There are 7 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2003 Acura MDXin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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
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
THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD MOVE APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THIS ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH WHEN CONSUMER'S FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WAS THE NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE, AND IT MET NHTSA SPECIFICATIONS. *AK
THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES WHEN STARTING OUT GOING EITHER FORWARD OR REVERSE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. ON OCCASION, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO GEAR, THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION, TORQUE CONVERTER, CLUTCH OR SOME PART(S) THAT IS BEING PRESSED TOGETHER WITH ANOTHER.*AK
EXCESSIVE BRAKE CLUNK / THUD NOISES UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS. SEVERE BRAKE NOISE AND CONTROL ISSUES UNDER EMERGENCY BRAKING CONDITIONS. TOLD BY ACURA ALL IS "NORMAL". WITH SUCH TRAVEL IN CALIPERS (CAUSE OF NOISE) POTENTIAL FOR BRAKE FAILURE MUST EXIST. WORRIED... *JB
WE HAVE AN '03 MDX WITH JUST ABOUT 6K MILES ON IT. AROUND 4.2K WE STARTED NOTICING THE THUD. MOSTLY JUST WHEN WE'RE BREAKING. SO TODAY MY WIFE GOES IN AND THEY ARE NICE ABOUT IT, BUT SAY IT'S "JUST THE WAY THE MDX IS..." THEY GIVE HER SOME "SERVICE NEWS" BULLETIN THAT SAYS: "SOME BRAKE CLICK IS NORMAL - ON ANY ACURA VEHICLE, CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE CALIPER BRACKETS AND THE ENDS OF THE BRAKE PAD BACKING PLATES CAN CAUSE THE PADS TO HIT THE CALIPER BRACKETS WHEN YOU FIRST APPLY THE BRAKES IN A NEW DIRECTION OF TRAVEL (FOR EXAMPLE: BACKING UP, APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEN DRIVING FORWARD AND APPLYING THE BRAKES). THE CLICKING YOU HEAR IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM; THE CLEARANCE IS THERE TO ALLOW FOR HEAT EXPANSION AN / OR CORROSION OF THE PADS." THIS HAS GOT TO BE BS IN THE CASE OF THE CLUNK / THUD NOISE. I'VE GOT TWO FRIENDS WITH MDX'S AND NO [XXX] NOISE... ANYONE CARE TO COMMENT? I'M CONSIDERING TAKING OURS IN MYSELF AND SEE IF I GET THE SAME RUN AROUND. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASION THE ABS MADE A CLUNKING NOISE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NLM THE BRAKE PROBLEMS HAD COME BACK AGAIN. THE DEALER FOUND A BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE CODE. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BUT IT REMAINED THE SAME. *SCC
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026