[PDXsailor]

I was having my '16 MDX serviced at a dealer, and at about 30k miles the transfer case was serviced - almost certainly by a low skill worker. At about 60k miles my transfer case went out, and the fluid that came out of it looked like silver paint (all silver specs). By that time I had been burned enough by the dealer so I had taken it to an independent repair shop, and had them do the repair (about $3k IIRC). It was only later that I remembered that the transfer case had been serviced at the dealer. Unfortunately I did not get a sample for lab analysis, but if I were betting I would put money on them using the wrong fluid. IIRC some MDXes use a different lube in the transfer case, so easy to make a mistake. I draw two conclusions from this: 1) always check carefully and use the correct, OEM fluid, and 2) never trust a dealer unless there is no choice. Of course I can't prove that incorrect fluid is the cause of the problem but it is hard to think of anything else that might turn the bearings into shavings...

 

[PDXsailor]

The other possibility is the dealer never changed the fluid and charged you for the work.

I doubt that just running 60k on the original fluid would do that much damage, although it is a possibility. I suspect some incompatibility between the original fluid and whatever they put in that might have created an emulsion or some other change in consistency. I really wish my mechanic had offered me a sample as that would have been helpful to understand, and even get some costs covered. But the big mistake was having the dealer touch the car.