NHTSA Complaint #10418267 — 2002 ACURA MDX

PURCHASED A 2002 ACURA MDX BASED IN LARGE PART ON PRIOR VEHICLE RELIABILITY FOUND WITH ACURAS AND HONDAS. TRANSMISSION ON THIS $40,000+ VEHICLE, THOUGH PROPERLY FLUSHED (AHEAD OF MFG. INTERVALS) AND MAINTAINED, FAILED AT JUST OVER 110,000 MILES AND AT 45 MPH WITH THE CAR EFFECTIVELY "SEIZING", CREATING A ROAD HAZARD. ACURA DEALER REFUSED TO COVER THE COSTS OF REPAIR, THOUGH '01-'02 MDX TRANSMISSION FAILURES ARE WELL-DOCUMENTED, AND INSTEAD "GENEROUSLY OFFERED" (AFTER MY GOODWILL COMPLAINT; THEIR TERM) TO KNOCK OFF APPX. 20% FROM THE $4,300 REPLACEMENT COST FOR THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. GIVEN THIS UNIT'S KNOWN DESIGN PROBLEMS AND ACURA'S INCREDIBLY SHORT-SIGHTED HANDLING OF THE GOODWILL PROCEDURE (DURING WHICH I VOLUNTEERED TO PAY UP TO $2,500 OF THE NEW TRANSMISSION'S COST; IE OVER 50%), WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER HONDA OR ACURA PRODUCT AGAIN. *TR