2003 Acura MDX problems
The 2003 Acura MDX has 259 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (22%) concerns transmission. After that come drivetrain & axles (19%) and air bags (16%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 259 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Transmission 22% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 12 and 6
- Injuries and deaths
- 12 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 110,000 miles 202 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 22 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 5 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 7 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 16 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 33 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 34 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 23 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 21 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 18 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 8 |
| 200k+ miles | 15 |
What the data shows
Among the 202 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 110,000 miles. For transmission specifically, the median reported mileage is about 96,000 miles (51 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 12 complaints mention a crash; 6 complaints mention a fire; 12 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 15th most-complained-about out of 24 model years of the Acura MDX with enough data (56 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 11 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 acura mdx, while stopped the contact was rear ended by a vehicle traveling at approximately 50 MPH. The seat belt did not tighten to hold her firmly in place upon impact and she was thrown forward into her windshield. A police report was filed. The contact suffered injuries and the driver of the other vehicle was transported to the hospital via ambulance.
Right front metal wheel separated within seconds, pulled the car right into an embankment, car rolled left multiple times investigating officer from goochland county sheriff's dept. Said had never seen similar failure. There were no reported obstructions in the road. There were no eyewitnesses. Driver lost consciousness during first rollover. Child said they rolled 3 or 4 times and apparently did not lose consciousness. Wheel failed in the vertical axis in a jagged manner.
The vehicle was involved in an accident in which it rolled over. Neither air bag deployed. There was no air bag light warning prior to the crash. A police report and pictures can be made available per consumer. The vehicle was a total loss. *scc
Husband drove car, came home, parked the car in driveway. We found car at the bottom of our driveway attached to the front bumper of our neighbor's car. Our neighbor's car was damaged. I definitely believe and quite frankly expect honda to refund us our deductible for our insurance company. The exact wording of your recall notice is exactly what happened -- "removal of the ignition key when gear selector with transmission has not been shifted to the park position can allow vehicle to roll away." and roll it…
While traveling at around the speed limit on a busy freeway the vehicle suddenly started coasting without any warning. Stepping on the gas caused the engine to rev but no acceleration, which made it extremely dangerous to try to pull the vehicle to the shoulder with the right lane heavily occupied by 18 wheeler trucks that are long and respond slowly.