2008 Acura MDX
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 49 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 20th highest complaint count among 24 MDX model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 2 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 1 person was injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Equipment, mechanical, carrier/rackFeb 5, 2008
HONDA IS RECALLING 2,032 HITCH STYLE BIKE RACKS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE ON MY 2003-2007 AND SOME MY 2008 HONDA PILOT, RIDGELINE, AND ACURA MDX VEHICLES. A PINCH BOLT EXISTS BETWEEN THE BIKE ARM BRACKET AND THE UPRIGHT ASSEMBLY OF THE "HITCH" STYLE BICYCLE RACK.
WHEN MOVING THE BIKE ARM BRACKET TO ITS DOWN POSITION, THIS PINCH BOLT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING SEVERE LACERATION OR AMPUTATION TO THE USER'S FINGERTIPS OR HAND.
OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT THULE AT 800-THULE91 (800-848-5391) TO OBTAIN A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS OR OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
Campaign 08E013000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: suspension
6 reports, newest first. Show all
Suspension, Jun 4, 2016
I HAVE A MDX WITH SPORT SUSPENSION. I RECENTLY VISITED MY MECHANIC TO DISCOVER THAT BOTH OF MY REAR SHOCKS ARE BLOWN. AFTER LOOKING INTO FIXING IT, I NOTICED THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE PREMATURELY. NOT ONLY IS IT A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE TRIM, THE PARTS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS. WITH SO MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE, IT SEEMS THE CORE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM MAY BE A FAULTY DESIGN OF THE SHOCKS. MY CONCERN IS REPLACING A FAULTY PRODUCTS WITH ANOTHER FAULTY PRODUCTS, AND EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE ALL OVER AGAIN SHORTY.
Suspension, Mar 12, 2016
THE ADS SENSOR HAS GONE BAD ON MY 2008 MDX. SOME HAVE BEEN RECALLED IN COLORADO BECAUSE SALT PUT ON THE ROADS FOR SNOW CONDITIONS HAS CARRIED THEM. I LIVE IN UTAH WHERE WE ALSO HAVE SALT PUT ON SLICK ROADS. BUT NONE IN UTAH WERE RECALLED. IT IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX AND PARTS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH ACURA. MY LOCAL MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE PRICE THEY ARE CHARGING WAS REDICULIUS AND HE HAS NEVER SEEN SUCH AN EXPENSIVE STRUT FIX.
Suspension, Jun 11, 2015
SPORTS SUSPENSION IN VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK OVERTIME. I BELIEVE THEY ARE DEFECTIVE, EVERY BUMP I GO OVER, TINY OR BIG IT MAKES A SOUND FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME ITS 2300 TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES. REASON I BELIEVE THEY ARE DEFECTIVE OR NOT OF HIGH QUALITY, HEARD AND READ MANY PEOPLE WITH MDX SPORTS SUSPENSION GETTING THEM REPLACED ONCE TO SEVERAL TIMES IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
Suspension, May 3, 2013
IN JANUARY 2013 MY ADS LIGHT IN MY MDX WENT ON. WE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT ACURA HAD SENT A SERVICE REQUEST TO CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE DESIGN OF THE ADS SYSTEM FOR THE MDX'S WAS POOR AND IT ALLOWED SALT AND MOISTURE INTO THE SENSOR CONTROL FOR THE STRUT THUS CAUSING CORROSION IN THE SENSOR AND STRUT. EVENTUALLY THE STRUT FAILS. WHEN WE CALLED ACURA AND I SPOKE WITH FRANK SWARTWOT IN ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE IN CALIFORNIA, HE TOLD US THAT OUR VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SERVICE REQUEST. WE EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT WE LIVE IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH AND WE GET A LOT OF SNOW AND SALT IS USED ON THE ROADS WHEN THERE IS A SNOW STORM. (WE DID HOST THE 2002 OLYMPIC GAMES AFTER ALL.) WE ALSO TOLD HIM THAT THE ADS FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON IN JANUARY 2013 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORST SNOW STORM OF THE YEAR. THIS SOUNDED LIKE THE PERFECT COMBINATION TO CAUSE THESE PROBLEMS. ACURA TOLD US THEY WOULD NOT COVER US AND BASICALLY TOLD US THEY COULD COVER IT IF WE WERE VALUED CUSTOMERS. SINCE WE HAD PURCHASED THE MDX USED AND DID NOT GO TO JODY WILKINSON FOR OUR REPAIRS, THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. WE ENDED UP REPLACING THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT AND THE SENSOR AND WHEN THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE SENSOR AND THE STRUT, IT WAS FULLY RUSTED AND CORRODED.. WE FULLY EXPECT THE OTHER SENSOR AND STRUT TO FAIL WITHIN THE YEAR AS THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS ACCORDING TO THE ACURA MECHANIC. THE COST TO REPLACE EACH STRUT THROUGH THE ACURA DEALERSHIP IS $1250. ACURA HAS SINCE REPLACED THE OLD SENSOR AND STRUTS USED ON THEIR CARS WITH A NEW DESIGN. WE FEEL THAT IF ACURA HAD AT LEAST WARNED US THAT THIS COULD BE AN ISSUE, WE COULD HAVE REPLACED THE SENSOR (A $200 FIX) AND SAVED THE STRUT. THE LETTER NUMBER ON YOUR SITE IS CSC-10038347-3254 AND THE URL LINK IS HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/ACMS/CS/JAXRS/DOWNLOAD/DOC/UCM429164/CSC-10038347-3254.PDF. *TR
Suspension, Apr 29, 2013
HEAR CLICK NOISE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION AREA WHILE ACCELERATING OR BRAKING THE VEHICLE. *TR
Suspension, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 24, 2009
AUTO DAMPER SYSTEM ON 2008 MDX STOPS WORKING DUE TO SENSOR PROBLEMS IN SHOCKS/ STRUTS. AUTO DAMPER SYSTEM ADJUSTS SHOCK SENSITIVITY TO ROAD CONDITIONS AND HAS TWO MODES, COMFORT AND SPORT. WHEN THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS THE SHOCKS/STRUTS DEFAULT TO A GIVEN SENSITIVITY. THE DANGER OCCURS IF THE DRIVER BELIEVES THAT HE/SHE IS IN SPORT MODE AND THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS WHILE DRIVING IT COULD CAUSE A WRONG INTERPRETATION OF THE ROAD AND POTENTIALLY HAMPER THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER/PASSENGERS. MY MDX HAS HAD REGULAR FAILURES IN THE SENSORS, I HAVE CONVERSED WITH SEVERAL OTHER MDX OWNERS AND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT OCCURS ON A REGULAR BASIS. *TR