2001 Acura MDX Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 131 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2001 Acura MDX, 58% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 104,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “torque converter” (14% of reports).
- 131power train complaints
- 104,000median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $5,250typical repair cost reported by owners
- 25%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Torque converter: mentioned in 18 of 131 complaints (14%)
- Automatic transmission: mentioned in 17 of 131 complaints (13%)
- Second gear: mentioned in 8 of 131 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2001 Acura MDX at $5,250, and half of them between $3,650 and $5,950.
Based on 16 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2011), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 109 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 131 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Acura MDX power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 MDX | 1 | 11% | — |
| 2025 MDX | 5 | 5% | — |
| 2024 MDX | 2 | 5% | 9,747 |
| 2023 MDX | 11 | 26% | 57,592 |
| 2022 MDX | 69 | 44% | 97,000 |
| 2020 MDX | 21 | 9% | 26,000 |
| 2019 MDX | 31 | 16% | 26,520 |
| 2018 MDX | 23 | 14% | 40,000 |
| 2017 MDX | 64 | 25% | 37,000 |
| 2016 MDX | 112 | 30% | 31,002 |
| 2015 MDX | 12 | 17% | 52,000 |
| 2014 MDX | 27 | 16% | 27,500 |
| 2013 MDX | 4 | 13% | 47,457 |
| 2012 MDX | 13 | 17% | 78,000 |
| 2011 MDX | 8 | 11% | 44,390 |
| 2010 MDX | 5 | 11% | 29,612 |
| 2009 MDX | 8 | 15% | 51,415 |
| 2008 MDX | 3 | 6% | 53,000 |
| 2007 MDX | 8 | 8% | 93,000 |
| 2006 MDX | 38 | 44% | 69,450 |
| 2005 MDX | 87 | 48% | 79,828 |
| 2004 MDX | 77 | 45% | 91,000 |
| 2003 MDX | 104 | 50% | 109,000 |
| 2002 MDX | 125 | 61% | 97,500 |
| 2001 MDX | 131 | 58% | 104,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are 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…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2001 Acura MDXs have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 131 owner complaints about power train for the 2001 Acura MDX (58% of the 224 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Acura MDX power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 104,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2001 Acura MDX?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,250 (half paid between $3,650 and $5,950), from 16 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2001 Acura MDX?
The most frequent phrase is “torque converter”, in 18 of 131 complaints, followed by “automatic transmission” (17).
See all 2001 Acura MDX problems or power train problems across all MDX years.