Table 1 shows one common other fuel system related problems of the 2002 Acura MDX.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Other Fuel System problems |
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - immobiliser system. Yes, available. May be repaired by local mechanic unless I learn from you to defer such repair. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - the inappropriate activation of the immobilizer system (at least I think that's what happened) caused the vehicle immediately to become unnamageable. All lights off, motor stopped, no power brakes pr power steering. No way to give warning to other drivers. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? - the identical behavior has occurred about 6 times, once on busy us 101 through downtown oakland, CA during rush hour. The car will be towed to a mechanic's shop later today. I have no history with this mechanic's shop. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? - no. It is my inference that the immobilizer system activated while at speed due to description in the owner's manual of the appropriate behavior of the immobilizer. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? - no. The first appearance of the "green key" light preceded the entire shutdown by only a few seconds.
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.