2004 Acura MDX User Reviews

Pros

Great SUV, Great Ride, Great Look, Good Gas Mileage

Cons

LOADS of interior design flaws

Overall, I like this SUV a lot. This is our first SUV. It looks great, rides great and has decent fuel mileage for an SUV. Never had a NAVI system before, and now I would always get one. The problem with this SUV is that it has loads of interior design flaws, which I have emailed Acura about. For starters, if you drop anything between the front seats and the console, it is maddeningly difficult to retrieve it. The console is way too tight against the seats. You will spend a minimum of 15 minutes with makeshift tools (straws, scotch tape, pens, envelopes etc.) to try and get your stuff back. Next, you cannot open only ONE window. If you do, the pressure and noise are deafening, and it will blow your eardrums out. You have to open another window to remedy this. The NAVI system is great, but takes forever to boot up when you start the car. Sometimes it locks up, so until you turn the engine on and off again, you're out of luck using it. I HATE that the temperature controls are on the NAVI screen which means that you have to constantly play with the screen to fix the temperature, and if the system locks up, you are, once again, out of luck. Also the outside temperature display is on the NAVI screen so, again, you have to play with the screen to see it. I like a compass/temperature display using N E W S and in between. The compass arrow on the NAVI screen is annoying. The doors don't automatically lock when you start to go so if you forget to lock them, you'll drive around with unlocked doors. There is an auto up on the driver's window which causes concern for people with children. The front defrost feature sounds like you've turned on a jet engine so you can't leave it on for very long. My blow dryer is quieter. You have to use PREMIUM gas with this car so be aware of that -- more $$$$$$$. Third row seating is cumbersome to get in and out of. If you fold it down, you must have the second row seating completely upright which is extremely uncomfortable....read morehide

Pros

Roomy and handles like a car

I have owned this vehicle for approx 12 months. I have no braking problems or strange noises. Great SUV with lots of storage and great for kids.

Pros

Looks great, rides great, good gas mileage.

Cons

Loads of interior design flaws that will drive you crazy.

Overall, I like this car a lot. This is our first SUV. It looks great, rides great and has decent fuel mileage for an SUV. Never had a NAVI system before, and now I would always get one.

The problem with this SUV is that it has loads of interior design flaws, which I have emailed Acura about.

For starters, if you drop anything between the front seats and the console, it is maddeningly difficult to retrieve it. The console is way too tight against the seats. You will spend a minimum of 15 minutes with makeshift tools (straws, scotch tape, pens, envelopes etc.) to try and get your stuff back.

Next, you cannot open only ONE window. If you do, the pressure and noise are deafening, and it will blow your eardrums out. You have to open another window to remedy this.

The NAVI system is great, but takes forever to boot up when you start the car. Sometimes it locks up, so until you turn the engine on and off again, you're out of luck using it.

I HATE that the temperature controls are on the NAVI screen which means that you have to constantly play with the screen to fix the temperature, and if the system locks up, you are, once again, out of luck. Also the outside temperature display is on the NAVI screen so, again, you have to play with the screen to see it. I like a compass/temperature display using N E W S and in between. The compass arrow on the NAVI screen is annoying.

The doors don't automatically lock when you start to go so if you forget to lock them, you'll drive around with unlocked doors.

There is an auto up on the driver's window which causes concern for people with children.

The front defrost feature sounds like you've turned on a jet engine so you can't leave it on for very long. My blow dryer is quieter.

You have to use PREMIUM gas with this car so be aware of that -- more $$$$$$$.

Third row seating is cumbersome to in and out of. If you fold it down, you must have the second row seating completely upright which is extremely uncomfortable....read morehide

I got my new 2004 MDX about 1 month ago,
everything is excellent. I never has the break noise problem that many people complained.

I purchased the shinny new 2004 MDX about 1 month ago. Overall, I am pretty satisfied with this new car.

When I made decision to purchase the MDX, my most concern was the clanking noise which other people complained. I specifically asked to the Service Manager in Pasadena Acura before I purchased the car. He said that the problem has been fixed already.

I was SOOOO stupid to trust the service manager. The problem occurs in my car too. The brakes definitely make a clanking noise when I apply the brakes..... It happens so random that I am having hard time to replicate the noise when I bring the car to the dealer.

Eventually, Acura should first pinpoint the problem and then recall the MDX to fix the problem.

I am very sensitive driver, and sometimes I hesitate to put my foot on break because this clanking noise bothers me so much.

As the dealer claims, this is definitely "NOT" normal....read morehide

The catalytic converter on my Acura MDX is out of order when the car has only 15,000 miles on it. Acura says it is caused by usage of wrong gas. My tractor and Dodge Ram got the same gas as what my Acura did but they're fine. If the converter is damaged by only one wrong gas filling while other cars' converters are not, either because the converter on my car is bad or the converters used for MDX are bad. In any case, I shouldn't suffer the lost. But, the answer I've got from Acura is that Acura warrantee doesn't pay for it's POOR QUALITY PARTS. The converter cost $1,000. Car buyers should consider the warrantee and after-sale service as big issues....read morehide

I bought my MDX recently and each and every feature is awesome. The smooth ride makes it feel comfortable even on rough roads. It is the best crossoverss from all angles.

If I did not have a major problem, I would give this car 3 star rating.

I purchased one of the first '04 MDX in Minnesota and from day one I have had a loud droning sound coming from underneath the car. This occurs at 2 speeds, 30 mph and 50 mph. Sounds like the exhause system is ready to fall off.

The car was made in Canada and Acura issued a TSB and a new part to repair this problem. The US dealers do not recognize this TBS and continue to say that Acura is working on a fix. Most say we are imaginging the noise!

Based on this terrible service and the fact that Canada has fixed this problem, when my lease on my old car is up in November, the replacement will definitely not be an Acura, as much as I would like a new '05 RL.

Want more examples of bad treatment? Go to www.acuramdx.org and search for the word "droning".

Good car- terrible customer service!!...read morehide

Produces a "Thump" or "Bumping" sound when gas tank is half-full and you have a sudden stop. Present since 2001 models but no insulation or other correction made by manufacturer.

Otherwise..."Excellent".
Carlos J.

I am seriously looking for family-size vehicle and truly cannot decide between BMW X-5, Acura MDX, Merc-Benz ML 350, and Lexux RX-300. Hopefully, your responses to 2 questions will help me make my decision:

1) Why did you decide over Acura over other vehicles in this range?

2) If you were buying a vehicle in this range tomorrow, would you stick w/Acura or choose something else?

Thank you in advance for your opinion(s)!...read morehide