2003 Acura MDX Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 104 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2003 Acura MDX, 50% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 109,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “torque converter” (16% of reports).
- 104power train complaints
- 109,000median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 31%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 17 of 104 complaints (16%)
- Transmission failed: mentioned in 11 of 104 complaints (11%)
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 2003 Acura MDX at $1,550, and half of them between $1,400 and $5,350.
Based on 7 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2007–2013), 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 97 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 104 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 (0)
No safety recall lists power train for the 2003 Acura MDX. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Driving up a hill in this 2003 Acura MDX and the TRANSMISSION failed. Came to a stop in the middle of the street. Several cars almost hit me. Checked online and this vehicle has a known problem of the transmission going out around 70,000 miles. A mechanic started changing it out in my driveway…
The vehicle keeps shuddering and losing power and gears not charging in right
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 acura mdx. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled without warning. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the transmission seemed as if it was slipping while…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Acura MDXs have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 104 owner complaints about power train for the 2003 Acura MDX (50% of the 206 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 2003 Acura MDX power train?
No recall currently lists power train for this vehicle.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 109,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2003 Acura MDX?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,550 (half paid between $1,400 and $5,350), from 7 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2003 Acura MDX?
The most frequent phrase is “torque converter”, in 17 of 104 complaints, followed by “transmission failed” (11).
See all 2003 Acura MDX problems or power train problems across all MDX years.