Investigations
All wheel drive allegation
NHTSA Defect Petition DP26001 — open, opened 2026-03-06 and involving the ACURA ACURA.
NHTSA investigation DP26001 is a Defect Petition opened on 2026-03-06 and currently open. The subject of record is ACURA ACURA, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for ACURA. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2026-03-06 — NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
A Defect Petition like DP26001 starts when a person or group formally asks NHTSA to investigate a specific alleged defect. Petitioners submit evidence, NHTSA reviews it within 120 days, and either grants the petition (opening a PE) or denies it with a written explanation in the Federal Register.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a Petition dated January 9, 2026, requesting an investigation into the loss of the optional all-wheel drive capability in model year (MY) 2021-2023 Acura TLX and MY 2022..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time. Related ACURA files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a Petition dated January 9, 2026, requesting an investigation into the loss of the optional all-wheel drive capability in model year (MY) 2021-2023 Acura TLX and MY 2022-2023 Acura MDX vehicles. The Petition contends that the interfacing splines between the transmission and the rear wheel drive power take off unit are failing. Failure of these splines prevents the transfer of drive power to the rear axle, making the vehicle front wheel drive only. The Petition further alleges that this failure results in a reduction of vehicle directional control. The Petitioner cites 48 complaints received by ODI alleging the same failure. ODI will evaluate these complaints to determine if they are related to the failure cited in the Petition and will conduct a technical review under 49 CFR Part 552. This Defect Petition is being opened to evaluate whether to grant or deny the Petition. The Petition can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under NHTSA Number 11712885. The VOQ numbers referenced in the Petition are listed below. 11615217, 11619288, 11633510, 11634618, 11634979, 11636677, 11637484, 11638577, 11638902, 11640757, 11642028, 11642839, 11644661, 11652130, 11652239, 11654456, 11664265, 11662805, 11662895, 11664344, 11664848, 11665162, 11665179, 11665477, 11666444, 11667007, 11667060, 11681206, 11689393, 11693166, 11693788, 11696489, 11696739, 11702530, 11557993, 11551829, 11635395, 11644548, 11647519, 11647996, 11661340, 11671314, 11682637, 11691842, 11693280, 11700591, 11700964, 11702881,
About This Investigation Type
A Defect Petition (DP) is initiated when an individual or organization formally petitions NHTSA to investigate a potential safety defect. NHTSA reviews the petition and decides whether to open an investigation.
Other ACURA Investigations
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. Learn more.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.