45]

Thanks for the video I jacked up my car tonight and a rear wheels aren't spinning also the traction light comes on when you get on it. I'll be calling the dealership tomorrow I have a 21 tlx type s with 47800 miles

[@BCautosutions]

@@pjq45 ugh. Sorry to hear. Hopefully gets taken care of asap for you! Keep us posted on the process

[@Dingleberry24-m2p]

Did any gauges come up for you? My traction light has been coming on a bunch lately but no gauges

[@BCautosutions]

@ sounds like you have the exact symptoms of a stopped trans/t case. I would have it looked at by your local dealer. All 4 wheels on a good car will spin in drive on the lift.

[@Dingleberry24-m2p]

@ will it tell me to see a dealer? On my dash

[@BCautosutions]

@@Dingleberry24-m2p no it will not

[@HiFiInsider]

maybe it's better to buy a well cared for used car bc any major troubles may have surfaced and resolved already. New car there are so many unknowns.

[@BCautosutions]

@@HiFiInsider that’s one way to look at it, plus you don’t take the hit on the depreciation as much.

[@stevehawkings1696]

love the videos. i’m a honda tech currently and your videos have been helpful! i’m fairly new to mainshop stuff could you possibly make a video explaining backprobing and how to use the EWD? i had an odyssey with an overheating concern and it took me like a week to diagnose it and i felt dumb. thanks for any advice as well! (:

[@BCautosutions]

@@stevehawkings1696 yeah I can probably get some of those videos going in a few weeks. Take it easy, exhaust all your options before you ask for help. On slow days shadow the senior techs without getting in their way.

[@eric9249]

Damn. I am sure the Type S transmission is a nightmare to remove and replace. Probably subframe removal and turbo removal.

[@BCautosutions]

@@eric9249 yeahs it’s not fun from what I hear at all. Turbo and subframe do have to be removed.

[@isorozco511]

Dude subframe removal is common on all hondas lmao wym

[@AdrianM-n8r]

I have a 2021 ASPEC, 54k miles. My front tires started to slip and traction controll light flashing about 2 months ago. Took it to dealer and they said it was fine. Outside of snow and ice ive never seen this. Now the wheel slip and traction engages in dry conditions.

[@BCautosutions]

@@AdrianM-n8r yeah. It’s not fine. Your transfer case/trans is stripped from what you’re saying.

[@romonek]

That's why honda only limited to 350 hp from the factory when all other manufacturers at 400hp and above for performance models.

[@BCautosutions]

@@romonek I’m sure they had issues testing at higher hp and torque levels. One could only assume that’s what happened.

[@CU08]

I was going to post this exact comment. For those with tunes on their Type-S's, I'd immediately take them off. Seems they can't even handle stock power. Hopefully, Acura stands behind the product and will replace these even out of their warranties as they're a known problem. But, if they detect the car's been tuned, they can easily deny even cars within their warranty period.

[@quells2119]

Idk what market youve paid attention to but none of the TLX TypeS competitors are 400hp+

[@BCautosutions]

@@quells2119 one can argue the m340i is (bmws numbers aren’t comparable to the others) but all the rest are below. They also weigh less which is another issue imo. Too much weight.

[@philhenderson3516]

@@quells2119 Not accurate. The M340i is advertised at 382hp, but it's common knowledge that those are wheel numbers, so at the crank it's at least 440hp+. The same can be said for the G70 and Stinger which are advertised at 365hp but dynos show 335-340hp at the wheels which puts them close to 400hp at the crank. As for the Japanese counterparts, both the Q50 Red Sport and IS500 are advertised at 400hp+.

[@Poncho12313]

Same thing happened to the state plow trucks the PTO input shaft would strip out do to a lack of lubrication, then they change the spline design

[@BCautosutions]

@@Poncho12313 do you know what design change consisted of?

[@Poncho12313]

@ we replaced them with shafts that had more splines around two more and add Molly grease and the newer design add oil lines to keep them lubricated

[@BCautosutions]

@ got it. So the original one only had a few splines, not the whole way around?

[@Poncho12313]

@@BCautosutions the spline was all the way around just two more groves

[@BCautosutions]

@ got it. Thank you

[@dpete8995]

Thanks! My 23 TLX Type S, 20K miles… so far so good.

[@BCautosutions]

@@dpete8995 hopefully stays that way!

[@pjq45]

Another update dealership called me this afternoon and said it going to need transmission and transfer case now. And that they've had three of them this week. And that they never seen this before.

[@BCautosutions]

@@pjq45 yeah there’s been a huuuuuge uptick recent months and weeks. Thanks for the updates and keep us posted.

[@advhat]

Make sure to report this to the NHTSA when you have a moment.

[@denvernn]

Thanks for the info and demo on how SH-AWD works.

[@BCautosutions]

@@denvernn very welcome. I plan on having a dedicated video on the sh awd system for those that think it applies just power to the front then the rear, and how it sends power in X scenario.

[@leonedwards8827]

Is someone keeping track or have some kind of log of all the reported transfer case issues on the Type S? It would be nice for Type S owners to show the data to the dealership when they do go

[@BCautosutions]

@@leonedwards8827 I’m trying to keep a log but nothing official. Dealers won’t just take your word or a list compiled by owners. They have to do their part and condone a blown t case/trans. At some point most dealers will recognize this as a “thing”. Until and if Honda addresses it.

[@leonedwards8827]

@BCautosolutions you're right. The process kind of sucks, but i hope Acura/Honda acknowledges the issue soon.

[@CU08]

One quick question. You say the issue is on the "transmission side" of the mating with the transfer case. So, is the failure point lubricated by the transmission (ie: transmission fluid) or by the transfer case (ie: gear oil)? I'm planning on drastically shortening change intervals for the problem side as service on these cars is stupid easy. Hell, I guess I'll just change both relatively frequently. I just wish someone would come out with a cheaper alternative to ATF 2.0. $11/qt hurts and Amsoil is the only one with an alternative at double the price.

[@BCautosutions]

@@CU08 neither. There seems to be assembly line that goes in between both units that lubes the two splines. Much like axles, doesn’t need an actual fluid where the input/output need on an intermediate shaft. Changing the fluids earlier won’t do anything to mitigate this issue.

[@CU08]

@@BCautosutions Dammit! Good to know, thank you for your knowledge. Is there any way of finding out if your vehicle has the "updated design"? I just picked up a 2024 MDX Type-S a month before this video came out and now I'm regretting it.

[@BCautosutions]

@ unfortunately there is not. We have to have a wait and see approach. I’m actively working on getting a few different years transfer cases without breaking the bank so I can tear apart myself and see if there’s anything physically different

[@CU08]

@@BCautosutions ... you're amazing, you'd be doing the community a great service if you were able to find out!

[@aseenontv1027]

Wow, didn’t know the whole driveshaft always spins, does that attributes to the not so stellar fuel economy on Acura?

[@BCautosutions]

@@aseenontv1027 definitely plays a role.

[@Camj27]

We had 2 TLXs come in this week for this exact issue. Splines on the transmission were completely sheared off.

[@BCautosutions]

@@Camj27 sorry to hear that man. Thank you for sharing!

[@tonywalker3793]

Any insights you can add to the discussion from the dealership/warranty side? Is Acura warranting them or is this a battle? Mine seems to be broken as well. I'll have to check tomorrow.

[@BCautosutions]

@ seems like some techs are having a hard time understanding how the sh awd works. After that most are being replaced without much hesitation from dealers. Some will try to find a way out of it putting blame on (fill in the blank).

[@Camj27]

@@tonywalker3793 if the car is tuned or modified Acura may not warranty it. But since it’s happening to completely stock cars I believe they should warranty it

[@tonywalker3793]

@@Camj27 mine is stock but i just drained and filled my transfer case fuild last month. Worried they wll blame it on me now.

[@djsthemetereman]

Yeah I've heard of this now the new thing is the fuel filler neck was welded improperly & could cause fuel leak

[@BCautosutions]

@@djsthemetereman I have a video on that. It’s only a few hundred cars affected like less then 300. I’m much more concerned about this personally.

[@gerardohernandez8901]

I felt that you were reading out lottery numbers, and I was waiting for you to say mine😂

[@BCautosutions]

@@gerardohernandez8901 lmfao sorry to disappoint. 🤣

[@SH-AWDY]

2023 TLX Type S PMC Edition owner here. I haven't had any issues since delivery with only 1 mile on the odometer. However, she only has a smidge above 3,000 miles after 2 years. If something happens, it happens. I'm thankful I opted for the extended diamond warranty from Acura. 12 years, 150,000 mile, bumper to bumper coverage. I'll hit 12 years long before the 150k, for sure.

[@BCautosutions]

@@SH-AWDY yeah extended warranty is a must on any new car imo.

[@dejavu4997]

Whoa, how much extra us that? I didn't know they could go out that far. Crazy

[@BCautosutions]

@@dejavu4997 depends. Dealers make money on that so it can vary. These new cars have too much tech and fails to not get extended warranty imo. That goes for any brand.

[@dejavu4997]

​@BCautosolutions good point. I just ordered a 2025 mdx type s. I'll look into it as I don't want to be left with a major bill if there are still issues after a few years of ownership. Glad I stumbled into this post.

[@SH-AWDY]

@@dejavu4997 After negotiations, coverage with zero deductible was around $100 a month up front. It's not cheap, but the peace of mind makes it worth it.

[@shahrukhbakar3248]

I wonder if the surface hardness of the splines is bad or if the splines are simply not large enough to handle the load.

[@shahrukhbakar3248]

Either way, not good…how frequently are these failing?

[@BCautosutions]

@@shahrukhbakar3248 that’s for someone with more experience in that department then me. Hopefully after I take these apart I can send it out to someone to evaluate

[@shahrukhbakar3248]

@ would be great to test the surface for Rockwell C hardness

[@shahrukhbakar3248]

Any official word from Acura regarding a fix?

[@BCautosutions]

@@shahrukhbakar3248 no word from them that I know of

[@Astro78196]

This actually happened to my 2018 Honda CRV a loud bang and then it’s just stop turning the rear tires. I towed it to the dealer and they repaired it under warranty. Apparently the issue was the rear differential

[@BCautosutions]

@@Astro78196 odd, haven’t hear of that on the cr-v but anything is possible. Thanks for sharing

[@luismarty1685]

Thanks for the update, brother

[@BCautosutions]

@@luismarty1685 you got it

[@ilvia4350]

I got one up here, it’s a TLX A-Spec. Ordered a t-case and after removal, decided to get a trans as well

[@BCautosutions]

@@ilvia4350 thanks, first one I’m hearing of but not surprised. How many miles/kilometers?

[@ilvia4350]

@@BCautosutions I dont remember on the top of my head, but still waiting on trans to arrive, Customer was driving up an icy incline to their driveway and heard a pop.

[@BCautosutions]

@@ilvia4350 got it. Appreciate the info. Hope your staying busy and not with warranty and recalls only lol

[@AdrianM-n8r]

I got a 21 aspec 54k with this problem wheel slip and traction engages even in dry conditions. Prior to this ive never experienced any kind of wheel slippage no matter how spiritedly i drove. Dealers says their is no issue.

[@Jesse-x4o]

Traded mine for the Integra Tyoe as and haven't looked back. Well sometimes lol but im satisfied.

[@v12kingV10]

nice civic

[@BCautosutions]

@@Jesse-x4o while I do like the integra my days of battling traction are past me (for now atleast lol)

[@Jesse-x4o]

@@BCautosutions Lol right! It's just the weight, and manual transmission. I was underwhelmed with the lack of tuning, but it's a solid car no hate at all.

[@BCautosutions]

@ yeah let’s hope progress is made in next few years. Btw I hope to win an ITS along with this some day

[@Jesse-x4o]

@@BCautosutions Thanks for the tech input too keep up the great videos!

[@RonnieMorgan-fw8qj]

I’ve had my 2025 Type S for 6 months. Hope they have it figured out.

[@BCautosutions]

@@RonnieMorgan-fw8qj same. You have the latest combination in there so let’s hope for the best.

[@prm5798]

Looking forward for info on my 22 RDX . Thanks

[@BCautosutions]

@@prm5798 22 rdx shares same transfer case but the driver usually won’t drive it as aggressively and also has less power.

[@bikingmoments]

So even Honda’s brand new models can be problematic- only buy a car when it’s at least 3 years on the market 😅

[@BCautosutions]

@@bikingmoments his car has been on the market 3+ years and the failing part(s) 6+ 😔

[@aab434]

If you follow maintenance intervals like you should then it won’t blow, currently the diff is a 15k mile drain and fill and the transfer case and transmission are 30k miles.

[@BCautosutions]

Maintenance has nothing to do with the splines stripping but I’m all for proper maintenance.

[@aab434]

@ I mean most Acura and Honda owners don’t touch their transmission, differential or transfer case period… lack of maintenance absolutely can have something to do with it

[@BCautosutions]

@ at the point of failure there is no maintenance to be done. There’s nothing you can do extra to keep the splines from stripping as far as maintenance goes.

[@pjq45]

my traction light only comes on when I get on it and the tires break free off the line. I'm dropping it off at a different dealership tonight.

[@BCautosutions]

@@pjq45 what year and mileage? Keep us posted on their diagnosis

[@louislinfante7378]

Great video very informative. As the owner of a 2019 RDX SHAWD vehicle should I be concerned? In your video you mentioned the there were no cases to this point with this problem. Also when should I be changing the transfer case fluid I have about 52,000 miles on the vehicle, and should I change the rear differential fluid at the same time. The rear differential fluid and transmission fluid were changed at 30,000 miles. Thank you and please continue with theses great videos.

[@al_f.miami.semperefideles2879]

How many cars have been affected and are the MY 2024 or 25 also in the trouble list ? I have placed the MDX Type S on my short list , ( though my gut tells me to stick to the normally aspirated V6 ) . for my son we’re looking at a Integra ASpec 6 Speed or Civic SI any issues on those 1..5 Turbos ? Or stick to the 2 liter Civic ( though it’s really a bare bones ride )

[@BCautosutions]

@@al_f.miami.semperefideles2879 don’t have a clear cut number but if I had to guess a good 25-30 of them. Maybe more. Stay away from anything 1.5t imo

[@TheRealMurp]

Buying a 23 type s pmc edition in gotham gray. They did not even start production till may of 23. Is this a big enough scare with even a 23 to not buy it?

[@BCautosutions]

@@TheRealMurp too early to tell. Can’t say yay or nay but I would purchase extended warranty.

[@SH-AWDY]

I own a 2023 PMC Editon with no issues to report. However, I've only put 3k miles on it since delivery two years ago. Take it for what it's worth. I opted for the extended diamond warranty that covers everything. The peace of mind is worth it. You should probably do that if you plan on owning it for a long time. The Type S PMC is awesome. I like everything about it. Even that trackpad everyone seems to complain about. Haha!

[@BCautosutions]

@ I agree with everything you said. Extended warranty is a must on any new vehicle imo.

[@TheRealMurp]

It’s only got 900 miles on it but I’m probably going to put 50k on it before selling it tho so will take your advice.

[@BCautosutions]

@ hopefully you’ll never need to use it but better safe then sorry imo.

[@Whatwhat6724]

Had this problem with a 21 type s. Had a tech drive my car and then drive a NEW type s and he said “it only being fwd is normal”. Hated Acura ever since. Still have the car tho.

[@BCautosutions]

@@Whatwhat6724 don’t understand how a Honda or Acura tech doesn’t understand how the awd system works. Embarrassing…. How did you end up resolving it?

[@Whatwhat6724]

@ I haven’t resolved it yet. Been driving the car like that for about a year and 9k miles so far. I even called Acura corporate and they said “we don’t handle anything service that’s all on the dealership”

[@S-si4pg]

Great, informative video! Thank You!

[@BCautosutions]

@@S-si4pg thank you!

[@d4run44p]

Which part ultimately causes the failure, the transmission or the transfer case? Can I get ahead of this by replacing just that part before the problem takes out both?

[@BCautosutions]

@@d4run44p seems like the trans is the part that strips ultimately taking out the transfer case. The case seems to try and hold on causing the bent splines. That’s what I’ve seen from the pictures I have gathered. There’s nothing to be done at this point until we know more which will take time.

[@jonmcphee9662]

This is just Honda getting ready to merge with Nissan. Don't want to upset Nissan by looking too good. In the old days Honda was an engineering company. Now, marketing and shareholder return.

[@BCautosutions]

@@jonmcphee9662 ✅✅

[@sports_car_enthusiast]

Thank you for this!

[@BCautosutions]

@@sports_car_enthusiast very welcome

[@ruffFlip]

As a long Honda Acura owner. I’m done with this company. Lexus will be my next car

[@BCautosutions]

@@ruffFlip what manufacturer are you thinking?

[@TheBreakfastLover]

everyone please *report it to the NHTSA*, from looking at the FB groups I've seen about 20 transfer case failures but only 3 people actually reported it to the NHTSA. Appears to be mostly 2021 models and a couple early production 2022 models affected.

[@BCautosutions]

@@TheBreakfastLover absolutely they need to do this. There has been a confirmed case of a 2023 and probably more to follow. No 2024 or 2025 MYs as of yet.

[@TheBreakfastLover]

@BCautosolutions it looks like the part number changed in 2022 so perhaps Acura/Honda is aware and trying to fix it discretely.

[@BCautosutions]

@ I’m sure they are addressing something but there has been plenty of 2022 models with this issue. So whatever they changed didn’t solve this issue.

[@thegamerbrotherman2399]

I just found out my front transfer case was replaced with the entire transmission. It is an earlier model 2022 Acura MDX Advanced AWD. Lucky the power train warranty covered it. Acura dealer maintained and no mods, original owner too. I reported the transmission issue to NHTSB. Will report the front differential too. I also had a lower ball joint fail and had the entire lower control arm replaced $800 repair out of pocket . 66k miles on it.

[@BCautosutions]

@@thegamerbrotherman2399 sorry to hear and thanks for sharing. Yes those lower ball joints are also failing at a high rate!

[@gerardohernandez8901]

Do you know what the average mileage was when these failures are occurring I just traded by 22 Mdx apec at 48k with NO issues. But then again I did do my transmission ,differential and rear end maintenance at 30 K. I don’t know if that made a difference. Thank you for these awesome educational videos.❤

[@BCautosutions]

@@gerardohernandez8901 i don’t have the specifics on those unfortunately. Thank you for watching!

[@pjq45]

A new update I took the car to a different dealership they called and said it needs a transfer case. They said the part will be here tomorrow we'll see what happens.

[@BCautosutions]

@@pjq45 keep us posted. They will have an unfortunate surprise when they take it off and end up replacing the whole trans most likely

[@JrVtec]

Things like this are why they should abuse the living hell out of cars before release, Matt Farrah tested the TLX-S on the track at a Acura event before it went on sale and got the brake warning, Savagegeese with the MDX Type S full throttle 90 degree turn and it cuts out momentarily, Acura said that's to prevent damage to the transfer case if i recall, Last thing is these splines, Could they not have found this out by replicating the force of launches/wot's on a jig 24/7 and checking tolerance/condition every thousand cycles? Hell a bmx bike parts brand tested the splines on their crank arms/spindle to see how long they last compared to other brands on a jig applying pressure to replicate the landing force after a trick.

[@BCautosutions]

@@JrVtec I’m sure some testing was done but clearly not enough. It just blows my mind on how the base Tlx and Tlx S have the same exact part.

[@quocd5580]

Affecting Base MDX, Type S MDX, Type S TLX. Glad I got the Aspec

[@tonywalker3793]

The year built seems to be the deciding factor and not the trim. All 3.5 MDX have the same transfer cases. The 2023 have updated ones with this part number. Transfer Case Assembly - Acura (29000-61D-070). Type S had different transfer cases and from what I can find 22 and 23 had the same ones and has not been discontinued as of yet.

[@BCautosutions]

@@quocd5580 someone in the comments reported an A Spec Tlx with a failure. There is probably more but huge gap between the a spec and type s failures.

[@eclipseVFX_]

Hi I just found out this has happened to my vehicle thanks to your video. Scared to take to dealer though because I have a atlp secondary cat delete, will that void warranty on this/ them refuse to fix my transfer case?

[@BCautosutions]

@@eclipseVFX_ hey sorry to hear about your troubles. They shouldn’t give you an issue about that but wouldn’t be surprised if they tried to say “it’s modded” even tho it’s happening on completely stock cars.

[@eclipseVFX_]

@@BCautosutionsupdate: dealer found issue to be transfer case ! He said transmission wont be replaced though … will issue be solved with only transfer case replacement ?

[@BCautosutions]

@@eclipseVFX_ I don’t see how one was affected but not the other unless for some odd reason the was an internal failure in the case.

[@Jamey-v7y]

Theoretically if the transfer case is not functioning , and the car is essentially now FWD, will gas mileage improve?

[@BCautosutions]

@@Jamey-v7y potentially yes

[@shinedownfly]

How would you know that you were having this problem if no dash lights come on?

[@BCautosutions]

@@shinedownfly loss of traction and vsa light flashing both under medium to heavy acceleration

[@Thankyou_3]

In order to save Honda they need to bring manufacturing and parts suppliers back to Japan. Their engines are disastrous…Honda were good back in 80s and 90s.

[@denali6935]

Totally agreed , luckily here in the Caribbean we can import Japanese made Hondas, Nissans, and Toyotas directly from japan

[@ItsAlive111]

Thank you for the info.

[@BCautosutions]

@@ItsAlive111 very welcome

[@pjq45]

Update so I took the car to an Acura dealership today on Long Island NY service advisor called me this morning I told him what the car was doing he explained to me that they're just going to look for codes and at the screen says that the all-wheel drive is working I insisted they look at it they call me and said the car is fine they found a VSA code cleared it and drove the car It never came back I'm picking it up after dinner now I need to find another Acura dealership to take the car too.

[@BCautosutions]

@@pjq45 unbelievable. It amazes me how these “technicians” don’t know how the awd system works. Keep us posted, and best of luck with your next dealer.

[@alaabes]

Where have you seen this and how many? I work for Acura and we haven’t seen any of these

[@BCautosutions]

@@alaabes it’s all over the place. Forums (2-3 cars weekly), other techs have confirmed this with me as well from all over the country. I personally have not seen one in person.

[@alaabes]

@ haven’t seen one at all. Thankfully since most likely they will be warranty. I’ve seen a few mdx racks on the new gen but that’s about it, nothing on the transfer case and/or transmission.

[@BCautosutions]

@ now that your saying it you’ll probably see one asap 😅, that’s just how it works lmao. Hopefully not tho. Hope you’re staying busy!

[@alaabes]

@ yeah, we are busy. Boss makes sure we stay busy. 1st quarter is always a tough one but still flagging 75 plus, can’t complain.

[@BCautosutions]

@ nice keep it going

[@andersonrodriguez8258]

So you need to replace the transmission and transfer case?

[@BCautosutions]

@@andersonrodriguez8258 correct

[@jerryyang1862]

Hello, i also have ktuner and always wanted to do a dyno run but nobody local in my area has an awd dyno, but a 2wd dyno from a good buddy. I heard that the car puts 70% power to the rear wheels, how would that work if the awd fuse is pulled? Would it still read correctly in terms of power? Excuse me for the off topic.

[@BCautosutions]

@@jerryyang1862 yes. If you pull the fuse the rear wheels won’t turn. All the power will go to front wheels

[@ItsAlive111]

Some accountant saved 3 dollars by ordering cheaper steel for the splines

[@BCautosutions]

@@ItsAlive111 maybe lol

[@venom999333]

So is it only '21 & '22 model years or all of them? And is it just Type S or the 2.0l models or both?

[@BCautosutions]

@@venom999333 all sh awd models. We have seen failures on 21, 22, 23. Too early to tell for 24 and 25 MY.

[@Marwan-tx5nb]

My AWD lights turned on in the morning around 2 km into my journey. It's a 2020 RDX with 91,000 km (56k miles). I restarted the car, and the light turned off. I drove for another hour, pushed it hard on all modes, the lights didn’t turn on. Any ideas? I changed the rear differential fluid 3 month ago. I used the Honda Dual Pump II, not the DPSF. Some people tell me that my differential solenoids are going bad, but I am afraid that it might be the transfer case. My getting the Top-don topscan today to read any codes.

[@BCautosutions]

@@Marwan-tx5nb without codes anything is a guess but if your case was broken there wouldn’t be any lights so changes are it’s something in the rear diff. Dual pump fluid is the same Honda or Acura. They just call it different names.

[@Marwan-tx5nb]

@@BCautosutions Thanks, I appreciate the response!

[@BCautosutions]

@ you got it lmk

[@Marwan-tx5nb]

@@BCautosutions got the scanner, it’s the infamous DTC C1843-62 addressed by the 20-032 TSB. Looks like I will be needing new solenoids. BTW, I ran the actuation tests for the differential on the Top Scan and I passed the oil pressure test 3/4 times with minor deviation for the left solenoid on a specific pressure (0.50 MPa) on one of the runs. Found it to be a very helpful function.

[@BCautosutions]

@ thanks for getting back to me. Hopefully nothing is on back order.

[@jcwatts5000]

Mines blown at 27K rigth after I change the transmission oil . But covered under warranty. If you trying to drive this car like a Type R it ain't I have a 22 MDX Aspec drives just as fun as a Type S

[@BCautosutions]

@@jcwatts5000 they are blowing in all sorts of scenarios plus Acura advertises as a performance car, should be able to drive like one reliably.

[@jcwatts5000]

@BCautosolutions well I checked my 2022 MDX Aspec and it looks like I have blown my transfer case two and when the slip and bang happened it was under warranty and now it's over 70K if you want the video for youtube I can send it to you.

[@BCautosutions]

@ email it to me, [e-mail]

[@philipjacob2314]

Any issues with 4th gen pilot and I-vTM4 which has supposedly identical hardware to the 4th gen mdx sh-awd?

[@BCautosutions]

@@philipjacob2314 I’ll talk about it on this weeks Q&A. I can be more thorough that way.

[@Qweasd551]

So the 2018-2020 tlx’s with the sh-awd are fine ? I got 135k on my aspec no issues so far

[@BCautosutions]

@@Qweasd551 yes different trans and transfer cases

[@speedisf]

Thats so crazy 😢😢

[@BCautosutions]

@@speedisf yep, sad really

[@victorv33]

What about 2025 pilot I know they share the same platform with the MDX

[@BCautosutions]

@@victorv33 I haven’t seen any issues, YET. Will make a video if it does happen tho

[@victorv33]

@ thank you !!! You rock I wish you work closer from where I live even if I have to drive 2 hours I will bring my cars to you because I got 3 Honda dealers and they don’t know what they doing thanks man

[@BCautosutions]

@ I appreciate that 🙌

[@fidodido5738]

does this happen on the 2021 tlx a spec sh-awd?

[@BCautosutions]

@@fidodido5738 I haven’t heard of any cases but if there are any I wanna know!

[@user-sx5go4ry5t]

Would like to know as well, just picked up a 2021 TLX w/ tech shawd

[@MarcusS103]

yes it has happened a couple comments have reported it

[@BCautosutions]

@@MarcusS103 correct. After this comment some reported it.

[@fmj136]

Would this Transfer case issue affect Manual Transmissions too?

[@BCautosutions]

@@fmj136 also these cars come with the 10at, no manual option for affected vehicles.

[@TrungLe-tb2jj]

Is there a year of the car it primarily effects?

[@BCautosutions]

@@TrungLe-tb2jj we have seen 21-23. The older they model year the more affected it seems but also the most wear they generally have due to being on the road longer.

[@sports_car_enthusiast]

Can you take apart one that failed? Transfer case.

[@BCautosutions]

@@sports_car_enthusiast they fail at the splines. Nothing internal. Although if someone wants to donate one then, yes I will.

[@SargentHQ_CL9]

Hopefully get a recall and save many people and refund many

[@BCautosutions]

@@SargentHQ_CL9 only time will tell

[@markpontes4457]

Would this be the same AWD system as a Honda pilot 2022?

[@BCautosutions]

@@markpontes4457 no. This is an exclusive issue to the 10at. The 16-22 pilot only came with 6at or 9at

[@romain198426]

This is crazy cmon honda

[@BCautosutions]

@@romain198426 yup

[@mmone1178]

Thanks soo much for sharing

[@BCautosutions]

@@mmone1178 very welcome

[@acepilot2474]

Have not purchased or recommended honda vehicles for a long time. Their quality control has been on the downhill for a while now. I now recommend and buy toyota vehicles, not that they are any better recently either.

[@BCautosutions]

@@acepilot2474 the whole industry seems to be in a downward trajectory. Some decent ones still out there but way too much tech and epa involvement.

[@nickjoe7056]

Retired Honda employee. I worked in quality control most of my career and I will not recommend any new Honda or Acura products. Have seen first hand their quality and reliability going down hill starting back in the 90s.

[@BCautosutions]

@ any information you could shed some light on this would be appreciated. If you can respectfully.

[@ryanoddo9640]

Actually just had the transfer case fail on my 15 TLX

[@BCautosutions]

@@ryanoddo9640 how so? Noise? Leak? No power to the rear?

[@ryanoddo9640]

@ It started out as a subtle howling noise that got progressively worse. I even had the fluid service less then a year ago at the dealer.

[@BCautosutions]

@ yeah that sounds like a different type of failure where something internal failed. I have seen that on that type of transfer case. Thanks for sharing

[@Dingleberry24-m2p]

Does the transfer case keep breaking down or is it a one time thing?

[@BCautosutions]

@@Dingleberry24-m2p to be determined is the most honest answer I can give you. We do not know enough at this point. We don’t know what the changes were made and if makes them more robust or not.

[@Dingleberry24-m2p]

@ just wanna make sure my Ktuner wasn’t the reason lol

[@BCautosutions]

@ well it sure plays a part but it can happen even on 100% stock cars

[@Dingleberry24-m2p]

@@BCautosutions there’s no upgraded version for the transfer case and transmission replacements? They just replace with same factory parts correct?

[@BCautosutions]

@@Dingleberry24-m2p there’s updated part numbers but we don’t know what the changes are or when the changes were made

[@thegamerbrotherman2399]

It’s an AWD advanced model

[@BCautosutions]

@@thegamerbrotherman2399 thanks

[@chuckswhip]

Good info😮

[@BCautosutions]

@@chuckswhip thank you

[@v12kingV10]

Wow just searched reddit and it’s happening to the mdx type s

[@BCautosutions]

@@v12kingV10 yep and MDX base as well as Tlx base according to Acura techs I spoke to.

[@v12kingV10]

@ wild

[@BCautosutions]

@ yup

[@bobdailey9735]

What year(s) MDX?

[@BCautosutions]

@@bobdailey9735 22+

[@thegamerbrotherman2399]

2022 Acura MDX had it 3 1/2 years 66k miles front transfer case and transmission blew. Always maintained at the Acura dealer. POS.

[@BCautosutions]

@@thegamerbrotherman2399 unfortunately your story is very familiar to a lot of people.

[@marks6072]

Hope this doesn't spill over to Ridgeline AWD...

[@BCautosutions]

@@marks6072 current Ridgeline no chance. The new refreshed one will have the 10at and if it’s like the pilot it’ll have a magnesium case which I have a separate set of concerns for.

[@marks6072]

@ Any issues with the ZF 9 speed. I pretty much baby mine. Fluid dump at 35k miles as well as Xfer case and rear differential

[@danielmcdermott5161]

I have owned Hondas for 20 years and my children have purchased Honda vehicles. They used to be a quality vehicle. No longer. My current Honda will be my last. My dealership recommended that I put in a claim for yet another expensive repair due to faulty parts. A Timing Chain for $3,000.00 at 170,000 km (105,000 miles). Honda denied my claim without hesitation. My previous vehicle needed a new transmission at about the same mileage mark. I have always kept maintenance up to date at the dealership. I didn’t mind paying a higher price for a quality vehicle, however, current prices and lower quality vehicles have resulted in another lost customer for Honda. I doubt they care. There are better quality vehicles out there at a much more reasonable price. Goodbye Honda.

[@BCautosutions]

@@danielmcdermott5161 😔

[@alaabes]

We chatted about this last week… guess what someone is doing today…. An mdx trans… not me, we got b and c techs doing those.

[@alaabes]

But it wasn’t for the output shaft, it was for the clutch was stuck on, 2025 mdx with 800 miles.

[@BCautosutions]

@@alaabes yikes that sucks man. I had a 24 pilot brand new at the time for a similar issue.

[@jimn.9990]

I believe that many of the issues with the stripped gears within the Transfer Cases with certain models of SH-AWD Hondas can be attributed to the lack of proper maintenance of Gear Oil, combined with inferior factory-filled lubricants and perhaps an over-aggressive driving style? This applies also to the Automatic Transmissions that have failed alongside the Transfer Cases? I have a potential solution. When you first encounter 30,000 original miles on your affected Honda model, drain and fill your Transfer Cases with 100% Synthetic Amsoil Gear Oil, drain and refill your Automatic Transmissions with 100% Synthetic ATF (preferably a slow and gentle flush with a BG Machine) and by the way, drain and fill your engines with 100% Synthetic Amsoil Signature Series 0W-20 Motor Oil. Those Honda owners that have additional miles (beyond 30,000 miles) that hadn’t yet serviced their Transfer Cases and/or Automatic Transmissions (and you haven’t yet encountered any problems yet), I recommend getting the service done as soon as possible! Amsoil warranties their fluids to protect the moving parts of your vehicle that come into contact with their fluids, as long as the vehicles were in reasonably good mechanical condition when you first began to use the Amsoil products, regardless of the mileage or age of the vehicle. You won’t find another lubricant manufacturer with an extensive warranty as Amsoil. The warranty applies for their Gear Oil to last 50,000 miles under Severe Service (100,000 miles under Normal Service), where the warranty applies to the ATF operating in Severe Service to go double the vehicle manufacturer’s drain interval for severe service and their Signature Series motor oil is warrantied to last 15,000 miles or one year (whichever comes first) operating under severe conditions (25,000 miles or one year operating under normal service). Be sure to change the oil filter every 12,000. The vast number of automotive "Full Synthetic Oils" are mostly hydrocracked petroleum oil, which is "considered to be" a Class III Synthetic Oil. Amsoil produces their 100% Synthetic Oils to be a combination of PAOs and a Class V Synthetic (such as Esters or an equivalent), without any hydrocracked petroleum PLUS top-shelve additives from Lubrizol. The molecules of these Class IV & V Synthetics are of the same uniform shape allowing them to flow much more readily throughout the engines, transmissions and differentials, reducing damaging heat, creating more power and increasing fuel economy. Also, the backbone of Amsoil 100% Synthetic lubricants have a much lesser tendency to attract oxygen molecules (where damaging oxygen can form sludge). The difference between a Full Synthetic and a 100% Synthetic? Rafe Britton, a former Lubrication Engineer at Mobil and the creator of a number of highly educational KZbin Videos under the heading of “Lubrication Explained,” states in order for an oil company to call its oil product 100% synthetic, it must be composed of either a Class IV Synthetic (PAOs) AND/OR Class V Synthetic (such as Esters), while being completely devoid of refined petroleum. Yes, you probably guessed I am an Independent Amsoil Dealer with my ID number 1420935 (also used as my Referral Code). All dealers of Amsoil are Independent Contractors, as opposed to actual employees of Amsoil). If consumers wish to buy the Amsoil products as a Preferred Customer (PC), they will get the oil at a 25% discount, plus free shipping when they spend $100 (plus receiving a $5 coupon for every $100 you spend). It only costs $10 for a 6 month PC membership (or $20 a year) and there is no requirement to purchase (as there is with so many companies offering a membership for a preferred customer program, where there is an automatic shipment involved). You can buy Amsoil Products for your vehicles. Any company possessing a fleet of trucks, would potentially qualify as a Commercial Account and would receive a 30% discount without any membership fee, so if any companies are interested in becoming a Commercial Account, they should send me an email addressed to AutomotiveBuff at my gmail address (as well as any prospective Preferred Customers, in case anyone has any questions). If any viewers are tempted to try Amsoil, I invite you to visit the official website of Amsoil and apply to become my Preferred Customer, by kindly utilizing my Referral Number of 1420935 in the box where they ask “Have a Referral Number? Enter it below:” If you can write down my referral number, before you eventually decide to exit this webpage, it will be appreciated (so that it will be at your fingertips when you get on the official Amsoil website). Amsoil created the world’s first synthetic motor oil which received an API rating in 1972. Furthermore, Amsoil was the first company to produce a synthetic ATF, synthetic Gear Oil, synthetic Diesel Oil, Racing Oil, etc.

[@iwhineTL]

FLUID HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SPLINES... Fluid is inside the transfer case, the splines are on the outside. The material used for the splines are weak and strip. This is common on the TLX-S and MDX-S. They need to beef up the transfer cases to accommodate the additional power from the J30T engine. Not that it makes a lot of power, but it's more than the 2.0T running the same transfer cases.

[@BCautosutions]

@@jimn.9990 while proper maintenance is ideal and obviously important but short and long term. These cases/trans splines stripping have nothing to do with lack of maintenance.

[@jimn.9990]

@@BCautosutions Thanks for the explanation! I really enjoy your videos, since you have a unique teaching style that is easy-to-understand.

[@ratshackmojo]

I thought only BMW's had this type of issue. How far Honda/Acura has fallen compared to 25-30 years ago when they had bulletproof cars.

[@BCautosutions]

@@ratshackmojo I don’t think any car is ever bulletproof. Even the older Hondas had issues with leaks, transmission, etc.

[@jimmythomas-v1w]

Should probably stop brake boosting when you race lol, haven't had a problem yet and I hope I don't in the future, and I ride my car hard

[@BCautosutions]

@@jimmythomas-v1w hat year and mileage? I’ve launched my car 100+ times and my case is still together. Other folks have never launched their car and their case splines have stripped. It’s more to it than brake boosting (which Acura promoted heavily btw) that’s a poor excuse from them if they try and use that reason imo.

[@jimmythomas-v1w]

@@BCautosutions 2022 tlx type s

[@jimmythomas-v1w]

@@BCautosutionsdont make excuses for the people that did destroy their cars this car handle the power when it's stock and with some other bolt ones, brake boosting will cause all that twisted splines and broken tranny, 1st gear is brutal for a reason no need for brake boosting. And 2022 tlx type s with 63k

[@BCautosutions]

@@jimmythomas-v1w I hear ya but Acura advertised this as a performance sedan with brake boosting/launch control built in from factory. That is NOT abuse. If they didn’t want that to be a feature then shouldn’t have it mapped on there. Also people have broken these with zero launches or “abuse” as you like to call it on completely stock cars.

[@jimmythomas-v1w]

@@BCautosutions not hating but me being a auto tech massive power and short gears don't mix well and that's facts

[@badarahmed5137]

It’s time Honda merges in with ford or GM.

[@BCautosutions]

@@badarahmed5137 not happening

[@Mr_BUSINESS_24_7]

it's under warranty

[@BCautosutions]

@@Mr_BUSINESS_24_7 5 years/60k