2003 Acura MDX Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 18about this part
- Share
- 9%of 206 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 120,098miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 18 complaints about the electrical system of the 2003 Acura MDX, 9% of the 206 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 120,098 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 3 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Auto dimming rear view mirror developed strange circles. It became triple vision. Then over the next few days it began leaking a black oily substance on the interior of the car and the view from the mirror is soo distorted you cannot see anything. I contacted Acura and they said out of warranty. Tough luck. I explained that this is a major safety defect and I received the same response.”
NHTSA complaint #10610832, filed 2014-07, 150,000 miles“The MDX srs malfunction-electrical noise surges. The car is making electrical noise surges, I cannot start the car. The shift interlock, when I put the car in park it continues to roll.”
NHTSA complaint #11373806, filed 2020-11, 119,195 miles“I was driving on the carpool lane of 170n with my two kids (heading to 5n) when there was suddenly a dog,yellow labrador crossing the freeway and getting right on my lane. I tried to slow down and brake but it was too late,I hit the dog right on the front of my car. I felt my seat belt tightened uncomfortably thereafter and I released it so I can reset and put it again,but it won't pull to reach the port on my right side,it seemed stuck. It was right around that time we started smelling smoke thereafter we hit the dog. …”
NHTSA complaint #10553853, filed 2013-11, 160,000 miles“The heated seat function in our Acura malfunctioned and caused the seat to melt and burn through the entire upholstery down to the seat supports. The electrical malfunction also traveled to the entertainment system and totally melted the dvd screen. The fabric on the ceiling of the vehicle was also significantly damaged and has become undone and frayed and burned. The car is also covered in a dark film/soot that has a burned smell. Luckily no one was in the vehicle when this occurred, as it happened overnight. It was parked in our uncovered driveway with no other vehicles nearby.”
NHTSA complaint #10818775, filed 2016-01, 136,000 miles“The locking mechanism that secures the key in the ignition until park is engaged did not work. Therefore I unknowingly removed the key from the ignition without having park engaged. The car rolled back from the parking spot into a tree. Fortunately, no one was injured and there was no damage to the car. I have reported this problem to Acura. It seems similar to the problem currently being investigated for honda odyssey's and pilots from 2003 and 2004 by NHTSA. Note that I do not remember the dates/mileage when this first occurred but it is an ongoing problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10479559, filed 2012-10, 110,000 milesRelated recalls
- 12V573000Dec 11, 2012Honda is recalling certain model year 2003 and 2004 Pilot and Odyssey and 2003 through 2006 Acura MDX passenger vehicles manufactured from November 26, 2001…Covers: Acura MDX 2003–2006, Honda Pilot 2003–2004, Odyssey 2003–2004
Related service bulletins
- 10100023Dec 11, 2015"service bulletin - electrical noise (interference) generated by the vehicle may inadvertently cause some or all of the vehicles airbags to deploy. Many vehicles had an…
- 10100564Oct 30, 2015Service bulletin - electrical noise (interference) generated by the vehicle may inadvertently cause some or all of the vehicles airbags to deploy. Many vehicles had an…
- 10100601Oct 14, 2015"dealer message - on september 18, 2013, acura notified nhtsa of a safety recall for some 2003 mdx vehicles for the issue covered in service bulletin 13-038, safety recall…
- 10100405Oct 9, 2015Service bulletin - electrical noise (interference) generated by the vehicle may inadvertently cause some or all of the vehicles airbags to deploy. Many vehicles had an…
- 10100404Oct 9, 2015Service bulletin - this bulletin is replaced by s/b 15-011, safety recall: srs unit
- 10100341Oct 9, 2015"dealer message - on september 18, 2013, acura notified nhtsa of a safety recall for some 2003 mdx vehicles for the issue covered in service bulletin 13-038, safety recall…
- 10115167Jan 30, 2015Service bulletin - BACKGROUND Electrical noise (interference) generated by the vehicle may inadvertently cause some or all of the vehicle's airbags to deploy. Many vehicles had…
- 10108848Jan 30, 2015Dealer message - On September 18, 2013, Acura notified NHTSA of a Safety Recall for some 2003 MDX vehicles for the issue covered in service bulletin 13-038, Safety Recall…
- 10034975Oct 8, 2010Acura: starter does not work. Debris coming through the torque converter housing caused the starter to fail. Remove the starter and the debris from the torque converter housing…
- 10032775May 9, 2008Acura: warranty extension: vehicle warranty mileage. A federal court provided final approval of the settlement of a class action lawsuit alleging that the odometers on certain…
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 33% |
| 2025 | 53 | 46% |
| 2024 | 12 | 29% |
| 2023 | 8 | 19% |
| 2022 | 20 | 13% |
| 2020 | 41 | 18% |
| 2019 | 42 | 22% |
| 2018 | 28 | 17% |
| 2017 | 46 | 18% |
| 2016 | 38 | 10% |
| 2015 | 15 | 21% |
| 2014 | 27 | 16% |
| 2013 | 8 | 27% |
| 2012 | 13 | 17% |
| 2011 | 7 | 10% |
| 2010 | 9 | 20% |
| 2009 | 18 | 35% |
| 2008 | 8 | 16% |
| 2007 | 51 | 52% |
| 2006 | 8 | 9% |
| 2005 | 18 | 10% |
| 2004 | 21 | 12% |
| 2003 | 18 | 9% |
| 2002 | 12 | 6% |
| 2001 | 6 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2003 Acura MDX
104 complaintsAir bags
42 complaintsEngine cooling
16 complaintsSeat belts
12 complaintsOther or unknown
11 complaintsBrakes
10 complaintsEngine
10 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsEquipment
4 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Acura MDX
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology