MYRModel Year Report

2003 Acura MDX

◆ Worse than typical
2003 Acura MDX
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Acura MDX Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2003 highlighted. 2001: 224 complaints 2001 2002: 204 complaints 2003: 206 complaints 2003 2004: 171 complaints 2005: 180 complaints 2005 2006: 87 complaints 2007: 99 complaints 2008: 49 complaints 2009: 50 complaints 2009 2010: 45 complaints 2011: 70 complaints 2012: 75 complaints 2013: 29 complaints 2013 2014: 168 complaints 2015: 69 complaints 2016: 357 complaints 2017: 244 complaints 2017 2018: 158 complaints 2019: 182 complaints 2020: 209 complaints 2021: 0 complaints 2021 2022: 128 complaints 2023: 34 complaints 2024: 35 complaints 2025: 66 complaints 2025 2026: 5 complaints 2026
2003: 206 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
2001224
2002204
2003206
2004171
2005180
200687
200799
200849
200950
201045
201170
201275
201329
2014168
201569
2016357
2017244
2018158
2019182
2020209
20210
2022128
202334
202435
202566
20265

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

POWER TRAIN 27%

27% of complaints: power train — 56 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. DRIVER REMOVED KEY, EXITED VEHICLE AND REMOTELY APPLIED THE DOOR LOCKS.

NHTSA ODI report, 20121230

POWER TRAIN 24%

24% of complaints: power train — 49 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 20250430

AIR BAGS 20%

20% of complaints: air bags — 42 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

I WRECKED ON 8/24/2020. THE CAR SAYS THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND MY SEATBELTS LOCKED UP. BUT MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY! I REAR ENDED SOMEBODY GOING ABOUT 20 MPH ON A CITY STREET.

NHTSA ODI report, 20200918

FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED AT 15 MPHR FOR NO OBVIOUS REASON - HEAT FROM THE DEPLOYED AIRBAGS CAUSED SKIN BURNS ON DRIVERS FOREARM . *TR

NHTSA ODI report, 20120817

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY 2003 ACURA MDX CAME ON 9/1/04. ACURA BEDFORD HILLS LOOKED AT THE CAR ON 9/2/04 AND SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR, IT WAS "SAFE TO DRIVE", AND THEY'D ORDER A NEW PART.

NHTSA ODI report, 20040913

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7%

7% of complaints: electrical system — 14 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

THE VEHICLE JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE ONE NIGHT RIGHT OF THE BM THE PASSENGERS THAT ARE IN THERE

NHTSA ODI report, 20180227

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. DRIVER REMOVED KEY, EXITED VEHICLE AND REMOTELY APPLIED THE DOOR LOCKS.

NHTSA ODI report, 20121230

ENGINE 5%

5% of complaints: engine — 10 distinct reports on file.

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2003 — complaint volume: 206
I 20121002 — PE (closed 20130114)

Ignition Interlock Failure - Rollaway

R 20130222 — electrical system

Honda is recalling certain model year 2003 and 2004 Pilot and Odyssey and 2003 through 2006 Acura MDX passenger vehicles manufactured from November 26, 2001, through August 30, 2006. The interlock le

Remedy: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated shift interlock lever and, if necessary, replace any necessary part of

Campaign 12V573000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20130606 — PE (closed 20140106)

Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment

R 20131101 — air bags

Honda is recalling certain model year 2003 and 2004 Odyssey and model year 2003 Acura MDX vehicles.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a noise suppressor unit, free of charge. The recall began on November 1, 2013. A renotification letter went out on July 11, 2014 for the 2003 Acura and the 2003-2004 Odyssey.

Campaign 13V412000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20140611 — PE (closed 20150302)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

R 20140912 — air bags

American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda...

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

Campaign 14V353000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20150126 — air bags

American Honda Motor Co.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

Campaign 14V700000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20150224 — EA (open)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

R 20150701 — air bags

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003...

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Campaign 15V320000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20150701 — air bags

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic vehicles manufactured March 21, 2000, to January 20, 2005, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX vehicles manufactured June 14, 2000, to August 19, 2004, 2003-2005 Honda Civic...

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Campaign 15V370000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20160222 — air bags

Honda is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured February 13, 2002, to August 13, 2004, and 2003 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured February 21, 2002, to September 23, 2003.

Remedy: Honda dealers will replace the supplemental restraint system electronic control unit (SRS ECU). The recall began on February 22, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

Campaign 15V045000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20160629 — air bags

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2011 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold,...

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Campaign 16V344000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190410 — air bags

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005...

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Campaign 19V182000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190812 — air bags

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey,...

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.

Campaign 19V499000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190812 — air bags

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey,...

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Campaign 19V501000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20191209 — vehicle speed control

Dorman Products, Inc.

Remedy: Dorman will notify owners, and qualified service facilities will replace the affected accelerator pedal assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2019. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, using option 5.

Campaign 19E068000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20210917 — EA (open)

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

R Date not on file — equipment

HONDA IS RECALLING 2,032 HITCH STYLE BIKE RACKS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE ON MY 2003-2007 AND SOME MY 2008 HONDA PILOT, RIDGELINE, AND ACURA MDX VEHICLES.

Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT THULE AT 800-THULE91 (800-848-5391) TO OBTAIN A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS OR OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

Campaign 08E013000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2003 Acura MDX — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for power train issues (56 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for power train issues (49 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (42 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 08E013000 (equipment) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 12V573000 (electrical system) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 13V412000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 14V353000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 14V700000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V320000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V370000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V045000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V344000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 19V182000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 19V499000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 19V501000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 19E068000 (vehicle speed control) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2023 ▲ 2024 ▲ 2010

WORST YEARS

■ 2016 ■ 2017 ◆ 2001

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2003 Acura MDX reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Acura MDX is rated "worse than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Acura MDX?

The most-reported component is power train:automatic transmission, accounting for 27% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2003 Acura MDX have?

13 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.