2002 ACURA MDX Complaints

I PURCHASED THE 2002 MDX ON 12, JANUARY 2004. AT THAT TIME I QUESTIONED THE HARD SHIFTING FROM FIRST INTO SECOND. IT WOULD LURCH, SHUDDER, AND JUMP FROM STANDING STILL TO FIRST GEAR, ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE GEARS. I WAS WORRIED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE DAMAGED AS WELL AS OTHER PARTS. ON 27 JULY, 2004 THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO ROCK FRONT AND BACK, WITH LOUD GRINDING AND METAL TO METAL SOUND. THE DEALER EXPLAINED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AT AND AN OIL JET COOLER WAS NEEDED. OVER THE NEXT 7 YEARS I HAD MY MDX SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. EACH TIME I WOULD COMPLAIN ABOUT THE NOISE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 20-30 AND 35-45. AGAIN I WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE ENGINE BROKE THE SIDE MOTOR MOUNT, AGAIN I WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. FINALLY ON 6 JULY 2011 WHILE DRIVING 75 ON INTERSTATE 71, MY TRANSMISSION REVVED INTO THE RED AREA ON THE GAUGE, ATF WAS BLOWING OUT THE BACK AND COVERED THE BACK WINDOW. I PULLED OVER AND THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED ON THE SPOT. THE MDX WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WERE I WAS TOLD THE OIL JET COOLER HAD A DRAIN NUT, THAT CAME OUT, THUS RELEASING THE ATF. THE DRAIN PLUG AND ATF WAS REPLACED, BUT AGAIN I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING COULD BE DONE AS THE DEFECT WAS A PART AND NOT COVERED. THE SHOP MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE SHOCK AND SPRING WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING FLUID. I WAS TOLD THAT BOTH MOTOR, THE TIMING BELT, THE SHIFTER CABLE AND CONNECTION, OUTER TIRE ROD, BOOTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR 5 MINUTES AND DISCOVERED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. I CONFIRMED THE RECALLS ON THE SHOCKS COILS TRANSMISSION, AND MULTITUDE OF OTHER COMPONENTS. I HAD THE TIMING BELT, EVERY BELT, WATER PUMP, AND MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACE AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IN TOWN. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. AS LONG AS THERE ARE 2002 MDX'S ON THE ROAD AND HONDA ACURA IGNORE OR DENY THE PROBLEM. THE RISK OF DEATH IS GREAT. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 ACURA MDX WITH 80K MILES. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION AS IT IS SHOWING SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION LOCKAGE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED THE TRUCK JUST SEEMED TO MAKE A REALLY HARD BRAKE, LIKE SOMEONE WAS PUMPING THE BRAKES WITH A LOT OF PRESSURE. I TOOK IT TO ACURA AND THEY DENIED ANY GOODWILL REPAIR! THIS WILL MOST LIKELY BE MY LAST HONDA/ACURA AS I HAVE LOST FAITH IN THEM AND THEIR REPUTATION. WOULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED DURING RUSH HOUR, I AM SURE I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE KILLED. I BELIEVE IF I DROVE IT ANY LONGER THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND OTHER COMPONENTS LIKE THE AXLES, MOUNTS, ETC...WOULD HAVE BEEN DISABLED. *TR

PURCHASED NEW, A 2002 ACURA MDX. FIRST TRANSMISSION REPLACED 2 MONTHS SHY OF 7 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY AT APPROX. 47,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION WARRANTY ENDED WITH THE EXPIRATION OF THE 7 YEAR WARRANTY (2 MONTHS). THE CAR WOULD SHUDDER, SEIZE, RENDERING IT A SAFETY ISSUE. NEXT TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 87,000 MILES. SAME SYMPTOMS, SHUDDERS, GEAR SLIPPAGE, SEIZING, AGAIN RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY BACK IN WITH SO. BAY ACURA IN TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, RECEIVING THE THIRD TRANSMISSION. THESE SAME SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY SEVERAL HUNDRED CUSTOMERS AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WOULD CONSTITUTE A RECALL. I ONLY SEARCHED FOR LIKE COMPLAINTS FOR AN HOUR SO I AM QUITE CONFIDENT I COULD LOCATE SEVERAL THOUSAND. THIS SAME TRANSMISSION FAILURE HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE NY TIMES. SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS IS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT SO I AM WORKING ON A CLASS ACTION SUIT WITH OTHER OWNERS AS THE CAR IS UNSAFE AS A FAMILY VEHICLE. ALSO HAD THE CAR TESTED EXTENSIVELY AT OTHER TRANSMISSION FACILITIES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING IN SECOND OR THIRD GEARS, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE WITH A VIBRATING SENSATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THE MANAGER ADVISED THAT DUE TO THE MILEAGE AND THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME EXACT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,127.

I PURCHASED A 2002 ACURA MDX IN JANUARY 2011 WITH 145,000 MILES AND LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER MY PURCHASE I HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER WITH A "RUMBLE STRIP" NOISE IN THE FRONT END. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS 2 BROKEN CHORDS IN MY TIRES. NEW TIRES ALL AROUND WERE PURCHASED. BACK IN TO SERVICE CENTER LESS THAT 2 WEEK LATER FOR SAME RUMBLE STRIP NOISE...TOLD THAT NEW TIRES NEEDED BALANCED. SERVICE CENTER SUPPOSEDLY BALANCED TIRES. BACK IN TO SERVICE CENTER IN LESS THAN A MONTH AGAIN WITH SAME RUMBLE STRIP NOISE...TOLD THAT THE NEW TIRES WERE ACTUALLY TOO HARD OF A COMPOUND. THEY WERE MADE FOR A HEAVY DUTY TRUCK, NOT A LIGHT DUTY SUV. SERVICE CENTER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER THAT COULD BE DONE FOR MY USED MDX EXCEPT NEW TIRES. ISSUE WAS DROPPED FOR APPROX. 4 MONTHS UNTIL THE RUMBLE STRIP NOISE CONTINUED TO GET WORSE, SO ON MY 4TH TRIP TO THE SERVICE CENTER WITH THE SAME RUMBLE STRIP NOISE THAT I HAVE HAD SINCE JANUARY...TECH AND I WENT FOR A RIDE TOGETHER. AT THAT TIME, I WAS TOLD THE NOISE THAT I WAS HEARING WAS "WIND BLOWING ACROSS MY HOOD"! ON THAT VISIT, I STOOD MY GROUND AND TOLD THEM TO CHECK IT OVER CLOSER AND NOT CALL ME UNTIL THEY FOUND OUT THE REAL PROBLEM AS I WAS NOT TAKING IT HOME WITH ME! FINALLY AFTER 4 TRIPS TO THE ACURA SERVICE CENTER, MY TORQUE CONVERTER GOT CHANGED OUT. WHEN I ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH IT, I WAS TOLD THERE HAD ALREADY BEEN WORK DONE MY TRANSMISSION SO WHEN I ASKED FOR THE PAPERWORK ON IT...THE SERVICE CENTER COUNDL NOT PROVIDE IT TO ME - EVEN THOUGH THEY SAID THEY WOULD! I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED ARRANTY FOR ISSUS JUST LIKE THIS AND NOW I CAN'T EVEN GET THE SERVICE CENTER TO DO THE WORK AND PROVE TO ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT GOING TO LOCK UP ON ME GOING DOWN THE ROAD! I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH A YOUNG SON AND WAS ASSURANCE HE IS SAFE. HELP! *TT

TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUE (VIBRATION/SHUDDER/GRINDING BETWEEN 20-50 MPH WHILE ACCELERATING). ACURA RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER. ACURA HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AS A PROBLEM, DESPITE THE REPEATED INCIDENTS OF FAILURE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO ADDRESSED BY ACURA!!!! IT WOULD BE SAFE TO SAY FROM SIMILAR COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE ARE PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF MDXS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *KB

TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUE (VIBRATION/SHUDDER/GRINDING BETWEEN 20-50 MPH WHILE ACCELERATING). ACURA RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER. *KB

MY VEHICLE IS SHUDDERING ON THE 2ND TO 3RD GEAR UPSHIFT. LOSS OF POWER. THIS IS OCCURRING WITH GREATER AND GREATER FREQUENCY, AFTER JUST A SHORT TIME OF DRIVING. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT I WOULD NEED A RE-MAN TRANSMISSION. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THIS BEING RELATED TO THE KNOWN RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, THEY STATED THEY WOULD BRING THIS UP TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER'S REPLY WAS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW ME WELL ENOUGH, SO THEY WOULD NOT LOOK INTO THIS ANY FURTHER, AND WOULD FIX THIS DEFECT. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE RECALL WAS CLOSED FOR THIS VEHICLE, AND THAT ONLY AN INSPECTION WAS DONE; THERE WAS NO JET KIT INSTALLED, NO TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT DONE. THEY INSPECTED, AND SENT IT ON ITS WAY, AND NOW IT IS FAILING. I FEAR THAT THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS KNOWN RECALLED DEFECT NOT BEING CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, WILL BE TRANSMISSION LOCKUP AT SPEED, LEADING TO A CRASH. *KB

2002 ACURA MDX TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 71K MILES AND CUT POWER FROM ENGINE TO WHEELS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS SIMILAR THING HAPPENING TO MDX OWNERS. THE TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE! *KB