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.
Power train, Oct 17, 2007
2002 ACURA MDX AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 17, 2007
DURING ROUTINE SERVICE VISIT, DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE FRONT AND SIDE ENGINE MOUNTS ARE WORN AND NEED REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 60K MILES, NO ACCIDENTS AND DEALER SERVICED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON (NHTSA COMPLAINT # 10186944) PROBLEM WITH THE MDX AND NUMEROUS ISSUES NOTED BY OWNERS ON TOPIX.COM. ACURA SAYS THEY HAVE NO TSB ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Structure, Sep 12, 2007
MY 2002 MDX HAS 75,000 MILES AND NEEDS THE ENGINE MOUNTS REPLACED. IT WAS REPORTED BY LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT ACURA'S DESIGN FLAWS ON THE MOTOR MOUNTS FOR 2001, 2002 MDX. LOTS OF DISCUSSIONS MAY BE FOUND ATHTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/ACURA-MDX/T54QBSPDKRMCCNV0A IT IS A DISASTER FOR CONSUMERS TO PAY FOR THE DESIGN DEFECTS! *TR
Fuel system, Other, Jul 24, 2007
MIL COMES ON WITH DTC P1457 - SIGNALING EVAP BYPASS SOLENOID FAILURE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Jun 25, 2007
MULTIPLE ENGINE MOUNT FAILURES ON 2002 ACURA MDX. FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT 40,000 MILES. SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED AT 79,000 MILES. BOTH FAILURES WERE IDENTIFIED BY AN ACURA DEALER AS IMPORTANT MECHANICAL AND SAFETY CONCERNS. BOTH FAILURES WERE REMEDIED BY AN ACURA DEALER. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
Equipment, May 30, 2007
REAR FAN STOPPED WORKING FOR A/C & HEAT. MECHANIC ASSUMED IT WAS A BAD FAN MOTOR, BUT LATER DISCOVERED IT WAS A FAULTY R&R POWER TRANSISTOR. HE SAID THEY'VE SEEN A FEW OF THESE ON THE MDX'S. WE REPLACED THE OLD ONE WITH A NEW PART AND IT WORKS CORRECTLY NOW. *TR
Power train, Apr 19, 2007
THE 2001 ACURA MDX STALLS AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THEN KICKS BACK IN GEAR. IT'S KIND OF DANGEROUS TO ME. IT SEEMS TO BE ALOT OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND ACURA DENIES ANY PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Structure, Apr 3, 2007
TWO MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS BROKEN (1) OR CRACKED (1). THESE ARE THE RIGHT AND FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS ON AN ACURA MDX 2002. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 61,000 MILES ON IT. BASED ON AN INTERNET SEARCH AND CHECK OF THE CONSUMER REPORTS WEB SITE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE ACURA MDX. *JB
Tires, Mar 20, 2007
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT ALL FOUR MICHELIN CROSS-TERRAIN TIRES ROTTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THREADS WERE CRACKED, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. ALSO, THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE NORMAL THREAD COUNT WAS 1132 ,AND THE TIRES CURRENTLY HAD A THREAD COUNT OF 832. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 38500. *AK UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB
Tires, Mar 15, 2007
MICHELIN TIRES P235-65R17103T CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE TIRES HAVE ENOUGH RUBBER ON THEM BUT ARE CRACKING ON THE TREAD**CC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE TIRES HAD DRY ROT DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS. *JB
Power train, Mar 14, 2007
1ST INCIDENT: WE WERE GOING UP A HILL WITH CAR FULL OF CHILDREN WHEN MY 2002 ACURA MDX SLOWED DOWN CONSIDERABLY AND THE RPM REVVED UP TO 4-5,000. IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS AS TRUCKS AND CARS STARTED TO PILE BEHIND ME. I FINALLY REACHED AN EXIT AND PULLED OVER. AFTER PARKING, I COULD NOT REVERSE, IT WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER WAITING AN HOUR FOR THE TOW TRUCK, WE DECIDED TO TEST THE CAR AROUND THE PARKING LOT .. IT STARTED DRIVING LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG, AND REVERSED AGAIN. SO WE TOOK OUR CHANCES AND DROVE CAREFULLY HOME. THE CAR DIDN'T ACT UP AFTER THAT BUT WE STARTED A CASE WITH ACURA/HONDA AFTER REALIZING THERE WAS A MASS TRANSMISSION RECALL. THEY SAID MY VIN WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT HELP. 2 DAYS LATER: WE ASSUMED THE HILL MUST HAVE BEEN TOO MUCH FOR THE CAR, BUT IT WAS OK TO DRIVE ON FLAT ROADS. WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AT 35MPH, THE CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY AND CONTINUED TO UNTIL I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER A PHONECALL TO ASSESS WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED, IT WAS SUGGESTED THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING UP. I CAUTIOUSLY DROVE THE CAR HOME WITH MY YOUNG DAUGHTER IN TOW. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ACURA TRANSMISSION RECALL, I GOT A CASE GOING AGAIN WITH HONDA. THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE THE CAR IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. I DID JUST THAT AND FAXED IN THE TECH COMMENTS. BASED ON THE COMMENTS, THEY CONCLUDED THAT THEY WILL NOT HELP BECAUSE I HAD TOO MANY MILES (98K) AND MY CAR WAS "POORLY MAINTAINED". HOWEVER I CONTESTED HOW IT WAS POORLY MAINTAINED AND THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER. I BOUGHT THE CAR 6 MONTHS AGO AT 95K AND PEFORMED ITS REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. THEY RECOMMENDED I HAD TO REPLACE MY CV BOOTS AND BRAKES, BUT I DON'T SEE HOW THAT WOULD AFFECT THE TRANSMISSION. THEY QUOTED ME AT $5000 AND WOULD SEE TO ANY DISCOUNTS. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, IT IS APPARENT THAT THERE ARE DEFINITELY MANUFACTURE DEFECTS IN THESE TRANSMISSIONS, BUT ACURA AND HONDA HAS MADE IT CLEAR TO ME THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP.
Power train, Mar 14, 2007
1ST INCIDENT: WE WERE GOING UP A HILL WITH CAR FULL OF CHILDREN WHEN MY 2002 ACURA MDX SLOWED DOWN CONSIDERABLY AND THE RPM REVVED UP TO 4-5,000. IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS AS TRUCKS AND CARS STARTED TO PILE BEHIND ME. I FINALLY REACHED AN EXIT AND PULLED OVER. AFTER PARKING, I COULD NOT REVERSE, IT WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER WAITING AN HOUR FOR THE TOW TRUCK, WE DECIDED TO TEST THE CAR AROUND THE PARKING LOT .. IT STARTED DRIVING LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG, AND REVERSED AGAIN. SO WE TOOK OUR CHANCES AND DROVE CAREFULLY HOME. THE CAR DIDN'T ACT UP AFTER THAT BUT WE STARTED A CASE WITH ACURA/HONDA AFTER REALIZING THERE WAS A MASS TRANSMISSION RECALL. THEY SAID MY VIN WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT HELP. 2 DAYS LATER: WE ASSUMED THE HILL MUST HAVE BEEN TOO MUCH FOR THE CAR, BUT IT WAS OK TO DRIVE ON FLAT ROADS. WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AT 35 MPH, THE CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY AND CONTINUED TO UNTIL I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER A PHONE CALL TO ASSESS WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED, IT WAS SUGGESTED THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING UP. I CAUTIOUSLY DROVE THE CAR HOME WITH MY YOUNG DAUGHTER IN TOW. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ACURA TRANSMISSION RECALL, I GOT A CASE GOING AGAIN WITH HONDA. THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE THE CAR IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. I DID JUST THAT AND FAXED IN THE TECH COMMENTS. BASED ON THE COMMENTS, THEY CONCLUDED THAT THEY WILL NOT HELP BECAUSE I HAD TOO MANY MILES (98K) AND MY CAR WAS "POORLY MAINTAINED". HOWEVER I CONTESTED HOW IT WAS POORLY MAINTAINED AND THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER. I BOUGHT THE CAR 6 MONTHS AGO AT 95K AND PERFORMED ITS REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. THEY RECOMMENDED I HAD TO REPLACE MY CV BOOTS AND BRAKES, BUT I DON'T SEE HOW THAT WOULD AFFECT THE TRANSMISSION. THEY QUOTED ME AT $5000 AND WOULD SEE TO ANY DISCOUNTS. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, IT IS APPARENT THAT THERE ARE DEFINITELY MANUFACTURER DEFECTS IN THESE TRANSMISSIONS, BUT ACURA AND HONDA HAS MADE IT CLEAR TO ME THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP. *JB
Power train, Feb 15, 2007
I FEEL VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE MY 2002 ACURA MDX, WITH 100K MILES, AS IT HAS COME OUT OF GEAR WHEN I AM TURNING ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE MEDIAN ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT A SEMI TRUCK WAS NOT COMING AT ME AT A HIGH SPEED WHEN MY VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN IN THE MDX WITH ME AT ALL TIMES, AS I AM A STAY AT HOME MOTHER AND HOME SCHOOL MY OLDEST AT AGE 7. THIS FAILURE IS NOT A RESULT OF ABUSE, OR NEGLIGENT SERVICE. THE ACURA GUIDELINES FOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL AND WERE DONE SO AT ACURA SERVICE CENTERS BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE TRANSMISSION WAS CHECKED AND FLUIDS FLUSHED AND CHANGED LASTLY AT 80K MILES AND WE WERE TOLD BY ACURA SERVICE (IN JANUARY) THAT OUR NEXT SERVICE FOR THIS WOULD BE DUE AT 120K MILES. THIS TRANSMISSION DEFECT IS ABUNDANTLY EVIDENT IN HUNDREDS OF WRITE-INS ON SEVERAL WEB FORUMS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURS AT THE RIGHT MOMENT. WE WANT TO TRUST ACURA TO TAKE CARE OF ITS CUSTOMERS, TO RESPECT THEIR SAFETY, TAKE CARE OF ITS NEW CUSTOMERS AND FUTURE CUSTOMERS, PLEASE HELP TO MAKE THIS THE OUTCOME WE WILL COME TO KNOW AND ENJOY. ACURA HAS AGREED TO DISCOUNT A TOTAL OF $900 FROM THE OTHERWISE $4909 TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. THAT IS ALL THEY ARE OFFERING AS OF NOW, BUT WE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS OFFER AND ARE APPEALING THIS DECISION. A NEW, UPDATED TRANSMISSION MUST REPLACE THE EXISTING FAULTY ONE IN ORDER FOR THESE VEHICLES TO BE SAFELY DRIVEN. THANK YOU! *NM
Power train, Feb 8, 2007
REGULAR DRIVING OF ACURA MDX. CAR TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN 20-40 MPH. DEALER INSPECTED PROBLEM AND ATTRIBUTED PROBLEM TO THE 3RD GEAR. DEALER REPORTS RECALL IS ONLY INVOLVING 2ND GEAR THEREFORE I HAVE TO PAY FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR REBUILD. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 29, 2006
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, ON EITHER WET OR DRY PAVEMENT, THE CAR FAILED TO STOP AND CONTINUED ON DANGEROUSLY INTO INTERSECTIONS. ONCE THE BRAKES WERE EITHER APPLIED OR PUMPED THE CAR CONTINUED TO SLIDE FOR AT LEAST 30 FEET WHEN GOING SLOWLY TO COME TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT. THE DEALER ON EACH OCCASION TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. *NM
Power train, Nov 22, 2006
TRANSMISSION HARD DOWNSHIFT FROM 3RD TO 2ND GEAR. FLUID JET KIT (RECALL ACTION) HAS BEEN COMPLETED. DEALER STATES THIS IS NOT COVERED AND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT IS NECESSARY. HAVE SEEN LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON ACURA MESSAGE BOARDS. *NM
Power train, Oct 30, 2006
TRANSMISSION FAILED ON FREEWAY. *JB
Power train, Aug 30, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE MADE A CLICKING NOISE AS IT ACCELERATED FROM 30-40 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TORK CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Power train, Jul 3, 2006
ACURA CLAIMED TO FIX MY TRANSMISSION, AS PER THE RECALLS THAT WERE MADE ON 2001-2002 ACURA MDX'S. THEY OBVIOUSLY DID NOT FIX WHAT THEY NEEDED TO. YESTERDAY AS I WAS DRIVING I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT TO DIFFERENT GEARS ON ITS OWN!! FOR EXAMPLE I WOULD BE IN D5 A DRIVE GEAR. SOMETIMES IT WOULD SHIFT ITSELF TO NEUTRAL, AND SOMETIMES TO D4,3. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS IT CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN AT INOPPORTUNE TIMES. I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH ACURA AND THEY SAID THAT THEY FIXED WHAT WAS NECESSARY TO BE FIXED WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN 1-2 YEARS AGO. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND I FEEL THAT THE NHTSA SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. I WAS TOLD TO WAIT FOR A MANAGER TO COME BACK IN THIS WEDNESDAY JULY 5TH. MY ACURA DEALERSHIP IS LOCATED IN ROSLYN, NY; CALLED RALLYE ACURA. THIS CAR IS A P.O.S., AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AGAINST ACURA FOR THIS CAR. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS DESIGN FLAWS IN THE 2001-2002 MDX TRANSMISSIONS. PLEASE HELP TO FORCE ACURA TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AS THEY ARE NOT BEING COOPERATIVE NOR CAREFUL, WHICH I FEEL IS OUTRAGEOUS DUE TO THE DANGEROUS NATURE OF THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE. ALSO, I DO NOT WANT A "REFURBISHED OR REBUILT" TRANSMISSION WHICH I HAVE BEEN INFORMED IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING. OBVIOUSLY WHATEVER THEY ARE DOING IS NOT WORKING. *NM
Power train, Jun 16, 2006
FROM THIRD GEAR INTO FOURTH GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS, IT DISENGAGES LIKE IF IT'S IN NEUTRAL FOR JUST A FEW SECONDS, AND THEN GOES INTO THE NEXT GEAR WITH A JERK. NOW IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IT'S ALWAYS JERKING. ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO AGO, I HAD A MUCH LESS NOTICEABLE LOSS OF POWER INCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. THE DEALER CLEARED THE WARNING LIGHT AND ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS. ON 06/16/06 I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, BUT THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY ADVISED I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *NM
Power train, Jun 2, 2006
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 64,600 MILES. *JB
Power train, May 17, 2006
MY MDX HAS 85K MILES ON IT, AND THE TRANNY STARTED THE INFAMOUS GOING INTO NEUTRAL AT 30-40 MPH ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS...I'VE DONE ALL THE VARIOUS OIL SENDING UNIT AND EGR VALVE FIXES BUT STARTED HAVING THE ABOVE PROBLEM ABOUT 7K AGO, BUT WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY GAVE THE OLD HMMM, IF WE CAN'T REPEAT IT, WE REALLY CAN'T REPLACE IT.... THEN, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I MADE AN APPT WITH THE DEALER (PLEASANTON ACURA), THEY GAVE ME A $69 A DAY RENTAL AND SAID THEY WOULD CHECK IT OUT. THEY DID, AND CONFIRMED THE ENGINE CODE WAS TIED TO THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. I ONLY HAD THE STANDARD WARRANTY (50K, 4 YR) . I RECEIVED A CALL BACK THE SAME DAY SAYING ACURA HAS AGREED TO PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE LABOR...$1,100. I THINK ACURA SHOULD HAVE TO ANNOUNCE AND SUPPORT A TOTAL RECALL. I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SPEND $1,100 ON A TRANSMISSION FOR A 2002 ACURA MDX WITH AN OUT THE DOOR PRICE OF ~$47,000 - UNBELIEVABLE! I POSTED THE ABOVE ON THE ACURAMDX.ORG WEBSITE AFTER DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH ON MDX TRANSMISSIONS AND FINDING HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM CAR OWNERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, ALL HAVING THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON 2002 MDX. APPARENTLY, ACURA EXTENDED THE TRANSMISSION WARRANTY ON THEIR 2002 TL'S WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BUT FOR SOME REASON HAVE AVOIDED ADDRESSING THE MDX WITH A FORMAL RECALL OR EXTENDED WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW AND THE PUBLIC ALL KNOW THE TRANSMISSION WAS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND REALLY POSES A SAFETY RISK FOR HUNDREDS OF MDX OWNERS AND OTHERS THAT MIGHT BE AFFECTED WHEN THE MDX TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WHEN MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY WITH A SEMI-TRUCK THAT DOESN'T KNOW YOU'RE HAVING A TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHICH CAUSES YOUR TRANSMISSION TO SLIP AND LOSE ENGINE DRIVE POWER. THIS IS ONE BLATANT SAFETY ISSUE THAT ACURA SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND EXTEND THE WARRANTY AND REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE MDX 2002 TRANSMISSIONS. *NM
Power train, Mar 6, 2006
DRIVING AT APPROX. 40 MPG. DURING ACCELERATION THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND AND THEN LURCHED FORWARD. THE SECOND TIME THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND DURING ACCELERATION GOING UP A HILL AND I STARTED TO LOSE MOMENTUM. ENGINE LIGHT FINALLY CAME ON AFTER APPROX 10 SECONDS. I WAS STUCK ON THE ROAD WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. DEALER CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NO HELP IN SUBSIDIZING FIX AS VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *NM
Power train, Feb 28, 2006
2002 ACURA MDX AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURRED AT 77K MILES. SYMPTOMS INCLUDED UP-SHIFT HESITATION BETWEEN 2-3 DRIVE GEARS, HARD AND JERKY TRANSMISSION CHANGES IN BOTH DRIVE AND REVERSE. THE SYMPTOMS STARTED TO GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND MORE FREQUENT. I TOOK THIS MDX TO A LOCAL AAA-APPROVED, INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE SHOP'S REPAIR TECHNICIAN AND A TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALIST TEST DROVE THE MDX AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME TYPE OF SYMPTOMS. THEY RETURNED AND REPORTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS INDEED FAILING. I HAD THE MDX TOWED TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED COMPLETELY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUILT UNIT BY THE ACURA SERVICE DEPARTMENT. A HISTORICAL NOTE: BACK IN THE FALL OF 2004, I RECEIVED NOTICE OF A MDX TRANSMISSION RECALL FROM ACURA. SHORTLY UPON RECEIVING THIS NOTICE I DID TAKE THIS MDX TO AN ACURA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION RECALL SERVICE DONE. *NM
Power train, Feb 27, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING ON THE VEHICLE. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, #04V176000 CONCERNING THE POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER THE RECALL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION WAS NOT FAILING AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE RECALL REPAIR SHOULD CONSIST OF INSTALLING AN OIL JET KIT. THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON AUGUST 12, 2004. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME WAS 64,111. IN AUGUST 2005, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING UPON ACCELERATION INTO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. IN JANUARY 2006, THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE TRANSMISSION WA SREPLACED AT CONTACT'S EXPENSE. A SAFETY CONCERN EXISTED AS ACKNOWLEDGED BY HONDA WHEN THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT PREVENTED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THEREFORE, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK