Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Acura MDX owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Airbag light has been lit for a while now for my 2004 Acura MDX. I originally took the car to Courtesy Acura for them to check what causing it. They told me that the sensor should be replaced and I paid $260+. After replacing sensor, the Airbag light still lit. They told me that they need to replace the front seatbelt buckles. One buckle (PART NO: 04813-S3V-A62ZC) arrived but the other one has been backordered for a while now (almost a year) and there's no ETA from American Honda on when the part (PART NO: 04816-S3V-A61ZC) will be available. This is a safety issue since the Airbag will not deploy in case of accident. Hope you guys can help me expedite the process and escalate the issue with American Honda. Thank you soo much!
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, turning the vehicle when the driver in front suddenly stopped causing the contact to rear end the vehicle in front of them. The vehicle's passenger side air bag deployed out of it's compartment, however, the driver's seat air bag failed to deploy. The contact stated the vehicle was not towed. A police report was filed. The contact stated the passenger received injuries to their arms, knees, and face. Medical attention was needed. The contact stated they received injuries to their arm and knees, however, no medical assistance was needed. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the vehicle's driver side air bag deployed while remaining inside its' compartment and the seat belts have locked. The vehicle had not been repaired as of yet. …
I was traveling on a city street when another driver traveling full speed failed to yield as he was entering the city street at a high speed and harshly impacted my car in the front driver's side and then a second impact to my rear driver side. My seatbelt failed to restrain me to the seat and as a result I was brutally banged around the interior of my vehicle. Even though the physical damage to my car didn't look to be too bad, I sustained 7 herniated / bulging disc in my back and neck in which many are pressing my spine. None of my airbags deployed as well. Not even the side curtain airbag on the impacted driver's side. Had the airbags deployed and my seatbelt restrained me properly, I would not have sustained the serious injuries I did
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Acura MDX. After parking the vehicle for approximately ten minutes, the contact was notified that the vehicle was on fire. The air bags deployed due to the fire. The passenger side air bag attempted to inflate after the fire. The fire department extinguished the fire and filed a report. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and later deemed destroyed. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V320000 (air bags) after the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
Hi I'm seeking guidance my mom purchased a used 2004 MDX and she only drives it to and from work about a five min drive and one morning after she arrived to work ten mins later her car caught in flames fire fighter investigators stated it was an electrical issue what can I do. About this VIN # [redacted] 2004 Acura MDX incident date of April 1,2016 around 630 am in the parking lot of lompoc hospital ca 93435 we received recall notice three weeks later Saturday April 23,2016
Following a relatively high speed accident, car vs. Downed large tree, the car sustained significant left front end damage and impact hard enough for driver to strike his head on the inside roof of the vehicle, suffering head and neck injuries. Only the side airbags on passenger side deployed. Neither front airbag deployed. No driver side airbags deployed. Front passenger and driver airbags had just been replaced due to recall on 10-12-15.
Takata recall my airbags were replaced twice already through recall repair and the airbag sensor came back on last week, moment it came on I was in motion and the steering wheel I was not able to control the steering. This resulted in me side-swiping and object, hitting the curb and flattening my tire. There is also another recall on my vehicle
On June 7th, as I was driving my vehicle the driver front airbag inadvertently deployed causing me to crash the vehicle. The fire depart and police department came to the scene. I was not injured. The vehicle was to towed from the scene. Deemed total loss by insurance company.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Acura MDX. The contact stated that there was a three vehicle crash, while driving 25 MPH, the first vehicle stopped suddenly causing a second vehicle to also stop after crashing into the first vehicle which then caused the contact to crash into the rear of the second vehicle. The air bag failed to deploy; however, the air bag warning light illuminated immediately after the crash occurred. The contact sustained chest, back and neck injuries but did not required medical attention. The other driver and front passenger sustained neck and back injuries that required medical attention. A police report was not filed. In addition, the contact stated that the driver and passenger front seats belts after the crash remained loose. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to an independent mechanic to provide an estimate of the damage. …
Took vehicle vehicle to dealer for air bag light on. Was told 2 sensors were malfunctioning and needed replaced (81169-sox-a1 and 77970-s3v-a72) on 8-18-2016. Over a week later the dealer ( mac churchill) tells me the parts will not be available till the middle of September. Asked if the was a major issue with Acura I was told only on 2003 and 2004 models. I was told I could retrieve the vehicle until the parts come in after signing a liability release. If that is necessary, all 2003 and 2004 MDX Acura should be taken off the street for defective safety reasons.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2011 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia,…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Show 3 more recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Air bags
American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in California, and equipped…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
NHTSA investigations
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Airbag complaints in other MDX years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Acura MDX?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Acura MDX, 15% of the model year's 171 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Acura MDX airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-501 (inflator module, Jun 27, 2019); NHTSA recall 19V-499 (inflator module, Jun 27, 2019); NHTSA recall 19V-182 (inflator module, Mar 6, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Acura MDX airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 144,000 miles, and 18% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 2 fires and 9 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.