2001 Acura MDX: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed Jul 10, 2019 · Suspension, Transmission · 186,000 miles · CA

I purchased my 2001 acura mdx in march 2019. Since purchase the car consistently makes a loud clunk when shifting the gear shifter into reverse. It also clunks consistently going from park to drive. There is hesitation in the cars shifting. At times I either have to speed up or let speed off for a transmission shift to occur. The car shudders horribly when braking at low or medium speeds. It feels unsafe and scary and only a matter of time before a complete wipe out occurs. Seeing this as a ongoing problem with this vehicle and yet california is not in the vehicle recalls seems ridiculous. These happen on city streets and highways daily while driving said vehicle.

Filed Feb 6, 2019 · Transmission · 115,000 miles · FL

Vibration/shudder/grinding between 20-50 MPH while accelerating. It happens every time for the past 5 moths when I accelerate from a dead stop.

Filed Jan 5, 2012 · Transmission · 200,000 miles · CA

Rpm's run high and then sudden engine cut off; in addition, a shudder or vibration develops while driving at speeds between 35 and 40 MPH. Acura stated a failed automatic transmission torque converter. It is recommend replacing the torque converter and installing an updated powertrain control module (PCM) to correct this concern. There are no check engine lights or codes at this time. Transmission was replaced at 140,000 previously.

Filed Sep 3, 2011 · Transmission · 135,000 miles · IL

My 2001 mdx has been having this issue for over 2 years. It happens only sometimes but usually when accelerating from 2nd to 3rd gear. It makes a shuddering sound and then the rpms go up and it will not accelerate. You have to then stop or slow down to make it go in a lower gear. Sometimes this will happen 2 to 4 times a drive and sometimes will go days without happening. Mechanic thought it to be transmission issue and said drive it until it stops. However...after reading hundreds of complaints online...it appears that individuals have fixed the tranny or torque converter only to have the problem soon reappear. I am hesitant to replace tranny/trans as I have 163,000 miles on it and do not want to replace these items if they won't fix the problem. Many, many complaints of the exact same thing all over the web. Honda should be made to address this issue and see what the problem is! I am the original owner ...bought it new in 2000. Have taken good care of it and performed scheduled maintenance. Just want to know what the issue really is before I spend $3000 to $4000 dollars to fix it. Other than this....love the vehicle! Please look into this issue!!

Filed Jul 8, 2011 · Transmission · 134,000 miles · DE

2001 mdx shudders at 1500 RPM (like running over a speed strip) apparently a faulty torque converter (transmission).

Filed Jan 3, 2011 · Transmission · 98,000 miles · IL

We have a 2001 acura mdx which has developed a "speed bump" shudder at around 30 MPH. The acura dealer didn't mention that this is a recurring problem as I found out at this link --- http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/webx?14@@.f1775eb/461 --- there are many, many people on this forum discussing this same problem. It appears that this problem is widespread and common. Acura's way of fixing the issue was to give us 15% off of a new transmission which is not a very friendly way of fixing a problem which has apparently been in the car's dna since it was built. We then got a software update letter in november of this year from acura for this same problem for a 2005 mdx which we no longer own. One of the key lines in the letter is "this (fix) can help prevent your transmission from being damaged." wow --- will it take a failed transmission and the death of a family as with the toyota debacle to get them to act responsibly and do a voluntary recall on all mdxs??!!

Filed Dec 15, 2010 · Transmission · 110,000 miles · PA

Faulty torque converter. Car shudders while driving. It occurs every time I move at a constant speed, typically anywhere between 20-50 .

Filed Jun 6, 2006 · Transmission · 94,378 miles · MD

2001 mdx transmission failed and was replaced with rebuilt transmission by dealer. This was after 4 visits over 9 months complaining about a shudder between 40 - 45 MPH. Another repair shop (non-dealer) had diagnosed a faulty transmission on the first visit. Transmission fluid was burnt. Dealer refused to accept that diagnosis and replaced egr valve (had already been replaced once), 4th gear pressure switch, and one time claimed not to be able to reproduce the problem. Dealer denied knowledge of any history of transmission failures in this model, despite many documented cases which I discovered after the transmission failed. In retrospect, the car was obviously dangerous to drive the entire period from the first occurrence till the replacement. Acura cs has refused any sort of good will reimbursement, partial or otherwise, due to the fact that all service was not exclusively done at a dealer. Honda/acura is stone walling the public about these transmission problems, and a dangerous and defective product remains on the market for each consumer to discover for him/herself. It is only good luck that none of my family was killed or injured, and it is just a matter of time before some unsuspecting person is. Please investigate and force honda/acura to do the right thing and recall these transmissions and replace them at their cost.

Filed Dec 4, 2004 · Transmission · PA

While driving, the car started shaking and shuddering. The dealer kept my car for 10 days and put in a new transmision. I got the car back and it was still shaking and shuddering. They want to put in another transmission. It feels very unsafe to drive!