Six problems related to engine and engine cooling have been reported for the 2003 Acura MDX. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Acura MDX based on all problems reported for the 2003 MDX.
I can not go pass 25mph the truck will reeve up, then turn off after driving for one mile. The engine mount, shakes. I was told it is a transmission issue. Sometimes the gears don't switch from original position, ex. Park to drive.
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. . .
Went to dealer and they said vehicle has bad engine mounts, and need to be replaced. Note that we also have a 2004 Honda pilot, and the dealer also told us that some engine mounts needs replacement. We checked some blogs for Acura Mdx and Honda pilot owners, and found a lot of owners with same issues. Some are being replaced every two years. We onwed a v6 Toyota for 15 years, never had this issue. We hope NHTSA will check this, because it is a known issue to owners and Acura/Honda will never admit. I'm sure if NHTSA will get repair records for this "engine mount" issues, it will be a lot. From what I read, this affects drive shafts due to excessive movement of the engine.
Torque converter shudder or vibration between 35 and 40 mph. ****also transmission slipped while driving on the highway. The SUV acted as if it was in neutral and wouldn't move even though I was pushing the gas and the rpms went up. I was almost rear-ended by the driver behind me but he was able to quickly switch into another lane, then miraculously my SUV started to go again. It also happened again in the middle of an intersection while I was driving. Luckily the oncoming traffic was far enough away and the transmission picked back up in time and I was able to get out of the way. I had my children in the SUV, a 6 month old baby girl and a 6 yr old boy. Its a seven passenger vehicle so it should be expected that children may be in the SUV. I don't think Honda/Acura should wait until someone is killed or seriously injured to issue a recall. Its not even just about the cost of repairs, what about the value of people's lives? does it need to be on the news first for a change to occur? owners of the 2003 Acura Mdx need to know that there is a potentially deadly safety defect with this vehicle and repairs need to be made ASAP!.
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.
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.