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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 90 of 98

#882 of 967 Re: 2004 Acura MDX Transmission Problems [maikolo] by jslivon

Aug 13, 2012 (10:59 am)

Replying to: maikolo (Aug 13, 2012 10:27 am)
We own a very well maintained 2003 MDX and had it for a number of years. We bought it with 60k miles and now it has 160k miles. My wife took out the extended warranty when she bought it from a local Acura dealer. The transmission failed at 108K miles. We argued extensively with Acura and they paid 90% of the $4,500 cost.
 
At 110k miles you will need a timing belt, water pump, spark plugs and valve adjustment. Two motor mounts will also fail by then. At 150k miles, you may need new front ball joints and rear control arms. Except for the transmission problem, this is all normal wear and tear. Except for what we've read about Acura putting the screws to many people over this transmission problem, we loved the car. Gas mileage isn't very good considering what the new cars are getting. However, I won't buy a new Acura. I think there are better cars out there now.
 
You'll have to make your own decision. 85k miles is a little low for the average vehicle. It all depends on how well the '04 has been maintained. I wouldn't pay more then the "trade-in" value based on the "Blue Book". You should be able to buy an extended warranty because it's under 100k miles. Check with your local Acura regarding a reliable company to by the warantee from.

#883 of 967 Re: 2004 Acura MDX Transmission Problems [maikolo] by jga5

Aug 13, 2012 (12:31 pm)

Replying to: maikolo (Aug 13, 2012 10:27 am)
I own a 2004 MDX with about 119,000 miles now. I have performed all of the required maintenance to date and have not yet had a transmission issue. If the vehical you are looking at has had its service and test drives well (smooth), i would say it may be a good deal.

#884 of 967 Re: 2004 Acura MDX Transmission Problems [jga5] by wwest

Aug 14, 2012 (9:19 am)

Replying to: jga5 (Aug 13, 2012 12:31 pm)
Every time you accelerate beyond a "gentle" level in the MDX, from a stop or a low speed, on a tractive surface, you are putting an unusual, mostly undue, level of stress on the driveline components.
 
So driving style, or even geographic region, might have an adverse impact on how soon one of those components fails. Note that the MDX was switched from the VTM-4 system to the SH-AWD system at some point which seems to have helped alleviate the failures.

#885 of 967 Re: 2004 Acura MDX Transmission Problems [maikolo] by qali

Aug 14, 2012 (12:13 pm)

Replying to: maikolo (Aug 13, 2012 10:27 am)
I bought a 2005 CPO 3 years ago in Canada with 50K miles. The transmission failed 3 months after I bought it and was replaced under CPO warranty. Since then, little things have slowly started to fail with the age of the vehicle. For example, lights that illuminate switches will fail, the homelink buttons and the reading lights next to the rear view mirror, automatic door locks on the passenger side etc. Nothing big, but small things. I have meticulously maintained the vehicle with all services performed including tranny oil, VTM fluid, rear transfer case fluid, coolant etc. A few months ago, I had a major failure of the radiator which (according to many posts on the Internet) could potentially harm your transmission because of the way the radiator is designed and a radiator leak may cause tranny oil and coolant to mix and end up in the tranny (not good). I must have driven about 10 miles before the tranny went into fail-safe and shut down (that's what the dealer told me). He fixed up everything, did several flushes etc and told me everything is fine. The vehicle drives fine but I went to another Acura dealer for a complete inspection of the work and the other dealer also confirmed that there is no damage to the tranny and the work done by the first dealer was top-notch. I wanted to get that peace of mind as my timing belt, water pump and serpentine belt is being replaced this month at 100,000K miles and that is a big expense. I intend to keep the vehicle for as long as I can so I am going to eat the $1200 expense but you just need to be mindful that on an older car you may have unanticipated expenses. But it is a great vehicle and is built really well.

#886 of 967 2005 MDX Transmission Question by rismt

Aug 23, 2012 (7:39 am)

I am thinking of buying a low mileage (30k) 2005 MDX and am concerned over the reports of transmission/TC issues. Can anyone offer some recent information/experiences with their 2005? We have friends with a 2002/124k miles and have had no issues. Did Acura issue a service order/recall on them? Thanks for the help.

#888 of 967 2005 Acura MDX transmission shot @ 95k by mountainmom80

Aug 31, 2012 (4:53 am)

We purchased our 05 Acura 6 months ago from a dealership with 87k on it. A few weeks ago we noticed it shifting hard, check engine light coming on, the drive light on the dash would flash when it was in gear, which in the manual indicates transmission issues. My husband checked all fluids again and all was as it should be. Today I can't shift it into drive at all and barely got it into park the day it made it back unto the driveway. It was difficult shutting the car off and taking the keys out due to the transmission not allowing it to even go into park. Now iv only put 10k on it since I left the dealership and this happens. Pretty upset about that, and on top of that I'm mad at myself for not looking at the reviews. Now the vehicle isn't worth a damn thong for trade in purpose and most dealerships are aware and won't give a great trade in value, leaving you extremely upside down in your loan. Try getting out of an MDX! Terribly difficult! I will be bugging Acura until this car is in a scrap yard 20 years from now. They will know my name! I promis to haunt those a$$holes for the long haul until they make this right or help fix this car because I will run this thing until it can't be run anymore! Sadly because of Acura and their pathetic manufacturing that won't be as long as I'd have hoped for!

#889 of 967 Re: My Last Honda Product [redondodave] by jga5

Aug 31, 2012 (7:12 am)

Replying to: redondodave (Feb 06, 2010 11:26 am)
That is not entirely true. The parts in the MDX transmission that have been failing and causing the problem are consistently the same part, the same assembly - the torque converter. Yes, all moving components cause friction but, with correct lubrication, the heat buildup is mitigated, minimized and reduced to the point that the components are capable of operating to their designed parameters, without time limits.
 
Friction is not the problem but the fast heat build-up due to a HIGH friction coefficient and abrasive properties will cause the performance of the torque converter to become poor and shorten the durability of those components with continued operation once the HIGH friction condition is experienced.
 
The problem is one of design. The torque converter is not receiving adequate lubrication with long term use or, is subject to be easily fouled, resulting in insufficient lubrication causing HIGH heat buildup and component failure.
 
More frequent maintenance can prevent this.

#890 of 967 Re: My Last Honda Product [jga5] by wwest

Aug 31, 2012 (8:40 am)

Replying to: jga5 (Aug 31, 2012 7:12 am)
Methinks you be quite far off-base.
 
It is my understanding that it is the lock-up clutch portion, integral portion, of the torque converter that is/has failed, not the torque converter itself.
 
In order to provide the best FE most modern day automatic transmissions made use of the lock-up aspect of the torque converter as close to 100% of the time that is possible, bypassing the function, functionality, of the LOSSY torque converter as often as is feasible.
 
Then you throw in the extra stresses of having the rear drive system engaged a goodly portion of the time and you have a recipe for failure.

#891 of 967 Re: Just Got a New Torque Converter [washingtongc] by accordlx97man

Sep 17, 2012 (11:38 am)

Replying to: washingtongc (Sep 28, 2011 2:49 am)
Hi 'washingtongc', I have a 2009 with the same problem at 40K miles. I took it to the nearest dealership and either they were unable to demonstrate it or pretended so. It will be helpful to know which dealership you went to.

Messages Page 90 of 98

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