2004 Acura MDX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
171 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
94,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 133 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 47 of 171 complaints (27.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 64 | 37.4% |
| Braking behavior | 20 | 11.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 5.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 1.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 47 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 29 |
| Air Bags | 25 |
| Electrical System | 19 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9 |
Power Train: 47; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 29; Air Bags: 25; Electrical System: 19; Engine: 13; Fuel/Propulsion System: 11; Unknown Or Other: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 42 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 42 |
| 150,000 and above | 19 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 42; 100,000 to 149,999: 42; 150,000 and above: 19
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (42). 38 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 28 |
| 2011 | 19 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 15 |
| 2016 | 18 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2004: 9; 2005: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 3; 2009: 4; 2010: 28; 2011: 19; 2012: 9; 2013: 18; 2014: 8; 2015: 15; 2016: 18; 2017: 10; 2018: 7; 2019: 8; 2020: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 64 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10058612 · 2004-02-20 (February 20, 2004)
A LOUD "DRONING" SOUND COMES OUT AT 2,000-2,200 MPH, ESPECIALLY LOUD AT APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH. DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER SAY THAT THIS IS A "NATURAL SOUND" OF THE 2004 MDX. I DO NOT BUY THIS EXPLANATION IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT AN EXPENSIVE SUV SUCH AS THIS WOULD HAVE A "NATURAL SOUND" LIKE THIS LOUD DRONING SOUND. IT IS VERY LOUD ESPECIALLY DURING COLD WEATHER. THEY INSIST THAT THIS IS RELATED TO THE NEW DUAL EXHAUST SYSTEM OF THE 2004 MDX. WHAT IF IT IS ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION RELATED? *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058612 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097280 · 2004-10-20 (October 20, 2004)
AFTER SHIFTING OUT OF REVERSE INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED IN REVERSE UNTIL THE CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097280 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128111 · 2005-07-08 (July 8, 2005)
INTERMITTENT, RANDOM PULLING TO THE RIGHT WHILE BRAKING - FREQUENTLY SLIGHT AND OCCASIONALLY SIGNIFICANT. ON RARE OCCASION, SIGNIFICANT PULLING TO THE LEFT. ACURA DEALER TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE MANAGER CLAIM THAT THIS IN "NORMAL."
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10128111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10146472 · 2005-12-22 (December 22, 2005)
2004 ACURA MDX DRAMATIC DETERIORATION IN THE BRAKING. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE NOISE HAS MANIFESTED INTO A GRINDING METAL TO METAL SOUND. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE NOISE WAS A RESULT OF HEAT BUILD UP IN THE BRAKES WHEN THEY GET LOW. THE RIGHT REAR SPEAKER VIBRATED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10146472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10320245 · 2010-03-16 (March 16, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA MDX. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35MPH, THE BATTERY CABLE BECAME DISCONNECTED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STEER OR STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE HAPPENED, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 145000.
Owner-reported narrative. 145,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10320245 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10386938 · 2011-03-08 (March 8, 2011)
I HAVE A 2004 ACURA MDX. THERE ARE ABOUT 77,000 MILES ON IT. VSA, VTM-4, ABS, AND AIRBAG LIGHTS KEEP FLASHING. SO I TOOK IT TO MY ACURA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT AFTER DIAGNOSTIC THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WIRING OF ALL MDX IN OR AROUND 2004. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTING OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURES IN 2003 AND 2004 MDXS. ACURA SHOULD TAKE A LOOK INTO THIS AND MAYBE DO A RECALL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND SLOWS DOWN WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING …
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10386938 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10351908 · 2010-08-26 (August 26, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT WAS REFUELING THE VEHICLE AS GASOLINE BEGAN TO SPILL FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FILLER NECK YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE ON-BOARD REFUELING VAPOR RECOVERY (ORVR) WALL. WITHIN THREE MONTHS, THE FAILURE HAD RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ORVR WALL HAD FAILED. THE ORVR WALL WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER THEN ADVISED REPLACING THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10351908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10363031 · 2010-10-30 (October 30, 2010)
INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS, GAS WOULD BE PUMPED AS USUAL. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE GAS WOULD GUSH BACK OUT. OR, ONLY A COUPLE DOLLARS OF GAS COULD BE PUMPED BEFORE THE AUTO-SHUT OFF STOPPED THE GAS FLOW. YOU TRY AGAIN, AND IT WOULD AUTO-SHUT OFF AGAIN. MAJOR FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARD. DEALER REPLACED ENTIRE GAS TANK TO FIX PROBLEM, BUT CHARGED CUSTOMER FOR LABOR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10363031 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10486696 · 2012-12-01 (December 1, 2012)
VEHICLE DEVELOPS VIBRATION AND SHUTTER IN TRANSMISSION/DRIVETRAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH ALONG WITH FLUCTUATIONS IN RPMS. ALSO, TORQUE CONVERTER FEELS SEMI-LOCKED AT IDLE WHEN IN DRIVE SHORTLY AFTER STARTING CAUSING ROUGH IDLE AND STALLS, AND HESITATION UPON INITIAL ACCELERATION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10486696 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10743637 · 2015-07-27 (July 27, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS), NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V700000 (AIR BAGS), AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V573000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHILE IDLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WERE UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE MADE. …
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10743637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10811897 · 2015-12-23 (December 23, 2015)
DRIVING 30 TO 45 MILES I AM GETTING A GROWN IN MY GAS PEDAL AND WHEN I GO PASS 65 TO 70 MILES I GET VIBRATION. IN MY STEERING WHEEL. I HAD MY WHEELS ROAD FORCE BALANCE I HAD WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE I HAD SUSPENSION STRUTS AND SHOCKS CHANGE. I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROMBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10811897 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11210663 · 2019-05-29 (May 29, 2019)
TAKATA RECALL MY AIRBAGS WERE REPLACED TWICE ALREADY THROUGH RECALL REPAIR AND THE AIRBAG SENSOR CAME BACK ON LAST WEEK, MOMENT IT CAME ON I WAS IN MOTION AND THE STEERING WHEEL I WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING. THIS RESULTED IN ME SIDE-SWIPING AND OBJECT, HITTING THE CURB AND FLATTENING MY TIRE. THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER RECALL ON MY VEHICLE
Owner-reported narrative. 230,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11210663 at NHTSA ↗