NHTSA Complaint #10598986 — 2002 ACURA MDX

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WEST BOUND ON HWY 50 JUST WEST OF POLLOCK PINES CA. I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFTED TO LOW GEAR AND SPUN OUT OF CONTROL . WE GLANCED OFF THE CENTER MEDIUM WITH MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE AND I WERE VERY SHOOK UP. I SWITCHED SPOTS WITH HER AND MOVED THE CAR OFF THE FREEWAY. WE DROVE THE VEHICLE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME (10 MILES) USING BACK ROADS NOT GOING OVER 20 MPH. WE CONTACTED NIELLO ACURA OF SACRAMENTO AND THEY TOLD US TO BRING THE CAR TO THEM AND THEY WOULD SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR US. THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $5,500 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND THEY WOULD NOT TAKE CARE OF THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ELSE, THEY MIGHT NOT BE AS LUCKY AS WE WERE. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE (THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTING UNEXPECTEDLY). I ASKED THE ACURA DEALER ABOUT THIS AND THEY TOLD ME THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY HAD THE FIX INSTALLED IN 2004. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, OTHER PEOPLE COULD BE EFFECTED OR EVEN INJURED. OVER THE PAST YEAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A COUPLE TIMES BUT WITHIN A DAY OR TWO IT WOULD GO OUT. NOW THE LIGHT IS ON. THE CODES THAT ACURA TOLD ME ARE P700 AND P730. *TR