NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Acura MDX. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. FOR OVER TWO YEARS, THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V226000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED AND PARKED, IT ROLLED AWAY AND THEN CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER PARKED VEHICLES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO MAKE NOISES WHILE GOING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED. A PRIVATE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, A DRAGGING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR CONTROL ARM HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR
CAR LOCKED ITSELF WITH DRIVER AND PASSENGERS INSIDE CAR. NO ONE COULD OPEN DOORS FROM INSIDE. THE MANUAL UNLOCK WOULD NOT UNLOCK DOORS. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK HIS DOOR BY OPENING WINDOW AND USING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES. *TR THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. ON ANOTHER INCIDENT WHILE PARKING, THE VALET ASKED TO TURN CAR OFF LEAVE CAR KEYS INSIDE CAR. AS DRIVER LEFT THE CAR AND CLOSED THE DOOR, THE CAR LOCKED ITSELF (WITH THE KEYS INSIDE). THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED AND ENGINE REVVED UP TO RED LINE. CAR HAD NO POWER AND LOST SPEED. CLOSE CALL WITH OTHER VEHICLES, INCLUDING SEMI TRUCKS. HAD TO PULL INTO FAR RIGHT LANE AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO GO AROUND 30 MPH SINCE THE CAR CONTINUED TO REV AND THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED AND DISENGAGED. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND D5 LIGHT ON DASH STARTED FLASHING. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IN INVESTIGATING, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR. CAR IS WORTH $6500 IN GOOD SHAPE, BUT WITH THIS ISSUE, IT IS NOW ONLY WORTH $2000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE BUT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED SPEED DESPITE THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A CEMENT WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT BUT INSTEAD, DEPLOYED SEVERAL MINUTES LATER. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LACERATIONS, A FRACTURED TOOTH, INJURIES TO THE HEAD, WRIST, RIBS AND BRUISES. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED AN ELEVATED BLOOD LEVEL, BRUISING, DISCOMFORT, AND IRRITATED EYES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 195,239.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE MADE A FLUTTERING NOISE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY OVER A SIX MONTH PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND OUT OF NO WHERE MY BACK PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED FOR NO REASON, NO OTHER VEHICLES WHERE NEAR US SO NO DEBRIS OR OBJECTS HIT MY WINDOW. I GOT GLASS IN MY HAND AND ARM. *TR
DRIVING BACK HOME FROM LAS VEGAS, NV ABOUT 150 MILES AWAY (UTAH) THE A/T LIGHT CAME ON. LOOKED IT UP ONLINE IT STATED AUTO/TRANSMISSION OIL TEMP IS HIGH.DECIDED TO PULL OVER AND LET IT COOL DOWN AT THE NEAREST GAS STATION. DECIDED IT WAS OK SINCE THE TEMP IN UTAH WENT DOWN THIS WAS AROUND 2 PM. ABOUT 10 MIN LATER WHEN WE GOT BACK ONTO HIGHWAY THE A/T LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THEN THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE BAY. WE PULLED OVER TOOK A LOOK AT IT REALIZED NO PUNCTURE TO THE LINES AND FIGURED THE PRESSURE BUILD UP FROM TRANNY SPAT OUT FROM WHERE YOU USUALLY POUR FLUIDS IN. WE TRIED GETTING OFF HWY FOR SAFETY AND ENDED UP MIDDLE ON NO WHERE. THEN WE WAITED TIL 5 PM AND AS THE WEATHER COOLED DOWN WE STARTED THE DRIVE AGAIN. THE ENGINE WAS FINE THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T LET ME PUSH IT PASS 3 1/2 RPM SO WE DROVE ABOUT 50-70 MPH. WE REACHED COLORADO THEN SPENT THE NIGHT. THE NEXT DAY IT STARTED TO SNOW, THE TRANSMISSION DECIDED TO STOP RESPONDING IT WILL GO INTO GEARS BUT IT WILL STALL AND GO BUT IT WOULDN'T LET ME GO PAST 2 RPM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO AUTOZONE. THE O2 TEST STATED: LOW TRANNY OIL, TORQUE CONTROL SOLENOID SENSOR, AND ELECTRICAL SENSOR. THEN WE HAD THE CAR TOW TO NEARBY TRANSMISSION SHOP THEY RAN SOME DIAGNOSTICS AND SAID THE GEARS ARE SLIPPING AND THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. TOTAL COST IN REBUILT 4100.00 OUT THE DOOR. CAR IN ON 3/4/13 CAR WAS DONE ON 3/19/13. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND THE RPM INCREASED EXCESSIVELY. THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED VERY HARD AND THE STOPPED IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE DRIVE BACK TO LOS ANGELES FROM LAS VEGAS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I STOPPED AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AN ACURA DEALER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AND LEFT IT PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO REFERRED HIM TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE SRS AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE SENSORY BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED OF A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 101,000.
ON MY WAY TO HOME FROM WORK, I NOTICED THAT MY ACURA MDX MAKES GRINDING AND SHUDDERING SOUND WHEN INCREASING SPEED AFTER A STOP OR FROM SLOW SPEED. WHILE GOING ON STATE HIGHWAY AT 50/MHP SPEED, THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP. THE CAR DRAGGED ON THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 25 FEET AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE DRIVING LANE AS I COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE ON TO THE SHOULDER DUE TO LOCKED FRONT WHEELS. THE LADY BEHIND ME DRIVING AT THE SAME SPEED WAS ABLE TO JUST STOP HER SUV WITHIN SIX INCHES OF THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE. IT SCARY AND FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH OF AS MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED IN DRIVING LANE IN ABOUT 5 TO 7 SECOND FROM 50/MPH TO A COMPLETE STOP. MY VEHICLE COULD NOT BE PUSHED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO LOCKED FRONT WHEELS. THIS WAS A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE I HAD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE. I WAS SEARCHING ON INTERNET TO SEE IF OTHERS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM. I WAS AMAZED TO FIND HUNDREDS OF COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FROM THE OWNERS OF MDX FOR MODEL YEARS THAT RANGE FROM 2002 TO 2010. THEY APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHERE THE SECOND GEAR JUST FREEZES. I AM WONDERING WHY THE SHA HAS NOT INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND FAULTS WITH HONDA'S LACK OF WILLINGNESS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. SOME OF THE COMMENTS ON INTERNET SAYS THAT THIS HAPPENED TO THEM ON HIGHWAYS.. *JS
I HAVE A 2001 ACURA MDX WITH 80K MILES. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION AS IT IS SHOWING SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION LOCKAGE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED THE TRUCK JUST SEEMED TO MAKE A REALLY HARD BRAKE, LIKE SOMEONE WAS PUMPING THE BRAKES WITH A LOT OF PRESSURE. I TOOK IT TO ACURA AND THEY DENIED ANY GOODWILL REPAIR! THIS WILL MOST LIKELY BE MY LAST HONDA/ACURA AS I HAVE LOST FAITH IN THEM AND THEIR REPUTATION. WOULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED DURING RUSH HOUR, I AM SURE I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE KILLED. I BELIEVE IF I DROVE IT ANY LONGER THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND OTHER COMPONENTS LIKE THE AXLES, MOUNTS, ETC...WOULD HAVE BEEN DISABLED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING IN SECOND OR THIRD GEARS, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE WITH A VIBRATING SENSATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THE MANAGER ADVISED THAT DUE TO THE MILEAGE AND THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME EXACT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,127.
2002 ACURA MDX TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 71K MILES AND CUT POWER FROM ENGINE TO WHEELS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS SIMILAR THING HAPPENING TO MDX OWNERS. THE TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE! *KB
PURCHASED NEW, A 2002 ACURA MDX. FIRST TRANSMISSION REPLACED 2 MONTHS SHY OF 7 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY AT APPROX. 47,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION WARRANTY ENDED WITH THE EXPIRATION OF THE 7 YEAR WARRANTY (2 MONTHS). THE CAR WOULD SHUDDER, SEIZE, RENDERING IT A SAFETY ISSUE. NEXT TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 87,000 MILES. SAME SYMPTOMS, SHUDDERS, GEAR SLIPPAGE, SEIZING, AGAIN RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY BACK IN WITH SO. BAY ACURA IN TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, RECEIVING THE THIRD TRANSMISSION. THESE SAME SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY SEVERAL HUNDRED CUSTOMERS AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WOULD CONSTITUTE A RECALL. I ONLY SEARCHED FOR LIKE COMPLAINTS FOR AN HOUR SO I AM QUITE CONFIDENT I COULD LOCATE SEVERAL THOUSAND. THIS SAME TRANSMISSION FAILURE HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE NY TIMES. SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS IS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT SO I AM WORKING ON A CLASS ACTION SUIT WITH OTHER OWNERS AS THE CAR IS UNSAFE AS A FAMILY VEHICLE. ALSO HAD THE CAR TESTED EXTENSIVELY AT OTHER TRANSMISSION FACILITIES. *TR
PURCHASED A 2002 ACURA MDX BASED IN LARGE PART ON PRIOR VEHICLE RELIABILITY FOUND WITH ACURAS AND HONDAS. TRANSMISSION ON THIS $40,000+ VEHICLE, THOUGH PROPERLY FLUSHED (AHEAD OF MFG. INTERVALS) AND MAINTAINED, FAILED AT JUST OVER 110,000 MILES AND AT 45 MPH WITH THE CAR EFFECTIVELY "SEIZING", CREATING A ROAD HAZARD. ACURA DEALER REFUSED TO COVER THE COSTS OF REPAIR, THOUGH '01-'02 MDX TRANSMISSION FAILURES ARE WELL-DOCUMENTED, AND INSTEAD "GENEROUSLY OFFERED" (AFTER MY GOODWILL COMPLAINT; THEIR TERM) TO KNOCK OFF APPX. 20% FROM THE $4,300 REPLACEMENT COST FOR THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. GIVEN THIS UNIT'S KNOWN DESIGN PROBLEMS AND ACURA'S INCREDIBLY SHORT-SIGHTED HANDLING OF THE GOODWILL PROCEDURE (DURING WHICH I VOLUNTEERED TO PAY UP TO $2,500 OF THE NEW TRANSMISSION'S COST; IE OVER 50%), WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER HONDA OR ACURA PRODUCT AGAIN. *TR
MY VEHICLE IS SHUDDERING ON THE 2ND TO 3RD GEAR UPSHIFT. LOSS OF POWER. THIS IS OCCURRING WITH GREATER AND GREATER FREQUENCY, AFTER JUST A SHORT TIME OF DRIVING. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT I WOULD NEED A RE-MAN TRANSMISSION. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THIS BEING RELATED TO THE KNOWN RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, THEY STATED THEY WOULD BRING THIS UP TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER'S REPLY WAS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW ME WELL ENOUGH, SO THEY WOULD NOT LOOK INTO THIS ANY FURTHER, AND WOULD FIX THIS DEFECT. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE RECALL WAS CLOSED FOR THIS VEHICLE, AND THAT ONLY AN INSPECTION WAS DONE; THERE WAS NO JET KIT INSTALLED, NO TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT DONE. THEY INSPECTED, AND SENT IT ON ITS WAY, AND NOW IT IS FAILING. I FEAR THAT THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS KNOWN RECALLED DEFECT NOT BEING CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, WILL BE TRANSMISSION LOCKUP AT SPEED, LEADING TO A CRASH. *KB
WELL I BOUT THIS CAR ABOUT A YEAR AGO AT ABOUT 112K MILES ..AND WAS A PROUD OWNER OF A 2002 ACURA MDX...WAS GREAT FOR A WHILE UNTIL I STARTED NOTICING SLOW ACCELERATION WHILE PRESSING ON THE GAS...THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT AT FIRST....TOOK IT FOR A SERVICE TO ACURA DEALERSHIP ...TOLD THE SERVICE DEPT ABOUT MY ISSUE AND THEY ARE THE ONCE WHO RECOMMENDED THE 120K MI SERVICE MADE ME FORGET ABOUT THE REASON I BROUGHT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE ...NOW 3 MO LATER MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AT 128K MI AND THEY TELL ME MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING BAD ....THEY KNEW THIS WHEN I TOOK IT IN THE FIRST TIME..BUT OF COURSE INSTEAD OF TELLING ME THEN THEY LET ME SPEND $2K ON SERVICE AND NOW TELLING ME ITS GOING TO COST ME $5K FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION ...THANKS! I AM PRETTY TICKED COMING TO KNOW THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND THEY ARE NOT DOING A THING ABOUT IT ! *TR
BOUGHT 02 MDX AND HAVE HAD NO ISSUES. BEGAN NOTICING A STUTTER WHEN ACCELERATING. NEVER THOUGHT MUCH OF IT SINCE VEHICLE PERFORMANCE WAS NEVER COMPROMISED. RECENTLY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND HAD CODE READ. INFORMED IT WAS A GEAR RATIO MISMATCH. CALL ACURA DEALER AND WAS INFORMED I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE NON-SERVICEABLE TRANY@ ~$2000! RESEARCHING, FOUND REAMS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
THE CAR WILL MAKE A VIBRATION SOUND AT RANDOM INTERVALS. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT SPEED YOU ARE DRIVING AT OR THE TYPE OF ROAD. ADDITIONALLY, IT FEELS AS THOUGH YOU ARE BEING PUSHED BACK BY THE WIND WHEN THE VIBRATION SOUND OCCURS. AT THIS TIME NO WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED ON THE CAR FOR THE NEW NOISE. ONE REPAIR SHOP CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ANOTHER PLACE FEELS IT IS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS ALREADY REPLACED ONCE ON THIS CAR DUE TO A DIFFERENT NOISE. THE CAR HAD TO GO TO THE SHOP THREE TIMES TO FIX THE FIRST NOISE. THE CAR WAS FINALLY REPAIRED AFTER A WEEK AND AFTER A NEW TIMING BELT, TENSIONER AND PULLEY, WHICH HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT, IDLER PULLEY AND COMPRESSOR BELT . *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT GEARS INDEPENDENTLY. WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
I HAVE A 2002 ACURA MDX. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY AND THE D5 BEGAN TO FLASH. THE TRANSMISSION WAS LOCKED AT LOW GEAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. MY CAR NEARLY RAN OVER BY A TRACTOR TRUCK. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE MOUNTS ARE BROKEN, WHICH ARE SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS FOR 2001-2002 ACURA MDX MODELS. HOWEVER, ACURA WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR
I HAVE ACURA MDX 2002. ON MARCH 4TH, 2011 WHILE TRYING TO PARK IN A PARKING LOT THE CAR SUDDENLY TOOK OFF (UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION) HITTING THE PARKED CAR IN FRONT AND THAT IN TURN HIT ANOTHER PARKED CAR. LUCKILY NOE WAS IN BOTH THE CARS. I HAD NO CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE IT KEPT SPEEDING. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2002 ACURA MDX IN JANUARY 2011 WITH 145,000 MILES AND LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER MY PURCHASE I HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER WITH A "RUMBLE STRIP" NOISE IN THE FRONT END. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS 2 BROKEN CHORDS IN MY TIRES. NEW TIRES ALL AROUND WERE PURCHASED. BACK IN TO SERVICE CENTER LESS THAT 2 WEEK LATER FOR SAME RUMBLE STRIP NOISE...TOLD THAT NEW TIRES NEEDED BALANCED. SERVICE CENTER SUPPOSEDLY BALANCED TIRES. BACK IN TO SERVICE CENTER IN LESS THAN A MONTH AGAIN WITH SAME RUMBLE STRIP NOISE...TOLD THAT THE NEW TIRES WERE ACTUALLY TOO HARD OF A COMPOUND. THEY WERE MADE FOR A HEAVY DUTY TRUCK, NOT A LIGHT DUTY SUV. SERVICE CENTER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER THAT COULD BE DONE FOR MY USED MDX EXCEPT NEW TIRES. ISSUE WAS DROPPED FOR APPROX. 4 MONTHS UNTIL THE RUMBLE STRIP NOISE CONTINUED TO GET WORSE, SO ON MY 4TH TRIP TO THE SERVICE CENTER WITH THE SAME RUMBLE STRIP NOISE THAT I HAVE HAD SINCE JANUARY...TECH AND I WENT FOR A RIDE TOGETHER. AT THAT TIME, I WAS TOLD THE NOISE THAT I WAS HEARING WAS "WIND BLOWING ACROSS MY HOOD"! ON THAT VISIT, I STOOD MY GROUND AND TOLD THEM TO CHECK IT OVER CLOSER AND NOT CALL ME UNTIL THEY FOUND OUT THE REAL PROBLEM AS I WAS NOT TAKING IT HOME WITH ME! FINALLY AFTER 4 TRIPS TO THE ACURA SERVICE CENTER, MY TORQUE CONVERTER GOT CHANGED OUT. WHEN I ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH IT, I WAS TOLD THERE HAD ALREADY BEEN WORK DONE MY TRANSMISSION SO WHEN I ASKED FOR THE PAPERWORK ON IT...THE SERVICE CENTER COUNDL NOT PROVIDE IT TO ME - EVEN THOUGH THEY SAID THEY WOULD! I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED ARRANTY FOR ISSUS JUST LIKE THIS AND NOW I CAN'T EVEN GET THE SERVICE CENTER TO DO THE WORK AND PROVE TO ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT GOING TO LOCK UP ON ME GOING DOWN THE ROAD! I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH A YOUNG SON AND WAS ASSURANCE HE IS SAFE. HELP! *TT
I HAVE A 2002 ACURA MDX. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPONENTS ON IT REPLACED, HOWEVER THE ONE ITEM WHICH HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED IS A SHUDDER WHICH I GET IN THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 30 - 40 MPH. IT APPEARS TO BE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE, BUT THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT DEALT WITH THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 100K MILES ON IT, BUT THE ISSUE FIRST AROSE AT ~35K MILES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY WITH NO RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *TR
2002 ACURA MDX - TRANSMISSION NOISE. PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW FROM ACURA DEALERSHIP IN 2002. MAINTAINED RELIGIOUSLY AS PER MANUFACTURES SPECIFICATIONS. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AFTER HEARING NOISE IN TRANSMISSION BETWEEN 20-30MPH. VEHICLE MILEAGE: 88,512. DEALERSHIP REPORTED INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE - TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ESTIMATED COST: $4738. AFTER RECEIVING NEWS, RESEARCHED MDX TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FILED ONLINE ABOUT 2002 MDX TRANSMISSIONS, CITING RISK OF TRANSMISSION LOCK-UP, AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE FOR 2001 / 2002 MDX - POSING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK. SPOKE WITH ACURA CORPORATE. PER CORPORATE - WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 50,000. ACURA WILL ONLY STAND BEHIND PRODUCT WITHIN WARRANTY. ACURA DOES NOT CONSIDER US AN "ACURA CUSTOMER" AND WILL NOT OFFER ANY GOOD-WILL ASSISTANCE ON TRANSMISSION BECAUSE MAINTENANCE WAS NOT PERFORMED AT ACURA DEALERSHIP, DESPITE OFFERING SERVICE RECORD HISTORY, AND HAVING A PRIOR OWNERSHIP HISTORY OF ACURAS, AND FAMILY OWNERSHIP HISTORY OF HONDAS AND ACURAS. ACURA REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. *TR
THE VEHICLE STALLS WHENEVER YOU STOP MOVING BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKS UP AND DOES NOT RELEASE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AND OTHER TIMES, THE RPMS WOULD INCREASE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL ACCELERATE ABNORMALLY SLOW. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER IN 2004 UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONTACT, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL, THEY COULD OFFER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,962 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000.
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
MY DAUGHTER WAS LIVING IN MICHIGAN AND THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF IT AND THERE WAS NO ACURA DEALERSHIP AROUND WHERE SHE LIVED. SHE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND THEN MOVED BACK TO CA. I SAW THAT IT WAS ON SO I CONTACTED AN ACURA DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT HAD BEEN UNDER AN EXTENDED BUT WE WERE NOW PAST THE 150K LIMIT. I TOLD THEM THAT IT CAME ON BEFORE THAT BUT THEY WOULD NOT HELP. THEY TOLD ME TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR BOX AND IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAD IT REPLACED AND IT AGAIN SHOWS THE SRS LIGHT ON. THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WITH THE SRS LIGHT ON. THIS SHOULD OF BEEN A FACTORY RECALL RATHER THEN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT. *TR
2002 ACURA MDX FREQUENTLY HESITATES SHIFTING AT ABOUT 1200-1500 RPM. PROBLEM BEGAN AT AROUND 110, 000 MILES AND EXPECT IT'S THE TORQUE CONVERTER OR FAULTY TRANSMISSION THAT IS SO PROMINENT WITH THESE VEHICLES. *TR
THERE HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT GRINDING NOISE AND SHUDDER IN THE TRANSMISSION BETWEEN 35-45 MILES AND HOUR IN 5TH GEAR. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN ACURA MDX 2002 AND HAS BEEN ISSUED A RECALL FOR OTHER VIN # 'S BUT MINE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I AM WORRIED THAT IT WILL LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BUT THE DEALER AND ACURA HAVE SO FAR REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
TORQUE CONVERTER SHUDDER OR VIBRATION BETWEEN 35-40 MPH. *TR
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.
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
TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUE (VIBRATION/SHUDDER/GRINDING BETWEEN 20-50 MPH WHILE ACCELERATING). ACURA RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER. ACURA HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AS A PROBLEM, DESPITE THE REPEATED INCIDENTS OF FAILURE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO ADDRESSED BY ACURA!!!! IT WOULD BE SAFE TO SAY FROM SIMILAR COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE ARE PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF MDXS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *KB
TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUE (VIBRATION/SHUDDER/GRINDING BETWEEN 20-50 MPH WHILE ACCELERATING). ACURA RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER. *KB
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.
VEHICLE SHUTTERS ON LIGHT ACCELERATION. 2002 ACURA MDX. DEALER INDICATES I HAVE A TORQUE CONVERTER AND PRESSURE SWITCH 4 PROBLEM. *TR
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
THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION 2001-2006 ACURA MDX . MANY HAVE STATED THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED TRANSMISSION AT LEAST 2TIMES .THEN ACURA WANTS TO CHARGE 4-5K TO REPLACE .THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS LISTED ON EDMUNDS.COM FORUM OVER 400 .I HAVE ALSO BEEN AFFECTED BY HAVING A FAULTY TRANSMISSION AS WELL .S OME OWNERS WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE ARE AFFECTED.. ACURA ISN'T OWNING UP TO THE PROBLEM. HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST RESULT IN A DEATH TO REPORT THIS AS A SAFETY RECALL . *TR
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.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026