2001 Acura MDX Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other MDX years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 26 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 224 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Acura MDX. That ranks 3rd out of 26 MDX model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (131 complaints, 58%), typically at around 104,000 miles. Complaints mention 9 crashes, 1 fire, 10 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
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- 224owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 9complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 Acura MDX problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 131 | 58% | 104,000 | “torque converter” (14%) | $5,250 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 19 | 8% | 79,799 | — | — |
| Suspension | 19 | 8% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 18 | 8% | 42,599 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 5% | 146,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 10 | 4% | 70,710 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 6 | 3% | 125,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 6 | 3% | 179,600 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 5 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 5 | 2% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 2% | 79,799 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 2% | 123,830 | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 2% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 4 | 2% | 172,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 1% | 131,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 1% | 28,719 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 1% | 251,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 1% | 148,500 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 1% | 97,938 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 1% | 31,000 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 Acura MDX recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.
Suspension:front:springs:coil springs
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia, wisconsin and the district of columbia. In areas where large quantities of road salt are used, the front suspension coil springs have insufficient corrosion protection, and may be susceptible to corrosion.
Risk: Excessive corrosion can cause spring failure and a broken spring could puncture a front tire, which increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace both front springs with improved springs. The recall began on october 11, 2005. Owners may contact acura at 800-382-2238.
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: 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.
Risk: Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.
Fix: 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. Owners of the accord vehicles will start receiving letters on june 28, 2004, and on june 29, 2004, for owners of the tl and cl vehicles. Owners should contact honda at 1-800-999-1009 or acura at 1-800-382-2238.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Front coil spring breakage (PE05040) — opened Jul 14, 2005, closed Sep 14, 2005, led to recall 05V385000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2001 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started stalling while attempting to accelerate. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with transmission…
car accident
I was Driving down the HighWay at 70 MPH and the Vehicle is âJerkingâ like I am Breaking then proceeded to fail to Accelerate and keep up with my RPMS.
The contact owns a 2001 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while he was at a stop light, the vehicle inadvertently switched gears to neutral independently. The contact stated that he switched gears to drive and was able to drive the vehicle; however, the vehicle switched gears to neutral when he…
Horrible rust on subframe. Subframe disconnected from vehicle WHILE DRIVING!!! Very lucky I was not going at a high speed. This is very unsafe, and there are many similar complaints for these MDXs/Pilots online.
Other Acura MDX years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 MDX | 9 | 1 |
| 2025 MDX | 111 | 3 |
| 2024 MDX | 41 | 2 |
| 2023 MDX | 42 | 2 |
| 2022 MDX | 157 | 2 |
| 2021 MDX | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 MDX | 223 | 8 |
| 2019 MDX | 190 | 9 |
| 2018 MDX | 169 | 10 |
| 2017 MDX | 260 | 8 |
| 2016 MDX | 376 | 7 |
| 2015 MDX | 71 | 8 |
| 2014 MDX | 172 | 8 |
| 2013 MDX | 30 | 1 |
| 2012 MDX | 76 | 1 |
| 2011 MDX | 70 | 0 |
| 2010 MDX | 45 | 1 |
| 2009 MDX | 52 | 0 |
| 2008 MDX | 49 | 0 |
| 2007 MDX | 99 | 0 |
| 2006 MDX | 87 | 9 |
| 2005 MDX | 180 | 11 |
| 2004 MDX | 171 | 8 |
| 2003 MDX | 206 | 11 |
| 2002 MDX | 205 | 4 |
| 2001 | 224 | 4 |
See all Acura MDX problems by year, every Acura model, or the Acura VIN decoder.
Similar Acura models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Acura MDX?
Owners most often report power train, engine and engine cooling, suspension problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 131 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Acura MDX?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2001 Acura MDX a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other MDX model years, the 2001 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.