10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
38,118 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Acura MDX:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #42

Aug 242020

MDX

  • miles
I wrecked on 8/24/2020. The car says the airbags deployed and my seatbelts locked up. But my airbags did not deploy! I rear ended somebody going about 20 mph on a city street.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #41

Sep 012019

MDX

  • miles
Airbag lights are on. Passenger seat airbag light blinks even if no body is in the car. And on the dashboard the red airbag light is

- Boston, MA, USA

problem #40

Nov 132018

MDX

  • 59,000 miles
2003 Acura MDX has so many issues and it's affecting a lot of other owners. SRS airbag light issue 61-10 that needs the seat belt replacement and the engine mounts need replacement. Seems like the front and side engine failure is common

- Torrance, CA, USA

problem #39

Mar 152018

MDX

  • 103,000 miles
After having taken the Acura to dealer 3 times for the takata air bag recall initially all was well. Then every 3rd time I started the engine the red warning light for airbag failure would come on. Now over the last 6 months every time the engine is started the warning light comes on and stays on. Would expense to repair/replacement be covered?

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #38

Jan 012015

MDX 6-cyl

  • miles
2003 Acura MDX. Consumer writes in regards to NHTSA safety recall 15V-045. The consumer stated the closest Acura was a days drive away and requested that a representative be able to perform the recall at a Honda dealer.

- West Boothbay Harbor, ME, USA

problem #37

Jan 262018

MDX

  • miles
Needed to change the airbags for recal

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

problem #36

Dec 012017

MDX

  • miles
My husband called Acura of orange park on Dec. 1st to setup an appointment to get the recall handled. He spoke to the service manager who told my husband our vehicle wasn't on the recall list.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #35

May 302017

MDX 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 114,000 miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 Acura MDX. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V344000 (air bags); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact heard a grinding noise emitting from the dashboard. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 114,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Concard, NC, USA

problem #34

Oct 122016

MDX

  • miles
Takata recall there are four recalls on my car and the nearest Acura dealership is 200 miles away. There is a local Honda dealership that could do the airbag recall, but Acura claims that since there are several recalls that it needs to be done at the Acura dealership. I don't have the time to take an entire day to get this fixed. Acura keeps referring me back to the dealership and the dealership keeps referring me back to Acura.

- Idaho Falls, ID, USA

problem #33

Aug 072016

MDX

  • 114,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Acura MDX. While driving 70 mph, a metal piece of a street sign that was lying on the ground struck the contact's vehicle. The metal bar split the control arm in two. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was not injured and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 114,000.

- Chambersburg, PA, USA

problem #32

Feb 132016

MDX

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 Acura MDX. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V045000 (air bags), 15V320000 (air bags), and 16V344000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Jamaica, VT, USA

problem #31

Jul 012016

MDX

  • 200,000 miles
The SRS (air bag) may fail to deploy in an accident if the driver's seat belt is unbuckled at any point during the drive, even if it is subsequently buckled prior to and during the accident. With the engine running, if I unbuckle the seat belt, the seat belt warning light does not illuminate, however, the SRS (air bag) warning light does illuminate. When I start the vehicle the SRS and seat belt light are usually both illuminated for the ignition test period of 3-5 seconds. If I don't buckle the seat belt, the seat belt warning light will remain illuminated and the SRS light will go out after the 3-5 second test period after the ignition is turned on. Once I buckle the seat belt, the seat belt warning light goes out. If I then unbuckle the seat belt while the engine is running (ignition remains on) the seat belt warning light does not come on, but the SRS warning light does come on. If I then buckle the seat belt again, the SRS warning light stays on until I turn off the ignition. Once I restart the engine and buckle the seat belt, the SRS warning light will go out. In addition, I have witnessed numerous occasions when the SRS warning light illuminated without any action towards the seat belt buckle. This leads me to believe that there are cases where the switch fails even when the seat belt remains buckled. It is my understanding, that while the SRS warning light is illuminated, the SRS (air bag) will not deploy during an accident. If this were to happen, even though the seat belt is buckled, the SRS would fail to deploy. My research indicates that a failure of the switch in the driver's seat belt buckle causes this condition and that replacement of the seat belt buckle assembly is required to remedy this.

- Boxborough, MA, USA

problem #30

Jul 072016

MDX

  • miles
It is my understanding that the replacement airbags in my vehicle contain ammonium nitrate that is unstable and could lead to death and /or injury to the driver and passengers. I would like to get replacement airbags that do not use ammonium nitrate or other known unstable chemicals that cause explosions that leads to death and /or injury when used as intended.

- Irvine, CA, USA

problem #29

Jul 072016

MDX

  • miles
It is my understanding that the replacement airbags in my vehicle contain ammonium nitrate that is unstable and could lead to death and /or injury to the driver and passengers. I would like to get replacement airbags that do not use ammonium nitrate or other known unstable chemicals that cause explosions that leads to death and /or injury when used as intended.

- Irvine, CA, USA

problem #28

Apr 152016

MDX

  • miles
I had all recalls repaired a lou sobh Honda in cumming ga. Acura was clear that some of the recalls I had done would have to be paid by me but would be promptly refunded. I supplied all receipts and now (over 10 weeks later) have still never been reimbursed. Pathetic customer service.

- Buford, GA, USA

problem #27

Jun 192015

MDX

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 Acura MDX. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V370000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was not available.

- Sunnyvale, CA, USA

problem #26

Jan 202016

MDX

  • 16,200 miles
I took my MDX in for recall 15-011 recall SRS unit malfunction on 1/20/2016. The vehicle was in perfect working condition when I dropped it off. When I picked the unit up 3 lights are on in the dash SRS, airbag off, airbag warning light. I ask the service writer what this is they said the new recall parts are not compatible with my system if I want it repaired it needs a new control unit $1400

- Pine, CO, USA

problem #25

Dec 162015

MDX

  • miles
The contact owns a 2003 Acura MDX. While depressing the brake pedal to come to a complete stop, the air bags inadvertently deployed without warning. As a result of the air bag deployment, the contacts view of the road was obstructed, causing the contact to rear end another vehicle. A police report was filed. The contact sustained minor injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was awaiting inspection. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Santa Rosa Beach, FL, USA

problem #24

Jul 312015

MDX

  • miles
The contact owns a 2003 Acura MDX. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V045000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Westhepstep, NY, USA

problem #23

Mar 022015

MDX

  • miles
The contact owns a 2003 Acura MDX. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V045000 (air bags) however, the recall part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Boynton Beach, FL, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »