repaired · 2022 Q3
Driver side: inflator module
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.
2002 Acura MDXProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 206 owner complaints about the 2002 Acura MDX, most often about the power train. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 20V-027 the manufacturer reports only 8% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 9, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2002 Acura MDX has problems
206 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
126Power train6 crash/fire/injury
23Air bags3 crash/fire/injury
14Engine and engine cooling
12Electrical system
12Vehicle speed control
7Structure
6Service brakes, hydraulic
5Steering
5Engine
2711 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 126 | 6 |
| Air bags | 23 | 3 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 14 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 12 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 12 | 4 |
| Structure | 7 | 2 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 6 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 0 |
| Engine | 5 | 1 |
| 11 other systems | 27 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2002 Acura MDX recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Springs: coil springs
Risk. EXCESSIVE CORROSION CAN CAUSE SPRING FAILURE AND A BROKEN SPRING COULD PUNCTURE A FRONT TIRE, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.
no report yet
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
no report yet
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. IF THE TIMING BELT BREAKS, THE ENGINE WILL STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Acura.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
97kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 115 power train complaints. 55% were reported before 100,000 miles.
5under 30k miles63under 100k miles52100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
17 owners mentioned a cost$4,300median
Middle half: $3,800 – $4,800
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2002 vs. every other MDX year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the MDX median. How we score
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2002 Acura MDX safety ratings
2002 Acura MDX 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 4 stars (0.0% risk)
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2002 Acura MDX, and the recalls they led to.
- FRONT COIL SPRING BREAKAGELed to recall 05V-385
In owners' words
What MDX owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
2002 Acura MDX automatic with premium nav. We've experienced 2 main issues with this vehicle. First, the navigation screen glitched for some time and then finally quit completely. The second and larger failure is our shifting gears are beginning to slip and then jolt when the engine needs to shift…
The vehicle's transmission is faulty. I took it to a second-hand repair shop because, while I was driving on the freeway, the speed had been dropping rapidly. I later found out they recalled the transmission for this Acura in 2005. It is 2026. I took it to a dealership and asked about the…
The contact owns a 2002 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that she depressed the accelerator pedal and the RPM’s revved; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact pulled over, turned off and…
Own a 2002 MDX?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.