One problem related to front seat heater/cooler has 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.
1. On March 21, 2009, I had been driving the car for 10 minutes with the seat heater on. I have used the seat heater frequently on cold days for the past five years. 2. I smelled burning fabric, pulled off the road to check origins of the odor and discovered a hole the size of a dime burnt in the center of the driver's set backrest, which is where the seat heater is located. I also discovered a similar hole in my jacket. I turned off the seat heater. 3. On March 23 I reported the incident to the local dealer where the car was purchased and to Acura corporate customer service. The dealer told me there was nothing he could do because I was off warranty, but he would replace the heater and repair leather for $1050. I asked him if he had investigated the cause of the fire: did the fuse fail? was the heating element faulty? the dealer was not interested in the cause. 4. I wrote a detailed letter to the dealer and Acura corporate customer service, describing what happened and my concern for the safety of other unaware Acura drivers. The phone response I received from Acura corporate would not respond to me regarding the safety issue. They said they had no legal responsibility for what happened because my warranty had expired.