Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Acura MDX owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I received a recall notice and made an appointment to have my vehicle repaired. Upon taking it to the dealership and them fixing it I drove home my car immediately began running hot. I called the dealership back and he told me to bring it back in. I was issued a loaner vehicle. I received a call stating that my radiator had somehow come loose and that my engine was blown. I was so upset so I called back and told him my mechanic was coming with me now all of a sudden the engine is not blown but instead warped and can be machined. I feel they damaged my vehicle by doing the recall and they don't want to take accountability for it. Please help me.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled without warning. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the transmission seemed as if it was slipping while driving. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 265,000.
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
I can not go pass 25mph the truck will reeve up, then turn off after driving for one mile. The engine mount, shakes. I was told it is a transmission issue. Sometimes the gears don't switch from original position, ex. Park to drive.
While driving my 03 MDX at 20 MPH around a corner, it just stopped accelerating. There were no warning signs that my car would stop, it just stopped accelerating. I would not move in d5, d4 or d3, so I had to drive it in d1to the dealership and left it overnight. The next day they tell me I need a new transmission. Two months before that, my car was leaking oil and I took it in to get the leak fixed. They told me there was a leak in the rear main and it would cost $1000 to fix. It was such a high cost due to they had to remove the transmission and the engine to get to it. Two weeks after it was fixed, I hear a knocking noise under my hood and find out I need new motor mounts (hmmm.. Acura had to move the mounts to get the engine out).. $400 later, after I replaced the mounts., I was good to go. …
Torque converter shudder or vibration between 35 and 40 MPH. ****also transmission slipped while driving on the highway. The SUV acted as if it was in neutral and wouldn't move even though I was pushing the gas and the rpms went up. I was almost rear-ended by the driver behind me but he was able to quickly switch into another lane, then miraculously my SUV started to go again. It also happened again in the middle of an intersection while I was driving. Luckily the oncoming traffic was far enough away and the transmission picked back up in time and I was able to get out of the way. I had my children in the SUV, a 6 month old baby girl and a 6 yr old boy. Its a seven passenger vehicle so it should be expected that children May be in the SUV. I don't think Honda/Acura should wait until someone is killed or seriously injured to issue a recall. …
I warmed vehicle up and when I went to drive out of the drive it wouldn't go forward or backwards,but slowly it kicked in. I started down the road and it would go away then just stop right where I was.I would shut it off,then restart and it would go then stop dead in the road. Then it wouldn't go at all.I was on a sharp curve on a small hill and was almost hit twice by an 18 wheeler.I had to back down this hill on this curve and almost went over the embankment.I called my mechanic who came,and he tried to drive it doing the same as it did to me.unfortunately he had to back ,it down a bigger hill into someone's driveway,and then it had to be towed.prior to this I had not had one problem,but not a good day for this to happen it -9 degrees.I am trying to find out from Honda if others have had any problems like this.I was out in frigid temps for over 2 hours,and not only am I 65,but I am a …
I just bought an used 2003 Acura MDX on jan 30th with 87,000 mile on it. Just after 11 days on feb 11, 2010, I noticed that some brown colored fluid is leaking from the front passenger side. It's not just dipping, there were lot of fluids coming out. I opened the hood and notice that the fluid was overflowing from the radiator reservoir. Next morning when I start the car and tried to run it just stopped in the middle of the road and engine light came on. I had to tow the car to a dealership. They said somehow internally transmission cooler was busted and the transmission coolant was mixed with the engine coolant. Therefore I had to replace the whole radiator, need to flush transmission fluid, and flush the radiator. It cost me $1000. Now, my car is not smooth as it was before. Transmission is not shifting properly. I am really worried driving this car. …
I have a very well kept 2003 Acura MDX touring luxury SUV that retails at more than $45,000 when new. The engine is mounted on 3 engine mounts and I just discovered that 2 of the 3 engine mounts are broken. If the 3rd mount had broken, the engine could shift position resulting in serious consequences. This vehicle was used for normal highway and city driving (no off highway driving). After doing some research, it appears Acura under-designed this part making these engine mounts very prone to failure. Some people reported having to replace engine mounts every 30,000 miles. To make the problem worse, the cost of repair is about $1,000 which makes it likely for people to postpone repairs until a crash happens. I firmly believe that this problem should be part of a safety recall campaign.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Acura MDX. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the contact noticed fluid leaking continuously onto the road. Once the contact reached their destination, it was determined that a large quantity of transmission fluid had leaked from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who advised the contact that the failure was contributed to a faulty part within the radiator causing coolant to leak into the transmission. As a result, the transmission was damaged. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 163,000.
Engine complaints in other MDX years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2003 Acura MDX?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2003 Acura MDX, 13% of the model year's 206 complaints. The component named most often is engine (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Acura MDX engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2003 Acura MDX, though it has 11 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Acura MDX engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 105,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.