RoadVitals

2002 Acura MDX Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Oct 26, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 204 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Acura MDX submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Oct 26, 2018

THE CAR TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING SIMILAR TO PROBLEM I HAD WITH MY 1999 HONDA CRV INGITION SWITCH BEEN DOING IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS TODAY SMOKE CAME OUT FROM THE STEERING COLUM

NHTSA ID
11142861
Incident
Oct 26, 2018
Mileage
160,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Aug 9, 2018

SRS DEVICE FAILED, LEAVING AIR BAGS INOPERABLE. DEALER ASKED FACTORY REP TO AUTHORIZE SERVICE. DENIED BY ACURA. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. RESEARCH INDICATES IDENTICAL PROBLEMS IN OTHER VEHICLES, A PRIOR CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AND OTHER COMPLAINTS. SRS WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON. BOTH DEALER AND INDEPENDENT GARAGE TESTED AND CONFIRMED UNIT IS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID
11118778
Incident
Apr 15, 2018
Mileage
140,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 12, 2016
Fire reported

RECALL ON APRIL 1ST MY MOTHER DROVE HER RECENTLY PURCHASED 2002 ACCURA MDX TO WORK ABOUT A 5 MIN DRIVE TEN MIN AFTER SHE PARKED AND ARRIVED TO WORK HER CAR WAS INFLAMS AND FIRE FIGHTER INVESTIGATORS STATED IT WAS A ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT CAUSED HER CAR TO BLOW UP

NHTSA ID
10855037
Incident
Apr 1, 2016
Electrical
Filed Nov 9, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY RANDOMLY WOULD NOT TURN OVER. INTERMITTENTLY, THE ANTI-THEFT FEATURE ACTIVATED AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE THAN FIVE TIMES IN WHICH THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO MANEUVER THE KEY TO GET THE VEHICLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,000. UPDATED 04/14/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID
10789175
Incident
May 4, 2015
Mileage
215,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 8, 2015
Crash reported

THE KEYS CAN BE REMOVED WHILE CAR IS NOT IN PARK SO IT ROLLED AND BUMPED INTO ANOTHER CAR. I CHECKED THE RECALL AND IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THEIR RECALL. MY CAR IS 2002 ACURA MDX AND THE YEAR THEY HAVE RECALL IS 2003 VERSION.

NHTSA ID
10732815
Incident
Jul 8, 2015
Mileage
163,200 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 17, 2014
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED AND PARKED, IT ROLLED AWAY AND THEN CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER PARKED VEHICLES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10583363
Incident
Apr 5, 2014
Mileage
120,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Mar 10, 2014

CAR LOCKED ITSELF WITH DRIVER AND PASSENGERS INSIDE CAR. NO ONE COULD OPEN DOORS FROM INSIDE. THE MANUAL UNLOCK WOULD NOT UNLOCK DOORS. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK HIS DOOR BY OPENING WINDOW AND USING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES. *TR THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. ON ANOTHER INCIDENT WHILE PARKING, THE VALET ASKED TO TURN CAR OFF LEAVE CAR KEYS INSIDE CAR. AS DRIVER LEFT THE CAR AND CLOSED THE DOOR, THE CAR LOCKED ITSELF (WITH THE KEYS INSIDE). THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

NHTSA ID
10568280
Incident
Dec 26, 2013
Mileage
110,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 21, 2013

DRIVING BACK HOME FROM LAS VEGAS, NV ABOUT 150 MILES AWAY (UTAH) THE A/T LIGHT CAME ON. LOOKED IT UP ONLINE IT STATED AUTO/TRANSMISSION OIL TEMP IS HIGH.DECIDED TO PULL OVER AND LET IT COOL DOWN AT THE NEAREST GAS STATION. DECIDED IT WAS OK SINCE THE TEMP IN UTAH WENT DOWN THIS WAS AROUND 2 PM. ABOUT 10 MIN LATER WHEN WE GOT BACK ONTO HIGHWAY THE A/T LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THEN THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE BAY. WE PULLED OVER TOOK A LOOK AT IT REALIZED NO PUNCTURE TO THE LINES AND FIGURED THE PRESSURE BUILD UP FROM TRANNY SPAT OUT FROM WHERE YOU USUALLY POUR FLUIDS IN. WE TRIED GETTING OFF HWY FOR SAFETY AND ENDED UP MIDDLE ON NO WHERE. THEN WE WAITED TIL 5 PM AND AS THE WEATHER COOLED DOWN WE STARTED THE DRIVE AGAIN. THE ENGINE WAS FINE THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T LET ME PUSH IT PASS 3 1/2 RPM SO WE DROVE ABOUT 50-70 MPH. WE REACHED COLORADO THEN SPENT THE NIGHT. THE NEXT DAY IT STARTED TO SNOW, THE TRANSMISSION DECIDED TO STOP RESPONDING IT WILL GO INTO GEARS BUT IT WILL STALL AND GO BUT IT WOULDN'T LET ME GO PAST 2 RPM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO AUTOZONE. THE O2 TEST STATED: LOW TRANNY OIL, TORQUE CONTROL SOLENOID SENSOR, AND ELECTRICAL SENSOR. THEN WE HAD THE CAR TOW TO NEARBY TRANSMISSION SHOP THEY RAN SOME DIAGNOSTICS AND SAID THE GEARS ARE SLIPPING AND THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. TOTAL COST IN REBUILT 4100.00 OUT THE DOOR. CAR IN ON 3/4/13 CAR WAS DONE ON 3/19/13. *TR

NHTSA ID
10503922
Incident
Mar 3, 2013
Mileage
171,235 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 20, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE SRS AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE SENSORY BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED OF A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 101,000.

NHTSA ID
10471613
Incident
Jun 1, 2012
Mileage
101,000 mi
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Jun 17, 2004

1.) THE AT SHIFT GEAR SLIDES OUT OF PARK EVEN WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. VERY DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN SHIFTING GEARS OUT OF PARK WHILE KEY IS OUT OF THE IGNITION! PER CONVERSATION WITH CONSUMER, THE DEALER HAS IDENTIFIED THAT THE SHIFT-INTERLOCK SOLENOID ASSEMBLY WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY TO CUSTOMER'S SATISFACTION. ALSO LEARNED THAT 4-YR OLD BOY INSIDE VEHICLE POTENTIALLY DAMAGED GEAR SHIFT RESULTING IN FREE MOVEMENT FROM PARK TO OTHER GEAR(S). *MJJ 2.) ATF TEMP SENSOR REMAINS ON IN DASHBOARD EVEN WHILE TRANS IS COOL. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CODE (DTC) PO710. 3.) THE D5 GEAR INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS ON AND FLASHING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ACURA DEALER IN LATHAM,NY FOR ELECTRICAL REPAIRS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10078385
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Mileage
19,436 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 4, 2003

CONSUMER STATED WHEN EVER AN ELECTRIC DEVICE LIKE A CELL PHONE OR LAPTOP COMPUTER WAS USED, THE AIRBAGS DEACTIVATED UNTIL THE DEVICE WAS TURNED OFF.*AK THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT RELIABLE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE. CONSUMER FELT AS THOUGH HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. *PH. THE DEALER STATED A CELL PHONE OR LAPTOP COULD NOT BE ON OR NEAR THE SEATS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10031934
Incident
Jun 1, 2002
Electrical
Filed Dec 4, 2002

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE PANEL STARTED LIGHTING THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AND THE ENGINE STARTED ACTING CRAZY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE BUT THEY STILL CAN'T EXPLAIN THE REASON WHY THE VEHICLE ACTED THAT WAY. TS

NHTSA ID
8023701

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .