Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Acura MDX problems

Owners filed 222 complaints about the 2002 Acura MDX with NHTSA between Oct 2001 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is power train (135).

Complaints
222
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train135
  2. Air bags23
  3. Engine and engine cooling18
  4. Vehicle speed control13
  5. Electrical system12
  6. Structure8
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic6
  8. Suspension5
  9. Engine5
  10. Steering5
  11. Equipment5
  12. Seats4
  13. Tires4
  14. Seat belts3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20016
20027
200311
200411
200511
200611
200717
200817
200913
201024
201122
20126
20137
201412
20156
201613
20175
20184
20193
20207
20211
20223
20232
20241
20251
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

135 reports4 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“The vehicle's transmission is faulty. I took it to a second-hand repair shop because, while I was driving on the freeway, the speed had been dropping rapidly. I later found out they recalled the transmission for this Acura in 2005. It is 2026. I took it to a dealership and asked about the transmission recall; they said they could close federal safety recalls, so it wasn’t valid. I left the dealership and called Acura's client relations line, where they said that because I am the second owner, they would not accommodate the recall request, as it had closed in 05. I googled whether they can close federal recalls, and it said they couldn’t. Then they changed what they said and said that because it was over 150,000 miles, it wasn't eligible for a goodwill repair either. This (NHTSA Campaign ID 04V-176000) repair was never done on the car, but because it was issued in 05, they will not accommodate it today when the transmission showed a fault.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 13, 2026Power trainODI 11770906

Air bags

23 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2002 Acura MDX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V027000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted several times and informed the contact that they did not have the equipment needed for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and followed up with the dealer. The contact stated an unknown service light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 9, 2022Air bagsODI 11478393

Engine and engine cooling

18 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2002 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH up an incline, the vehicle stalled. The service engine and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart, but made an abnormal grinding sound while shifting into gear. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the failure could be related to the water pump; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 213,722.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2025Engine and engine coolingODI 11678275

Vehicle speed control

13 reports4 crashes
“THIS STARTED A LONG TIME AGO. MY ENGINE WOULD REV UP AND I WOULD HAVE TO PUSH MY BREAKS SO HARD TO SLOW OR STOP. A MECHANIC FINALLY FOUND IT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL STICKING. THE PART WAS SOLD $800. I GOT IT FIXED BUT THOUGHT THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. IT ALSO WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR AFTER I WOULD STOP THE ENGINE WHEN THIS WOULD HAPPEN. I WOULD GO INTO THE MANUAL RELEASE TAB TO FINALLY GET GOING AGAIN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 14, 2020Vehicle speed controlODI 11339267

Electrical system

12 reports2 crashes1 fire
“THE CAR TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING SIMILAR TO PROBLEM I HAD WITH MY 1999 HONDA CRV INGITION SWITCH BEEN DOING IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS TODAY SMOKE CAME OUT FROM THE STEERING COLUM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2018Electrical systemODI 11142861

Structure

8 reports1 crash1 fire
“1. Rear subframe body mount rust-through, newly discovered. 2. Available for inspection. 3. Risk of frame failure and resulting instability at speed 4. There is a TSB for the virtually identical Honda Pilot regarding this issue; TSB 21-019 "2003-2008 Pilot Rear Subframe Body Mount Rust Repair (Customer-Pay Repair)". 5. Not inspected. A local body shop reviewed a photo and won't touch it. 6. No warnings”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 24, 2023StructureODI 11551616
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.