| MDX_Jan02 |
Wanted to share my disappointment with MDX Transmission:
Prior to 45K miles: Love it and everyday mentioning to my wife: see I told you how nice MDX it is...aren't u glad we didn't buy a minivan?
At 45K: instead of waiting for the official recall letter, had the dealer examine it, they said it is fine and so only install the oil jet kit.
At 45K-46K miles: riding nicely on the highway, then after stopping at the traffic light, started to pull away, it then had difficulty shifting to 2nd gear and then starting slipping...next the engine light and D5 light came on. Pulled over and called Roadside Assistance (nice service)
They towed to it to nearest dealer and then they determined that transmission will need to be replaced. They did in 3 days later, no cost of course.
Now at 46K-47K miles: Wife is convincing to sell MDX and get a minivan. Odyssey? uh, not another Honda transmission! Sienna, Toyota? or maybe just keep the MDX, hey a new tran, it should last a long time now...
Any suggestions?
oh, btw...now, finally got the official Recall letter. |
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| Ceenit |
I'd try and get at least a little more use out of the X. Unless it starts giving you other problems, keep it for at least a year or two.
If you start having other annoyances, trade it before the wife say's I told you so. |
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| phins2rt |
That was close!! Another few thousand miles and you would have been out of warranty!
Personally, I would keep the X with the "new" transmission. But if peace of mind is worth shelling out another 40K, go for it! |
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| Ceenit |
| Question: how much of a warranty did they give you on the replacement transmission? |
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| JR8 |
MDX_Jan02, we are in the same boat.
Our transmission failed about 3000 miles after the oil jet was installed. I wonder if that oil jet kit is doing more harm than good?
Our MDX has about 56K on it and we still love to drive it and are very happy with the Acura dealership where we get our service done. But with a new 4 month old in the car she doesn't want to get stranded on one of our many trips to the mountains.
If you are looking at minivans, the Toyota seems to be a very nice vehicle, but we are still SUV people so we have been looking around for a new SUV. Unfortunately, we have only found 2 vehicles that come close to the versatility and comfort of the MDX, the Volvo xc90 and the Toyota Highlander. I am not impressed with the exterior of the highlander and I am a little unsure about the quality of the Volvo.
We have put our MDX up for sale (as you can see in another post). If we get someone that is interested in it, great, if we don't thats fine with me too. I think it is fine now that the tranny has been replaced, but its hard convincing the wife of that. |
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| MDX_Jan02 |
Ceenit, replacement of the transmission was free, no cost at all. I guess it is because I was under 50K or maybe it is because of the recall problem.
JR8, yup we are definite in the same boat. The starnded part of the whole thing that got to me. My 2 young kids were with us and we were on a trip about 100 miles from home when it happened. I still love the look of the MDX to go over to the minivan side...oh well, decision, decision... |
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| MDX_Jan02 |
Enough with the bad luck...I will sell my MDX.
a few more things happened in addition to the transmission stated above that pushed me over the edge:
- there was oil leak after transmission replacement...dealer said differential seal need to be replaced. They replaced it but got a call back that is is done but they lost my key. So now I have to bring it my spare key and controller for them to make a new one. Also, did I mentioned I had to replace my windshield twice in 5 months. |
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| Ceenit |
I didn't ask the question clearly enough....my bad. What I was trying to ask was if there is a warranty associated with the replacement trasmission. i.e. will they warrant it for say 12 month/12,000 miles from installation.
Thanks |
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| Markedoc |
Well, I have 35k on my 2002 MDX ... oil jet work performed. Therefore, I have 15,000 miles to find a replacement vehicle, or about 13 months.
NO WAY am I keeping this vehicle past its normal warranty UNLESS Acura steps up to the plate and warranties the tranny past 50k miles. I didn't buy an Acura thinking I would have to sink $$$ into an extended warranty. BMW or the like - sure. Acura or Toyota and the like - no way. |
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| DaleB |
While disappointed in the apparent life of many Acura transmissions, I think the biggest value of an extended warranty goes beyond that for those planning to keep their vehicle for several years.
There are certainly other assemblies that are very expensive to replace including electronic controls and the VTM. So far they seem to be reliable, but we have few vehicles reported here with over 50K miles. |
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| Markedoc |
quote:
Originally posted by DaleB
While disappointed in the apparent life of many Acura transmissions, I think the biggest value of an extended warranty goes beyond that for those planning to keep their vehicle for several years.
There are certainly other assemblies that are very expensive to replace including electronic controls and the VTM. So far they seem to be reliable, but we have few vehicles reported here with over 50K miles.
I hear ya. I guess it's just because I come from a long string of Japanese cars that I put 125k+ miles on with NO problems. No new clutches, no new trannys, just change the fluids, brake pads, and throw new tires on every 50k.
Now I spend 2x what I have ever spent on a previous Japanese car, and I am suppose to accept a paper mache transmission, windows that are wet on the inside when I roll them up (cool - just carry paper towels and windex with you - reminds me of the ice scaper I had to carry inside my VW Bug to scrape the inside of the window because the heat didn't work), rattles in doors that the dealer "can't replicate", a mediocre NAV system, a sunroof that is deafening about 45 mph ... and the list goes on and on.
I am just GLAD I didn't get suckered into putting a tranny and PS cooler on my car when I added a trailer hitch (for my bike rack).
I will probably keep the MDX until I find a reasonable replacement, if anyone ever comes up with one. Hopefully someone will in the next year or 2. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by Markedoc
I hear ya. I guess it's just because I come from a long string of Japanese cars that I put 125k+ miles on with NO problems. No new clutches, no new trannys, just change the fluids, brake pads, and throw new tires on every 50k.
Now I spend 2x what I have ever spent on a previous Japanese car, and I am suppose to accept a paper mache transmission, windows that are wet on the inside when I roll them up (cool - just carry paper towels and windex with you - reminds me of the ice scaper I had to carry inside my VW Bug to scrape the inside of the window because the heat didn't work), rattles in doors that the dealer "can't replicate", a mediocre NAV system, a sunroof that is deafening about 45 mph ... and the list goes on and on.
I am just GLAD I didn't get suckered into putting a tranny and PS cooler on my car when I added a trailer hitch (for my bike rack).
I will probably keep the MDX until I find a reasonable replacement, if anyone ever comes up with one. Hopefully someone will in the next year or 2.
Sorry to hear of the problems, Mark.. I've been quite happy with mine in terms of few complaints. Granted, I've had cars, and yes they were Japanese, and paragons of reliability also, but they were also much less complex.
I will likely extend the warranty after 40K miles (have 30K now) but anything could happen to dampen my enthusiasm.
Realistically, I think the MDX was the SUV to aspire to when it was unveiled, but with the growing competition I can also understand saving at least 10 grand and charging down a curvy mountainous road in a 250 hp Subaru Outback also. :4: |
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| jsolo18 |
When they replace your transmission it is "reconditioned", not new.
I had my 01 MDX Touring transmission replaced and will try to unload it as soon as I can. Honda transmissions are poorly designed.My 03 TL/S-Type was just recalled yesterday for faulty tranny design. |
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