2003 Acura MDX Complaint Log

WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND THE CAR WON'T MOVE ANYMORE. ME AND MY FAMILY WERE TRAPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION AND WERE ALMOST HIT BY A TRUCK BECAUSE OF OUR UNEXPECTED STOP. WE ARE LUCKY THAT THE TRUCK MISSED US. I CAN'T IMAGINE IF THIS HAPPENS ON A RAILROAD CROSSING. THIS PROBLEM KEEPS HAPPENING FROM TIME TO TIME, ALL IN LOW SPEED LIKE COASTING TO A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT, ALSO ON HIGHWAYS WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR TRAFFIC, THEN THE VEHICLE WON'T MOVE ANYMORE. I HEARD THAT THE ACURA/HONDA TRANSMISSIONS HAVE SERIOUS DEFECTS, FROM LUBRICATION TO MATERIAL USED TO MAKE GEARS. ESPECIALLY THE MATERIAL USED FOR 1ST GEAR, WHICH FAILS PREMATURELY AND CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO MALFUNCTION. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT COULD ENDANGER NOT ONLY THE PASSENGERS' LIVES, BUT ALSO A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

CAR JUST DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. ENDED UP STOPPING IN A DANGEROUS SPOT. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT OF FRONT OF CAR. NO WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. *TR

TORQUE CONVERTER AND TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 99600 MILES, NOT TO MENTION TWO MOTOR MOUNTS. THESE REPAIRS ARE BETWEEN $6-7K. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A HIGHER END CAR. CAR WOULD VIBRATE AND SHUDDER AROUND 40 MPH A FEW YEARS AGO WITH ONLY 35K MILES ON THE CAR, AND OF COURSE ACURA COULD NOT REPLICATE. NOW THAT IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY HEAR IT. THIS CAR IS A TOTAL LEMON- PLEASE HELP PROTECT CONSUMERS- HONDA/ACURA GREED HAS STOPPED THEM FROM STEPPING FORWARD AND OWNING A PROBLEM THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT ALL ALONG. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE PAYING FOR ACURA'S FLAWED DESIGN, THAT SHOULD BE COMING STRAIGHT OUT OF THEIR PROFITS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FURTHER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS, BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 155,000.

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH AND CAR GOES INTO NEUTRAL. HAD TOWED AND IT WAS A TRANNY. CAR HAD 97K MILES. ACURA SAID IT WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME 6K TO REPAIR. I HAD IT TAKEN TO A LOCAL SHOP AND REPAIR COST ME 4K. *TR

THE IGNITION PARK-SHIFT INTERLOCK HAS FAILED, ALLOWING THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEING SHIFTED TO PARK. *TR

1. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AT A BUSY 4-WAY INTERSECTION, MY ACURA MDX REFUSED TO GO INTO GEAR OR ACCELERATE. THIS CAUSED ME TO OBSTRUCT TRAFFIC IN THE INTERSECTION, AND COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT. 2. THE CAR HAS INTERMITTENTLY REFUSED TO GO INTO FIRST GEAR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. MANUALLY SHIFTING IT INTO GEAR WOULD TEMPORARILY SOLVE THE PROBLEM. 23. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO RON TONKIN ACURA OF PORTLAND. THE SERVICE ADVISER INFORMED US THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND HE HAD CONTACTED ACURA TO REQUEST A "GOODWILL" REPAIR. 24 HOURS LATER, HE CALLED TO INFORM US THAT ACURA REFUSED HIS REQUEST DUE TO THE VEHICLE MILEAGE. (120,000). APPARENTLY ACURA'S POSITION IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD ONLY LAST FOR 120K MILES BEFORE NEEDING REPLACEMENT. *TR

PURCHASED A USED 03 ACURA MDX FROM A DEALER ON 4/22/11. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A TOLL ROAD (TX 121) AND WAS TRAVELING AT AROUND 65MPH. CAR STARTED DECELERATING AND WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. ALMOST HAD COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS AS THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE DRIVETRAIN. CARS TRAVELING BEHIND ME AT 65MPH+ WERE BRAKING HARD TO AVOID ME. VEHICLE TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY ADVISED THAT IT WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CALLED ACURA CUSTOMER CARE AND CONTACTED THEM ALSO VIA TWITTER. THEY PRETENDED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW OF ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION DESPITE MY RESEARCH WHICH POINTS TO NUMEROUS DEFECTS IN THEIR TRANSMISSION. ACURA INDICATED INITIAL INTENT TO CONSIDER COMPENSATE FOR THE COST OF TRANSMISSION REPAIR. AFTER SUBMITTING ALL REPAIR AND TOWING DETAILS/INVOICES, ACURA REPRESENTATIVE - SERGIO RAMOS - INDICATES THAT HE WILL NOT CONSIDER ANY REIMBURSEMENT. ACURA MANUFACTURED AND SOLD A VEHICLE THAT IS KNOWN FOR FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS THAT HAVE ENDANGERED MY SAFETY. I HAVE TRIED WORKING WITH ACURA TO AMICABLY SOLVE THIS ISSUE TO NO AVAIL. ACURA MDX IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND POTENTIAL DEADLY VEHICLE WHICH ACURA FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND FIX. *TR

SOME GEAR SLIPPAGE FOR A FEW DAYS PRIOR WHEN FIRST GET GOING IN THE MORNING. THE DAY IT FINALLY WENT, IT DID IT SUDDENLY WHILE GOING ABOUT 35 MPH. FELT LIKE IT KICKED A GEAR OR TWO MAKING THE CAR JERK VIOLENTLY ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I WAS ONLY A BLOCK OR SO AWAY FROM HOME, ALL THE WAY HOME IT WOULD ALMOST REV TO REDLINE WHILE GOING ABOUT 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS REVERSE NOW AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A SHOP LOCALLY FOR A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX. IF I WOULD'VE HAD SOME ONE CLOSER FOLLOWING ME THAT DAY AND WITH MY KIDS IN THE FAR BACK I'M AFRAID TO THINK OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED EXCEPT A LAWSUIT! *TR

2003 MAZDA MDX TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND I WAS NEARLY KILLED WHEN ANOTHER CAR BARELY MISSED HITTING (T BONING, MY CAR) MY STOPPED CAR. MY CAR WENT TO SHIFT INTO 2ND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, WENT INTO NEUTRAL, AND CAME TO A DEAD STOP. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN LAST YEAR, DEALER SAID IT WAS DIRTY. THIS DIDN'T MAKE SENSE SINCE ITS A CLOSED SYSTEM. SOMETHING MUST BE BRAKING DOWN. *TR

2003 ACURA MDX TRANSMISSION FAILURE. VEHICLE STARTED SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR, RPMS SHOOTING UP. VEHICLE JOLTING FORWARD AND THEN LOSING POWER. WAS TRAVELLING WITH MY FAMILY WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STARTED REVVING AND JUMPING FORWARD AND THEN BUCKING LOSING POWER. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON MAIN ROAD WITH BUSY TRAFFIC. WAS TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 35MPH AT TIME OF INCIDENT. FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. AM NOW TOLD TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. 123,000 MILES, HAVE OWNED FOR 7 YEARS AND 2 MONTHS. NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. UPSET THAT ACURA SEEMS AWARE OF PROBLEMS WITH 2003 TRANSMISSIONS SINCE THEY HAD ISSUES WITH 2001/02 MODELS BUT WILL NOT ADMIT TO 03 MODELS. SOMEONE COULD GET SERIOUSLY INJURED BY THE WAY THESE VEHICLES MALFUNCTION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GOES. PLEASE FOLLOW UP ON THIS, IT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR

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

BOUGHT USED ACURA MDX 2003 IN 2004 FROM CARMAX STILL UNDER MANUFACTURER WARRANTY OF 50,0000 MILES. HAVE RECURRENT TORQUE CONVERTER/ TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. CAR PERIODICALLY GRINDS, SHUDDERS, AND HESITATES WHILE DRIVING AROUND 25-40 MPH.... CAUSING NEAR ACCIDENTS SEVERAL TIMES. REPLACED TRANSMISSION WITH REFURBISHED TRANSMISSIONS AT APPROXIMATELY 53,000 MILES IN 2006, AND AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 61,900 MILES IN 2007. NOW IN JAN. 2011@ APPROXIMATELY 119,000MILES, ACURA DEALER DIAGNOSED THE SAME TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM REQUIRING A THIRD TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT.... BASICALLY, THIS 2003 ACURA MDX WILL HAVE FOUR TRANSMISSIONS IN IT'S LIFE TIME. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED PER ACURA SERVICE SCHEDULE AT PRIMARILY ACURA DEALERS.THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY NIGHTMARE WAITING TO HAPPEN AND AS A CONCERNED CONSUMER AND PARENT, REQUEST THE GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND IF WARRANTED, WARN THE PUBLIC OF POTENTIAL DANGERS.

2003 ACURA MDX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE/SHE TRIED EVERY GEAR, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE HE/SHE WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION HAD INDEED FAILED. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED TWO YEARS LATER, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE NEXT DAY WHILE ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, TORQUE CONVERTER, TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP AND ENGINE VALVES.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

MY 2003 ACURA MDX HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 44,000 MILES. AROUND 80,000 MILES I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION FAILING AGAIN. SPECIFICALLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER MAKING THE SHUDDER AND VIBRATION AGAIN. I LET ME DEALER KNOW, BUT THEY DID NOT DETECT AN ISSUE. NOW AT 102,000 MILES AND AFTER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED ACURA IS EXPECTING ME TO PAY FOR 60% OF THE REPAIR OF A CLEAR DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION OF THIS YEAR OF THE CAR. SO FAR IT HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT I AM AFRAID TO KEEP DRIVING WITHOUT PERFORMING THE REPLACEMENT. *TR

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

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

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

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

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

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

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING ON 2003 ACURA MDX STARTING AT 73,000. TALKED TO DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT BUT THEY SAID THAT SINCE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON OR THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON THERE WASN'T A PROBLEM. KEPT DRIVING IT AND IT GOT WORSE. AROUND 78,000 MILES HAD TO HAVE WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT AND ENGINE MOUNTS DONE (NOT AT DEALERSHIP); HAD MECHANIC CHECK TRANSMISSION - FOUND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON ACURA 03 MDX. *TR

I JUST BOUGHT AN USED 2003 ACURA MDX ON JAN 30TH WITH 87,000 MILE ON IT. JUST AFTER 11 DAYS ON FEB 11, 2010, I NOTICED THAT SOME BROWN COLORED FLUID IS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. IT'S NOT JUST DIPPING, THERE WERE LOT OF FLUIDS COMING OUT. I OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICE THAT THE FLUID WAS OVERFLOWING FROM THE RADIATOR RESERVOIR. NEXT MORNING WHEN I START THE CAR AND TRIED TO RUN IT JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID SOMEHOW INTERNALLY TRANSMISSION COOLER WAS BUSTED AND THE TRANSMISSION COOLANT WAS MIXED WITH THE ENGINE COOLANT. THEREFORE I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE RADIATOR, NEED TO FLUSH TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND FLUSH THE RADIATOR. IT COST ME $1000. NOW, MY CAR IS NOT SMOOTH AS IT WAS BEFORE. TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. I AM REALLY WORRIED DRIVING THIS CAR. I SAW THAT MDX HAS A LOT OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I THINK THEY SHOULD CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FOR FREE AND THEY SHOULD ALSO TAKE CARE OF THIS FLUID MIXING PROBLEM. I'D APPRECIATE IF YOU GUYS INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 ACURA MDX WHICH FROM TIME TO TIME EXPERIENCES A STICKING ACCELERATOR. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2003. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO STOMP ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR STOPS BUT IT IS SCARY AND WAS WONDERING IF OTHERS HAVE BEEN HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS? *TR

2003 ACURA MDX TRANSMISSION FAILURE, WHEN STARTING THE CAR IN PARK THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD ABOUT 18-24 INCHES, THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 45K MILES AND IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN AT 88K. *TR

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.

ACURA MDX 2003 WITH OVER 110,000 MILES, BEGAN SLIPPING OUT OF DRIVE WHILE RUNNING, USUALLY SOON AFTER STARTING. DEALERSHIP SERVICE HAD IT SEVERAL TIMES, MOST RECENTLY FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK IN DECEMBER 2009. NO TROUBLE FOUND. NO INDICATORS LIT. DEALER-MAINTAINED CAR REGULARLY FOR LAST 75,000 MILES. FINALLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY FREEWAY AT 60+ MPH, BUT WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SAFE EXIT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV EXTREMELY HIGH. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AND ALMOST CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE; HOWEVER, IT BEGAN DRIVING NORMAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THIS ISSUE BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM AT THIS TIME. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK WITH HIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

MOTOR MOUNTS CRACKED ON 2003 ACURA MDX, OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW, SINCE THIS HAPPENS TO EVERY VEHICLE. *TR

TORQUE CONVERTER DEFECT ON OUR 2003 ACURA MDX. MANY SIMILAR REPORTS. *TR

FAILURE OF 2003 ACURA MDX TRANSMISSION. *TR

REGARDING A 2003 ACURA MDX WITH 108,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION AND TWO MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED. INFORMATION ON THE EDMUNDS WEBSITE CONFIRM THESE REPETITIVE FAILURES AND POTENTIAL TRANSMISSION LOCKUP AT HIGH SPEEDS. I HAVE ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS TO SHOW THE CAR WAS TAKEN CARE OF. NEW MOTOR MOUNTS WERE $500. THE DEALER PAID FOR MOST OF THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT BUT IT STILL COSTS US $460 OUT OF POCKET. *TR

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

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

DRIVING DOWN I78 ON THANKSGIVING AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR STOPPED RESPONDING. ENGINE WAS REVVING BUT CAR WASN'T ACCELERATING COMMENSURATE WITH THE ENGINE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. I NAVIGATED MY WAY TOWARDS THE RIGHT ACROSS A COUPLE OF LANES OF TRAFFIC AND MADE MY WAY TO THE EXIT. GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED RESPONDING. I PULLED OVER AND COULD NOT MOVE AT ALL - THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. CALLED AAA AND HAD THE CAR TOWED. I STARTING RESEARCHING THIS AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE FOR ACURA MDX'S OF THE 2003 VINTAGE. I EVENTUALLY HAD THE CAR TOWED TO CLINTON ACURA AND OF COURSE THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $4000. I COMPLAINED AND ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO AND THEY SAID NO. I TOLD THEM TO WAIT AND THAT I WAS GOING TO CALL ACURA CUSTOMER CARE. I DID SO AND ASKED THEM TO HELP DEFRAY THE COST OF THE NEW TRANSMISSION SINCE IT WAS APPARENT THAT THEY HAD A DEFICIENCY. THEY TOOK THE COMPLAINT AND REQUEST BUT SUGGESTED I NEEDED TO MAKE THE SAME REQUEST OF THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE DEALER WOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR LOCAL ACURA FIELD REP TO MAKE A DECISION. I DID AS THEY SUGGESTED AND ABOUT 3 HOURS LATER THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID MY REQUEST WAS DENIED. ESSENTIALLY THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY. I TOLD THEM I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED BUT I HAD THEM DO THE WORK. I ALSO CALLED BACK ACURA CUSTOMER CARE AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. FURTHER, I TOLD THEM I WOULD NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER ACURA PRODUCT. *TR

FAMILY IN 2003 ACURA MDX WITH 92,000 MILES ON IT AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN VEHICLE COMES OUT OF GEAR, UNABLE TO DRIVE, TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY. TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. GEAR INDICATOR SHOWED IN D5. VEHICLE BASICALLY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF ROADWAY. IT HAPPENED A COUPLE TIMES AND NO REPAIR HAS BEEN PERFORMED. SHIFTED TO P AND BACK TO D5, NORMAL DRIVING RESUMED. *TR

MY 2003 ACURA MDX SHOWED NO SIGNS OF A TRANSMISSION ISSUE UNTIL ONE DAY THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. BY THAT I MEAN NO ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. I PULLED OVER SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE WHICH THAN WENT BACK INTO GEAR. THIS HAPPENED OCCASIONALLY FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER WHO CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THERE WERE NO ISSUES. UPON LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP IT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT THIS TIME THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. *TR

I HAVE 2003 ACURA MDX WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ITS AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL STOPPING THE CAR IN MID TRAFFIC IT HAS HAPPEN ON NUMEROUS OCCASION, NO REPAIRS LIGHTS TO INDICATE THERE IS A PROBLEM. I HAD 2 TAKE THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES BEFORE THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM AND THAT WAS ONLY AFTER MECHANIC TRIED 2 DRIVE IT HOME WHEN IT HAPPENED 2 HIM. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED PERIODICALLY AT ANY GIVEN TIME. MY VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN SERVICE FOR ITS 90,000 MAINTENANCE AT $560 I TOLD THEM THEN I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ASSURED ME VEHICLE WAS FINE. NEXT WEEK TOOK IT BACK THEY TOLD ME THE MAT WAS CAUSING THE ACCELERATION TO STICK REMOVED MATS DROVE HOME NEXT DAY SAME PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING CAR JUST STOP IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. TOOK VEHICLE BACK THAT'S WHEN MECHANIC TRIED TO HOME WITH IT HAPPENED TO HIM HE BROUGHT BACK INTO SHOP SHE'S RIGHT IT IS DANGEROUS. NOW THEY WANT $4700 TO FIX IT.. THERE ARE STILL NO WARNING SIGNALS THAT THIS VEHICLE NEEDS SERVICE COMPUTERS STILL SAYS ITS FINE. I ALSO JUST REPLACED ALTERNATOR A FEW MONTHS AGO COULD NOT SIT IN PARK POSITIONS WITH LIGHTS ON OR KEY HANGING IN IGNITION CAR WOULD JUST STOP AND WOULD NEED A HOT SHOT. *TR