2003 Acura MDX Review
Price Estimate: $586 - $2,144
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Room for seven passengers or serious amounts of cargo, gutsy V6 engine, well-balanced suspension, top-rated crash test scores, low price.
Cons
- Limited off-road capability, below-average tow rating, ho-hum interior design and materials, might have to pay over sticker to get one.
What’s new
Further honing its already quite capable MDX, Acura has made a number of key improvements for 2003. First up is a 20-horsepower boost, giving the MDX a total of 260. To support the increased power, there's a revised five-speed automatic transmission, a new stability control system, a strengthened chassis, a retuned suspension and stronger brakes. Inside, the optional navigation system has gained voice recognition capability, enhanced graphics and expanded database coverage. There's also a tailgate-mounted rearview camera this year that transmits its view to the display screen when the vehicle is put in reverse. Lastly, Acura will be offering an optional DVD-based entertainment system as a factory option.
Edmunds says
A somewhat bland but otherwise utterly capable and perfectly useful crossover SUV.
For sale near Cupertino, CA
24 listings
- 174,459 miles
- 7 Seats, 15 City / 21 Hwy MPG
- 142 mi away
- AWD/4WD
- Heated seats
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Grass Valley, CA
- Features and Specs:
- 17 Combined MPG (15 City/21 Highway)
- Listing Information:
- VIN:
- 2HNYD188X3H532082
- Stock:
- MDX
- Certified Pre-Owned:
- No
- Listed since:
- 07-19-2026
- 168,884 miles
- 7 Seats, 15 City / 21 Hwy MPG
- 162 mi away
- AWD/4WD
- Heated seats
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in San Luis Obispo, CA
Well-maintained 2003 Acura MDX Touring All-Wheel-Drive with navigation package that won t break the bank. With its two-owner, clean carfax/no accident...
- Features and Specs:
- 17 Combined MPG (15 City/21 Highway)
- Listing Information:
- VIN:
- 2HNYD18853H514797
- Stock:
- 514797
- Certified Pre-Owned:
- No
- Listed since:
- 07-14-2026
Owners' Opinions
What Owners Like
Owners consistently praise the 2003 MDX for delivering a calm, capable driving experience that still feels useful after years of service. The V6 has enough pull to merge, climb grades, and hold highway speeds without sounding strained, and several owners note that it still feels settled when the road gets rough or the pace picks up. Its cabin earns repeated praise for space and flexibility, especially for families that need real cargo room with the third row in play and easy access for child seats using the LATCH anchors. The seating position and ride quality also come up often, with owners describing long trips that stay comfortable instead of tiring, even when they log serious mileage across states or through winter weather. Noise control is another strength, because the MDX isolates occupants from much of the outside racket and gives it a more composed feel than many of the truck-based SUVs owners have owned before. The convenience features hold up well, too, with automatic climate control, wipers, heated seats, and rear entertainment getting credit for making daily use easier when the vehicle is loaded with kids or used on commuting duty. The navigation and backup camera earn especially strong approval for reducing stress in unfamiliar areas and tight parking lots, while the rear visibility and tall seating position make the MDX feel easier to place than many SUVs of its era. Owners also like how the interior cleans up, since the materials and layout seem to tolerate constant kid duty, muddy weather, and frequent in-and-out use better than they expected. Maintenance costs are frequently described as manageable when the truck is kept on schedule, and that helps explain why so many owners are willing to keep driving these well past 100,000 miles. In our view, that combination of everyday polish, practical packaging, and long-haul composure is what gives the first-generation MDX its staying power.
Common Issues
The 2003 MDX has a clear weak point: the automatic transmission can become an expensive liability, with owners reporting failed units, harsh shifts, blinking gear indicators, and repeated rebuilds even on vehicles that were maintained on schedule. That problem shows up early enough in some cases to wipe out the value proposition, especially when warranty coverage has already expired and the repair bill lands in the thousands. Several owners also describe smaller drivetrain and steering complaints, including hesitation under throttle, power steering quirks around large puddles, and intermittent no-start behavior that left the vehicle stranded in parking lots or on hills. Interior hardware is another sore spot, because vents, seat trim, switches, hood struts, and seat heaters have broken or loosened after ordinary use, not abuse. Electrical gremlins are common in the owner reports, with fault lights, steering wheel controls, wipers that activate on dry glass, and rear entertainment or audio components developing noise or failing outright. A number of owners also had to chase recurring brake, starter, and sensor issues that sent the truck back to the dealer more than they expected for a luxury-branded SUV. Fuel economy draws complaints from city drivers, who often see mileage in the low teens rather than the numbers Acura advertised. Some owners also note that the third row is tight enough to limit its usefulness, which matters when the MDX is bought for family hauling. We think these complaints matter because they don’t read like isolated wear items; they cluster around the same systems and can turn a promising SUV into a frequent repair project.
Final Takeaways from Everyday Drivers
The 2003 MDX can be a deeply satisfying daily driver when it is the right example and the maintenance history is clean. Owners who stayed on top of fluid changes, timing-belt service, and regular dealer or independent care describe trucks that keep pulling past 150,000 miles, handle snow and elevation changes with confidence, and remain comfortable on long interstate runs. The cabin works well for family duty, with enough room for child seats, a usable cargo area, and features like the navigation system, rear entertainment, and backup camera that make real-world errands and road trips easier. The MDX also keeps its composure on rough pavement and twisty roads, which is why several drivers with mountain commutes or winter weather prefer it to other SUVs they have owned. That said, the owner record shows that long-term satisfaction depends heavily on avoiding a transmission problem or catching it early, because repeated failures can erase any goodwill the truck built up. Some of the smaller annoyances—vent tabs, seat trim, audio hum, rattles, and other interior bits—do not stop the vehicle, but they do remind you that the MDX was not immune to cheaper-feeling components. Fuel economy is another daily-use tradeoff, especially for city drivers who see numbers well below the highway ratings. Even with those flaws, the first-generation MDX still has a loyal following because it can do the school run, the commute, and the road trip without feeling strained, which is why so many owners were willing to keep theirs long after they expected to move on and why we would still want to check the service records very closely before buying one…
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in California
$481/mo for MDX Base
MDX Base
vs
$351/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
Reliability
The 2003 Acura MDX has a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic warranty and 9 recalls. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Recalls
9 recalls foundChecking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
- Recall Number:
- 15V320000
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 5100000
- Defect Description:
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
- Defect Consequence:
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Corrective Action:
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238, select option 4. Note: Vehicles that have had their driver frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy prior to September 12, 2014 need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Vehicles that, on or after September 12, 2014, received a remedy for a prior driver frontal air bag inflator recall already received an inflator of a different design, and therefore are not included in this recall and do not require additional servicing. Note: This recall fully supersedes recalls 08V-593, 09V-259, 10V-041, 11V-260, 14V-351 and 15V-153.
- Recall Number:
- 15V045000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- JN6-Odysse
- Manufactured from:
- 2002-02-21 to 2003-09-23
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 374177
- Defect Description:
- Honda is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured February 13, 2002, to August 13, 2004, and 2003 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured February 21, 2002, to September 23, 2003. Due to electrical noise, a component in the air
- Defect Consequence:
- Inadvertent deployment of the air bags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
- Corrective Action:
- Honda dealers will replace the supplemental restraint system electronic control unit (SRS ECU). These parts are not currently available, however, an interim repair is available free of charge that reduces the risk of an inadvertent deployment. This recal
- Recall Number:
- 14V700000
- Manufactured from:
- 2002-02-21 to 2005-03-30
- Defect Description:
- American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicl
- Defect Consequence:
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the vehicle occupants.
- Corrective Action:
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on November 24, 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
- Recall Number:
- 14V353000
- Manufactured from:
- 2003-08-12 to 2004-09-24
- Defect Description:
- American Honda Motor Company, Inc.?s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Element, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and model year 2005 Acura RL vehicles originally sold, or
- Defect Consequence:
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the vehicle occupants.
- Corrective Action:
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during July 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
- Recall Number:
- 14V351000
- Defect Description:
- American Honda Motor Company, Inc. (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2001-2007 Accord (4-cylinder), 2001-2002 Accord (V6), 2001-2005 Civic, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2007 Pilot, 2006 Ri
- Defect Consequence:
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the vehicle occupants.
- Corrective Action:
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
- Recall Number:
- 14V349000
- Defect Description:
- American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 Civic, CR-V and Odyssey vehicles, and model year 2003 Accord, Element, Pilot, and Acura MDX vehicles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may
- Defect Consequence:
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.
- Corrective Action:
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on July 21, 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009. Note: This is an expansion of NHTSA Recall
- Recall Number:
- 13V412000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- JC2/JC3
- Manufactured from:
- 2002-02-21 to 2003-09-23
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 374618
- Defect Description:
- Honda is recalling certain model year 2003 and 2004 Odyssey and model year 2003 Acura MDX vehicles. Due to electrical noise, a component in the air bag control module may fail causing the front air bags, side curtain air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.
- Defect Consequence:
- Inadvertent deployment of the air bags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
- Corrective Action:
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a noise suppressor unit, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on, or about, October 28, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's recall numbers are JC2 (Honda Odyssey) and JC3 (Acura MDX).
- Recall Number:
- 12V573000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- S73/S74
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 807161
- Defect Description:
- Honda is recalling certain model year 2003 and 2004 Pilot and Odyssey and 2003 through 2006 Acura MDX passenger vehicles manufactured from November 26, 2001, through August 30, 2006. The interlock lever of the ignition switch may deform, which can allow the interlock function of a vehicle with an automatic transmission to be defeated.
- Defect Consequence:
- Removal of the ignition key when the gear selector of a vehicle with an automatic transmission has not been shifted to the park position can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Corrective Action:
- Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated shift interlock lever and, if necessary, replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on, or about, February 7, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
- Recall Number:
- 08E013000
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 2032
- Defect Description:
- HONDA IS RECALLING 2,032 HITCH STYLE BIKE RACKS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE ON MY 2003-2007 AND SOME MY 2008 HONDA PILOT, RIDGELINE, AND ACURA MDX VEHICLES. A PINCH BOLT EXISTS BETWEEN THE BIKE ARM BRACKET AND THE UPRIGHT ASSEMBLY OF THE "HITCH" STYLE BICYCLE RACK.
- Defect Consequence:
- WHEN MOVING THE BIKE ARM BRACKET TO ITS DOWN POSITION, THIS PINCH BOLT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING SEVERE LACERATION OR AMPUTATION TO THE USER'S FINGERTIPS OR HAND.
- Corrective Action:
- OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT THULE AT 800-THULE91 (800-848-5391) TO OBTAIN A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS OR OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
Warranty
4 years / 50,000 miles Basic Warranty- Basic Warranty
- 4 years / 50,000 miles
- Drivetrain Warranty
- 4 years / 50,000 miles
- Rust Warranty
- 5 years / unlimited miles
- Roadside assistance Warranty
- 4 years / 50,000 miles
Acura MDX Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(79%)
4(14%)
3(4%)
2(3%)
1(0%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
I love my MDX
4.63 out of 5 starsandy3631, 03/23/2013
2003 Acura MDX AWD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
I have had my Acura for about 7 years now and I absolutely love it. I bought it with 70,000 miles on it and I currently have 209,000 miles. I have never had any major problems
with it. I actually drove about 2000 miles from Chicago to California and it drove great. I hope to have it for another 200,000 miles.
Keeps on going
4.38 out of 5 starsrquigley1, 01/14/2012
2003 Acura MDX Touring AWD 4dr SUV w/Nav and Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
I was the 2nd owner. Bought in 4 years ago with 100k on the odometer. Super reliable. Changed timing belt at 140k and follow the service recommendations. I do all my own work from fluids to plugs etc. Read some posts about a tranny shift problem and noticed a little hesitation around 170k. I did a triple flush of the AT fluid and care is running just fine. I expect to get it to 200k and … then buy the current body style acura. Only real problem is a hum in the stereo and loud whine in the rear dvd system after about an hour of operation. For the money- a super car.
best car yet
5 out of 5 starsklaire funderburgh, 09/09/2018
2003 Acura MDX Touring AWD 4dr SUV w/Nav (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
bought this car with 182xxx and i’ve put 6,000 so far. owned it around 4 months and has 0 problems. drives and rides so much better than any other car we’ve had, chevy, jeep, honda and ford. i LOVE the inside and out, both are very nice looking and stay clean fairly easily. i’m a nanny and have car seats in and out of car all the time...LATCH system makes it easy to install and remove … and leaves plenty of space for kiddos. nice sized suv. i live at 9000ft in conifer colorado and it does just fine on all out twisty roads even with power steering issues. seems to have descent traction on ivey roads. overall i’m in awe at acura, they really did a nice job with this one
Thinking of an '03 Acura MDX? Run Away!!!!!!
2.13 out of 5 starsmvegastar, 02/21/2012
2003 Acura MDX Touring AWD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
My husband and I have owned a lot of different makes and models in our time, but we have had the WORST experience with our '03 Acura MDX.
We are the 2nd owner of the car, clean carfax report, bought it with 48K miles.
Owing it less than 4 yrs, not including regular maint such as oil changes, brakes and tires, we have spent over $15k on repairs!
Two transmissions, a motor, a paint job and … breaking down on vacations twice to name some if it!
This car has been a nightmare and Acura could care less since we bought it used.
When reading other reviews, the transmission is clearly a problem, but has there been a recall? Nope.
I hope sharing our experience will help others avoid the same pain
2003 MDX Features & Specs
Base
| Est. Market Value | $1,708 |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | Gas |
| Combined MPG | 17 MPG |
| Cost to Drive | $481/month |
| Seating | 7 seats |
| Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 14.8 cu.ft. |
| Drivetrain | all wheel drive |
| Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the MDX include:
- Alarm
- Stability Control
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintPoor
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