2002 Acura MDX from North America - Comments

I purchased a Certified pre-owned 2002 Acura MDX Touring Edition and have owned it for 1 1/2 years. Within this time period I have had the motor mounts replaced, problems with vehicle vibrating when I brake (despite replacing the tires & brakes as suggested by the dealer to stop this problem and problem never resolved), navigation system replaced, the transmission replaced, etc... I am pretty upset at the fact that this vehicle is supposed to be in tip top shape and apparently isn't. However, for all 2002 Acura MDX owners who are having problems and not able to resolving your issues with car dealers or Acura/Honda there are lemon laws. Contact a lemon law lawyer and receive free legal advise. Good luck to all!... Angry Acura owner in Philadelphia.

Just purchased a 2002 MDX with 117km and I'm not sure if what I hear when driving are transmission problems that you guys are talking about - upon accelerating to about 35, 40kph and up there's like a strong humming sound or like an engine-braking-kind of sound that goes with the speed and fine fluctuating vibration on the steering wheel. Generally it runs good though, just drove it in highway speeds today, only I hear this loud humming sound on the entire trip. I'm not sure but when I try to speedup from around 40kph I can feel a little bit of sluggishness in acceleration pick up, ...or maybe I'm just hesitant to step on the gas 'coz I worry about the sound. I can't hear jerky gear shifting though. Was a manual-shift driver a month ago so I was kind of observing this... starting to worry.

Anyone can confirm what it is? Thanks you guys.

I just purchased a 2002 Acura MDX and love it. I know the transmission was replaced once. It was a 1 owner car and in mint condition. The only problem is the airconditioning blows but not cold. It will get cool when the car is moving and stays moving. It makes a clicking noise under the hood when the air is on and you turn it off and it stops. Does anyone know what this could be and how costly it could be. My Acura has about 97,000 miles on it. If anyone has any information that could lead me in the right direction please email me at sherristrad@aol.com. I would appreciate it. Thank you.

RE: Vibration and humming. To the person looking for info on the vibration (posted 9 Aug 2008) - Probably the torque converter. Mine has been replaced several times. It sounds like going over a rumble strip on the highway, but very low. Get the service manager to ride with you to reproduce the sound. It's a VERY common problem. Don't pay to fix it, DEMAND that they pay for it.

I own a 2001 MDX Touring with 81,000 miles and am having some of the same symptoms I have read here. I have a little shimmy or vibration when shifting into 2nd gear which I took in for a recall a couple years ago. I am also having that rumble strip noise talked about when in 5th gear going between 40 and 50 at about 1500 RPM. Both of these occur during gingerly driving when barely pushing the gas pedal. I have recently noticed what I thought to be a humming noise at highway speeds, but wasn't sure if it was the car or road noise until I started reading the comments in this forum. Now I am beginning to believe I wasn't imagining the noise after what I've read here. I am going to contact my dealer and see what he says.

Bought a 2002 Acura MDX about 1.5 years ago and it has 84K miles on it. Started having jerky transmission problems and a clunk under the hood when shifting into second gear.

I just called Honda per the recall instructions once I found the recall info and they said the recall was already performed before I got the car and the if the transmission fails again, it will not be covered.

Some of the blogs I have read say that the warranty was extended to 100K miles on these recall cars but the person on the phone said that is only on some of the cars depending on where they were manufactured.

Does anyone have any advice on recourse as I'm sure the tranny is going again and I don't think it's fair to have to replace it again at my expense.

Thanks.

I was wondering what the outcome was from the Sept 1 2008 consumer that was going to take his car to the dealer concerning the rumble noise in 5th. gear. Thanks, Paul.

Acura had big problems with the 2002/03 transmissions. They are not standing behind their product and consequently, losing a lot of business. If you've only had to replace one transmission so far, I would suggest you get rid of it at the first sign of slippage before you dump more good money into a bad problem. With any luck, you'll get a decent trade-in and be done with it.

I own a 02 MDX. Bought it as a CPO vehicle 3 years ago with only 37K, the vehicle has been "trouble free" sort to speak, but I have been complaining about the rumbling noise that everyone hears since the vehicle had 55k.

The dealer had not been able to reproduce the noise until today!!! In the past they never find it and always suggested changing the tranny fluid, which seems to help a bit with the noise, and hope you are out of warranty when it fails.

I just dropped off the MDX today at the dealer complaining about the noise, but this time the transmission oil was clean, so was the VTM fluid. The car now has 82k miles and I just received a call from the dealer that I need a new transmission! Luckily for me that I bought this as a Certified pre-owned, which carries a 100K warranty so it's covered, but I'm getting rid of this vehicle soon!!!

Relieved.

I have been to Honda, Acura and independent mechanics, and no one can properly diagnose the humming noise at about 20 mph, and then again at 40 miles per hour. I have called Acura and they say the recall repair has been performed (not on my watch). I see they have told others the same. I am sorry, I do not believe it, I want proof. I bought the 2002 MDX in 2004. and it only has a little over 70,000 miles.

This is frustrating, I think the group on this blog should consider a class action lawsuit against Acura for not taking care of business properly.