Automatic Transmission problems of the 2003 Acura MDX

Vehicle was parked in residential driveway. Driver removed key, exited vehicle and remotely applied the door locks. Vehicle immediately began coasting down and ultimately off the driveway, down a steep grade into the yard until it struck a tree approximately 50 feet away. Resulting significant damage to front of vehicle was appraised at $5900. Car could not be removed from its resting place against tree except by tow truck. Tow driver indicated that vehicle was still in drive, not park when he extracted it from crash position. Tow driver and repair facility indicated that it should not have been possible to remove key from ignition without vehicle being in park, yet that was the specific cause of the crash.

1. While attempting to accelerate at a busy 4-way intersection, my Acura Mdx refused to go into gear or accelerate. This caused me to obstruct traffic in the intersection, and could have easily caused a multi-car accident. 2. The car has intermittently refused to go into first gear for several months. Manually shifting it into gear would temporarily solve the problem. 23. We had the car towed to ron tonkin Acura of portland. The service adviser informed us that the transmission needed to be replaced, and he had contacted Acura to request a "goodwill" repair. 24 hours later, he called to inform us that Acura refused his request due to the vehicle mileage. (120,000). Apparently Acura's position is that the transmission should only last for 120k miles before needing replacement.

I have a 2003 Acura Mdx with 108k miles as of Dec 29, 2010. Two years ago around 80k miles, while my wife was driving with our kid, suddenly the engine lost power on highway 95. She had to rev up to 6000 rpm to keep the speed at 30 mph. Acura dealer checked the transmission and said they found metallic particles in the transmission fluid, and the fluid was charred. They also said gear was slighly damaged, but told me to replace transmission fluid very frequently (more than recommendation). No one told me 2003 Mdx has faulty transmission system. After 1 year at around 90k miles I changed the transmission fluid again. Now, three days ago, same transmission problem. Even at 25 mph, the rpm goes suddently to 5000 rpm at same acceleration pressure level. I checked the transmision fluid immediately. The transmission fluid level is perfectly fine. But fluid is black and charred particles, possibly metallic. Not supposed to happen for $40k luxury SUV at 80k miles and 108k miles. Dropped my car at local aucra dealer hoping Acura can replace transmission at their own cost. I already spent $1000 first time two years ago. Then I spend over $600 for 90k miles regular maintenance that included transmission fluid service. I am not spending again on the same stupid faulty transmission that Acura should have notified all its customers in the first place. If they dont fix it at their own cost, I will never buy or recommend Acura to anyone. Very very disappointed with Acura.

Car would not move upon pushing gas pedal but engine would revive then without warning the car would launch forward at accelerated speed. This lurching continued unpredictably upon further driving the car. Dealer said that the transmission needed to be replaced.

8/18/10 - while driving car begins acting like we are trying to accelerate while in neutral. We are able to get to a gas station, where we notice transmission fluid on the ground. We have it towed to a local Honda dealership in dublin. They replace the transmission hose. 8/28/10 - driving on the interstate, car begins acting up again - same problem. We pull over immediately and have it towed to a different dealership in columbus. We are told we need to get a new transmission. Both times there were no warning signs of any problems. Once it started acting up, there was nothing that could be done except pull it away from traffic and have it towed.

Failure of 2003 Acura Mdx transmission.

Regarding a 2003 Acura Mdx with 108,000 miles, the transmission and two motor mounts failed. Information on the edmunds website confirm these repetitive failures and potential transmission lockup at high speeds. I have all maintenance records to show the car was taken care of. New motor mounts were $500. The dealer paid for most of the transmission replacement but it still costs us $460 out of pocket.

I have 2003 Acura Mdx which seems to have transmission problem while driving the vehicle its automatically shift to neutral stopping the car in mid traffic it has happen on numerous occasion, no repairs lights to indicate there is a problem. I had 2 take this vehicle to the dealer 3 times before they found the problem and that was only after mechanic tried 2 drive it home when it happened 2 him. This problem occurred periodically at any given time. My vehicle had just been service for its 90,000 maintenance at $560 I told them then I noticed this problem assured me vehicle was fine. Next week took it back they told me the mat was causing the acceleration to stick removed mats drove home next day same problem while driving car just stop in middle of traffic. Took vehicle back that's when mechanic tried to home with it happened to him he brought back into shop she's right it is dangerous. Now they want $4700 to fix it. . There are still no warning signals that this vehicle needs service computers still says its fine. I also just replaced alternator a few months ago could not sit in park positions with lights on or key hanging in ignition car would just stop and would need a hot shot.

Acura has known for some time now that Mdx model, years 2001-2003, have defective transmissions. There have been numerous complaints about this same issue with a lot of Acura owners.

2003 Acura Mdx 68,000 miles transmission won't go into drive normally, have to drive it like a standard transmission, start in 1-2 then proceed into regular drive many past problems with this car, a/c problems, electrical, trim etc. Dealer states oops you need a new transmission --40,000. Dollar car and you only get 68,000 miles. Dealer states well you can drive it like that for maybe a day or two maybe a week but it needs to be replaced it will lock up on you soon. We can fix it for 3600. 00 in their dreams I will probably paint it yellow and put it up on blocks :) no warning when this happened just pulled up to a red light and it wouldn't move after that.

We were on a vacation in arizona, had the 90k service done 2 days before traveling. Everything was fine until the 3rd day of our trip. We were headed to tombstone, az. For a day trip about 90 miles each way from tucson where we were staying, about 40 miles outside of town on I-10 the transmission starts losing torque and the transmission temp warning light comes on, I pull over and call aaa and get towed to an Acura dealer in tucson. I get a call from the dealer a short time later saying I need a new transmission to the tune of 4,000. 00. I have maintained this vehicle to manufacturer's specs by a certified Honda/Acura repair shop. I find it hard to believe that the transmission would just fail with no warning. Luckily we have family in tucson that we could stay with, while the transmission was ordered and replaced. Needless to say our vacation was ruined.

The contact owns a 2003 Acura Mdx. When the contact places the vehicle into drive, the transmission will not work and the vehicle will not move unless it is shifted into reserve. Occasionally, the vehicle needs to be warmed up in order for the transmission to work. The vehicle has not been taken to the dealer due to the distance from his home and the condition of the vehicle. The failure and current mileages were 126,000.

Transmission was not shifting correctly for about a day before. I attempted to enter traffic and the transmission stopped working. I was lucky not to be able to get in traffic, otherwise there probably been an accident.

2003 Acura Mdx approx 89,000 miles. Driving and car would not accelerate from stop. Car was in gear d5 but would not run. Had to stop in traffic and restart. Got to side of road and would not re-engage in gear. Had towed replaced drive train in vehicle. Dealer did 75-25 split they know it's a problem.

The contact owns a 2003 Acura Mdx. While driving 35 mph out of the parking lot and accelerating the vehicle made a noise and hesitated. The contact drove to the side of the road, and the failure occurred on two additional occasions. The vehicle was towed to dealer. The current and failure mileage were 59000.

I own a 2003 Acura Mdx, the transmission was shifting out of order, I went to. . Read more...

After the engine warmed up,the transmission began malfunctioning. When attempting to accelerate the gears would not change. (this could have been detrimental to my health as I must leave my housing subdivision and enter a four-lane highway!) within a few minutes the transmission had completely shut down. After turning the motor off and allowing the engine to cool, my husband was able to restart the car and drive it to our house. No warning signs were given to alert us to a potential problem. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealership where they inspected it and said the transmission had to be replaced. Upon doing some research, I discovered that 2002 Mdxs were recalled due to malfunctioning transmissions. Do you think that there is a possibility that some of the 2003 models are equipped with the same transmissions? please note that scheduled maintenance was always completed at the dealership and that this vehicle was not used to tow anything. When considering all the facts, I believe that an investigation should ensue.