Is the 2002 Acura MDX a bad year?
204 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 125, 13× a quiet MDX year.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2002 Acura MDX were filed between 78k and 130k miles. You're at 98,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2002 MDX owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 98,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 125 (61%) | 78k–130k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bags | 23 (11%) | 50k–150k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 18 (9%) | 67k–163k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Speed control | 12 (6%) | 51k–134k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 5 (2%) | 50k–186k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Electrical system | 12 (6%) | 110k–160k miles · ahead | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 98,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 204 complaints: 11 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 4 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
1st incident: we were going up a hill with car full of children when my 2002 Acura MDX slowed down considerably and the RPM revved up to 4-5,000.
A month or so ago I noticed the vehicle wasn't shifting as smoothly as it should. That was followed shortly thereafter by the transmission slipping out of gear briefly.
Truck started hesitating on the freeway at 70 mph. Was almost hit from behind when truck made sudden jerk then hesitated.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 98,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2002 Acura MDX: 4
These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate. In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant.
On certain sport utility vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia… Excessive corrosion can cause spring failure and a broken spring could puncture a front tire, which increases the risk of a crash.
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. Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.
On certain minivans, sedans, coupes, and sport utility vehicles equipped with V6 engines, a timing belt tensioner pulley on the water pump is misaligned and could cause the timing belt to contact a bolt on the cylinder head. Eventually the belt could be damaged and fail. If the timing belt breaks, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Acura: 12
Repair instructions Acura sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2002 Acura MDX. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for any & all 2022 MDX Type Ss & 2021-2022 TLXs that match the criteria listed
There are guidelines for various situations and procedures including: tire pressure valve stem installation, trailer stability malfunction light…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Front coil spring breakage
Neighbouring years
2001 MDX: 223 complaints, consider selling · 2003 MDX: 205 complaints, consider selling.
Every Acura MDX year
2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All MDX years side by side
Other Acura models: Acura CL · Acura ILX · Acura Integra · Acura RDX · Acura RL · Acura RSX · Acura TL · Acura TLX · Acura TSX. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2002 Acura MDX a bad year?
204 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 125, 13× a quiet MDX year. At 98,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2002 Acura MDX were filed between 78k and 130k miles. You're at 98,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Acura MDX?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (125), air bags (23), engine (18), speed control (12), suspension (5). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 78k–130k miles.
How many recalls does the 2002 Acura MDX have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 20V-027), Suspension (NHTSA 05V-385), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 04V-176), Engine (NHTSA 02V-226). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.