2003 Acura MDX Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V045000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V351000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V349000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V045000: (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

I CAN NOT GO PASS 25MPH THE TRUCK WILL REEVE UP, THEN TURN OFF AFTER DRIVING FOR ONE MILE. THE ENGINE MOUNT, SHAKES. I WAS TOLD IT IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. SOMETIMES THE GEARS DON'T SWITCH FROM ORIGINAL POSITION, EX. PARK TO DRIVE. *TR

2003 ACURA MDX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 15V-045. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CLOSEST ACURA WAS A DAYS DRIVE AWAY AND REQUESTED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE BE ABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL AT A HONDA DEALER. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V045000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

2003 ACURA MDX. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE AIRBAGS ON CAR BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, BECAUSE NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE CONSUMERS MODEL. *TA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR BOARD AS THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY AND FRACTURED. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH DRIVERS SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED OR NOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

IN OCTOBER OF 2014 SRS LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 2003 ACURA MD. ACURA REPORTED FAULTY SRS UNIT AND REPLACED UNIT AT OWNERS EXPENSE. AT SAME SERVICE APPOINTMENT, ACURA REPLACED AIR BAG INFLATOR UNDER RECALL (SB 14-029) UNDER WARRANTY. SUBSEQUENTLY, ANOTHER AIRBAG RECALL (SB-14-023) WAS COMPLETED 12/9/14. SRS UNIT NOW PLACED ON RECALL LIST BY NHTSA. OWNER APPLIED TO AMERICAN HONDA FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE SRS UNIT (10/14) BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE "THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG PRIOR TO THE REPLACEMENT" (10/14). I'M CONFUSED. THIS PARTICULAR YEAR/MODEL SRS UNIT IS BEING RECALLED/REPLACED DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR LIFE THREATENING DEPLOYMENT PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS MODEL'S AIRBAG SYSTEM CLEARLY INDICATING THAT THERE WERE/ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE 2003 ACURA MDX. FORTUNATELY, MY SRS UNIT IN QUESTION WAS REPLACED (FOR NOTED DEFECTS) PRIOR TO A DISASTROUS DEPLOYMENT. AS SUCH, WHY AM I NOT BEING REIMBURSED FOR THE PRIOR REPLACEMENT OF MY UNIT THAT HAS NOW BEEN PLACED ON THE RECALL LIST?

RIGHT FRONT METAL WHEEL SEPARATED WITHIN SECONDS, PULLED THE CAR RIGHT INTO AN EMBANKMENT, CAR ROLLED LEFT MULTIPLE TIMES INVESTIGATING OFFICER FROM GOOCHLAND COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT. SAID HAD NEVER SEEN SIMILAR FAILURE. THERE WERE NO REPORTED OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO EYEWITNESSES. DRIVER LOST CONSCIOUSNESS DURING FIRST ROLLOVER. CHILD SAID THEY ROLLED 3 OR 4 TIMES AND APPARENTLY DID NOT LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS. WHEEL FAILED IN THE VERTICAL AXIS IN A JAGGED MANNER. PICTURES OF FAILED WHEEL ARE AVAILABLE SEATBELTS WERE ON 31 YEAR OLD DRIVER AND 8 YEAR OLD SON NO TICKET OR VIOLATION WAS ISSUED DRIVER WENT TO PATIENT FIRST FOLLOWING DAY WITH HEADACHE AND CHEST PAIN CHILD COMPLAINED FOLLOWING DAY OF MINOR NECK PAIN BUT NOT SINCE AUTO WAS TAKEN BY STATE FARM FOR INVESTIGATION CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED SINCE PURCHASED NEW IN 2003 AND MAINTENANCE RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE TIRES WERE PURCHASED IN SEPT AND DEC OF 2013 - SO LESS THAN 12 MONTHS OLD IF NOT FOR SEATBELTS THIS WOULD LIKELY HAVE CAUSED FATALITIES. *TR

TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. THE CAR BASICALLY COASTED TO A STOP. THERE SEEM TO BE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2003 MDX TRANSMISSION FAILING. ACURA IS REIMBURSING SOME DRIVERS, BUT NOT OTHERS. *TR

WHILE MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY OR PASSING ANOTHER CAR ON A TWO LANE ROAD I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL HARD TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY (EITHER TO PASS QUICKLY OR TO ACCELERATE BEYOND A CAR WHO IS NOT ALLOWING ME TO MERGE ONTO A FREEWAY). THE TRANSMISSION COMES OUT OF GEAR AND JUST REVS AS IF IN NEUTRAL. I MUST RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL AND SLOWLY ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE. THIS CAUSES A HUGE SAFETY RISK WHILE TRYING TO AVOID AN ONCOMING CAR WHILE PASSING OR TRYING TO AVOID GETTING RUN OFF THE FREEWAY OR WORSE INTO A BARRIER WHEN MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY. TRANSMISSION IS SHOWING NO OTHER SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT ALL. NO SLIPPING, GOOD FLUID COLOR, AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY MULTIPLE ACURA DEALERSHIPS. ACURA DIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND 3RD GEAR CLUTCH BEING GONE AT A REPAIR COST OF $6K. ACURA DECLINED TO ASSIST IN COST SINCE I AM SECOND OWNER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V351000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V700000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE.

MY SON WAS DRIVING IN TOWN NORMAL SPEED IT WAS RAINING, HE HAD TO MAKE A QUICK STOP TO AVOID A CAR IN FRONT OF HIM THAT MADE A QUICK STOP ALSO. THE BUMPERS BARELY TOUCHED, LEFT NO MARKS AT ALL, NOT EVEN TO THE FRONT LICENSE PLATE. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND BLACK AND BLUED HIS ARM. WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS 2003 MDX. TOOK IT IN TO LIBERTYVILLE ACURA AND THEY FIXED ONE PART OF THE RECALL BUT REFUSED TO FIX THE DEPLOYED AIRBAG AND SEATBELTS. THAT'S NOT RIGHT! THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED WITHOUT A CRASH! WHAT GIVES. A RECALL WITHOUT REPAIRS IS NOTHING BUT LIP SERVICE. HOW MANY OF US ARE OUT THERE? HOW MANY OTHERS ARE OR ,WERE DENIED ALSO? THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER. THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

OWNER OF 2003 MDX WITH 140,000 MILES ON IT. WAS WORKING PERFECTLY TILL IT DECELERATE ALL THE SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING IN DALLAS TOLLWAY. IT FELT AS IF THE GEAR WAS ON NEUTRAL AND GAS PEDAL WAS BEING FORCED. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE MOTOR TO REV UP BUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING AND THE GEAR WASN'T RESPONDING. VEHICLE CAME TO COMPLETE STOP, WHERE THE DRIVER POWER OFF THE ENGINE AND POWERED BACK ON TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED MOVING AGAIN FOR A MINUTE AND THEN BACK TO NO POWER. AFTER TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

AUTO DIMMING REAR VIEW MIRROR DEVELOPED STRANGE CIRCLES. IT BECAME TRIPLE VISION. THEN OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS IT BEGAN LEAKING A BLACK OILY SUBSTANCE ON THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND THE VIEW FROM THE MIRROR IS SOO DISTORTED YOU CANNOT SEE ANYTHING. I CONTACTED ACURA AND THEY SAID OUT OF WARRANTY. TOUGH LUCK. I EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY DEFECT AND I RECEIVED THE SAME RESPONSE. *TR

MY DAUGHTERS MDX WAS DRIVEN BY HER SON AND HE HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP UNDER RAINY CONDITIONS. THERE WAS NO CRASH, AND THE SLIGHTEST CONTACT WITH THE STOPPED CAR IN FRONT. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO EITHER CAR, THE TOUCH WAS SO SLIGHT THERE WAS NOT EVEN A SCRATCH NOR A BENT LICENSE PLATE. TO OUR SHOCK THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED AND SAFETY BELTS LOCKED UP. THERE IS NO WAY THAT AIRBAG SHOULD OF DEPLOYED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THE DEALER DID PART OF SEVERAL PARTS OF THE RECALL, BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG AND REPAIR THE FROZEN FRONT SEAT BELTS.

WHILE DRIVING MY 03 MDX AT 20 MPH AROUND A CORNER, IT JUST STOPPED ACCELERATING. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS THAT MY CAR WOULD STOP, IT JUST STOPPED ACCELERATING. I WOULD NOT MOVE IN D5, D4 OR D3, SO I HAD TO DRIVE IT IN D1TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LEFT IT OVERNIGHT. THE NEXT DAY THEY TELL ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. TWO MONTHS BEFORE THAT, MY CAR WAS LEAKING OIL AND I TOOK IT IN TO GET THE LEAK FIXED. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE REAR MAIN AND IT WOULD COST $1000 TO FIX. IT WAS SUCH A HIGH COST DUE TO THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGINE TO GET TO IT. TWO WEEKS AFTER IT WAS FIXED, I HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE UNDER MY HOOD AND FIND OUT I NEED NEW MOTOR MOUNTS (HMMM.. ACURA HAD TO MOVE THE MOUNTS TO GET THE ENGINE OUT).. $400 LATER, AFTER I REPLACED THE MOUNTS., I WAS GOOD TO GO. A MONTH LATER, NOW THE TRANSMISSION THAT ACURA HAD TO REMOVE IS NOW COMPLETELY SHOT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ($5200) ARE YOU KIDDING ME ACURA. I HAVE NO FAITH IN THEIR SERVICE DEPT OR MY 03 MDX WHICH IS ALWAYS SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. EVERYTHING THAT HAS EVER BEEN DONE TO THAT CAR HAS BEEN DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP FROM OIL CHANGE TO TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT, AND IT FEELS LIKE I'M GETTING SCREWED. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON THE VEHICLE WHEN COLD FUNCTIONS AND SHIFTS NORMALLY. ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OPERATING FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND IS WARM THE TRANSMISSION, WHEN AT A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT, WILL DROP OUT OF DRIVE AND INTO NEUTRAL DISENGAGING THE DRIVE TRAIN. THE ONLY WAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BECOME REENGAGED IS TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL OR PARK AND THEN RESHIFT INTO DRIVE. THIS WORKS SOMETIMES AND OTHERS IT DOES NOT AND HAS TO BE RESHIFTED SEVERAL TIME FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO REENGAGE. *TR

FOUR TRANSMISSIONS ON 2003 MDX,1) ORIGINAL, 2) 28K MILES REMANUFACURED FROM DEALER; 3) 85KMILES REBUILD DUE TO SLIPPING ON HIGHWAY AND BURNT ODOR FROM TRANSMISSION; 4) 96K MILES IN REVERSE WOULD GO ONLY A FEW FEET THEN LOCKED UP. AT 85K CONTACTED ACURA WHO GAVE NO ASSISTANCE DUE TO BEING MY FIRST ACURA/HONDA AND NOT SERVICING AT THEIR DEALERS.NO RECALL. WOULD LIKE SOME COMPENSATION, SERVICE, WARRANTY... *JS

VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHEN APPROACHING A STOP. THIS REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT MY TRIP (APPROX. 25 MILES). I HAVE KEPT UP WITH TRANSMISSION SERVICES AND MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES SINCE OWNERSHIP FEB OF 2012. I HAVE READ OF SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME SYMPTOMS FROM OTHER OWNERS. WHY IS HONDA NOT WILLING TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE ? *TR

I WARMED VEHICLE UP AND WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE OUT OF THE DRIVE IT WOULDN'T GO FORWARD OR BACKWARDS,BUT SLOWLY IT KICKED IN. I STARTED DOWN THE ROAD AND IT WOULD GO AWAY THEN JUST STOP RIGHT WHERE I WAS.I WOULD SHUT IT OFF,THEN RESTART AND IT WOULD GO THEN STOP DEAD IN THE ROAD. THEN IT WOULDN'T GO AT ALL.I WAS ON A SHARP CURVE ON A SMALL HILL AND WAS ALMOST HIT TWICE BY AN 18 WHEELER.I HAD TO BACK DOWN THIS HILL ON THIS CURVE AND ALMOST WENT OVER THE EMBANKMENT.I CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO CAME,AND HE TRIED TO DRIVE IT DOING THE SAME AS IT DID TO ME.UNFORTUNATELY HE HAD TO BACK ,IT DOWN A BIGGER HILL INTO SOMEONE'S DRIVEWAY,AND THEN IT HAD TO BE TOWED.PRIOR TO THIS I HAD NOT HAD ONE PROBLEM,BUT NOT A GOOD DAY FOR THIS TO HAPPEN IT -9 DEGREES.I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT FROM HONDA IF OTHERS HAVE HAD ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THIS.I WAS OUT IN FRIGID TEMPS FOR OVER 2 HOURS,AND NOT ONLY AM I 65,BUT I AM A SEVERE DIABETIC.I LIVE WAY OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND NOW HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION FOR EMERGENCIES,AND I CERTAINLY CAN'T HAVE THE CAR FIXED,THEY ARE SAYING $3000-3500.CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE ME ANY INFO,THIS CAN'T BE A FIRST. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING AT AROUND THE SPEED LIMIT ON A BUSY FREEWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED COASTING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. STEPPING ON THE GAS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO REV BUT NO ACCELERATION, WHICH MADE IT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO TRY TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER WITH THE RIGHT LANE HEAVILY OCCUPIED BY 18 WHEELER TRUCKS THAT ARE LONG AND RESPOND SLOWLY. ANY SPEED YOU LOOSE, PARTICULARLY AFTER APPLYING SOME BRAKE TO MOVE FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER, CANNOT BE REGAINED TO SAFELY MANEUVER WITH FLOW OF THE TRAFFIC AND MAKE THE SUBSEQUENT LANE CHANGE EVEN MORE DANGEROUS. AFTER TOWING TO AN ACURA DEALER IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAILED TRANSMISSION AND COSTS $6,100 TO REPLACE WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND ITS WARRANTY PERIOD, IT IS NONETHELESS DISAPPOINTING TO HAVE AN ACURA FAIL IN THIS FASHION CONSIDERING THAT THERE ARE MANY LOWER COST VEHICLES THAT EASILY LAST BEYOND 100,000 MILES WITHOUT TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THE VEHICLE CERTAINLY MET ITS WARRANTY REQUIREMENTS, BUT IT IS REALLY THE SUDDEN NATURE AND CRASH RISK OF THIS FAILURE THAT IS A BIGGER CONCERN. I LATER LEARNED FROM 3 CO-WORKERS THAT HAD SIMILAR TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR MDX. TWO WERE 2001/2002 MDX WITH APPROX 100,000 AND 80,000 MILES. THE 3RD WAS A 2006 MDX WITH ONLY APPROX 55,000 MILES. *TR

AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CAR MADE A VIBRATION OR SHUDDER NOISE FOR ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS AND BEGAN TO DONE THIS FROM THEN ON AT ABOUT THAT SPEED. I THE CAR TO ACURA TO HAVE A RECALL PERFORMED AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THIS. I TOLD THEM THAT YOU HAVE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO FEEL WHEN IS HAPPEN. THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT REPEAT THE EFFECT. AFTER PICKING THE CAR UP I FELT THE SAME VIBRATION ON MY WAY HOME. I DID SOME WEB RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON ISSUE IN MODELS WITH THE ENGINE TRANSMISSION SETUP. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE DEPTH OF TESTING REQUIRED TO TROUBLE SHOOT THIS ISSUE AND IF THE CAR IS SAFE TO USE? WHAT WILL THE FAILURE MODE BE? *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE CARPOOL LANE OF 170N WITH MY TWO KIDS (HEADING TO 5N) WHEN THERE WAS SUDDENLY A DOG,YELLOW LABRADOR CROSSING THE FREEWAY AND GETTING RIGHT ON MY LANE. I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN AND BRAKE BUT IT WAS TOO LATE,I HIT THE DOG RIGHT ON THE FRONT OF MY CAR. I FELT MY SEAT BELT TIGHTENED UNCOMFORTABLY THEREAFTER AND I RELEASED IT SO I CAN RESET AND PUT IT AGAIN,BUT IT WON'T PULL TO REACH THE PORT ON MY RIGHT SIDE,IT SEEMED STUCK. IT WAS RIGHT AROUND THAT TIME WE STARTED SMELLING SMOKE THEREAFTER WE HIT THE DOG. MY KIDS AND I WERE LOOKING AROUND WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING UNTIL MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS SITTING RIGHT ON MY BACK (DRIVER'S) SAID "MOM THERE'S SMOKE ON THE BACK"..(I WAS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE 170N FREEWAY JOINING 5N) SO I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ON THE SHOULDER AND PULL OVER AND TOLD THE KIDS TO "GET OUT OF THE CAR, NOW!" I DIDN'T SEE WHERE THE SMOKE REALLY WAS BECAUSE MY CONCERN WAS TO GET OURSELVES TO STOP THE CAR SAFELY AND GET OUT. WE RAN AWAY FROM THE CAR ABOUT 30-50 FEET AWAY. THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO PULLED ON THE SHOULDER AND ASKED WHAT'S GOING ON AND LEND ME HIS PHONE (I LEFT EVERYTHING IN THE CAR). HE CHECKED ON THE CAR AND THOUGHT "IT WAS OKAY".. I TOLD MYSELF I CAN GET MY PHONE AND PURSE STILL SO I RAN BACK AND GET IT (THERE WAS SOME SMOKE INSIDE I CAN'T TELL WHERE IT WAS FROM) . BY THE TIME I RAN BACK TO MY KIDS AND THE GENTLEMAN IT WAS ALREADY SMELLING SMOKE FROM WHERE WE ARE AND IN MAYBE A SECOND THERE WAS SOME FIRE VISIBLE FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE,ON THE DOOR SIDE INSIDE..AND THEN MY DAUGHTER TOLD ME "MOM THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE HOLE OF THE SEAT BELT ON THE WALL,IT WAS GOING TO ME SO I MOVED ON THE OTHER SIDE". SEEING THE FIRE I CALLED 911 AT 2:57PM TO ALARM AND AWARE THEM. I ASKED THE GENTLEMAN TO TAKE US ON A SAFE PLACE AWAY FROM THE CAR COZ I WAS AFRAID THE CAR WOULD CONSEQUENTLY EXPLODE. *TR

WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED MY MDX (USED 32K MILES) I HAD AN ISSUE WITH SHUDDERING BETWEEN 35-45 AND IT WOULD FEEL LIKE IT WOULDN'T GO. IT TOOK UNTIL MY CAR WAS AT 55K MILES FOR A SERVICE TECH TO FINALLY HERE THE PROBLEM AND DIAGNOSE IT CORRECTLY. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND TRANSMISSION. THEN AGAIN AT 124K MILES I HEARD THE EXACT SAME NOISE!! I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO ACURA AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE ...OF COURSE THEY COULDN'T. I SAID I HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, YOU REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION, YOU KNOW THIS IS A DEFECT OF ACURA/HONDA. THEY INSISTED IT WASN'T THE PROBLEM BUT IN FACT I NEEDED A CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SO, I REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AT $1,100.00 AND DROVE OFF THE LOT WITH SAME SHUDDER ( IT REPRESENTED ITSELF WITHIN THE MONTH)!! THEY SAID I HAVE TO BRING BACK AND DRIVE WITH A TECH. I HAVE YET TO GET IT BACK THERE BECAUSE OF MY WORK SCHEDULE THEIR LACK OF ACCOMMODATIONS FOR SATURDAYS. NOW I AM AT 160K AND AM TRYING TO GET THE CAR BACK IN AND THEY ARE ACTING LIKE THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE WRONG. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING! OUT OF WARRANTY. WORKING ON POSSIBLY A 3RD TRANSMISSION...IT IS CRAZY AND UNSAFE! I BOUGHT AN ACURA BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY REPUTATION THEY HAVE. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. I HAVE EVEN CALLED HONDA AND THEY ARE USELESS. IF YOU ARE NOT CONSTANTLY BUYING A NEW HONDA PRODUCT AND SERVICING THEM AT THE RIDICULOUS PRICES THEY DO NOT FIND YOU A LOYAL CUSTOMER THEREFORE DO NOT WANT TO HELP YOU!!! PLEASE MAKE THEM OWN THEIR DEFAULTS!! *TR

WHEN DRIVING MY 2003 ACURA MDX (SUV), LAST FALL, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR AT LOW SPEEDS. IT WOULD BE IN 3RD GEAR AS I WOULD SLOW TO MAKE A TURN OR ENTER A PARKING AREA. WHEN I FINISHED A TURN AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR WAS NO LONGER IN GEAR AND THE ENGINE JUST REVS AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. IN TRAFFIC, I WOULD HAVE TO BRING THE MDX TO A COMPLETE STOP (RPM TO ZERO) AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD RE-ENGAGE AND MOVE FORWARD AGAIN. SOON, I WAS HAVING TO PUT THE CAR IN A LOWER GEAR TO GET IT TO MOVE FORWARD AND EACH TIME THE CAR DECELERATES, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS. IN MOVING TRAFFIC, HAVING TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A STREET OR WHEN ENTERING THE HIGHWAY, ETC., IS DANGEROUS. I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE I CANNOT TRUST IT TO KEEP MOVING IN REGULAR TRAFFIC. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER BULLETIN / RECALL ON THE CAR (I AM SECOND OWNER), EVEN THOUGH I HAVE KEPT UP WITH SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. I CONTACTED ACURA (HOY FOX ACURA, EL PASO, TX) FOR ASSISTANCE, BUT THEY WERE DISMISSIVE WHEN THEY DISCOVERED I DID NOT PURCHASE MY ACURA FROM THEM. ACURA NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER RELATIONS HAS ALSO BEEN CONTACTED, AND ARE TELLING ME THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY (IT CURRENTLY HAS 200,000 MILES, BUT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE). I HAVE REVIEWED AND RESEARCHED A HUGE AMOUNT OF 2003 MDX TRANSMISSION FAILURES FROM 45K MILES TO 200,000 MILES (MY ISSUE BEGAN AT ABOUT 150,000 MILES). DOCUMENTATION ONLINE REFLECTS THAT ACURA MDX HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THERE IS ALSO LITERATURE AND DOCUMENTATION LINKING TRANSMISSION FAILURE TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUES IN THIS MODEL. THIS IS MY FIRST ACURA, AND I DO LIKE IT ENOUGH TO PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE. NOT SURE I WILL BE THAT "LOYAL", THOUGH, AFTER THIS SITUATION. MANY OWNERS SUGGEST FILING A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED AND OCCUPIED, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND ROLLED INTO A POND. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, IT ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO A POND, BECOMING COMPLETELY SUBMERGED UNDERWATER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND IT RESUMED NORMALLY UPON RESTARTING. THE FAILURE RECURRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

HUSBAND DROVE CAR, CAME HOME, PARKED THE CAR IN DRIVEWAY. WE FOUND CAR AT THE BOTTOM OF OUR DRIVEWAY ATTACHED TO THE FRONT BUMPER OF OUR NEIGHBOR'S CAR. OUR NEIGHBOR'S CAR WAS DAMAGED. I DEFINITELY BELIEVE AND QUITE FRANKLY EXPECT HONDA TO REFUND US OUR DEDUCTIBLE FOR OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. THE EXACT WORDING OF YOUR RECALL NOTICE IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED -- "REMOVAL OF THE IGNITION KEY WHEN GEAR SELECTOR WITH TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN SHIFTED TO THE PARK POSITION CAN ALLOW VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY." AND ROLL IT DID...IT ROLLED US INTO PAYING MONEY WE DIDN'T EXPECT TO HAVE TO PAY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 ACURA MDX AT 30-35MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A FLICKING NOISE LIKE A BELT HITTING AGAINST THE CAR. I PULLED OVER RIGHT AWAY AND NOTICE THAT MY SERPENTINE BELT WAS NOT ON THE PULLEYS. I TURN OFF MY ENGINE RIGHT AWAY AND START INSPECTING MY PULLEY AND NOTICE THE CRANK PULLEY WAS STILL THERE BUT THE THREADED PART OF THE PULLEY HAS UNWELDED ITSELF OFF THE PULLEY AND IT WAS LAYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. BECAUSE THIS IS A FAMILY CAR THIS INCIDENT IS DANGEROUS IF TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I FEEL THE NEED TO REPORT IT. THANK YOU *TR

FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR 5 MINUTES WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND REVS AT HIGH RPMS INSTEAD OF GOING INTO GEAR. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHEN TRYING TO GO UP HILL AT LOW SPEED THE ENGINE WILL JUST REV AND NOT MOVE FORWARD. APPEARS THIS IS AN ONGOING KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION OF 2003 MDX VEHICLES. HAVE CONTACTED ACURA FOR ASSISTANCE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE LOCATION OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WENT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID VEHICLE HAS BAD ENGINE MOUNTS, AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. NOTE THAT WE ALSO HAVE A 2004 HONDA PILOT, AND THE DEALER ALSO TOLD US THAT SOME ENGINE MOUNTS NEEDS REPLACEMENT. WE CHECKED SOME BLOGS FOR ACURA MDX AND HONDA PILOT OWNERS, AND FOUND A LOT OF OWNERS WITH SAME ISSUES. SOME ARE BEING REPLACED EVERY TWO YEARS. WE ONWED A V6 TOYOTA FOR 15 YEARS, NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE. WE HOPE NHTSA WILL CHECK THIS, BECAUSE IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO OWNERS AND ACURA/HONDA WILL NEVER ADMIT. I'M SURE IF NHTSA WILL GET REPAIR RECORDS FOR THIS "ENGINE MOUNT" ISSUES, IT WILL BE A LOT. FROM WHAT I READ, THIS AFFECTS DRIVE SHAFTS DUE TO EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE ENGINE. *TR

TOOK MY 2003 MDX TO ORLAND PARK, IL ACURA DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGE AND NOISE UNDER VEHICLE. THE SERVICE TECH CHECKED THE NOISE AND SUGGESTED THE TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE AT $120,000. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PROPERLY CARED FOR. AS I READ THRU MANY BLOGS I SEE THAT ACURA/HONDA IS TOTALLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE HOWEVER WHEN I CALLED HONDA THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE OTHER THAN $500 OFF FOR AN ISSUE THAT IS KNOWN BY ACURA THAT IS AFFECTING EVERY 2003 MDX OUT THERE. JUSTICE NEED TO SERVICE AND ITS TIME FOR HONDA TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PRODUCT THEY HAVE OUT ON THE STREETS. THIS IS UNSAFE AND CAN CAUSE DEATH NOT ONLY TO ACURA CUSTOMERS BUT CUSTOMERS FROM OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

TORQUE CONVERTER SHUDDER OR VIBRATION BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MPH. ****ALSO TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE SUV ACTED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND WOULDN'T MOVE EVEN THOUGH I WAS PUSHING THE GAS AND THE RPMS WENT UP. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY THE DRIVER BEHIND ME BUT HE WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY SWITCH INTO ANOTHER LANE, THEN MIRACULOUSLY MY SUV STARTED TO GO AGAIN. IT ALSO HAPPENED AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHILE I WAS DRIVING. LUCKILY THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION PICKED BACK UP IN TIME AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE SUV, A 6 MONTH OLD BABY GIRL AND A 6 YR OLD BOY. ITS A SEVEN PASSENGER VEHICLE SO IT SHOULD BE EXPECTED THAT CHILDREN MAY BE IN THE SUV. I DON'T THINK HONDA/ACURA SHOULD WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED TO ISSUE A RECALL. ITS NOT EVEN JUST ABOUT THE COST OF REPAIRS, WHAT ABOUT THE VALUE OF PEOPLE'S LIVES? DOES IT NEED TO BE ON THE NEWS FIRST FOR A CHANGE TO OCCUR? OWNERS OF THE 2003 ACURA MDX NEED TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A POTENTIALLY DEADLY SAFETY DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND REPAIRS NEED TO BE MADE ASAP! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY INTO A NEARBY LAWN AND CAME TO A STOP. THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE OR INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE HIMSELF, WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

I WAS PUTTING MY CAR INTO DRIVE ON A HILL AND IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND I WAS LUCKY I DIDN'T HURT ANYONE. THERE ARE A LOT OF KIDS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.$3900 LATER. I HAVE READ ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS YR/MAKE WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. WHY ISN'T THEIR A RECALL? *TR

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. DRIVER REMOVED KEY, EXITED VEHICLE AND REMOTELY APPLIED THE DOOR LOCKS. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN COASTING DOWN AND ULTIMATELY OFF THE DRIVEWAY, DOWN A STEEP GRADE INTO THE YARD UNTIL IT STRUCK A TREE APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET AWAY. RESULTING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO FRONT OF VEHICLE WAS APPRAISED AT $5900. CAR COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM ITS RESTING PLACE AGAINST TREE EXCEPT BY TOW TRUCK. TOW DRIVER INDICATED THAT VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DRIVE, NOT PARK WHEN HE EXTRACTED IT FROM CRASH POSITION. TOW DRIVER AND REPAIR FACILITY INDICATED THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION WITHOUT VEHICLE BEING IN PARK, YET THAT WAS THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THE CRASH. *TR

ON THIS DATE I COULD NOT HEAR AN APPROACHING EMERGENCY VEHICLE DUE TO A SHUDDER VIBRATION NOISE FROM MY POWER TRAIN AUTO TRANSMISSION. THE EMERGENCY VEHICLE ALMOST CRASHED INTO MY VEHICLE AND IN SO DOING CAUSING A POTENTIALLY VERY SERIOUS TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. THE SHUTTER NOISE WAS THE RESULT OF A LONG STANDING MDX MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION ( PERHAPS TORQUE CONVERTER). I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO SURVIVE THE CAUSE OF A RECURRING MECHANICAL PROBLEM BY VERY FREQUENT TRAN FLUID CHANGES OVER THE YEARS BUT THE PROBLEM HAS KEPT OCCURRING SINCE 40000 MILES IN YEAR 2007. I REMAIN VERY AFRAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL OR HINDER ME AGAIN CAUSING A MORE CRITICAL PROBLEM THE NEXT TIME. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS CONSIDERED THE NOISE AND SHUTTER AS A ACURA PRODUCT DEFECT. I RESPECTFULLY SEEK GOODWILL CONSIDERATION AND REPAIR OF MY TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID LEAKING CONTINUOUSLY ONTO THE ROAD. ONCE THE CONTACT REACHED THEIR DESTINATION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A LARGE QUANTITY OF TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A FAULTY PART WITHIN THE RADIATOR CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION WAS DAMAGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.

ENTERING FREEWAY FROM ON RAMP VEHICLE ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN DRIVE. AS I ACCELERATED FROM 40 MPH THE RPM'S RACED BUT THE CAR SLOWED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED THANKFULLY I LET OFF THE GAS AND THE TRANNY THEN GRABBED AND I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE TO FREEWAY SPEED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALER THAT BOTH TRANNY AND TORQ CONVERTER ARE NO GOOD. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED PER ACURA RECOMMENDED SERVICE AT SAME DEALER SINCE BOUGHT NEW. *TR

FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED AT 15 MPHR FOR NO OBVIOUS REASON - HEAT FROM THE DEPLOYED AIRBAGS CAUSED SKIN BURNS ON DRIVERS FOREARM . *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE. THE CONTACT HAD TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE IT FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 30MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

THIS PROBLEM STARTED A FEW YEARS BACK MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE AT HARTFORD HOSPITAL SHE SAID SHE STEPPED ON THE GAS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE,THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS,WHEN THE WEATHER GOT COLDER IT STARTED TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENT,THEN IN THE SPRING IT WENT AWAY AGAIN I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A SENSOR IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN WHEN I DROVE IT ,THIS WINTER IT HAS DONE THIS MANY TIMES WE TOOK IT TO CAPITOL TRANSMISSION IN HARTFORD LAST SUMMER THEY DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS BUT SAID IT COULD BE THE TRANS OR POSSIBLY A SENSOR NO DEFINITE ANSWER SO DO I FORK UP 4 GRAND OR WAIT TILL IT HAS A CODE OR BLOWS UP WHILE DRIVING THE FLUID HAS BEEN REPLACED ALMOST EVERY YEAR DRAINED AND FILLED WITH HONDA FLUID THIS LAST TIME I FLUSHED OUT THE WHOLE SYSTEM ( I AM A AUTOMOTIVE TECH ) I DO HAVE SOME INVOICES FROM HONDA FOR THE FLUID. *TR

CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDER AT 40 MPH, THEN GOES AWAY. RECURRING MORE FREQUENTLY NOW. TOOK TO DEALER. CAR WOULD NOT SHUDDER WHEN HE DID TEST DRIVE. SAID NOTHING SEEMS TO BE WRONG. BEGAN RESEARCHING ON MY OWN AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. TORQUE CONVERTER. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, WHY AREN'T YOU HELPING US? *TR

IGNITION CAN BE TURNED OFF IN ANY GEAR AND KEY REMOVED. THIS SHOULD ONLY BE POSSIBLE WHILE IN PARK FOR SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS. VEHICLE WILL COAST IF ON A GRADE. *TR

THE LOCKING MECHANISM THAT SECURES THE KEY IN THE IGNITION UNTIL PARK IS ENGAGED DID NOT WORK. THEREFORE I UNKNOWINGLY REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WITHOUT HAVING PARK ENGAGED. THE CAR ROLLED BACK FROM THE PARKING SPOT INTO A TREE. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO ACURA. IT SEEMS SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEM CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED FOR HONDA ODYSSEY'S AND PILOTS FROM 2003 AND 2004 BY NHTSA. NOTE THAT I DO NOT REMEMBER THE DATES/MILEAGE WHEN THIS FIRST OCCURRED BUT IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL KEYS IN THE IGNITION AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR