2002 Acura MDX: complaints, problems and recalls

INTERIOR OF WINDOWS STREAK WITH WATER AFTER RAIN/CAR WASH WHEN ROLLED DOWN ANY DISTANCE. THE STREAKING HAPPENS WITHIN THE FIRST 8 TO 10 INCHES OF THE WINDOW. DEALER HAS NO FIX AND STATES MANUFACTURER DOES NOT HAVE A FIX. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005110 at NHTSA ↗

ON 5/9/2003 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. ABOUT 45 MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHILE IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHICH STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT WHICH WAS ON RECALL. THE CONSUMER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL #02V226000. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019941 at NHTSA ↗

2002 ACURA MDX WITH APPROX. 17K MILES REPEATEDLY FORCIBLY DOWNSHIFTED FOR NO APPARENT REASON ON THE EVENING OF 5/28/03. DEALER REPRODUCED THE BEHAVIOR ON A TEST DRIVE ON THE MORNING OF 5/29/03 AND IS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020775 at NHTSA ↗

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 70-75 MPH. TRIED SEVERAL SOLUTIONS WITH NO SUCCESS: A) TRIED RE-BALANCING TIRES B) TRIED NEW TIRES C) DEALER VISUAL INSPECTION NEGATIVE. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 12,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021454 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031934 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS STREAK AFTER EXPOSURE TO WATER OR SNOW REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY. THE STREAKING OCCURS WHEN THE MDX IS PARKED IN RAIN/SNOW OR DRIVEN IN RAIN/SNOW. WHEN WINDOWS ARE ROLLED DOWN THEN BACK UP BOTH THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOW ARE STREAKED WITH WATER AND DEBRIS. THIS WILL LAST FOR DAYS. BECAUSE OF THE SALT OR DIRT THAT SITS WITH THE WATER, VISIBILITY IS JEOPARDIZED AND DRIVING IS UNSAFE. THE STREAKS COVER 75% OF THE WINDOW MOVING FROM FRONT TO BACK LEAVING THE BACK 25% OF THE WINDOW WITH SOME VISIBILI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037602 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN FILLING THE FUEL TANK TO ITS MAXIMUM CAPACITY FUEL WOULD SPILL OUT ONTO THE CONSUMER AFTER REMOVING THE NOZZLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037868 at NHTSA ↗

REAR BRAKE MAKES NOISE. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10045285 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-08-28 (August 28, 2002)

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, SEDANS, COUPES, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES, A TIMING BELT TENSIONER PULLEY ON THE WATER PUMP IS MISALIGNED AND COULD CAUSE THE TIMING BELT TO CONTACT A BOLT ON THE CYLINDER HEAD. EVENTUALLY THE BELT COULD BE DAMAGED AND FAIL.

Consequence: IF THE TIMING BELT BREAKS, THE ENGINE WILL STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WATER PUMP AND IF IT IS ONE OF THE DEFECTIVE PUMPS, THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 30, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

Reported: 2004-04-15 (April 15, 2004)

ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.

Consequence: GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: ON VEHICLES WITH 15,000 MILES OR LESS, THE DEALER WILL UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A SIMPLE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE TO INCREASE LUBRICATION TO THE SECOND GEAR. ON VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 15,000 MILES, THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO IDENTIFY GEARS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED DISCOLORATION DUE TO OVERHEATING. IF DISCOLORATION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED IF DISCOLORATION IS NOT PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL PERFORM THE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2004, FOR PILOT, ODYSSEY, AND MDX OWNERS. OWNERS OF THE ACCORD VEHICLES WILL START RECEIVING LETTERS ON JUNE 28, 2004, AND ON JUNE 29, 2004, FOR OWNERS OF THE TL AND CL VEHICLES. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

Reported: 2005-09-01 (September 1, 2005)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN AREAS WHERE LARGE QUANTITIES OF ROAD SALT ARE USED, THE FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS HAVE INSUFFICIENT CORROSION PROTECTION, AND MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORROSION.

Consequence: EXCESSIVE CORROSION CAN CAUSE SPRING FAILURE AND A BROKEN SPRING COULD PUNCTURE A FRONT TIRE, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS WITH IMPROVED SPRINGS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 11, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ACURA AT 800-382-2238.

Reported: 2020-01-17 (January 17, 2020)

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.