NHTSA Complaint #10446274 — 2007 ACURA MDX

MY WIFE WENT OUTSIDE OF OUR HOME TO GET INTO HER ACURA 2007 MDX TO GO TO WORK. WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE UP, IT STARTED SHAKING AND BLOWING OUT WHITE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPES WITH AN UNUSUAL NOISE. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND CALLED OUR INSURANCE COMPANY WHICH SENT A TOW TRUCK OUT TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. AFTER THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ACCEPTED THE VEHICLE AND HAD HIS MECHANIC INSPECT IT TO SEE WHAT CAUSED THE SMOKING. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGES. THIS WAS THE REASON FOR THE AIR COMPRESSOR WHY THE AIR COMPRESSOR WERE BLOWING FREON INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSED IT TO SMOKE WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED. WE HAVE NEVER MISS A SERVICE AND FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDED REQUIRED MAINTENANCE. I ASK THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WHAT WOULD IT COST TO HAVE MY WIFE'S SUV REPAIRED? THE PRICE THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE GAVE WAS AN ESTIMATION OF $1,900.00 PLUS LABOR. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE. JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE NO SAFETY RECORD ON FILE DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE DEALER SHOULD NOT LOOK INTO THE HAZARD. WHAT IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE MY WIFE WAS ON HER WAY TO WORK, AND ALL THIS FREON AND SMOKE WERE RELEASED INSIDE HER VEHICLE AND CAUSED HER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT? MY WIFE AND I HAVE PURCHASED 4 VEHICLES FROM ACURA BRAND NEW OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT EVERY TIME THE WARRANTY RUN OUT OUR CARS, WE BEGIN TO HAVE MECHANICAL ISSUES WHICH LEAD ME TO BELIEVE ONE OR TWO THINGS; EITHER THE MECHANICS ARE TAKING SHORT CUTS IN PERFORMING THE MAINTENANCE OR THE CAR WORKMANSHIP IS NOT WHAT ACURA SAY IT IS. THE WAY THAT I FEEL ABOUT MY TL AND MY WIFE'S MDX THAT WE WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ACURA VEHICLE. *KB