Acura MDX Complaints (2003)

206 consumer complaints on file.

#10380536January 23, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY GOES OFF INDICATING LOOSE GAS VALVE. MANUFACTURER'S ERROR CODE: P0457 DEALER TELLS OWNER GAS CAP IS LOOSE AND REPLACES. AFTER 100 MILES AND CAREFUL ATTENTION TO MAKING SURE CAP IS TIGHT AFTER EACH REFILL, SAME ERROR CODE OCCURS. AFTER SMOKE CHECKS VERIFY NO OTHER LEAKS, GAS CAP IS REPLACED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS OFF (OSTENSIBLY BECAUSE THE DEALER SOMEHOW CLEARS THE CODE OR DISCONNECTS BATTERY). AFTER 100 MILES THE LIGHT GOES BACK ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED CONTINUOUSLY OVER THE COURSE OF 3 YEARS. CANNOT KNOW IF SOMETHING ELSE IS WRONG WITH CAR WITHOUT PAYING FOR A DIAGNOSTIC BECAUSE LIGHT IS CONTINUOUSLY ON. CANNOT PASS CA SMOG CHECK WITH A MALFUNCTIONING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (AS THIS SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR TO ME THAT IS WHAT IT IS). ACURA REFUSES TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM. (ALTHOUGH THE DEALER I GO TO HAS BEEN GREAT.) HAVE WASTED MUCH MONEY TO EACH TIME BE TOLD "LOOSE GAS CAP" WHEN I KNOW THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10377530January 16, 2011
POWER TRAIN
AS I WAS BRING MY HUSBAND HOME FROM MAJOR BACK SURGERY OUR 2003 ACURA MDX STARTED TO SLIP INTO NEUTRAL AS WE WERE LEAVING THE HOSPITAL. THIS WAS ONE HOUR AWAY FROM OUR HOME! IN SHIFTING THROUGH THE GEARS, I FINALLY GOT THE TRANSMISSION TO CATCH AT D3. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES TO US AS WE WERE TRAVELING THROUGH A CITY AND HAD TO STOP AT SEVERAL STOP LIGHTS. EVERY TIME WE STOPPED, IT WAS THE SAME SCENARIO. D3 SEEMED TO BE THE 'TICKET' GEAR TO GET IT TO CATCH. I CAME HOME AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT A LOCAL GARAGE. THANKFULLY I WENT TO DROP IT OFF TWO DAYS EARLY, AS THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED MOVING ON OUR WAY TO THE GARAGE AND I HAD TO CALL AND HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. FOR A LUXURY VEHICLE, I AM SADLY DISAPPOINTED AS I LOVE EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE CAR. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE PRICE TAG ON THIS REPAIR AND FOR THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS GOING BAD, I WOULD THINK THAT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL BY NOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373266December 29, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2003 ACURA MDX WITH 108K MILES AS OF DEC 29, 2010. TWO YEARS AGO AROUND 80K MILES, WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH OUR KID, SUDDENLY THE ENGINE LOST POWER ON HIGHWAY 95. SHE HAD TO REV UP TO 6000 RPM TO KEEP THE SPEED AT 30 MPH. ACURA DEALER CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION AND SAID THEY FOUND METALLIC PARTICLES IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND THE FLUID WAS CHARRED. THEY ALSO SAID GEAR WAS SLIGHTLY DAMAGED, BUT TOLD ME TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION FLUID VERY FREQUENTLY (MORE THAN RECOMMENDATION). NO ONE TOLD ME 2003 MDX HAS FAULTY TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. AFTER 1 YEAR AT AROUND 90K MILES I CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AGAIN. NOW, THREE DAYS AGO, SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. EVEN AT 25 MPH, THE RPM GOES SUDDENLY TO 5000 RPM AT SAME ACCELERATION PRESSURE LEVEL. I CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IMMEDIATELY. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL IS PERFECTLY FINE. BUT FLUID IS BLACK AND CHARRED PARTICLES, POSSIBLY METALLIC. NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN FOR $40K LUXURY SUV AT 80K MILES AND 108K MILES. DROPPED MY CAR AT LOCAL ACURA DEALER HOPING ACURA CAN REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT THEIR OWN COST. I ALREADY SPENT $1000 FIRST TIME TWO YEARS AGO. THEN I SPEND OVER $600 FOR 90K MILES REGULAR MAINTENANCE THAT INCLUDED TRANSMISSION FLUID SERVICE. I AM NOT SPENDING AGAIN ON THE SAME STUPID FAULTY TRANSMISSION THAT ACURA SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED ALL ITS CUSTOMERS IN THE FIRST PLACE. IF THEY DON'T FIX IT AT THEIR OWN COST, I WILL NEVER BUY OR RECOMMEND ACURA TO ANYONE. VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH ACURA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372743December 20, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VEHICLE STARTS SHAKING, FEELING LIKE I AM RUNNING OVER METAL BUMPS IN THE ROAD. I BELIEVE THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS THE PROBLEM AND THAT ALL OF THE LARGER HONDA/ACURA VEHICLES HAVE A DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER. IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE ENGINE FAILURE OCCURS AND INJURIES/DEATH ARE IMMINENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10364349November 7, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ON A ROUTINE ERRAND, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING ON SHIFTING TO DRIVE. FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE ROAD UNDER THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363625November 1, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TWICE IN THE LAST 3 DAYS, THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2003 ACURA MDX SPONTANEOUSLY SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL, I.E., DISENGAGED FROM DRIVE AND LEFT ME W/O POWER TO THE WHEELS. THE SHIFT LEVER REMAINED IN DRIVE AND HAD NOT BEEN TOUCHED. THE LATTER OCCURRENCE STRANDED ME IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT SHIFTING INTO PARK AND BACK INTO DRIVE WERE REQUIRED BEFORE DRIVE ACTUALLY ENGAGED. AN INTERNET SEARCH EASILY TURNED UP MANY SIMILAR INSTANCES IN WHICH 2003 MDX OWNERS INDICATED THAT THEIR TRANSMISSIONS INTERMITTENTLY DISENGAGED FROM DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359372October 5, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2003 ACURA MDX WAS VIBRATING/SHUDDERING BETWEEN 30-45MPH. DEALER ADVISED FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER @ $2,200. THE 2001 & 2002 MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR SAME ISSUE. WHEN TORQUE CONVERTER FAILS, METAL SHAVINGS CAN MAKE THEIR WAY INTO TRANSMISSION, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ACURA IS HAVING ONGOING REPEATED ISSUES. WILL THEY DENY TRANSMISSION ISSUE AT THE EXPENSE OF MY FAMILIES SAFETY. MANY WITH SAME VEHICLE HAVE HAD SOME DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356269September 18, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING ON I-75 WHEN MY TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAR WENT FROM GOING 70MPH TO DROPPING ALL RPM'S AND DRIVING AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. TORQUE CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED, THIS WAS AT 91,000 MILES. LUCKILY, I HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY OR THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A $3,000 REPAIR AND COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF OTHER CARS WERE FOLLOWING CLOSELY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED! A VEHICLE IN THIS PRICE RANGE SHOULD NOT BE FAILING SO EARLY. I AM NOT AT 93,000 MILES AND HAVE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WHEN I TURN THE A/C ON, ALL OF MY GAUGES ARE LOST AND THE BATTERY IS DRAINED, BUT THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BATTERY HAVE BOTH BEEN TESTED AND ARE OK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354887September 10, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND LEFT IT IN DRIVE; YET, WHEN SHE REMOVED THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. HONDA WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,200. UPDATED 12/22/10*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354699September 9, 2010
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX, WHILE STOPPED THE CONTACT WAS REAR ENDED BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT TIGHTEN TO HOLD HER FIRMLY IN PLACE UPON IMPACT AND SHE WAS THROWN FORWARD INTO HER WINDSHIELD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES AND THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE LOT WHERE IT HAD NOT BEEN EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE.THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 117,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10354708September 9, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 ACURA MDX WITH 146,000 MILES ON IT. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2010 THREE HOURS FROM HOME AND 27 MILES FROM A DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353745September 3, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR WOULD NOT MOVE UPON PUSHING GAS PEDAL BUT ENGINE WOULD REVIVE THEN WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR WOULD LAUNCH FORWARD AT ACCELERATED SPEED. THIS LURCHING CONTINUED UNPREDICTABLY UPON FURTHER DRIVING THE CAR. DEALER SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353244September 1, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
8/18/10 - WHILE DRIVING CAR BEGINS ACTING LIKE WE ARE TRYING TO ACCELERATE WHILE IN NEUTRAL. WE ARE ABLE TO GET TO A GAS STATION, WHERE WE NOTICE TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE GROUND. WE HAVE IT TOWED TO A LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP IN DUBLIN. THEY REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION HOSE. 8/28/10 - DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, CAR BEGINS ACTING UP AGAIN - SAME PROBLEM. WE PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND HAVE IT TOWED TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP IN COLUMBUS. WE ARE TOLD WE NEED TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. BOTH TIMES THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEMS. ONCE IT STARTED ACTING UP, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE EXCEPT PULL IT AWAY FROM TRAFFIC AND HAVE IT TOWED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348455August 10, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I HAVE A 2003 ACURA MDX WHICH HAS A DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH INTERLOCK MECHANISM . WHEN IN DRIVE I CAN TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY. I HAVE HAD THE CAR ROLL AWAY MOMENTARILY. THE PROBLEM IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN THE HONDA RECALL ISSUED 8/9/10 FOR 2003 ACCORD, CIVIC AND ELEMENT VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348296August 9, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THIS IS RELATED TO THE RECENT HONDA RECALL FOR IGNITION KEY ISSUE. THE SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTICED ON MY ACURA 2003 MDX. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY INCIDENT ARISING OUT OF IT BECAUSE OF MY CHECKS AFTER SWITCHING OFF MY CAR BUT SOME OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT NOT BE LUCKY. THE KEY SOMETIMES COMES OUT AFTER SWITCHING THE CAR OFF WITHOUT MOVING THE GEAR TO PARK. THIS HAPPENS IF DONE QUICKLY. THE DATE BELOW IS A APPROXIMATE DATE SINCE I KNOW IT HAPPENED 2-3 WEEKS BACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342965July 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I JUST BOUGHT A 2003 ACURA MDX WITH 110,000 MILES. I DROVE THE CAR LESS THAN 15 MILES AND NOTICED A SCRAPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE BUCKED AND THEN THE D5 LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. THERE WAS HESITATION IN BETWEEN THE GEARS. THE VEHICLE IS NOW IN THE SHOP GETTING A NEW TRANSMISSION - I HAD IT LESS THAN 20 MINUTES BEFORE IT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331128May 19, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 MDX HAS BEEN SLIPPING FOR ABOUT A YEAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 2X, BUT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM--COULDN'T GET IT TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR. FINALLY, LAST WEEK, IN 5:00 TRAFFIC, IT STOPPED TOTALLY AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED--THE CAR WAS AT 106,000 MILES. APPARENTLY, ALL THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS HELPED ME OUT B/C THE HONDA NATIONAL AGREED TO COVER 2/3 OF THE COST OF A NEW TRANSMISSION (4355.00). I MUST SAY THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH SO FAR, AND I'M GRATEFUL THEY CHIPPED IN ON THE COST, ALTHOUGH IT'S CLEAR THE 2003 MDX'S HAVE REAL TRANSMISSION TROUBLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325899April 15, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 ACURA MDX. 105,000 MILES. IT WAS FULLY SERVICES AT SANTA MONICA ACURA UPTO 90,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING MY IN SEATTLE, HIGHWAY I-5 NORTH BOUND. AT 60 MPH SPEED, TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED TOTALLY. VEHICLE RAN FREELY. MY 2 KIDS, WIFE WERE WITH ME. IT WAS SCARY AS HELL. I SLOWLY CHANGED LANE IN BUSY FRIDAY TRAFFIC, WAS ABLE TO GO TO SHOULDER. CALLED POLICE, THEN AAA TO TOW THE CAR TO ACURA OF BELLEVUE. THEY SAID TODAY, TRANSMISSION GONE BAD. WANTS $4000 TO FIX IT. I CALLED ACURA CORP OFFICE. THEY HAVE DENIED TO COVER ANY COST BECAUSE THIS IS OUT OF WARRANTY. 2001 & 2002 MDX HAD RECALL. WITH SAME TRANSMISSION, THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE SAME PROBLEM. I CAN IMAGINE A HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE FIXING TRANSMISSION ON MDX VEHICLES; AND ACURA NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE, SOMEONE, PLEASE TAKE NOTICE. AND FOLLOW UP ON THIS CASE. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE, ACURA SHOULD EXTEND TRANSMISSION WARRANTY AND COVER ALL TRANSMISSION FAILURE COSTS OF THEIR VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323571April 3, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2003 ACURA MDX. IN JUNE OF 2008, I WAS TOLD THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SOUND IT WAS MAKING WOULD EVENTUALLY GET LOUDER. NO ONE TOLD ME THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IN APRIL 2010, I TALKED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD MANY CUSTOMERS COME TO HIM WHO WERE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND HE DIRECTED THESE CLIENTS BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. HE EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MDX AND THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. I TALKED TO MY DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD BY TWO SERVICE ADVISORS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. NO ONE BOTHERED TO TELL ME THIS WHEN I INITIALLY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I'M EXPECTED TO PAY THE COST TO HAVE IT REPAIRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322518March 28, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
03 ACURA MDX HAS LOW, SOFT, SPONGY BRAKE PEDALS FEELING HAPPENED GRADUALLY. CHECK ALL THE LINES AND THERE WAS NO LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID. NEED CONSTANTLY BLEED THE BRAKES. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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