2003 Acura MDX Base from North America - Comments

Brake clunk / thud noise. MFG says this is a "feature".

Gas tank slosh noise. Loudest I've heard in a vehicle in probably 20 years.

Wiper motor whine.

Research this vehicle before you buy. For the money this vehicle will make you feel like you got ripped off every time you experience and oddity or a "feature" as MFG calls them. The brake noise they claim cannot be fixed and is part of the design (space in between the pads and caliper to account for expansion due to heat). I know of no other car that clunks at every stop. You will not notice this "feature" until you've gone at least 1000 miles. Research it first before spending all the money for this rig.

When I bought my MDX there was no noise coming from the brakes.

Now that it has a few miles you are trying to tell me that some brake click is normal. Then why was it not making these sound when I test drove this type of vehicle, or when I took delivery of my MDX!!! It started when the vehicle had about 1,700 miles which proves that your design needs to review and resolve this issue.

This is the first Acura that I have purchased and I am very disappointed at this point with something that would so easy to repair and your company will not even make a effort to design a clip to hold a brake pad to stop it from shifting or design it so that it will not wear no the tabs that hold it in place.

If this problem persists for the life of the car so will my complaints about the poor design and engineering every time the vehicle requires service. As well this will have a strong effect on the rating of Cush as a Dealer ship.

I assure you that I will start an informational campaign by using the laws that protect consumers, going to consumer reports, the local media, and any other place I can find a forum that will inform the public about this defect with your vehicles. (Note many web sites are starting to show that many others have the same issues)

I have owned many other types of vehicles and have been a Master Mechanic over 20 years. What your Company is calling a normal sound is driving me to a point that I will do what ever it takes to ensure that is will not happen to one more consumer.

We have a growing number of people that are willing to start writing and speaking out.

I feel the same way. If I had known about the defects

I would not have purchased the MDX. I would not recommed

this suv to anyone I know. The brakes or the gas tank

should not make the thud noise.

I agree. I would not have bought the MDX if I had known the brakes would make such an annoying "clunk". When you go to sell the MDX, try explaining the "clunk" to the prospective buyer.

I am seriously considering buying a used MDX 2002 Touring car. It has 77,000 miles, but the body is in beautiful condition. The prices is 21,998. Is it worth it? Will come with a limited warranty and had one previous owner.

I have just purchased a used 2003 MDX and was concerned about the brakes making the clunking noise. I was going to take it to a dealer and have them check the brakes, but I see it is a common sound. No car that costs this amount of money or even half as much money should make this kind of noise! AND the gas sloshing sound is annoying as well! I still like the car...it's too bad these two minor problems just can't be fixed quickly... I would even pay a few hundred more to fix them!

I have a 2004 MDX with the same break problem... the clunk when you stop after reverse, and then another clunk when you stop for the first time in drive. I agree that a $40,000 car shouldn't be doing this and it is a disgrace that Acura has not addressed it. The service centers know all about this, but act like it's the first time they heard of it. I've taken the car back twice, and they said, oh, well that's no big deal, we'll "shim the brakes." It did nothing, and they act surprised when I'm back again!!...It has concerned me that the brakes will fail despite Acura's claims to the contrary, and I began noticing intermittent problems stopping the car at high speeds, as if the brakes are low or very worn. It's not a problem at this moment as the car is in the shop requiring $9,000 of body work due our rear-ending someone. I found this site while researching to see if others had a brake problem like mine. What do you know???...My insurance company is now asking for the service paperwork on the brake issue. I guess we'll see what happens next...

I purchased a new 2003 Acura MDX Touring and have loved the car up to now. My transmission will slip into neutral without any warning or at any speed. My SUV has 70,600 miles on it so it is out of warranty or so I was told by the Service Department where I purchased the vehicle. Upon searching the internet that Honda Acura was aware of the transmission problems on 2001-2003 MDXs and have extended the warranty to 7 years or 100,000 miles. Now the Service Department said that my vehicle had the wrong VIN#, but said they would replace it at 50/50 percent. I disagreed and called Honda Acura and was told that the VIN# did not apply. The vehicle just had to have the transmission problem and when I asked the cost that would be involved I was told upward of $3,000. I then asked if the cost of the 50% was Honda supplying the transmission and the other was the fee being charged to install and was told "yes", but it is my understanding that when a car is under and extended warranty that there should be no charge. I am very disappointed since I love my car and Acuras in general. Including business cars and personal, we have purchased 11 Acuras in 15 years and were about to buy another, but are reconsidering.

I have a 2001 MDX and the clangs and noises keep on coming. My car has the break noise, the gas sloshing noise, the wiper motor whining noise, wind noise from the passenger door, the car pulls to the right and it is on the 3rd transmission. I currently have 120K and the transmission is acting up again. Acura cannot compete with the high end cars. This will be the last Acura I purchase.

For the brake clunking noise see attached fix from ACURA.

Gerry.

Http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=17265.

We have a 2003 Acura MDX and just found out that it needs a new transmission! We are under 5 years since purchase but unfortunately are 10,000 km over warranty. It has had regular scheduled maintenance and we have never towed anything as we did not purchase the towing package. Through research and conversations with Honda/Acura customer services, they admitted this is a problem with their 2000- 2003 MDX models. The US has extended their warranty to 100,000 miles or 7 years.

(see consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2001-to-2006-acura-mdx-2.htm) Although all MDX models are produce in the same factory, this extended warranty does NOT apply to Canada! Our dealership has supported us and is willing to pay cover up to $1,300. However, Honda/Acura Canada, at this point is prepared to nothing to take any form of shared responsibility for their faulty product. Previous to this we also experienced the other common complaints of this vehicle - brake clunking, noisy gas tank. I will never buy another Acura vehicle again.