2005 Acura MDX Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED REDUCED ENGINE POWER WITH THE POTENTIAL OF AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE STALLED MORE THAN ONCE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WERE NOT DISCLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN SAFELY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11222930

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

MY ENGINE START VIBRATING WHEN REACH SPEED 20 MPH TO 50 MPH

NHTSA ID

10936738

Incident

Nov 14, 2016

I PULLED CAR OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND AS I REACHER SPEED OF 25 MILES IT STARTED JERKING BADLY. IT STOPPED AFTER SPEED INCREASED. DID NOT HAPPENED AGAIN FOR FEW DAYS AND FROM THAT DAY IT IS GETTING WORSE DAY BY DAY. LOT OF NOISE SOMETIMES WHEN ITS SHIFTING GEAR. ALSO WHEN I GET ON HIGHWAY I CAN SMELL SOME FLUID BURNING. SOMETIMES IT JERK VERY BADLY ON CURVES.

NHTSA ID

10760878

Incident

Sep 17, 2014

Mileage

115,000 mi

THE TRANSMISSION COOLER CONNECTION BLEW OUT OF THE RADIATOR, UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NO OIL PRESSURE SWITCH FOR TRANSMISSIONS SO I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE TRANS FLUID WAS POURING ALL OVER THE ROAD. LUCKY FOR ME I WAS JUST LEAVING THE HOUSE AND MY FRIEND SAW IT AND STOPPED ME. UPON LOOKING AT THE PART -IT HAS ONLY 3 THREADS AND I HAVE FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON THING FOR MDX AND PILOT SUV'S. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE THAT HAS RESULTED FROM THIS FAILURE BY OTHERS AS I HAVE SEEN ON YOUR SITE EXAMPLE:. ( PILOT EX-L 244HP 3.5L SOHC 24-VALVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE). *TR

NHTSA ID

10700949

Incident

Mar 18, 2015

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

NHTSA ID

10668339

Incident

Dec 13, 2014

Mileage

186,000 mi

FOUND A STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE IN THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW TANK. DIAGNOSIS: FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION COOLER INSIDE OF RADIATOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662916

Incident

Dec 6, 2014

Mileage

128,320 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY CAR JERKED AND THEN WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN AND WAS TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10598922

Incident

Jun 13, 2014

Mileage

123,000 mi

HELLO, I AM A VERY UNHAPPY FRUSTRATED 2005 ACURA MDX OWNER. MY CAR 2005ACURA MDX AT 82K MILES, I NOTICED CAR SHIFTING GEAR WAS NOT SHIFTING SMOOTHLY. HAVING DIFFICULTY WHILE SHIFTING GEAR & WHICH WENT WORSE & VERY STIFF. ALSO, A GRINDING NOISE COMING, WHILE ACCELERATING AT LOW SPEEDS ( 25-40MPH). IT STARTED TO HAPPEN ALMOST EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE THE CAR OR HOLDING THIS SPEED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE LEVEL. I HAVE HAD MY MECHANIC TO LOOK AT IT & WAS TOLD THIS NOISE IS A TRANSMISSION/TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM. IT'S COMMON TO ACURA MDXS. & ALSO, ADVISED TO TAKE IT TO ACURA DEALER. ON OCT-2009 CAR WAS PLACED FOR SERVICE @ AUTHORIZED ACURA DEALER. WHERE DEALER STATE THAT IT'S OUT OF COMPANY WARRANTY. THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH 3-YEAR WARRANTY ACURA DEALER AT MY (OWNER) EXPENSE 5K. AGAIN, IN JUNE-2012 @ 89K MILEAGES, SAME PROBLEM STARTED. MY CAR SHIFT GEAR WAS NOT SHIFTING SMOOTHLY. MY CAR NEEDED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO SHIFT GEARS. AGAIN, CAR WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED ACURA DEALER AND THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE WAS REPLACED. DEALER STATE THAT THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE WAS COVERED WITH RUST. WHICH I BELIEVE THE FAILURE WAS A ACURA DESIGN FLAW. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED SECOND TIME AT MY EXPENSE($400.00) FOR THE SAME PROBLEM OR CAUSE. RECENTLY, AGAIN (SEPT-2012) SAME STRANGE VIBRATION/GRINDING NOISE STARTED. IT SOUNDS IDENTICAL TO THE ISSUE I WAS HAVING PREVIOUSLY. HOWEVER, THIS TYPES OF FAILURE RECURRING EVERY FEW MONTHS LATER. UNFORTUNATELY, I FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND FEEL VERY NERVOUS WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY. I EVEN GET SCARED TO DRIVE THIS ACURA SUV IN CASE IT WILL STOP ON THE MIDDLE OF THE WAY, WHILE DRIVING. I'M REQUESTING YOU( NHTSA) TO TAKE THIS SERIOUS AND POSSIBLE LIFE THREATENING MATTER WITH ACURA AND MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10474074

Incident

Oct 12, 2010

Mileage

82,197 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE SUV IN A BUSY STREET 30-45MPH FELT THE VIBRATION, GRINDING, THE TRIANGLE DISTRESS SIGN CAME ON AND FELT THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO STALL. MANAGED TO GET THE SUV TO THE PARKING LOT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE SUV COMPLETELY STALLED THERE AND WE GOT IT TOWED TO THE ACURA DEALER. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND THE TECHNICIAN GAVE US THE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS AS "RADIATOR HAS BLOWN COOLANT LINE , FLUIDS HAVE CROSS CONTAMINATED AND WILL TAKE A LOT OF TIME TO BLEED OUT, ALSO POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THE PROCESS WOULD NEED TO RETEST DRIVE AFTER RADIATOR REPLACEMENT TO SEE IF TRANSMISSION WORKS". *TR

NHTSA ID

10471954

Incident

Aug 22, 2012

Mileage

82,000 mi

ENGINE MOUNTS ON THE ACURA MDX FROM 2003-2006 SEEM TO FAIL REGULARLY RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE TORQUE ON THE TRANSMISSION AND POTENTIAL STEERING INPUT SHIMMING. HONDA/ACURA IS WELL AWARE OF THE EARLY FAILURE OF THESE MOUNTS PER REFERENCING TSB 06-014. FURTHER EVIDENCED BY NUMEROUS INPUTS OF MULTIPLE MOUNT FAILURE WITHIN A YEAR. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT DEFECT THAT HONDA/ACURA SHOULD ADDRESS WITH EITHER ENHANCED DESIGN OR WARRANTY. HTTP://WWW.MDXERS.ORG/FORUMS/14-PROBLEMS/29355-BROKEN-ENGINE-MOUNTS-SEND-ME-YOUR-INFORMATION.HTML *KB

NHTSA ID

10437696

Incident

Nov 29, 2011

Mileage

84,000 mi

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT HONDA MOTOR CO HAS NOT TAKEN ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION TO ADDRESS THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH ITS ACURA MDX TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND I AM CALLING FOR A FULL FEDERAL INVESTIGATION ALONG WITH A POTENTIAL CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST HONDA. A VEHICLE OF THIS CALIBRE ON A LUXURY LINE, COSTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IS SUPPOSED TO LIVE UP TO ITS REPUTATION. TO BE FURTHER PROACTIVE, I ASK ALL THE MDXERS FOR US TO START A CHAIN BLOG FOR ACURA AND THE OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS TO SEE HOW EXTENSIVE THESE PROBLEMS ARE. ACURA HAS BEEN LESS THAN COOPERATIVE DURING MY INTERACTIONS WITH THEM. SO FIRST LET ME TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AND ISSUES ON MY MDX. IT STARTED WITH GRINDING AND WHINING NOISES COMING FROM MY 2005 MDX WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I BROUGHT IT IN TO OPEN ROAD ACURA OF WAYNE, NJ SEVERAL TIMES TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT ISSUE STILL REMAIN TODAY. FINALLY, I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. WHEN DRIVING 50-60 MPH, WHINING NOISE FROM ENGINE AREA DEVELOPS. IT CAN BE UNBEARABLE SOMETIMES, SORT OF WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE WITH EARACHES ON A PLANE. THE ENGINE IDLES ROUGH, IN A GRUNTING WAY. INITIALLY, CONSTANT NOISE CAME FROM THE TENSIONER PULLEY. I PAID AND GOT THAT FIXED EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS A RECALL ISSUE. TWO WEEKS INTO BUYING THE CAR BRAND NEW, SOMETHING IN THE DROP DOWN DVD SCREEN WAS RATTLING AND I GOT THAT FIXED. THEN, THE DVD/NAV FROZE ON ME CAUSING YET ANOTHER REPAIR AND TIME LOST. SO, NOW BACK TO THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I CONTACTED ACURA HQ AND THEY ASKED ME TO CONTACT THE DEALER. I ASKED FOR THEM TO INITIATE CALL TO DEALER BUT SAID THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO DO SO AND ALL REPAIRS IS AT DISCRETION OF DEALER. NOW WHAT HAPPENS IF CAR SEIZES WHILE I'M DRIVING CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH? ACURA HAS REFUSED TO EVEN CALL ME BACK AS A COURTESY AND HAS NEVER DONE SO WITH ITS CUSTOMER. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT DEALER CLAIMS ITS AT THEIR COST. DEALER SERVICE IS GOOD, POLICY IS BAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10416226

Incident

May 18, 2008

Mileage

40,000 mi

2005 ACURA MDX REAR MAIN SEAL FAILURE AROUND 70000 MILES. MOST OF THE MAINTENANCE IS CONDUCTED BY OWNER WITH GENUINE ACURA PARTS PURCHASED ON-LINE AT BERNARDI ACURA, MASSACHUSETTS. NOTICE OIL STAIN IN GARAGE AROUND 70000 MILES, NOW AT 76000 IN DRIPPING SO I TOOK IT TO DEALER IN FAYETTEVILLE, NC FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. ASKED FOR HELP FROM MANUFACTURER TO MITIGATE COST BUT WAS DENIED BASE ON DEALER SERVICE HISTORY. HAVE READ MORE COMPLAINTS IN FORUMS. TO ME THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART. TO REPLACE A $10.00 SEAL COST OVER $1000.00. *TR

NHTSA ID

10404216

Incident

Jun 2, 2011

Mileage

70,000 mi

GRINDING NOISE ON ACURA MDX 2005 MODEL. HAD THE CAR FOR TWO YEARS WHEN PROBLEM STARTED. THE DEALER COULD NEVER IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. ONLY WHEN THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY DID THEY FINALLY SAY THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND MY CAR HAS 75K PLUS, BUT THIS PROBLEM STARTED WAY BEFORE. THIS REPAIR WILL COST ME AT LEAST $5000. I'M SURE HONDA KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND DECIDED TO IGNORE IT. I FEEL CHEATED! HONDA MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELLING FAULTY CARS AND NOT OWNING UP TO IT. I'M A MILLION PERCENT SURE THE DEALERS ALSO KNEW IT AND DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY ARE NEGLIGENT AS WELL. I AM SURE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10364252

Incident

Jan 15, 2007

Mileage

23,075 mi

I HAVE A 2005 ACURA MDX AND FELT THE CAR NOISY WHILE DRIVING AFTER A WHILE THE VSA LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THANK GOD I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED 1 MONTH AFTER THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY EXPIRE. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $3900. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295675

Incident

Jul 23, 2009

Mileage

43,500 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20MPH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART AND THE BATTERY WAS DISCHARGED. AFTERWARDS, THE AIRBAG AND TIRE MOUNTING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY THE DEALER AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE NAVIGATION UNIT WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE ENGINE STALLING PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED BUT CONTINUED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A SHORT WITHIN THE AIRBAG SRS MODULE WIRING. ALTHOUGH THE AIRBAG PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED, THE STALLING CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE STALLING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10155816

Incident

Apr 21, 2006

Mileage

20,085 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH THE CAR SPEEDOMETER FELL TO 0 INSTANTLY AND THE CAR DECELERATED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL OPERATING. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. WITH FIRST INCIDENT (OCCURED 1/18/05) THE DEALER COULD NOT IDENITIFY OR REPLICATE PROBLEM. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP BEING CHECKED OUT FOR THIS REOCCURANCE.

NHTSA ID

10133983

Incident

Aug 23, 2005

Mileage

7,800 mi