2002 Acura MDX Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report transmission problems far more than anything else, typically as harsh or delayed shifting, slipping between second and third gear, revving without acceleration, and in some cases a transmission that needs replacement. Most of these reports arrive between roughly 60,000 and 130,000 miles, and many owners mention a prior recall repair or a partial cost offer from the dealer rather than a full repair. Other reports are scattered: air bag warning lights, engine mounts, cooling and cruise control complaints.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, harsh shifting and gear failure

   • 115 complaints (56%)
   • median 97,250 mi at 8.3 yrs old (106 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $4,400 (median of 23 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2026

   Complaints describe hesitation or a neutral-like slip between gears, hard or jerky shifts, shuddering at light acceleration, and RPMs rising without the vehicle gaining speed. Several owners say the vehicle dropped out of gear or locked in a low gear while driving, and some report grinding noises or smoke and fluid boiling out on long drives. According to the complaints, dealers often diagnosed internal transmission failure and recommended replacement; some offered partial goodwill coverage while others declined assistance based on mileage or age, and several owners say earlier recall repairs did not resolve the problem. Reported from about 17,000 miles upward, with most complaints between roughly 60,000 and 130,000 miles.

   Recall 04V1760004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for transmission service records and whether the 04V176000 recall work was performed and when; on a test drive, note any shudder between about 35 and 40 mph, delayed engagement, or slipping between second and third gear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2002 Acura MDX has approximately 94,000 mi on it and recently the transmission experienced slippage when it would try to adjust to 2nd gear. An indicator light came on recently and I had my mechanic perform a diagnostic test on it. It was revealed that it was a transmission code. I took it to my local Acura dealer (45 mins away) and they determined that I needed a new transmission. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10217486, filed 2008-02, 94,000 miles

   “Transmission issue dealer charged me $4400 and Acura gave me 25% discount to do the repair. This is a known problem and still Acura is not taking full responsibility to fix the issue without any money, most of the owners got 90% discount and now Acura is just giving 25% discount .”

   NHTSA complaint #10298697, filed 2010-01, 82,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light stays on; air bag recall parts

   • 22 complaints (11%)
   • median 140,000 mi at 14.0 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2022

   Complaints describe the SRS or air bag warning light coming on and staying illuminated after startup or while driving. Some owners were told the sensing unit or the entire sensory board needed replacement; others received recall notices for the driver air bag inflator but were told parts or the equipment for the repair were not yet available at the dealer. Mostly reported above 100,000 miles, often on vehicles well past ten years old.

   Recall 20V0270003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that the air bag warning light goes out after the self-test at startup, and confirm with a dealer whether the 20V027000 inflator recall has been completed on the specific vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The srs light turns on and doesn't go out after startup of the vehicle. There is a recall of the srs unit malfunction for the 2003 year model. Secondly, my vehicle is more than fifteen years old. Is there a takata air bag recall involving my 2002 Acura MDX? I have taken ownership very recent.”

   NHTSA complaint #11182442, filed 2019-02, 150,300 miles

   “I own a Acura MDX 2002 model, the transmission had failed but the dealer replaced it at no cost to me. Now the srs air bag light came on and will not go off. I was searching for other complaints for srs light staying on and found an owner having the same problem. Also, the rear dual seat will not fold, so I called a local repair shop who specializes in Acura, he mentioned that the MDX has a history of the back seat latch breaking down. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10250731, filed 2008-12, 90,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Broken engine mounts

   • 10 complaints (5%)
   • median 71,500 mi at 6.5 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2007–2012

   Owners report being told during routine service that one or more engine mounts were broken or cracked, and some describe vibration or noise traced to the mounts. In one complaint the mounts were found broken at the same time the dealer diagnosed the transmission needed replacement. Reported around 60,000 to 120,000 miles.

   What to check: Have a shop inspect the front and right engine mounts for cracks or separation, and listen for clunks or vibration at idle and during gear changes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2002 Acura MDX. I was driving on the highway when suddenly my car jerked violently and the d5 began to flash. The transmission was locked at low gear and the check engine light went on. My car nearly ran over by a tractor truck. I went to the dealership and was told that the transmission and engine mounts are broken, which are systemic problems for 2001-2002 Acura MDX models. However, Acura would not be responsible for this manufacturing defect.”

   NHTSA complaint #10393819, filed 2011-03, 116,000 miles

   “On october 13, 2009, at about 12:45, I provided my 2002 Acura MDX to jerry damson Acura, huntsville, alabama for the '82,500 mile service'. At about 1:15 I received a call from the service department stating that two engine mounts were broken. The price would be about $500. Although I was concerned how engine mount failures could happen on a vehicle with this mileage, I agreed to have it repaired for obvious safety reasons. Later that day I discovered other complaints on the internet for broken engine mounts for this vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10288547, filed 2009-10, 82,000 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Cruise control sticking and unintended acceleration

   • 9 complaints (4%)
   • median 89,650 mi at 10.4 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2020

   Complaints describe the engine revving or the vehicle accelerating without input, forcing hard braking to slow down, and in one case a mechanic traced it to a sticking cruise control unit. Other owners describe the throttle or gas pedal feeling hard to press or the vehicle surging on its own; some related reports involve the transmission not wanting to re-engage afterward. Reported across a wide range, roughly 50,000 to 130,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the cruise control and throttle cable have been serviced, and on a test drive confirm the pedal moves smoothly and the engine returns to idle promptly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This started a long time ago. My engine would rev up and I would have to push my breaks so hard to slow or stop. A mechanic finally found it was the cruise control sticking. The part was sold $800. I got it fixed but thought this was very dangerous. It also would not go back into gear after I would stop the engine when this would happen. I would go into the manual release tab to finally get going again.”

   NHTSA complaint #11339267, filed 2020-07, 127,000 miles

   “While driving and upon hitting the brakes vehicle continuously accelerated. Consumer's vehicle then hit the back of another vehicle. However, the vehicle could not stop. Hitting the back of a third vehicle. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy.”

   NHTSA complaint #10106604, filed 2005-01, 51,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Cooling system leaks, stalling and rough running

   • 9 complaints (4%)
   • median 82,500 mi at 7.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2007–2025

   Complaints describe stalling at low speed or on an incline with warning lights on, an abnormal grinding sound when shifting into gear afterward, and mechanics pointing to the water pump. Owners also report engine hesitation, rough idle and coolant loss. Mostly reported above 150,000 miles, with a few earlier reports of hesitation and coolant leaks.

   Recall 02V2260003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check coolant level and look for leaks or residue around the water pump, and confirm whether the timing belt and water pump service has been done with records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Two motor mounts have been identified as broken (1) or cracked (1). These are the right and front motor mounts on an Acura MDX 2002. The vehicle has only 61,000 miles on it. Based on an internet search and check of the consumer reports web site, this appears to be a common problem for the Acura MDX.”

   NHTSA complaint #10186944, filed 2007-04, 61,000 miles

   “The car will make a vibration sound at random intervals. It does not matter what speed you are driving at or the type of road. Additionally, it feels as though you are being pushed back by the wind when the vibration sound occurs. At this time no work has been completed on the car for the new noise. One repair shop concluded that it was the entire transmission that needed to be replaced. Another place feels it is the torque converter. The torque converter was already replaced once on this car due to a different noise. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10406798, filed 2011-06, 115,000 miles

Buying note. Given how often the sample describes transmission work, a pre-purchase inspection by a transmission specialist and a check of service history are worth the cost on this model year. Also confirm the status of the open air bag inflator recall and budget for wear items such as engine mounts and cooling components on a high-mileage example.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.