FaultScore

2002 Acura MDX transmission problems

126 of the 242 complaints about the 2002 Acura MDX are about the transmission — 52% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 97,000 miles.

F

126

Complaints

4

Crashes

1

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 84 66.7%
Power Train 37 29.4%
Torque Converter 4 3.2%
Gear Position Indication (Prndl) 1 0.8%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Acura MDX year

2001 131 14.0%
2002 126 13.5%
2003 106 11.3%
2004 80 8.6%
2005 87 9.3%
2006 40 4.3%
2012 13 1.4%
2014 26 2.8%
2015 12 1.3%
2016 111 11.9%
2017 63 6.7%
2018 23 2.5%
2019 31 3.3%
2020 21 2.2%
2022 55 5.9%
2023 10 1.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 170,000 miles Dracut, MA

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2002 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that she depressed the accelerator pedal and the RPM’s revved; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact pulled over, turned off and restarted the vehicle and started driving; however, after getting up to speed the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact believed that the vehicle had slipped out of gear. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond while shifted into drive or reverse. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The contact had driven the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V176000 (Power Train). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA complaint #11503369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 180,000 miles Annapolis, MD

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT FROM SECOND GEAR. ADDITIONALLY, THE ENGINE REVVED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA complaint #11339966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 205,000 miles Warner Robins, GA Crash

POWER TRAIN

TAKATA RECALL MY MDX IS HAVING A HEAT BUILD UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECOND SHAFT GEARS. ITS CASUING MY TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP AND I AM VERY CONCERN

NHTSA complaint #11111829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 229,000 miles Redding, CA

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION RECALL WAS PREV ADDRESSED BUT STILL HAS SAME PROBLEM HWY OVERHEATING OF TRANSMISSION CAUSING FAILURE EXTREME JERKING SCARED US BAD AND COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT GEARS GO OUT SLIP FROM OVERHEATING AS WELL BURNS TRANSM FLUID RECALLED PREVIOUSLY SAME EXACT ISSUE OF EXTREME OVERHEATING AND AT TEMP GAUGE NOT WORKINGOCCOURS WHILE DRIVING IN MOTION

NHTSA complaint #11103631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 179,000 miles LAS Vegas, NV

POWER TRAIN

GEAR FAILURE, TRANSMISSION LOCK UP, SMOKE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION INSIDE THE CAR. HEAT BUILD UP FROM TRANSMISSION WHEN WE DO LONG DRIVE.

NHTSA complaint #11054955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Norfolk, VA

POWER TRAIN

PRIORITY ACURA GAVE 2002 MDX BACK MONDAY 4/3/17 HAD PROBLEMS AGAIN WITH IT SLIPPIN INTO NEUTRAL AND WONT MOVE IN D5...THIS TIME CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND D5 STARTED BLINKING AND GEAR SHIFT WAS NOT MOVE PASS N UNTIL JAMES THE MECHANIC SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND STARTED IT BACK UP.

NHTSA complaint #10970885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 52 miles Norfolk, VA

POWER TRAIN

MY NAME IS [XXX] I PURCHASED A USED 2002 ACURA MDX FROM DEALER [XXX] AT PRIORITY HONDA HAMPTON VA 2/13/2017 ( 757 8381252 ). WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF DRIVING THIS ACURA MDX IT STALLED AS I MADE A TURN ON LYNNHAVEN PKWY INTO MY JOB PARKING LOT. THERE WHERE CARS BEHIND ME BEEPING. MY FIRST REACTION WAS TRY REVERSE IT DID REVERSE SO I TRY TO PUT IT BACK IN D5 NO MOVEMENT RPMS WITH JUST RUN UP NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON SO THEN I TRIED D5, D4, D3,2 NO MOVEMENT THE VEHICLE MOVE WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR AT 1 AND IT DROVE ME TO A PARKING SPACE AND THAT IS WHEN I CALLED ACURA PRIORITY AND HAD CAR TOWED TO THEM AND EXPLAINED THAT I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR FROM PRIORITY HONDA THIS WAS MY 6/7 DAY DRIVING IT THIS HAPPEN. SO THE TOW COMPANY CAME AND TOWED IT TO PRIORITY ACURA CHESAPEAKE ( 757 5231700) UNFORTUNATELY THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WASN'T ON AND CAR DRIVING BACK NORMAL AND NO CODES HELD IN THE COMPUTER FOR THEM TO CHECK WHAT IS GOING ON. THEREFORE I REQUESTED THEY DO A THOROUGHLY CHECK ON VEHICLE WHICH COST ME 150.00 DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. THEY DID A EXTRA CHECK AND CAME BACK WITH BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACE OTHER THAN THAT VEHICLE WAS GOOD PRIORITY ACURA STATED. IN MEANTIME I CALLED PRIORITY HONDA WHERE I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM NOT EVEN A WEEK AND EXPLAINED TO THEM WHAT WAS GOING ON TO TIMOTHY USE CAR SUPERVISOR AT PRIORITY HONDA HAMPTON ( 7578381252) HE GOT THE CAR TOWED OVER THERE NO COST TO ME AND GAVE ME A RENTAL FOR 4 DAYS ?WHEN I WAS CALLED I WAS TOLD AGAIN I CAN PICK UP MY VEHICLE PRIORITY HONDA HAMPTON MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE MY COMPLAINT ON ACURA OR DIAGNOSIS IT DUE TO NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10969595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,110 miles Norfolk, VA

POWER TRAIN

HELLO MY NAME IS [XXX] I PURCHASED A USED 2002 ACURA MDX FROM PRIORITY HONDA HAMPTON VA ( 757 838 1252) THE FIRST WEEK I DROVE THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWNWARD WHILE I WAS TURNING A CORNER AT A BUSY INTERSECTION THE CAR DID NOT CUT OFF HOWEVER IT STOP AND WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS THE RPM WILL GO UP BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE I THEN TRY TO SHIFT TO D4 WOULD NOT MOVE D3 WOULD NOT MOVE 2 IT DROVE AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO PRIORITY AND EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPEN THEY SOLD ME A LEMON THEY STATES MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOT ON OR KEEPING RECORDS OF WHAT HAPPEN WHEN CAR ACT UP THEREFORE THE CAR IS NOT DOING IT ALL THE TIME AND NOT DOING IT WHILE IN THERE POSSESSION. THEY SENT ME HOME AGAIN THE NEXT WEEK I WAS BACK WITH SAME PROBLEM THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE . SENT ME HOME AGAIN THE NEXT WEEK HAPPEN AGAIN I THEY STILL CANT FIGURE OUT PROBLEM THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN CARS ARE BEHIND ME AND CAN RESULT IN A CRASH CAN YOU PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME AT [XXX] OR PRIORITY HONDA HAMPTON VA ([XXX]) TO CORRECT THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE I SEE OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM . I HAVE ANY RECORDED THIS ON MY PHONE AND SHOW THEM CAR NOT MOVING RPMS GOING UP THE ADVISOR [XXX] STATES LOOKS LIKE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BUT IT WONT DO FOR THEM. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT PRIORITY HONDA HAMPTON AGAIN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10969109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 220,000 miles Eagle Point, OR

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF THE BRAKE PEDAL WERE DEPRESSED QUICKLY AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE SUDDENLY DEPRESSED INADVERTENTLY. WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE AND WOULD SUDDENLY ENGAGE AND OPERATE NORMALLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

NHTSA complaint #10947663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 131,000 miles Baltimore, MD

POWER TRAIN

MY CAR WAS REPAIRED IN 2004 DUE TO A RECALL.THE ISSUE HAS ACCURED AGAIN AND THE ACURA DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $7000 TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10937639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 171,000 miles Holly Springs, NC Crash

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. WHEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND REMOVED THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION, IT BEGAN TO ROLL INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION INTERLOCK FAILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.

NHTSA complaint #10917399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bethlehem, PA

POWER TRAIN

ALL THE RECALLS HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BUT IT STILL HAS THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND ACURA DOES AGREE THAT THERE A KNOWN ISSUE AND WON'T ANYTHING TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE. ME AND A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS ARE CONSIDERING A CLASS ACTION SUIT TO FORCE ACURA TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE THAT IS WELL KNOWN IN THESE TRANSMISSIONS. WHEN YOU CALL THE DEALER THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUE IS BUT WANT TO PUT IN A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND CHARGE BETWEEN $2500 TO $3800. THIS IS RIDICULOUS IF THE ISSUE IS KNOWN WHY NOT FIX IT AND THE LOYAL CUSTOMERS HAPPY.

NHTSA complaint #10914404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 153,000 miles Moultrie, GA

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY BUMPS WHEN BACKING, TURNING, AND CHANGING FROM ONE DIRECTION TO ANOTHER. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES, AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, WHEN THERE WOULD BE A SOUND AS IS THE VEHICLE IS CROSSING STOP BUMPS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SMOOTH ROADS WHILE ACCELERATING, MAINTAINING A SPEED, AND DECELERATING. THE TRANSMISSION STARED SLIPPING IN 5TH GEAR, AND IS NOW BEGINNING TO SLIP IN 4TH GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #10895817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 161,810 miles Scarsdale, NY

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE JERKED BEFORE MOVING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,810. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10872671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 220,113 miles FAR Rockaway, NY

POWER TRAIN

TAKAYA RECALL, I'M HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES WHILE I'M DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN PICKS UP SPEED I HAVE TROUBLE SWITCHING GEARS WHEN I TRY TO REVERSE THERE'S NO MOVEMENT THE ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE VEHICLE WILL DO OUR HARD JERK REVERSE MOTION AND STARS GOING IN REVERSE. PASSAGES AIR BAG READ A CODE OF AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. TORQUE CONTROL, GEARS GETTING STUCK FLASHING D5 LIGHT AFTER GOING OVER 40.

NHTSA complaint #10820793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 122,000 miles Aurora, CO

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD OR ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED FOR THE SAME FAILURE AT 59,000 MILES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000. UPDATED 04/26/16*LJ

NHTSA complaint #10818345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 156,000 miles Indianapolis, IN

POWER TRAIN

DROVE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. ALSO NOTICED WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE IN THE MORNING A VIBRATION THAT FELT LIKE DRIVING OVER RUBBLE STRIPS. TALKED TO MY DAUGHTER (PRIMARY DRIVER) AND SHE SAID THE VIBRATION HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, BUT NOT CONSISTENTLY. DID SOME RESEARCH AND TOOK VEHICLE TO A TRANSMISSION MECHANIC. NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. BOUGHT THIS ACURA IN 2006 AS A CERTIFIED VEHICLE FROM DEALER WITH 43K MILES. TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED IN 2009 AT 90K MILES. NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT 156K. I EXPECTED MORE FROM A HONDA VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10748299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 163,200 miles SAN Jose, CA Crash

POWER TRAIN

THE KEYS CAN BE REMOVED WHILE CAR IS NOT IN PARK SO IT ROLLED AND BUMPED INTO ANOTHER CAR. I CHECKED THE RECALL AND IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THEIR RECALL. MY CAR IS 2002 ACURA MDX AND THE YEAR THEY HAVE RECALL IS 2003 VERSION.

NHTSA complaint #10732815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 142,875 miles Peshastin, WA

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, BOTH FRONT WHEELS SEIZED AND THE STEERING WHEEL REQUIRED FORCE IN ORDER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,875.

NHTSA complaint #10694200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 147,777 miles SAN Diego, CA

POWER TRAIN

UPON EXITING OFF THE FREEWAY AND ACCELERATING ONTO A BUSY 3 LANE STREET, MY VEHICLE ENGINE BEGAN REVVING AND HAD NO POWER. IT ACTED LIKE IT HAD BEEN SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. I SHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR AND IT CAUGHT AND ALLOWED ME TO GET ENOUGH POWER TO COAST TO A PARKING SPOT OFF THE BUSY STREET THAT HAD NO SHOULDER TO PULL A NON WORKING VEHICLE TO. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER SO SUDDENLY. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I HAD JUST GOT OFF THE FREEWAY OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. I READ ON LINE THAT THE 2001 AND 2002 ACURA MDX HAS HAD A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AT A QUOTE FOR REPAIR OF $5,400 THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AS I AM A FULL TIME STUDENT. OF GREATER CONCERN IS THE SAFETY ISSUE THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED AND CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE DEALER OFFERED $500 OFF AS CONCESSION THAT THERE IS A "KNOWN" PROBLEM WITH THE 2001 AND 2002 TRANSMISSIONS. PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILING, I WAS ONLY OFFERED $2,000 AS TRADE IN VALUE TOWARDS A NEW VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10609491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,672 miles Seattle, WA

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY ROUGH AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SENSOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND CLUTCH SOLENOID WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,672.

NHTSA complaint #10607560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 155,034 miles Saint Pablo, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND DECELERATED WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED. NONE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,034. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,530.

NHTSA complaint #10604817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 174,850 miles Placerville, CA Crash

POWER TRAIN

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WEST BOUND ON HWY 50 JUST WEST OF POLLOCK PINES CA. I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFTED TO LOW GEAR AND SPUN OUT OF CONTROL . WE GLANCED OFF THE CENTER MEDIUM WITH MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE AND I WERE VERY SHOOK UP. I SWITCHED SPOTS WITH HER AND MOVED THE CAR OFF THE FREEWAY. WE DROVE THE VEHICLE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME (10 MILES) USING BACK ROADS NOT GOING OVER 20 MPH. WE CONTACTED NIELLO ACURA OF SACRAMENTO AND THEY TOLD US TO BRING THE CAR TO THEM AND THEY WOULD SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR US. THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $5,500 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND THEY WOULD NOT TAKE CARE OF THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ELSE, THEY MIGHT NOT BE AS LUCKY AS WE WERE. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE (THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTING UNEXPECTEDLY). I ASKED THE ACURA DEALER ABOUT THIS AND THEY TOLD ME THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY HAD THE FIX INSTALLED IN 2004. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, OTHER PEOPLE COULD BE EFFECTED OR EVEN INJURED. OVER THE PAST YEAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A COUPLE TIMES BUT WITHIN A DAY OR TWO IT WOULD GO OUT. NOW THE LIGHT IS ON. THE CODES THAT ACURA TOLD ME ARE P700 AND P730.

NHTSA complaint #10598986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Palos Verdes Estates, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10596184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Lorain, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10587802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 153,000 miles Pleasant Grove, UT

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10544344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 195,239 miles Lyns, MA

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10533650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 171,235 miles Cottage Grove, MN

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10503922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 91,000 miles Alta Loma, CA

POWER TRAIN

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE DRIVE BACK TO LOS ANGELES FROM LAS VEGAS.

NHTSA complaint #10492270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 116,000 miles College Station, TX

POWER TRAIN

I WAS DRIVING AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I STOPPED AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AN ACURA DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #10476879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2002 Acura MDX problems

← Full 2002 Acura MDX report