2002 Acura MDX
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 221 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 24 MDX model years with reports.
Of the 2002 reports, 11 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 5 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
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
Engine and engine cooling, engineAug 28, 2002
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, SEDANS, COUPES, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES, A TIMING BELT TENSIONER PULLEY ON THE WATER PUMP IS MISALIGNED AND COULD CAUSE THE TIMING BELT TO CONTACT A BOLT ON THE CYLINDER HEAD. EVENTUALLY THE BELT COULD BE DAMAGED AND FAIL.
IF THE TIMING BELT BREAKS, THE ENGINE WILL STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WATER PUMP AND IF IT IS ONE OF THE DEFECTIVE PUMPS, THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 30, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
Campaign 02V226000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
221 reports, newest first.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 1, 2010
I BOUGHT A 2002 ACURA MDX IN 8/2005. THE RECALL WAS NEVER PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE STARTED HAVING ISSUES IN 2010. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GET IT CHECKED I WAS INFORMED THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN DONE ON 2001-2002 ACURA MDX FOR 2ND GEAR ISSUES. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP, ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. STATED THAT THERE WAS NO DISCOLORATION OF THE 2ND GEAR AND THAT THE VEHICLE IS WAY PAST WARRANTY SO THEY WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION IS A RESULT OF THE ISSUES WITH THE RECALL. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS WHEN GOING INTO 3RD GEAR, ALMOST COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. *TR
Power train, Sep 7, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH HE COULD HEAR A RUMBLING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. ONCE THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IT BEGAN TO DRIVE AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE BUT HE WAS INFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT HE NEEDS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUES TO INTERMITTENTLY RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
Power train, Aug 24, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000- POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE MILEAGE LIMITATION OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
Power train, Aug 16, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SLIP INTO SECOND GEAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE. THE CONTACT LOCATED A NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO COVER FIFTY PERCENT OF THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT DID NOT BELIEVE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED CORRECTLY WHEN REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,000.
Power train, Aug 1, 2010
VEHICLE SHUTTERS ON LIGHT ACCELERATION. 2002 ACURA MDX. DEALER INDICATES I HAVE A TORQUE CONVERTER AND PRESSURE SWITCH 4 PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Jul 17, 2010
I OWN A 2002 ACURA MDX WITH 130K MILES. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE I WAS IN VACATION 2 HOURS FROM MY HOME. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND I WAS CHARGED $4700 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON-LINE, I FOUND THAT TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON ACURA MDXS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT A PREMIUM CAR SUCH AS AN ACURA SHOULD HAVE SUCH A HIGH INCIDENCE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ACURA SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE VEHICLES GIVEN THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD FAIL WHILE ONE IS DRIVING LEADING TO INCREASED PROBABILITY OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
Power train, May 17, 2010
2002 ACURA MDX: FOR ABOUT 2 MONTH'S THERE SEEMED TO BE LOSS OF POWER DURING DRIVING. I ASSUMED MAYBE I WAS WEARING SHOES WITH HIGHER HEELS AND PASSED IT OFF AS NOT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AS HARD AS I THOUGHT. 2 WEEKS AGO WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD SOUND AND LOSS FORWARD MOTION POWER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE STOPPED AND HAD THE VEHICLE LOADED ON A CAR TRAILER TO THE NEAREST HONDA DEALER (CLOSER THAN AN ACURA DEALER). NOW WE ARE INFORMED THE TRANNY IS NEEDING REPLACED AT 86,600 MILES. LISTED INFO ON THIS VEHICLE BY VIN IS A 2004 RECALL OF THE 2ND GEAR WHICH WAS FIXED BY THE PRIOR OWNER AT ABOUT 42,000 MILES AND A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET REVEALS MANY PEOPLE REPORTING THE SIMILAR TRANNY RELATED PROBLEMS. AT THIS TIME WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR IF ACURA WILL HELP WITH THE REPAIRS ESTIMATED AT OVER $4000 BUT OTHERS IN ONLINE POSTINGS HAVE STATED THEY HAVE HAD NO LUCK WITH ACURA HELPING- WE WILL SEE. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND DISSERVICE TO CONSUMERS. WE WERE LUCKY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND AT THE POINT THAT OURS WENT OUT. *TR
Power train, Apr 15, 2010
ON 4/2/2009 THE FRONT END OF MY 2002 ACURA MDX SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH LOCKING UP THE FRONT END CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID 5-7 FEET TO A HALT. IT TURNS OUT THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE FIXED PER THE RECALL UNDER CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V176000 WAS THE ISSUE. IT WAS A GEAR FAILURE THAT RESULTED IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP. AS THERE WERE NO VEHICLES BEHIND ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED AN ACCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR; HOWEVER, THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE ADDRESSED AND IT APPEARS IT WASN'T. ACURA STATES THE ISSUE WAS FIXED IN 2004 AND AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT APPEARS THERE ARE DOZENS OF SIMILAR TESTIMONIALS OF THIS EXACT OCCURRENCE ON ONLINE FORUMS. ACURA DENIED THE EXISTENCE OF AN ISSUE AND I FEEL THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN THAT REQUIRES FURTHER ACTION. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Mar 18, 2010, crash
MY ACURA MDX 2002 HAD A FROZEN/STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO THROTTLE HIGH SPEED UPTO 50 MPH WITHIN 30 SECS. THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND COULD NOT STOP INSTANTLY WHEN HIT THE BRAKES. CRASH CAUSED THE PROPERTY,VEHICLE DAMAGE AND ACCIDENT REPORTED TO POLICE AND DMV. *TR
Power train, Mar 16, 2010
TRUCK STARTED HESITATING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH. WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND WHEN TRUCK MADE SUDDEN JERK THEN HESITATED. *TR
Power train, Mar 16, 2010
I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER B/C THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN ON THE FREEWAY AND THIS NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER THEY INSPECTED IT THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, SO THEY HAD ME TAKE A SERVICE TECH WITH ME FOR A TEST RIDE. HE TOLD ME THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 14, 2010
I HAD JUST TRAVELED 19 MILES ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT ON THE OFFRAMP. SHORTLY AFTER MAKING THE TURN, THE CAR STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED. I COASTED, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. I HAD TO STOP, PUT CAR IN GEAR, AND EVENTUALLY RESTARTED THE CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WHEN THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING (FIRST WAS PULLING INTO AN UNDERGROUND PARKING STRUCTURE). THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT MAKING DRIVING DIFFICULT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AS IT COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THEIR IDEA TO RESOLVE WAS TO BLINDLY START REPLACING EXPENSIVE PARTS OF THE ENGINE. I FEEL I AM PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE EACH TIME I DRIVE THE CAR AND THE NEXT TIME MAY RESULT IN A COLLISION. *TR
Power train, Mar 2, 2010
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY DURING A VACATION, CAR TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON, STARTING SMELLING FUNNY, READ MANUAL AND IT SAID IF THIS LIGHT WAS ON TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY - SEVERE DAMAGE CAN OCCUR IF YOU KEEP DRIVING. WE PULLED OVER IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. FLUID HAD SPILLED OUT ALL OVER ENGINE. THEY SAID THAT WAS FROM IT OVERHEATING AND BOILING THE FLUID OUT. WE SAT FOR A WHILE AND LET IT COOL DOWN. THE LIGHT WENT OFF, BUT WE DROVE AROUND 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE REST OF OUR TRIP. THE CAR RESUMED TO WORK FINE. HOWEVER, WE HAVE CONSTANTLY HAD ISSUES WITH IT SLIPPING. WE TOOK TO OUR MECHANIC AND THEN TO ACURA. BOTH PARTIES AT FIRST DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING WAS WRONG, BUT THEN BOTH SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING. ACURA WOULD NOT GIVE ANY DISCOUNT, SO WE ENDED UP GOING WITH THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR COMPANY BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY $2200 INSTEAD OF $4500 BY ACURA. WAS WITHOUT A CAR FOR TWO WEEKS. A FEW MONTHS LATER IT BEGAN SLIPPING AGAIN, SO WE TOOK BACK AND THEY REPAIRED AGAIN, BECAUSE THIS COMPANY OFFERED A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. AGAIN, WAS WITHOUT A CAR FOR TWO WEEKS. NOW 7 MONTHS LATER, WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON BUSY ROAD. I WAS BRAKING COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT. THE LIGHT CHANGED, SO I SWITCHED TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL BEFORE I WAS FULLY STOPPED AND THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY WENT OUT AND WOULDN'T ENGAGE AT ALL. MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RED LIGHT AND CARS WERE SWERVING ALL AROUND US TO AVOID HITTING US. IT WAS A MIRACLE WE WEREN'T HURT. I PUT DOWN TO PARK, TURNED OFF CAR, AND THEN IT BEGAN WORKING LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. WENT BACK TO TRANSMISSION REPAIR PLACE AND THEY SAID THAT NOTHING SEEMED WRONG. THEY TOOK APART TWICE AND FINALLY REPLACED OUT 5TH GEAR EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKED COMPLETELY FINE. THEY SAID THEY HEARD THE WHINING NOISE, TOO, BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY DID REPLACE THOUGH AND HOPED THIS WOULD FIX IT. WE STILL HEAR THE WHINING NOISE AND NOW DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING OUR FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Power train, Feb 25, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND CHANGING LANES THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED AND ALMOST SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE D5 LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THERE WAS ONLY ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.
Power train, Feb 5, 2010
MY 2002 ACURA MDX HAS BEEN FAILING DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THERE TRANSMISSION. THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THERE WRONG. EVERY ONE WITH THIS TYPE OF SUV HAS EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Structure, Feb 5, 2010
I HAVE A 2002 ACURA MDX. EVERY TIME IT RAINS, THE CARPET ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE GET SOAKED WITH WATER. I CANNOT VISUALLY SEE WHERE THE WATER IS COMING FROM. I CALLED THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT ITS NOT A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I WENT ONLINE AND I FOUND OUT THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR CAR. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE MANUFACTURER DEFECTS IS SO MANY DRIVERS ARE HAVING ISSUES . NOT ONLY THAT THE WATER CAN REACH THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WHICH CAN BE DEADLY. PLEASE ADVISE IF THE DEALER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE IF SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. BASED ON MY RESEARCH ONLINE, NEWER MODELS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I'M HAVING. I BELIEVE THE COMPANY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING ISSUES. *TR
Power train, Jan 8, 2010
TRANSMISSION ISSUE DEALER CHARGED ME $4400 AND ACURA GAVE ME 25% DISCOUNT TO DO THE REPAIR. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND STILL ACURA IS NOT TAKING FULL RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE ISSUE WITHOUT ANY MONEY, MOST OF THE OWNERS GOT 90% DISCOUNT AND NOW ACURA IS JUST GIVING 25% DISCOUNT . *TR
Power train, Dec 17, 2009
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 2002 ACURA MDX 112000K BOUGHT USED W NO WARRANTY .5DAYS LATER THE CAR SHIFTS DOWN GEAR WHEN U LIFT OFF THE GAS ALLTHE TIME WHEN CHANGING GEAR ON HILL ITS SEEMS TO BE JAMMING ..TOOK TO SEVERAL AUTO PLACE TO HOOK TO MACHINE . IT ALL SHOWS THE SAME CODE TORQUE CONVERTER . /TRANSMISSION . *TR
Power train, Nov 28, 2009
2002 ACURA MDX WITH 70,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHICH HAS BEEN REPORTED HUNDRED IF NOT THOUSANDS OF TIMES TO ACURA/HONDA FOR THE 2001-2003 YEAR TRANSMISSIONS. TRANSMISSION IS SKIPPING AND WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR FROM 2ND GEAR TO 3RD GEAR. THIS IS AT ABOUT 25-30 MPH AND MOSTLY OCCURS ON SLIGHT UPHILL GRADES. AS I LOOK ON EDMUNDS.COM AND GOOGLE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. AT 22,000 MILES MY ACURA DEALER IN 2004 PLACED A LUBRICANT INJECTION FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM . NOW AT 70,000 MILES WITH MINIMAL USE, REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND DEALER ONLY INSPECTIONS THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. THE PATCH KIT DID NOT WORK. I EXPECT A $40,000 CAR TO LAST MORE THAN 70,000 MILES BEFORE A MAJOR PROBLEM. ACURA/HONDA SHOULD ISSUE A FULL RECALL TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
Power train, Oct 22, 2009
2002 ACURA MDX REQUIRED A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT FOLLOWING A RAPID DECELERATION OF VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY. LUCKILY AVOIDED COLLISION BY OTHER VEHICLES. CODES ON DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED TRANS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AT 136,000 MILES. TO KEEP VEHICLE SAFE, I HAVE PAID 4,000 ++ DOLLARS TO REPLACE. THANKFULLY ACCIDENT DID NOT FOLLOW WITH THE RAPID DECELERATION. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 15, 2009
ON OCTOBER 13, 2009, AT ABOUT 12:45, I PROVIDED MY 2002 ACURA MDX TO JERRY DAMSON ACURA, HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA FOR THE '82,500 MILE SERVICE'. AT ABOUT 1:15 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATING THAT TWO ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BROKEN. THE PRICE WOULD BE ABOUT $500. ALTHOUGH I WAS CONCERNED HOW ENGINE MOUNT FAILURES COULD HAPPEN ON A VEHICLE WITH THIS MILEAGE, I AGREED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED FOR OBVIOUS SAFETY REASONS. LATER THAT DAY I DISCOVERED OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET FOR BROKEN ENGINE MOUNTS FOR THIS VEHICLE. WHEN I ARRIVED AT JERRY DAMSON ACURA TO PICK IT UP, I ADVISED THE SERVICE PERSON THAT I FELT ACURA SHOULD PAY FOR THIS. THE ACURA SERVICE MANAGER, GIL WILLIAMS, WAS CALLED-IN TO DISCUSS THIS PROBLEM WITH ME. HE STATED THAT THEY/ACURA WOULD NOT PAY FOR THIS. I ASKED HOW A FAILURE OF THIS NATURE COULD HAPPEN AT THIS MILEAGE. AFTER SOME DISCUSSION HE STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS LOCATED NEAR THESE PARTICULAR ENGINE MOUNTS AND CONTRIBUTES TO INCREASED TEMPERATURE IN THE AREA, RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THESE ENGINE MOUNTS. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED THIS PROBLEM WITH ACURA AND THEY ADVISED HIM TO 'SELL IT AS A MAINTENANCE ITEM'. I STATED THIS WAS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT THAT ACURA OR JERRY DAMSON SHOULD PAY FOR. HE SAID THEY WOULD NOT. I ASKED HIM TO ELEVATE THIS TO THE JERRY DAMSON GENERAL MANAGER. HE REFUSED TO DO THAT. HE PROVIDED ME WITH THE PHONE NUMBER FOR 'ACURA CLIENT SERVICES', HE WOULD DO NOTHING ELSE. I RELUCTANTLY PAID FOR THIS BROKEN ENGINE MOUNTS REPAIR AT $483 IN ORDER TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE. IT IS A LOGICAL DEDUCTION THAT THE BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT PROBLEM IS A DESIGN DEFECT SINCE HE ADMITTED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER'S PROXIMITY TO THE ENGINE MOUNTS CONTRIBUTES TO THIS EARLY FAILURE. IT'S THEREFORE CLEAR THAT THIS REPAIR COST SHOULD BE BORNE BY ACURA/JERRY DAMSON. *TR
Power train, Oct 8, 2009
THE SUV WAS DRIVEN AROUND 5 MILES, AND THEN SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ACCELERATE IN THE MIDDLE OF FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE RPM WAS SHOWING MUCH HIGHER THAN NORMAL (WITH HIGH ENGINE NOISE), BUT THE SUV WASN'T MOVING INTO HIGHER GEAR. THIS SUDDEN SLOW MOVING CAR IN MIDDLE OF FAST MOVING TRAFFIC COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. AMOCO CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION, AND SAID THE OIL LEVEL WAS FINE, BUT PART OF THE OIL WAS "BURNT". THE TRANSMISSION IS BEING REBUILT BY AAMCO. THE SUV IS 8 YEARS OLD AND LOW MILEAGE - 63K MILES, AND WELL MAINTAINED. TRANSMISSION OIL WAS REPLACED 5 MONTHS BACK. *TR
Power train, Oct 5, 2009
A MONTH OR SO AGO I NOTICED THE VEHICLE WASN'T SHIFTING AS SMOOTHLY AS IT SHOULD. THAT WAS FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER BY THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR BRIEFLY. THEN, RECENTLY, AS I WAS MERGING INTO FREEWAY TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF A LOWER GEAR AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. I SAT THERE UNTIL TRAFFIC CLEARED AT WHICH TIME I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY CONTINUE DOWN THE ROAD. THE TRANSMISSION THEN SHIFTED CORRECTLY. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, AND IN LIGHT OF ALL ELSE I HAVE READ REGARDING TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH ACURA MDX'S, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR
Power train, Jul 25, 2009
MY TWO SONS (17 AND 18) WERE DRIVING MY ACURA MDX 2002 ON A HIGHWAY 45 MILES FROM HOME WHEN THE REVS STARTS GOING OUT OF CONTROL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OVER 40 MPH. THEY HAD TO BE TOWED BACK BY AAA AND I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION CHANGED AT 121K. *TR
Power train, Jul 23, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WILL SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WILL THEN RESUME NORMAL OPERATION AND DRIVE IN THE CORRECT GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO FILE A CLAIM FOR GOOD WILL WITH THE MANUFACTURER. SHE FILED A GOOD WILL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD COVER HALF OF THE REPAIR COST; HOWEVER, THE 105,000 MILE SERVICE WOULD HAVE TO BE PERFORMED AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,000.