2003 Acura MDX Engine Problems

TAKATA RECALL. VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ALLOW IT TO MOVE.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NOXIOUS ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE VEHICLE DUE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVER WORKING ACURA INSISTS THIS IS NORMAL AND HAS ADVISED US TO CONTINUE DRIVING CAR WHILE CAUSING MY FAMILY TO BECOME NAUSEOUS FROM THE ODOR. MANUFACTURER HAS ADVISED US TO PURSUE LITIGIOUS MEANS. *JB

NOXIOUS SULFUR ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHICH IS LIKELY RELATED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I WAS FIRST ADVISED THAT ACURA KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM WHICH WAS RELATED TO A NEW PELLET INSIDE OF THE CONVERTER. ACURA NOW SAYS THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I AM BEING ADVISED THAT THIS TERRIBLE ODOR IS NORMAL ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHILE DRIVER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. *AK FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED BY A STOP SIGN AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE PROBLEM WAS AN AIR INTAKE LEAK, WHICH BEGAN APPROX. THREE WEEKS AFTER CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND STILL EXIST TODAY. THE ENGINE DIED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE HER MONIES REIMBURSED OR A BRAND NEW MDX WITH THE SAME OPTIONS AND COLOR OF HER CHOICE. *PH *NLM

NOXIOUS ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. ACURA HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR VEHICLE, INSISTING ODOR IS NORMAL. CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. HYDROGEN SULFIDE IS PROVEN TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. SMELL HAS NOT SUBSIDED. ACURA REFUSES TO REPAIR TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TO HELP BUT ACURA CORP. WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO GO ANY FURTHER. CAR NOW HAS 15, 000 MILES AND STILL HAS PERSISTENT ODOR COMING FROM CATALYTIC CONVERTER. ACURA HAS ADVISED US TO PURSUE LITIGIOUS MEANS. *JB

NOXIOUS ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE VEHICLE DUE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERWORKING. ACURA INSISTS THIS IS NORMAL AND HAS ADVISED US TO CONTINUE DRIVING CAR WHILE CAUSING MY FAMILY TO BECOME NAUSEOUS AND SICK FROM THE SMELL. THEY INSIST THAT HYDROGEN SULFIDE IS ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE BUT RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS CHEMICAL CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. ACURA HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS ADVISED US TO PURSUE LITIGOUS MEANS. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR SMELL IS SO POTENT WHILE OTHER MDX'S DO NOT SMELL.