Problems with 2005 Acura MDX POWER TRAIN

I own a 2005 acura mdx touring, just purchased 3 weeks ago. 2 days after purchase a heard a grumbling/scraping noise coming from under the center console area, and over the past 3 weeks the noise has gradually started occurring more often. after getting an aamco technician to look at the problem he stated that the torque converter on the transmission would need replacing at a cost of $2,700. after researching online, several people have had problems with the mdx transmission across many year models, along with the acura tl's transmission, all seem to be faulty torque converters. many online bloggers have stated to me that even after getting the torque converter replaced it ended up failing again, anywhere from a month to a year later. acura doesn't seem to have a real fix for the problem, they just replace one faulty part with another. this part, after researching online, seems to malfunction way too often, and i believe would be grounds for a company recall. my mdx is currently sitting in the garage until i come up with the money for the fix, but am extremely concerned it will just happen again. the fault in this part seems to be a design issue and not from normal wear and tear given the time between recurrences other mdx owners have addressed. thank you for your time and i know that together we can address this issue, bring it to acura's attention and then hopefully they will make this right. *tr

Transmission starting making a grinding noise around 40 mph with ~70k miles. at 96k, the car broken down while driving at highway speeds. dealer has indicated the transmission needs replacement at estimated $4k, but can't currently find a replacement or rebuilt one available. *tr

I purchased the car pre-owned from the original owner. i have all their service records and all service was done at the acura dealership. within a month of purchasing the car at around 70k i noticed a grinding or growling noise when accelerating at low speeds between 25-40mph. within a month it started to happen almost every time i accelerate. about a month after that around 73k miles i noticed that i have a vibration when accelerating at low speeds. i haven?t taken it to the dealership as of yet because my old honda dealership i no longer trust, and the acura dealership near me has extremely terrible reviews. i have had my mechanic look at it when this first started to happen and he believed it could be the torque converter. i owned a 2000 honda accord before this and honda eventually extended the transmission warranty to cover bad torque converters. honda/acura is aware of this issue and they are not being responsible. *tr

Defective torque converter 2005 acura mdx. *tr

The 2005 acura mdx that i purchased from an acura dealer was brand new when i bought it. while the car was in my possession, i did not abuse the car and i performed all of the maintenance on it. once the car reached 100,000 miles, the torque converter began to break and at 106,705 miles the torque converter had to be replaced by an acura dealer. replacing this torque converter cost me $2793.85. *tr

My 2005 acura mdx drive train will make a "judder" sound and can be felt in the vehicle all while loosing acceleration at around 30 to 40 mph. the resulting loss of acceleration leads to serious safety concerns while trying to merge into traffic on ramps. there was a recall regarding this problem from acura. i took the mdx into the dealer and they did a pcm program update. this seemed to fix the problem for about two months but now the problem is back again.

Around 40,000 miles my acura mdx 2005 began making a low groaning noise at 25mph and 35 mph took it to the dealer and found it was the torque converter. i also suspect that the transmission needs to be replaced due to the medal shavings in the fluid. this is the 2nd acura mdx i have owned. the first was a 2003 but the dealer assured me that the problem was addressed in the 2005 version. im thinking about a class action law suit. *tr

2005 acura mdx has had issues on multiple occasions where the transmission vibrates or shudders at about 1200-1400 rpm and under a light to moderate engine load. the torque converter has been replaced twice and the issue is starting again. mileage on vehicle is about 80k. *tr

Had to replace the torque converter on my 2005 acura mdx. seems to be a problem just by searching the internet. now i hear a groaning noise in the rear as i accelerate and turn the wheel at low speed. *tr

2005 acura mdx torque converter jutter at speeds of 25-40 mph. *tr

Purchased a 2005 acura mdx in september 2008 - approximately 48,000 miles - still under factory warranty. about 6 months later noticed a noise/vibration at about 20 - 30 mph while accelerating when car was cold. around 60,000 miles this noise/vibration became more frequent and louder at 30-40 mph. this also began happening while accelerating. would downshift to have power to make it over a hill or overpass without noise/vibration. took to local acura dealer in march 2010 to check out and was told it was the torque converter. acura dealer replaced torque converter at 67,533 miles with new acura torque converter (so i was told) - acura paid for some of replacement. car now has 73,400 miles on odometer and same noise/vibration is beginning. noise/vibration occurs everytime you drive the car and once again is getting much louder and more frequent. *tr

Not sure what equipment it is, but i have trouble accelerating in my mdx. i thought it was normal until i drove my sister's rl. i couldn't believe the difference. whenever i am driving, especially when accelerating i have to floor the car to get it to move it seems. its especially problematic when i am getting on a highway and trying to merge into traffic. i have to actually put my seat further so my entire foot can now be on the gas to get it to accelerate or make it seem like it is. took it in to a dealership (thank god for extended warranty) and don't know what they did, but it helped only for a short time. the problem was back in less than weeks and its so hard to get to a dealership because they are not in my town and i have to get someone to take it for me. i have been reading others having the same problem and now see its the torque. is there a permanent fix for this. *tr

Transmission / torque converter judder at approximately 30 mph when applying light pressure to accelerator. acura dealer applied 1255a9 software update, which seemed to correct the problem for awhile. the problem began reoccurring approximately 1 year later. *tr

After you stop the car and keep in drive gear and pull the key out of ignition, the car rolls away. *tr

2005 acura mdx transmission rough and noisy between 35 and 45 mph. it needs a torque converter and transmission replaced. this should be a recall due to many many other owners having the same issue. *tr

At 30 -45 miles per hour, get a rumbling noise.. took to dealership and had to have torque converter changed. *tr

Shuddering and wash-boarding, due to defective torque converter. acura mailed out transmission software updates december 2009 and november 2010 to address this on-going issue. i have kept mine and can send you the documentation on it if you would like to receive it. neither software updates fixed the issue. now they are saying we need to replace the torque converter. this is a well-known safety hazard (check out the internet forums on it) and can cause fatal accidents. please consider a recall, especially in light of acura's knowledge of the issue and unwillingness to fix it the proper way by replacing the part. this cannot be fixed by a mere software update. this issue is just as big and on-going as the toyota issue. please issue a recall on this issue. i understand that some of the acura sedans (tl's) also have this same transmission problem!!

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 acura mdx. while driving at approximately 30 mph, the contact noticed a grinding noise in the transmission when he depressed the accelerator pedal lightly. there was also a pulling sound coming from the transmission area. the noise continued until the accelerator pedal was depressed harder or the vehicle slowed down. the vehicle had not been inspected at the time of the complaint. the failure mileage was approximately 53,000. the current mileage was approximately 54,500. updated 07/29/10 *bf updated 08/03/10

I have approximately 57,000 miles on my 2005 acura mdx. i had been experiencing a noise coming from the engine at speeds around 20 - 25 and 40 - 45. i was told by the dealer that i needed my torque converter replaced. this appears to be a common problem on this particular vehicle. i feel that is unacceptable on a $40,000 car with so few miles/years on it. *tr

I took my 2005 acura mdx in to the dealership to have an unusual sound checked out. it occurs while accelerating slowly to about 40mph. i was told that the torque converter needed to be replaced. i had a warranty purchase when i bought the vehicle so i did not incur any expense for this repair. the next week, the d4 light was blinking indicating a possible problem with the transmission. i took it in again and i was told that the 4th gear pressure switch was probably defective, as it was just replaced along with the torque converter. ironically, a friend was having the same problem. she took her 2005 mdx in for service, had the torque converter replaced (unfortunately she did incur an expense), and the next day her d4 light was blinking. her vehicle is being repaired as i write this complaint. my concern is that the transmission in this vehicle is defective altogether. as i have done a little research, i have discovered that this is fairly common with the acura mdx model. *tr

I own a 2005 acura mdx. this summer i began noticing a strange vibration and noise when accelerating in 4th gear. also, the starter motor produced a grinding noise when starting the engine. after only 57,000 miles, i had to return it to the dealership for a new starter motor, torque converter and motor mounts. fortunately, it was still under warranty and the dealership replaced all parts gratis. this was an expensive vehicle and i expected quality engineering. after reading about the ongoing issues acura mdx is experiencing regarding torque converters and transmissions, i decided to put this on the record. *tr

I have a 2005 acura mdx premium model. the car is only driven 56,000 miles. there are always a grinding noise when speed is about 25 -- 40 mph. i have been told it is a transmission torque converter problem. *tr

I have a 2005 acura mdx and felt the car noisy while driving after a while the vsa light came on and stayed on. thank god i purchased an extended warranty because this happened 1 month after the manufacturers warranty expire. they had to replace the transmission at a cost of $3900. *tr

2005 mdx torque converter replacement @ 55,000 miles, out of pocket cost, $ 3000.00 grinding noises @ 35 mph. *tr

2005 acura mdx makes grinding noise when accelerating between 35 and 40 mph. this started occurring around 30,000 miles and continues to this day. there are many reports of this exact same problem on various automotive forums. this was reported to the dealer while the vehicle was under warranty, however, it was not addressed until i took the vehicle in approximately one year later with significant documentation regarding the problem. the dealership presented the case to honda and they are willing to replace the transmission torque converter however i must pay 25%. this does not see fair. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 acura mdx. the contact stated that the vehicle had been experiencing a recurring failure with the transmission which would intermittently skip. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed the failure was not a safety concern. the failure continued to occur and the vehicle was taken back to the dealership where the transmission was then replaced. the contact was told that the replacement transmission was new but upon speaking with the manufacturer, he was informed that the transmission was re-manufactured. the failure mileage was approximately 70,000. the current mileage was approximately 151,000. updated 11/03/10. *lj

Hello, i am a very frustrated acura mdx owner. i hd purchased 2005 acura mdx brand new. i usd the suv for 3 years when i started hearing a "vibration" or "judder"noise while cruising between 20-45 miles per hour. in december 2010, i received a recall and was very happy that the issue will be resolved. i took the recall notice sent by honda motors and went to the alhambra, ca acura dealership. the dealership updated the pcm a/t software . the cause in the work order was mentioned as product update - pm update for lock-up clutch function. software update s/b# 09-037. i got it update within 3 hours and finally felt happy that my suv will be running fine. to my utter dismay, i found the same problem still exists. it is very frustrating and feel very nervous while driving with my family. i even get scared to drive thesuv in case it will stop on freeway. nhtsa is a governing body to help such situation. i am pretty sure, this issue has been reported before in nhtsa web site. i earnestly request nhtsa to take this serious and possible life threatening matter with acura and make them accountable and responsible [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

I have a 2005 acura mdx touring model which is making grinding noise which seems to be transmission related. this has been going on for about a year. i asked my mechanic to check it and he could not come to a remedy. i have read of other 2005 acura mdx owners finding the same problem which means it is systemic/manufacturing flaw. this is an ongoing problem. i use premium gasoline so it isn't anything related to low grade gas. it is a loud grinding sound that happens when the car is just starting to get going, around 20-25 mph and if i slow down and accelerate again. i am sure it will continue to get worse. i also had the catalytic converter shield checked to make sure it wasn't loose and rattling and it was ok. *tw

My 2005 acura mdx has encountered problems where the car suddenly stops when the brake is applied and fails to accelerate smoothly (the car lurches during acceleration). this usually occurs at slower speeds (<30mph). this has occurred on numerous occasions. acura service has been unable to diagnose the problem despite our pleas to find the problem. sometimes the problem is ameliorated when the ignition is turned off and restarted, similar to a computer reboot. the most recent incident, today, did not rectify itself when the car was restarted. this situation is dangerous as the car is susceptible to rear-end and other collision when the car "locks up" during acceleration or braking. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 acura mdx. while driving in reverse, the contact heard a clunking noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. the vehicle jerked backwards and struck a concrete pole approximately 2 feet away. the vehicle automatically shifted into drive, surged forward, and struck another concrete pole. both air bags deployed. the passenger in the front of the vehicle was trapped and unable to open the door. the police, ambulance, and fire departments arrived at the scene. a police report was filed. the contact had burns and cuts on her arms and face and a swollen right knee. she will have to undergo therapy on her neck and knee. the passenger was badly bruised. the contact spoke with acura on september 17, 2007 and they stated that their legal department would be in touch with her, however, they have not responded as of yet. this was the second time this failure has occurred. in the first incident, the vehicle was placed in drive and accelerated on its own. the failure occurred while driving 25 mph. the vin, engine size, and current mileage were unknown. the failure mileage was 32,000. updated 12/12/07 *tr

2005 acura mdx. transmission problem. seems others on the forums have complained of an intermittent vibration in the car, the diagnosis was the torque converter the other cars. i am having the same experiences these other people have had. ,however since i cant replicate the problem at the dealer no one is doing anything. *tr

Grinding noise on acura mdx 2005 model. had the car for two years when problem started. the dealer could never identify the problem. only when the car was out of warranty did they finally say that the transmission had to be replaced. i am the original owner and my car has 75k plus, but this problem started way before. this repair will cost me at least $5000. i'm sure honda knew about this problem and decided to ignore it. i feel cheated! honda must take responsibility for selling faulty cars and not owning up to it. i'm a million percent sure the dealers also knew it and didn't say anything about it. they are negligent as well. i am sure i am not the only one with this complaint. *tr

A vibration occurs in the transmission from 20-40mph on a consistent basis. the issue does not create diagnostic codes for dealer computers. dealer indicates it is a transmission torque converter issue. *tr

Beginning in 2006 i started to experience a hesitation and a hissing sound in my 2005 acura mdx at hwy and local rd speed for the past three years i have taken the vehicle to the dealership only to get the same response of unable to duplicate. i recently took the vehicle to the dealership again on 11/09 and this time they were able to duplicate the problem which was a bad torque converter which required the replacement of the transmission. the dealer claimed the issue started at 58,000 mile and therefore out of warranty. the dealer wants $4000.00 to replace transmission. still contemplating offer. i have discovered blogs that states an ongoing torque converter and transmission problem with the acura mdx from 2001--2005 including a recall for 2001-2002. *tr