Acura MDX Complaints (2003)

206 consumer complaints on file.

#10277639July 21, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ON APRIL 7, 2009 TOOK MY 2003 ACURA MDX INTO LOCAL DEALER FOR IT'S 60,000 MILE SERVICE (ODOMETER READ 63,438). NO PROBLEMS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. JUNE 16, 2009 (ODOMETER 67,608) A/C STOPS WORKING. PAY OVER $1300 TO HAVE A/C COMPRESSOR, CLUTCH, STATOR & HI PRESSURE HOSE REPLACED. GET CAR BACK ON JUNE 18, 2009. JULY 1, 2009 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON (ODOMETER 68,219). AM TOLD THAT CAR NEEDS A "VALVE REALIGNMENT" - ALL GASKETS AND SPARK PLUG SEALS REPLACED ($600). GET CAR BACK ON JULY 2, 2009. JULY 3, 2009 BURNING SMELL COMING THROUGH A/C VENTS. AM TOLD THAT IT'S RESIDUE FROM V/C GASKETS FROM THE VALVE REALIGNMENT JOB- SUPPOSEDLY RESIDUE REMOVED. GET CAR BACK JULY 6, 2009. JULY 17, 2009 NOTICE OIL IN FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. POP HOOD, NOTICE RADIATOR OVERFLOW CONTAINER IS OVERFLOWING, RADIATOR IS VERY MOBILE AND OVERFLOW CONTAINER IS BLACK AT THE BOTTOM. HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. AM TOLD THAT THE RADIATOR CRACKED INTERNALLY AND THAT THE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WERE MIXING TOGETHER - THEREFORE HAVE TO FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE RADIATOR FOR ANOTHER $900. THIS JUST DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT TO ME. STARTED RESEARCHING AND AM BEING TOLD THAT THESE ARE NOT "NORMAL" REPAIRS ON THIS MODEL FOR SO FEW MILES ON IT AND THAT THE BURNING SMELL WAS MOST LIKELY THE MIXING OF THE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION OIL NOT RESIDUE FROM THE VALVE REALIGNMENT. DEALERSHIP ISN'T ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY. ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICES IS SAYING THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO EITHER BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP HAS FOLLOWED ALL PROCEDURES. I REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO COVERING UP A DEFECT OR MECHANIC ERROR . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275006June 26, 2009
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE VSA LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE WEIRD NOISE (BY THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL) AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP BY ITSELF. CALL THE DEALER AND THEY SAY IT WAS DUE TO THE TIRE BEING IN A PUDDLE OF WATER FOR A LONG PERIOD. IT RAINED TODAY AND MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE BUT THE PUDDLE OF WATER WAS NO DEEPER THAN 1 IN. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THEY WERE NOT ANY VEHICLES FOLLOWING BEHIND ME WHEN THE CAR STOPPED ALL OF A SUDDEN. PLEASE ADVISE AND CHECK THE ISSUE WITH THE VSA SYSTEM SINCE THERE ARE A LOT OF THREADS ON GOOGLE AND YAHOO SEARCH ENGINE IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS WITH ACURA'S VSA SYSTEM. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS INCIDENT HAD OCCURRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264987April 11, 2009
SEATS
1. ON MARCH 21, 2009, I HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR 10 MINUTES WITH THE SEAT HEATER ON. I HAVE USED THE SEAT HEATER FREQUENTLY ON COLD DAYS FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS. 2. I SMELLED BURNING FABRIC, PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO CHECK ORIGINS OF THE ODOR AND DISCOVERED A HOLE THE SIZE OF A DIME BURNT IN THE CENTER OF THE DRIVER'S SET BACKREST, WHICH IS WHERE THE SEAT HEATER IS LOCATED. I ALSO DISCOVERED A SIMILAR HOLE IN MY JACKET. I TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER. 3. ON MARCH 23 I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND TO ACURA CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO BECAUSE I WAS OFF WARRANTY, BUT HE WOULD REPLACE THE HEATER AND REPAIR LEATHER FOR $1050. I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD INVESTIGATED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE: DID THE FUSE FAIL? WAS THE HEATING ELEMENT FAULTY? THE DEALER WAS NOT INTERESTED IN THE CAUSE. 4. I WROTE A DETAILED LETTER TO THE DEALER AND ACURA CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE, DESCRIBING WHAT HAPPENED AND MY CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHER UNAWARE ACURA DRIVERS. THE PHONE RESPONSE I RECEIVED FROM ACURA CORPORATE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ME REGARDING THE SAFETY ISSUE. THEY SAID THEY HAD NO LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264157April 4, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ACURA HAS KNOWN FOR SOME TIME NOW THAT MDX MODEL, YEARS 2001-2003, HAVE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE WITH A LOT OF ACURA OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261355March 9, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 ACURA MDX 68,000 MILES TRANSMISSION WON'T GO INTO DRIVE NORMALLY, HAVE TO DRIVE IT LIKE A STANDARD TRANSMISSION, START IN 1-2 THEN PROCEED INTO REGULAR DRIVE MANY PAST PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, A/C PROBLEMS, ELECTRICAL, TRIM ETC. DEALER STATES OOPS YOU NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION --40,000. DOLLAR CAR AND YOU ONLY GET 68,000 MILES. DEALER STATES WELL YOU CAN DRIVE IT LIKE THAT FOR MAYBE A DAY OR TWO MAYBE A WEEK BUT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IT WILL LOCK UP ON YOU SOON. WE CAN FIX IT FOR 3600.00 IN THEIR DREAMS I WILL PROBABLY PAINT IT YELLOW AND PUT IT UP ON BLOCKS :) NO WARNING WHEN THIS HAPPENED JUST PULLED UP TO A RED LIGHT AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE AFTER THAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251597December 12, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 ACURA MDX, PURCHASED FOR USED CAR LOT, SHUTTERS DURING 30-40MPH DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE RESULTS WERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251077December 8, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DURING REGULAR SERVICE DEALER INSPECTION REPORTS FRONT MOTOR MOUNT IS LEAKING AND THE SIDE MOTOR MOUNT IS CRACKED. NEVER HEARD OF A 5-YEAR OLD CAR NEEDING MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED. ESPECIALLY WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN 100% ON PAVED ROADS BY A CONSERVATIVE 40+ YEAR-OLD DRIVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250386December 1, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
STATE INSPECTION FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE MOTOR MOUNTS 86,000 MILES ON VEHICLE THAT OTHERWISE RUNS LIKE NEW, WE'RE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS, FIND IT UNUSUAL TO NEED MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED, NEVER NEEDED TO REPLACE IN OTHER VEHICLES, I THINK THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249327November 19, 2008
VISIBILITY, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM ALONG WITH THE DEFROSTER WAS INOPERATIVE. IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, ICE BUILDS UP ON THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH CAUSES REDUCED VISIBILITY. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $3,000 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE NAVIGATION UNIT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. HE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 12-08-08 *BF UPDATED 12/10/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244602October 7, 2008
POWER TRAIN, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE HAVE RECENTLY BOUGHT ACURA MDX FROM HERB CHAMBERS DEALERSHIP IN BURLINGTON. WE TOOK AN EXTENDED BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY FOR THE CAR AND PAID A GOOD AMOUNT FOR THAT. FEW DAYS BACK, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED. AS SOON AS IT WAS DETECTED, CAR WAS STOPPED TO AVOID ANY DAMAGE TO ENGINE. WHEN THE BUMPER WAS OPENED, SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF CAR BUMPER, IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT FILE AND KILLED PEOPLE TRAVELING IN IT. IT IS NOTIFIED TO US AS TRANSMISSION SEAL BROKE. THE DEALERS WAS INFORMED AND CAR WAS TOWED TO THEM SAME DAY. I WANT TO REPORT THIS DAMAGE, WHICH COULD NOT BE EXPLAINED, AS THE CAR WAS SAFELY PARKED IN VERY SAFE AREA. CAR WAS DRIVEN BY EXPERIENCE DRIVER AND FAMILY MEMBERS, AND WE ARE CERTAIN THAT THE CAR WAS NOT DAMAGED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER IS NOT READY TO TAKE THE TAG BY SAYING IT IS VANDALISM. PLEASE TAKE A NOTE OF THIS AND HELP US OUT TO GET THE JUSTICE HERE. SUNITA *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243576September 26, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A VERY WELL KEPT 2003 ACURA MDX TOURING LUXURY SUV THAT RETAILS AT MORE THAN $45,000 WHEN NEW. THE ENGINE IS MOUNTED ON 3 ENGINE MOUNTS AND I JUST DISCOVERED THAT 2 OF THE 3 ENGINE MOUNTS ARE BROKEN. IF THE 3RD MOUNT HAD BROKEN, THE ENGINE COULD SHIFT POSITION RESULTING IN SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. THIS VEHICLE WAS USED FOR NORMAL HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING (NO OFF HIGHWAY DRIVING). AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT APPEARS ACURA UNDER-DESIGNED THIS PART MAKING THESE ENGINE MOUNTS VERY PRONE TO FAILURE. SOME PEOPLE REPORTED HAVING TO REPLACE ENGINE MOUNTS EVERY 30,000 MILES. TO MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE, THE COST OF REPAIR IS ABOUT $1,000 WHICH MAKES IT LIKELY FOR PEOPLE TO POSTPONE REPAIRS UNTIL A CRASH HAPPENS. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE PART OF A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237224August 6, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON ACURA MDX - WHICH IS WELL KNOWN FOR ACURAS - AND THEIR UNWILLINGNESS TO LIVE UP TO THEIR LIABILITY. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234307July 14, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY FOR ABOUT A DAY BEFORE. I ATTEMPTED TO ENTER TRAFFIC AND THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. I WAS LUCKY NOT TO BE ABLE TO GET IN TRAFFIC, OTHERWISE THERE PROBABLY BEEN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231097June 16, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN GEAR EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO STILL ROLL IF ON AN INCLINE OR BUMPED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224459April 14, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACES THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT WORK AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE UNLESS IT IS SHIFTED INTO RESERVE. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE WARMED UP IN ORDER FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO WORK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER DUE TO THE DISTANCE FROM HIS HOME AND THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 126,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196239July 12, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2003 ACURA MDX, WITH ~115,00 MILES ON IT. OVER THE LAST YEAR I HAVE PERIODICALLY EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION DURING SHIFTING OF GEARS. IN MY INVESTIGATION INTO THE MATTER,I HAVE FOUND THESE SYMPTOMS ARE IDENTICAL TO THOSE EXPERIENCED BY OTHER MDX OWNERS AND IS CONSISTENT WITH THE MANY COMPLAINTS OF FAILED TRANSMISSIONS WITH THE MDX MODEL. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER , FRANKEL ACURA IN COCKEYSVILLE, MARYLAND, FOR SERVICE ON THIS ISSUE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THEY HAVE CONSISTENTLY DENIED THAT THERE IS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE OFFERED TWO REPAIRS THAT THEY SAID WOULD ADDRESS THE PROBLEM . REPLACED ENGINE MOUNTS AND FLUSHED/REFILLED TRANSMISSION FLUID FOR A TOTAL COST OF ~$800. THEIR CONTINUED DENIAL OF PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION CONFLICTS NOT ONLY WITH MY COMPLAINTS, AND THOSE OF MANY OTHER OWNERS, BUT THE CONCLUSIONS OF TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS I HAD EVALUATE THE TRANSMISSION ON MY MDX. ONE OF THESE MECHANICS IS A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND THE OTHER HAS OVER THIRTY YEARS EXPERIENCE IN AUTO REPAIR. THEY BOTH CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING ,AND ONE EVEN SPOKE TO THE SERVICE AND PARTS MANAGER AT FRANKEL ACURA ABOUT MY CASE. HOWEVER, FRANKEL ACURA WAS STILL DENYING ANY POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IF ONE INVESTIGATES THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT ON THE INTERNET, THEY WILL READILY FIND DOZENS IF NOT HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR CASES, AND A VERY CONSISTENT PATTERN OF DENIAL ON THE PART OF THE ACURA DEALERSHIP NETWORK. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THIS ISSUE WARRANTS A PRODUCT RECALL, JUST LIKE THE ONE ISSUED FOR THE 2001 AND 2002 MDX MODELS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187567April 11, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT IN MDX ACURA SUV, 2003. I HAVE PASSED MY WARRANTY BY 6,000 MILES. THE DEALER COULD NOT TELL ME WHY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THEY JUST SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED , AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY OR WHAT HAPPENED. THE CAR WAS IN GOOD SHAPE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186377March 28, 2007
EQUIPMENT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE AND HESITATED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO ADDITIONAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 59000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185638March 20, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ACURA MDX YEAR 2003. DEALER DISCOVERED DURING REGULAR MAINTENACE THAT TWO OF ENGINE MOUNTS BROKE. PARTS WERE RELACED AT TOTAL OF $650.00. I THINK THISWAS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN ,AND NOTICED MANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE WEBSITE. ACURA SHOULD REPLACE ALL ENGINE MOUNTS WITH UPDATED DESIGN AT NO COST TO CUSTOMERS. I OWNED MANY OTHER VEHICLES AND I NEVER HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE MOUNTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182612February 15, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2003 ACURA MDX, THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING OUT OF ORDER, I WENT TO WWW.ACURAMDX.ORG ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 MODEL, THE DEALER CHANGED THE FLUID AT AROUND 55,000 MILES AND I CHANGED IT AT 68,000 AND IT WAS DARK BROWN IN COLOR, THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED AT THE SITE SHARED BY MDX OWNERS. I FEEL THAT SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO HOW MANY OF THE ACURA MDX 2003 TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN REPLACED UP TO THIS POINT, THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 01 AND 02 MODELS WHICH CAUSED HONDA TO OFFER A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSIONS, I AM NOT SURE IF THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED FOR 2003 BUT I AM STARTING TO THINK THAT IS WAS NOT, AND SO ARE OTHERS ON THE SITE. I HAVE A FAMILY THAT RIDES AROUND IN THIS VEHICLE AND I WOULD HATE FOR SOMETHING TO GO COMPLETELY WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION DURING ACTIVITY TIME OF THE DAY. THANK YOU *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Acura MDX