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Acura MDX Transmission Problems

967 messages,  Last post on May 06, 2013 at 9:22 AM

You are in the Acura MDX Forum.

What is this discussion about? Acura MDX, SUV


 
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Messages Page 43 of 98

#413 of 967 NHSTA Complaint Statistics by kpsmith999

Oct 07, 2010 (3:48 pm)

The NHSTA (National Highway Safety & Transportation Administration) tracks reported issues by category. It is recognized that only a very small fraction of vehicle owners take the time to file an online complaint. You can imagine that the "real" numbers are significantly higher. That being said, here are the statistics by year for complaints mentioning "shudder/vibration/torque converter for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006. There was only one transmission problem reported for 2007, 2008 and 2009 (looks like Acura fixed the problem):
 
Year.......Total Complaints.......All Tranny Complaints.........Shudder/Vibration
2004................42............................17 (41%)........................13 (77%)
2005................51............................30 (59%)........................27 (90%)
2006................23............................14 (61%)..........................8 (57%)
Totals............116.............................61 (53%)........................48 (77%)
 
Transmission complaints by far out numbered all other complaints for Acura MDX. The Shudder/Vibration/Torque Converter issue comprised 77% of all transmission complaints. It is obvious that there was a "defect" for several years that was ignored by Acura. To speculate a little, if 48 vehicle owners reported the shudder/vibration/torque converter problem to NHSTA, and only 2% of owners with with problem actually took the time to file a complaint, that would extrapolate out to over 2,000 (2,400) vehicles that could potentially have the problem. I am sure Acura has done these numbers and has decided to address this problem one on one as owners complain (and I am sure Acura is hopefully that their vehicles are out of warranty). Also, think of all the owners that had this problem and their vehicles "were" within warranty and we would not hear from those owners in a forum such as this!
 
PS - Honda Pilot owners (same transmission at Acura MDX) have similar statistics in the NHSTA database.

#414 of 967 Re: 2005 MDX torque converter replaced - overdrive bearing [f8james] by wwest

Oct 07, 2010 (4:32 pm)

Replying to: f8james (Oct 07, 2010 10:40 am)
If you can find a way to safely disable the two rear drive coupling clutches the new tranny would undoubtedly last for over 100,000 miles, probably even 200,000 miles. Having the rear drive engaged automatically during acceleration and/or truning on highly tractive surfaces simply adds to much undue stress, HEAT, on the entire drive train. The automatic transmission just happens to be the weakest link for the MDX.
 
With some of the new F/awd systems a single fuse can be removed, or an on/off switch added in series, during the summer period to disable the rear drive functionality with no adverse efffects.

#415 of 967 feeling like a fool by riptoffnde

Oct 11, 2010 (7:28 pm)

well it looks like i'm the lastest victim of this mdx debacle! please include me in the class action suit that's LONG overdue. like a fool, i trusted acura. i've owned a honda for 13 years and only had routine maintenance done on it. i THOUGHT buying an mdx was a step up. boy, was i wrong. i'm just beginning my quest for justice in having my transmission repaired. good luck to me. judging by all your other stories, i'm going to need it. i'll keep you posted.
ript off in DE

#416 of 967 Re: Best of luck [kpsmith999] by mdx_failed

Oct 14, 2010 (2:54 pm)

Replying to: kpsmith999 (Oct 05, 2010 6:53 pm)
KPSmith, I have a 2004 MDX and just got hit with a $5k quote to replace the transmission due to a long standing shudder problem. I'd like to talk with you about how you presented the similar cases to the dealer, and where you found them,. arneexponential2.com

#417 of 967 Re: Best of luck [mdx_failed] by duke39

Oct 14, 2010 (8:05 pm)

Replying to: mdx_failed (Oct 14, 2010 2:54 pm)
Wow.
 
That's weird.....A transmission problem in an Acura.

#418 of 967 Re: Best of luck [mdx_failed] by tidester

Oct 14, 2010 (8:47 pm)

Replying to: mdx_failed (Oct 14, 2010 2:54 pm)
Please don't include your email address in postings to the Forums.
 
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

#419 of 967 Re: Best of luck [mdx_failed] by m3mac

Oct 17, 2010 (7:36 pm)

Replying to: mdx_failed (Oct 14, 2010 2:54 pm)
We bought our 2004 mdx from a third party with around 50K miles on it a little over a year ago. Discovered very faint noise in transmission at around 80K. I was hard to reproduce for our general mechanic, but over the last 10K miles it got much worse and we were also quoted around $3K to replace the converter two days ago.
 
Needless to say, we're very upset about this when we found this out.
 
Found this forum by googling acura 2004 torque converter so we could learn about it. How can I get involved with any class action suit etc for this matter?
 
Thanks.

#420 of 967 Re: Best of luck [m3mac] by titovalencia

Oct 18, 2010 (7:05 pm)

Replying to: m3mac (Oct 17, 2010 7:36 pm)
Hey Everyone...
 
I too am having major issues with my transmission shuddering and vibrating on my 2004 Acura MDX. I had purchased this vehicle with 50k miles on it and currently have 104k miles on it. I've been experiencing the vibrations over the last couple of months and took it into the Acura Dealership.
 
I have done some research and took in some service bulletins with me and the Acura Service Consultant, before taking a look at the vehicle, was trying to talk me out of having a Service Tech take a look at it. He said it would be a waste of money because they KNEW that the transmission wouldn't be covered if it was bad. He said he was looking out for me...oh pleeease. I had a Service Tech diagnose the vehicle, and lo and behold, it was the torque converter issue everyone here is dealing with. I also requested for a goodwill replacement for the transmission because this is a huge issue that Acura is dealing with...he did submit the goodwill replacement reluctantly, but said it was a long shot.
 
See, I currently own a 2004 Acura MDX and TL and have been a Honda Owner and Supporter for 10 years...but the level of service, or lack thereof, is making me second guess purchasing future vehicles from them.
 
I'm currently waiting on a response from the District Service Manager and it's been two weeks, but I'm not holding my breath. I don't know what to do here, I can't afford a $2.5k-$4k replacement, times are tough.
 
I just can't believe Acura/Honda is completely ignoring an issue....what's it going to take for them to recall these bad transmission...an accident? or worse?
 
If there's a class action suit....COUNT ME IN!

#421 of 967 Out-of-Warranty Repair - 2005 MDX - 100% Paid by Honda by kpsmith999

Oct 19, 2010 (4:04 pm)

Anyway, what worked for me, was presenting the dealer with a ton of documentation on the Honda Pilot / Acura MDX Transmission problem. Not only the forum info, but also the NHSTA data (see my forum message above showing the statistics). Here is link for NHSTA:
 
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/index.cfm
 
The dealer immediately suggested I open a case file with Honda America, which I did. I also presented the rep at Honda with all my documentation. Their standard procedure is to deny claims for vehicles that are out of warranty. You have to keep insisting that your claim be taken to the next level, including arbitration. I also presented them with the Acura Service Bulletin for 2003 and 2004 MDX for the torque converter problem, which should have also applied to 2005. Here is the link for the service bulliten:
 
http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/thebesthonda/2010-02-04_181956_B06-003.pdf
 
It will take many phone calls back and forth with the Honda rep that is assigned to your case file. You must be patient and keep insisting you are not satisfied. They may at some point offer to pay for 25%, 50% or 75%. I held out and got them to pay 100%. They knew I was not going to give up when I said I would take my claim all the way to arbitration, if necessary.
 
Several forum members have stated that they have had to replace the torque converter more than once. If I were to do it over again I would have pushed for a rebuilt transmission with a 3 year / 36,000 mile warranty.
 
One last thought. There are several forums on the Internet that you can refer too regarding this issue. Listed are a couple to check out:
 
http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/acura-mdx/TP7UEAC3B0BJIIK88/p2
http://repairpal.com/trans-noise-325
 
I hope this info helps. It took me 4-6 weeks of discussion with Honda/Acura to get my repair done. I will probably sell my 2005 MDX while it is working. No telling when the torque converter may fail again!

#422 of 967 2010 resolution? by alwaysadaylate

Oct 20, 2010 (6:05 am)

Has this issue been resolved in the 2010 model?

Messages Page 43 of 98

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