What's Wrong with the 1st Generation (2001–2006) MDX?

MDX owners have made 103 complaints about the 2001–2006 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 27th out of 30 Acura generations in overall reliability, with real transmission and engine concerns.

Compare With Other MDX Generations

Common 2001-2006 Acura MDX Problems

Some of the worst issues 1st generation MDX owners have to deal with.

  1. Takata Airbag Inflator Recall

    A large number of Acura vehicles have been recalled because they contain dangerous airbag inflators made by Takata. The shrapnel-hurling inflators have been recalled in over 37 million vehicles (and counting).

    Continue reading article "Takata Airbag Inflator Recall" Crash ttest dummy about to slam into an airbag with a super-imposed Takata logo

  2. What Are We Missing?

    We know there's more problems than this. Let us know which one you'd like to see us cover next.

    Continue Crash ttest dummy about to slam into an airbag with a super-imposed Takata logo

What Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

1st Generation (2001–2006) MDX Key Numbers

  1. 6 model years

    Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.

  2. 103 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  3. 27th in reliability

    Overall reliability rank out of 30 eligible generations.

Recent Lawsuits for 1st Generation MDX Owners

  • Dismissed

    Grodzitsky v. American Honda Motor Company

    1. Dismissed

      A Honda window regulator lawsuit won't move forward as a class action after an appeals court shot down that idea in a 2-1 ruling.

    2. Case Filed

      The plaintiff filed the lawsuit alleging defective Honda/Acura window regulators caused the windows to fall into the door frames.

    Class Vehicles
    • 2000-2011 MDX
    • 2000-2011 TSX
    • 2000-2011 RL
    • 2000-2011 Acura CL
    Location
    California

Recent 1st Generation (2001–2006) MDX News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. Acura's parent company, Honda, wants to settle up a decade-old lawsuit about downshifting transmissions

    with an offer so low it's borderline insulting. A 2009 lawsuit says 5-speed automatic transmissions in some 2002-2004 Honda and Acura vehicles have a defect in the 3rd clutch. That defect can cause the transmission to suddenly downshift from 5th to 2nd gear. That's one way to reach your heart rate goal on your FitBit.…

    keep reading article "5-Speed Transmission Settlement for Some California Acura Owners"

  2. Any hope of a proposed class-action lawsuit for faulty window regulators in certain Acure vehicles has fizzled after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals shot down the proposal in a 2-to-1 ruling.

    The plaintiff argued that Honda, parent company of Acura, installed window regulators that are insufficiently strong and insufficiently durable to withstand the forces required to perform [their] intended function. Functions like making sure the dang window doesn't fall into the door, for example.

    The lawsuit originally included the 2000-2011 Acura MDX, Acura TSX, Acura RL and Acura CL but those vehicles were dropped in a last-ditch effort to save the suit.

    It didn't work.

    keep reading article "Window Regulator Class-Action Lawsuit Stopped in Appeals Court"

  3. When Honda and Acura recalled 1.1 million Takata airbag inflators for exploding into pieces, they replaced the defective part with a slightly different version from the same company. Now those are exploding too.

    The replacement PSDI-5D desiccated inflators were exposed to excess moisture during assembly. This rapidly degrades the propellant and allows pressure to build up over time, turning the inflator into a mini-grenade that explodes during airbag deployment.

    Acura plans on mailing recall notifications on April 17th, but parts are already available and affected owners should schedule a replacement as soon as possible. Unlike the dishes, this is one chore you shouldn’t ignore.

    keep reading article "Those Replacement PSDI-5D Takata Inflators That Were Supposedly Safe? Now They're Exploding Too."