2001 Acura MDX
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 224 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 24 MDX model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 9 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 10 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleJan 17, 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.
Campaign 20V027000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleJan 17, 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.
Campaign 20V026000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, springs, coil springsSep 1, 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN AREAS WHERE LARGE QUANTITIES OF ROAD SALT ARE USED, THE FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS HAVE INSUFFICIENT CORROSION PROTECTION, AND MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORROSION.
EXCESSIVE CORROSION CAN CAUSE SPRING FAILURE AND A BROKEN SPRING COULD PUNCTURE A FRONT TIRE, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS WITH IMPROVED SPRINGS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 11, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ACURA AT 800-382-2238.
Campaign 05V385000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionApr 15, 2004
ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.
GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
ON VEHICLES WITH 15,000 MILES OR LESS, THE DEALER WILL UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A SIMPLE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE TO INCREASE LUBRICATION TO THE SECOND GEAR. ON VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 15,000 MILES, THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO IDENTIFY GEARS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED DISCOLORATION DUE TO OVERHEATING. IF DISCOLORATION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED IF DISCOLORATION IS NOT PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL PERFORM THE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2004, FOR PILOT, ODYSSEY, AND MDX OWNERS. OWNERS OF THE ACCORD VEHICLES WILL START RECEIVING LETTERS ON JUNE 28, 2004, AND ON JUNE 29, 2004, FOR OWNERS OF THE TL AND CL VEHICLES. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
Campaign 04V176000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
131 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Jul 19, 2004
I HAVE A '01 ACURA MDX WHICH I PURCHASED USED. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL WARRANTY ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE THEN. BECAUSE I PURCHASED IT USED (IT WAS IMPORTED FROM CANADA WHICH I DID NOT KNOW AND I ALSO DID NOT KNOW IT VOIDED ANY WARRANTIES THAT ACURA HAD ON IT) ACURA REFUSED MY PLEA TO HONOR THE TRANSMISSION RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. I WAS ON A ACURA FORUM AND READ WHERE ONE ACURA CUSTOMER TRANSMISSION FAILED BECAUSE OF THIS RECALL. I HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAVE TALKED TO NUMEROUS ACURA EMPLOYEES. THEY ALL TOLD ME TO TAKE A "HIKE". CAN YOU HELP..I BELIEVE THAT IF THIS IS A RECALL AND THERE IS A DEFECTIVE PART WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE DEATH, THEY SHOULD FIX IT AT NO CHARGE. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Jul 13, 2004
PURCHASED CERTIFIED PREOWNED MDX FROM DEALER (FORMALLY DRIVEN BY FINANCE MANAGER FOR A YEAR. CAR CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 30 DAYS. DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CAR CUT OFF AGAIN, TOOK TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE AND STUTTER DAILY AT INITIAL CRANKING. DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AFTER 2-3 DROP OFFS. FINALLY THE CAR SHOWED A EGR VALVE (SENSOR) NEEDED REPLACING. CAR CUT OFF AGAIN TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE. CAR BEGAN TO STUDDER AND HESITATE GEAR CHANGES. DEALER FINALLY REPLICATED AND DETERMINED 1ST 2ND AND 3RD GEAR WERE BAD. DEALER REPLACING TRANSMISSION WITH REBUILT TRANSMISSION. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY CAR FOR MANY DAYS TO WEEKS AT A TIME. I HAVE NOT HAD MY MDX SINCE JUNE 21, 2004. I HAVE HAD A NEWBORN BABY AND THIS CAR HAS CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING LEAVEING MY FAMILY EXTREMEL UNSAFE. THE TRANSMISSION IS BEING REPLACED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I HAD TO PURCHASE. ACURA HAS REFUSED TO BUY THE CAR BACK OR GIVE ME FAIR MARKET VALUE ON TRADE. THEY HAVE ALSO TOLD ME THE PROBLEM NEEDS TO ADDRESSED WITH THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE HELP. *LA
Power train, Apr 10, 2004
OUR 2001 ACURA MDX (WITH APPROX. 25000 MILES) STOPS RUNNING ABRUPTLY WHEN DRIVING FOR NO APPARRENT REASON, RESULTING IN ENGINE SHUT DOWN, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, LOSS OF BRAKES AND ALL SYSTEMS. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR 2 TIMES, AND IS BEING TOWED AGAIN TODAY, APRIL 10, 2004 FOR THE 3RD TIME IN ONE MONTH. DEALER REPAIR SERVICE UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE ON 1RST OCCASION MARCH 12, 2004. SECOND OCCASION MARCH26, 2004 RESULTED IN A REPLACEMENT OF THE *IDLE AIR CONTOL VALVE AND IT'S ADJUSTMENT (*PART # 16022-PBA-AO3) THIS OBVIOUSLY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WE NOW FEAR FOR OUR LIVES TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. NO MATTER WHAT THE THIRD REPAIR ATTEMPT OUTCOME, WE WILL GET RID OF THIS VEHICLE.
Power train, Dec 4, 2003
DRIVING AT 70 MPH MY 2001 ACURA MDX SHIFTED HARD TO, I GUESS, 2ND GEAR, RED LINING THE ENGINE AND CAUSING CONTROL PROBLEMS. I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE TO RIGHT TO PREVENT ACCIDENT. THE CAR IS NOW DOWN SHIFTING RANDOMLY. IT IS DOWN FOR A $3000 REPAIR. ONLINE, THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. RADLEY ACURA IN VA TELLS ME THE PROBLEM IS COMMON. THIS WILL KILL SOMEONE SOON. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT AND INSTITUTE A SAFETY RECALL OF THE TRANSMISSION! *NLM
Power train, Oct 10, 2002, crash
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SHIFT LEVER DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. THERE WAS A CHILD WHO WAS IN THE VEHICLE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE CHILD WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE LEVER INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A HOUSE BEFORE IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. MR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Sep 11, 2002, crash
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, I ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE TO MY RIGHT TRANSMISSION FIRST APPEARED TO DOWNSHIFT FROM 5TH TO 4TH AND THE CAR ACCELLERATED NORMALLY, BUT SUDDENLY THE ENGINE RPM INCREASED DRAMTICALLY, THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED DEACCELERATING AND FISHTAILED WIDELY. IT SIDE SWIPED THE CENTER DIVIER OF THE FREEWAY, DAMAGING THE LEFT SIDE. IT APPEARS THAT THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED TO A MUCH LOWER THAN NORMAL GEAR (LIKELY 2ND) AND THE ENGINE RPM THAT WENT OVER REDLINE, CAUSING THE ENGINE GOVENOR TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND THE LOWER GEAR TO PROVIDE EXCESSIVE ENGINE BREAKING, CAUSING THE LOSS OF CONTROL.*AK