2002 Acura Mdx

RECENTLY EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING WITH MY 2002 MDX, ESPECIALLY GOING UPHILL AND DURING ACCELERATION, IT HESITATES AND THEN VIOLENTLY BANGS INTO GEAR. ALSO INTERMITTENTLY, REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT WORK AS WELL. THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION RECALL ON THIS MODEL/YEAR AND OUR CAR DID GET SERVICED FOR IT, THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACE TRANSMISSION BACK IN 2004 ONCE WE WERE INFORMED OF THE RECALL BUT AN OIL JET KIT WAS INSTALLED ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTIVE OF THE RECALL INSTRUCTIONS. WE'VE ALWAYS MAINTENANCE OUR CAR WITH THE DEALER IN A TIMELY FASHION AS RECOMMENDED BY FACTORY MAINTENANCE CARE GUIDELINE AND RECENTLY DID A FULL SERVICE WHICH INCLUDED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH 2 MONTHS AGO AT 120,000MILES. AFTER FULL DIAGNOSTIC/ASSESSMENT OF WHY OUR TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING IT TURNS OUT OUR TRANSMISSION FLUID (WHICH JUST GOT FLUSHED 2MONTHS AGO) WAS HEATING UP AND FILLING UP WITH DISCOLORATION. THIS IS THE EXACT DESCRIPTION OF WHAT WAS RECALLED IN 2004. OUR CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE QUOTED US $4800 TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED (FACTORY REMANUFACTURED). I TRULY BELIEVE THIS FAILURE IS RELATED TO THE 2004 RECALL. SOME FOLKS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SITUATION HAS BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE TAKEN THEIR MATTER TO THE RIGHT DEALER, ACCORDING TO SOME DISCUSSION FORUMS ON THIS MATTER, THE DEALER AGREED TO PAY FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION (AFTER GETTING APPROVAL FROM ACURA CORPORATE OFFICE). IN MY SITUATION, IT HAS BEEN UNFORTUNATE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND GIVE US SOME CONSISTENCY/CONTINUITY ON THE HANDLING OF THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. *TR

I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE NALLEY ACURA DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT FOR SERVICING. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL TOLD ME AFTER CHECKING THE VEHICLE THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE SECOND GEAR WAS WORN OUT. MY WIFE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AFTER THIS FACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SECOND GEAR BREAKAGE IN THE TRANSMISSION FOR THE 2001-2002 MDX. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT MY VEHICLE BEING REPAIRED UNDER THIS RECALL, AND THEY WILL NOT AGREE TO PAY FULL COST OF $4000 FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT STATED NOTHING OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO PAY HALF THE COST. AS STATED BELOW THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FULL REPAIRS AS MY VEHICLE HAS OVER 15,000 MILES AND OTHER REASONS AS STATED BELOW. I HAVE TRIED WORKING WITH THE MANUFACTURER ON THIS SITUATION FOR OVER A MONTH WITH STILL NO RESOLUTION. I WOULD APPRECIATE ASSISTANCE FROM YOU ALL CONCERNING MY VEHICLE BEING REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER PAYING IN FULL. THANK YOU. ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE. CONSEQUENCE: GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. REMEDY: ON VEHICLES WITH 15,000 MILES OR LESS, THE DEALER WILL UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A SIMPLE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE TO INCREASE LUBRICATION TO THE SECOND GEAR. ON VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 15,000 MILES, THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO IDENTIFY GEARS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED DISCOLORATION DUE TO OVERHEATING. IF DISCOLORATION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED IF DISCOLORATION IS NOT PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL PERFORM THE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2004, FOR PILOT, ODYSSEY, AND MDX OWNERS. *TR

MY 2002 ACURA MDX HAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000 MI ON IT AND RECENTLY THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED SLIPPAGE WHEN IT WOULD TRY TO ADJUST TO 2ND GEAR. AN INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON RECENTLY AND I HAD MY MECHANIC PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON IT. IT WAS REVEALED THAT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION CODE. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL ACURA DEALER (45 MINS AWAY) AND THEY DETERMINED THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY UPFRONT SAID THEY WOULD OFFER TO COVER 50% OF THE COST FOR PARTS & LABOR AS A GOODWILL GESTURE AND GAVE ME A FREE RENTAL CAR WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED. I THEN WENT ON NHTSA.GOV AND NOTED THERE WAS A VEHICLE RECALL IN 2004 ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LINES FOR 2002 ACURA MDX'S. I BROUGHT THIS ISSUE UP WITH MY SERVICE REP AND THEY SAID THAT IN 2004 THEY HAD MADE THE PROPER REVISION TO ALLEVIATE THIS PROBLEM DUE TO THE RECALL. (MADE A REVISION ON THE OIL COOLER LINE). I THEN CALLED ACURA CLIENT SERVICES AND SPOKE WITH A CASE MANAGER TO TELL HIM THAT I THINK THIS PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE VEHICLE RECALL FROM 2004 AND USED THE ANALOGY THAT ACURA SIMPLY PUT A BAND AID OVER A GAPING WOUND TO TEMPORARILY SOLVE THE PROBLEM. HE SAID HE WOULD SEE IF HE COULD DO ANYTHING AND AS IT TURNS OUT, HE CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING BETTER HE COULD OFFER ME THAN 50/50 SPLIT OF THE COSTS. ACURA DID REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION THIS TIME, HOWEVER THEY CHARGED ME 50% OF THE SERVICE COST (~$1700). I FEEL THAT I HAVE GOTTEN THE SHORT END OF THE STICK AND THAT HAD PROPER PRECAUTIONS BEEN TAKEN IN 2004 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, I WOULDN'T HAVE TO TAKE IT IN THE SHORTS NOW FOR $1,700. I BELIEVE THE ACURA RECALL WAS P31. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PROPERLY SWITCH GEARS AND THE RPMS WOULD INCREASE TO THE NEXT GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY ADDED AN OIL COOLER RETURN LINE, WHICH INCREASED LUBRICATION TO THE SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN NEED OF A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

1ST INCIDENT: WE WERE GOING UP A HILL WITH CAR FULL OF CHILDREN WHEN MY 2002 ACURA MDX SLOWED DOWN CONSIDERABLY AND THE RPM REVVED UP TO 4-5,000. IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS AS TRUCKS AND CARS STARTED TO PILE BEHIND ME. I FINALLY REACHED AN EXIT AND PULLED OVER. AFTER PARKING, I COULD NOT REVERSE, IT WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER WAITING AN HOUR FOR THE TOW TRUCK, WE DECIDED TO TEST THE CAR AROUND THE PARKING LOT .. IT STARTED DRIVING LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG, AND REVERSED AGAIN. SO WE TOOK OUR CHANCES AND DROVE CAREFULLY HOME. THE CAR DIDN'T ACT UP AFTER THAT BUT WE STARTED A CASE WITH ACURA/HONDA AFTER REALIZING THERE WAS A MASS TRANSMISSION RECALL. THEY SAID MY VIN WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT HELP. 2 DAYS LATER: WE ASSUMED THE HILL MUST HAVE BEEN TOO MUCH FOR THE CAR, BUT IT WAS OK TO DRIVE ON FLAT ROADS. WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AT 35MPH, THE CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY AND CONTINUED TO UNTIL I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER A PHONECALL TO ASSESS WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED, IT WAS SUGGESTED THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING UP. I CAUTIOUSLY DROVE THE CAR HOME WITH MY YOUNG DAUGHTER IN TOW. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ACURA TRANSMISSION RECALL, I GOT A CASE GOING AGAIN WITH HONDA. THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE THE CAR IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. I DID JUST THAT AND FAXED IN THE TECH COMMENTS. BASED ON THE COMMENTS, THEY CONCLUDED THAT THEY WILL NOT HELP BECAUSE I HAD TOO MANY MILES (98K) AND MY CAR WAS "POORLY MAINTAINED". HOWEVER I CONTESTED HOW IT WAS POORLY MAINTAINED AND THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER. I BOUGHT THE CAR 6 MONTHS AGO AT 95K AND PEFORMED ITS REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. THEY RECOMMENDED I HAD TO REPLACE MY CV BOOTS AND BRAKES, BUT I DON'T SEE HOW THAT WOULD AFFECT THE TRANSMISSION. THEY QUOTED ME AT $5000 AND WOULD SEE TO ANY DISCOUNTS. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, IT IS APPARENT THAT THERE ARE DEFINITELY MANUFACTURE DEFECTS IN THESE TRANSMISSIONS, BUT ACURA AND HONDA HAS MADE IT CLEAR TO ME THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP.

1ST INCIDENT: WE WERE GOING UP A HILL WITH CAR FULL OF CHILDREN WHEN MY 2002 ACURA MDX SLOWED DOWN CONSIDERABLY AND THE RPM REVVED UP TO 4-5,000. IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS AS TRUCKS AND CARS STARTED TO PILE BEHIND ME. I FINALLY REACHED AN EXIT AND PULLED OVER. AFTER PARKING, I COULD NOT REVERSE, IT WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER WAITING AN HOUR FOR THE TOW TRUCK, WE DECIDED TO TEST THE CAR AROUND THE PARKING LOT .. IT STARTED DRIVING LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG, AND REVERSED AGAIN. SO WE TOOK OUR CHANCES AND DROVE CAREFULLY HOME. THE CAR DIDN'T ACT UP AFTER THAT BUT WE STARTED A CASE WITH ACURA/HONDA AFTER REALIZING THERE WAS A MASS TRANSMISSION RECALL. THEY SAID MY VIN WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT HELP. 2 DAYS LATER: WE ASSUMED THE HILL MUST HAVE BEEN TOO MUCH FOR THE CAR, BUT IT WAS OK TO DRIVE ON FLAT ROADS. WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AT 35 MPH, THE CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY AND CONTINUED TO UNTIL I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER A PHONE CALL TO ASSESS WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED, IT WAS SUGGESTED THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING UP. I CAUTIOUSLY DROVE THE CAR HOME WITH MY YOUNG DAUGHTER IN TOW. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ACURA TRANSMISSION RECALL, I GOT A CASE GOING AGAIN WITH HONDA. THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE THE CAR IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. I DID JUST THAT AND FAXED IN THE TECH COMMENTS. BASED ON THE COMMENTS, THEY CONCLUDED THAT THEY WILL NOT HELP BECAUSE I HAD TOO MANY MILES (98K) AND MY CAR WAS "POORLY MAINTAINED". HOWEVER I CONTESTED HOW IT WAS POORLY MAINTAINED AND THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER. I BOUGHT THE CAR 6 MONTHS AGO AT 95K AND PERFORMED ITS REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. THEY RECOMMENDED I HAD TO REPLACE MY CV BOOTS AND BRAKES, BUT I DON'T SEE HOW THAT WOULD AFFECT THE TRANSMISSION. THEY QUOTED ME AT $5000 AND WOULD SEE TO ANY DISCOUNTS. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, IT IS APPARENT THAT THERE ARE DEFINITELY MANUFACTURER DEFECTS IN THESE TRANSMISSIONS, BUT ACURA AND HONDA HAS MADE IT CLEAR TO ME THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP. *JB

I FEEL VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE MY 2002 ACURA MDX, WITH 100K MILES, AS IT HAS COME OUT OF GEAR WHEN I AM TURNING ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE MEDIAN ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT A SEMI TRUCK WAS NOT COMING AT ME AT A HIGH SPEED WHEN MY VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN IN THE MDX WITH ME AT ALL TIMES, AS I AM A STAY AT HOME MOTHER AND HOME SCHOOL MY OLDEST AT AGE 7. THIS FAILURE IS NOT A RESULT OF ABUSE, OR NEGLIGENT SERVICE. THE ACURA GUIDELINES FOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL AND WERE DONE SO AT ACURA SERVICE CENTERS BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE TRANSMISSION WAS CHECKED AND FLUIDS FLUSHED AND CHANGED LASTLY AT 80K MILES AND WE WERE TOLD BY ACURA SERVICE (IN JANUARY) THAT OUR NEXT SERVICE FOR THIS WOULD BE DUE AT 120K MILES. THIS TRANSMISSION DEFECT IS ABUNDANTLY EVIDENT IN HUNDREDS OF WRITE-INS ON SEVERAL WEB FORUMS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURS AT THE RIGHT MOMENT. WE WANT TO TRUST ACURA TO TAKE CARE OF ITS CUSTOMERS, TO RESPECT THEIR SAFETY, TAKE CARE OF ITS NEW CUSTOMERS AND FUTURE CUSTOMERS, PLEASE HELP TO MAKE THIS THE OUTCOME WE WILL COME TO KNOW AND ENJOY. ACURA HAS AGREED TO DISCOUNT A TOTAL OF $900 FROM THE OTHERWISE $4909 TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. THAT IS ALL THEY ARE OFFERING AS OF NOW, BUT WE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS OFFER AND ARE APPEALING THIS DECISION. A NEW, UPDATED TRANSMISSION MUST REPLACE THE EXISTING FAULTY ONE IN ORDER FOR THESE VEHICLES TO BE SAFELY DRIVEN. THANK YOU! *NM