2002 Acura MDX Touring from North America - Comments

Transmission needs replacement.

Car did great until recently. I was driving on the highway when the transmission started to slip. It seemed to have trouble between the 3rd and 4th gears. It also jerked a lot when down shifting. I was able to make it home okay. Upon driving the next day the problem stopped. When I took it to the Acura dealer they said that the computer read "incorrect gear ratio." They told me that the the transmission fluid was quite dark and that it needed replacement. This was very upsetting especially given the fact that we just had the transmission checked in March for the recall and it simply got the recall modification (no new tranny was needed).

I have recently begun having problems with my 2001 MDX (Honda of Canada) transmission, with 86,700 miles. In researching on Google, I find there was a massive recall on these transmissions:

(See http://auto-recalls.justia.com/content/04V176000-ACURA-MDX-2001.html)

Make : ACURA Model : MDX Year : 2001

Build Dates : 20000810 - 20011019

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 04V176000

Date Owner's Notified: 20040427 Date Received by ODI: 20040415 Date Added to Databse: 20040420

Manufacturer's Involved: AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

Manufacturer's Responsible for the Recall: HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)

Manufacturer Campaign Number: P30/P31

Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Potential Number Of Units Affected : 1099796

Summary:

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.

Report Initiator: MFR Vehicles Report

Regulation Part Number: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number:

Notes:

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATIONS AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).