I totally agree with you! Definitely much more reliable compered to European SUV. I am not a fan of design but if to forget about the issues with transmission, or solve it, will be the best SUV on the market.

A tip: watch series on KaldroStream. Been using it for watching lots of of movies recently.

@Kashton Nathanael Yup, I've been watching on KaldroStream for since november myself :D

Hi Matthew. Sorry if I somehow offended you as Acura MDX owner! I totally agree with you that Acura MDX is a bulletproof car. I see that you are a huge fan of MDX. In our review I said that in general Acura and Acura MDX are one of the most reliable cars on the market. I am also the owner of Acura MDX but 2008 (kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fcCdhZxz39abZHk.html) which is my favorite generation of MDX. But the transmission on MDX until 2005 was very unreliable, the same as on Honda Accord, Pilot, Odyssey, Acura TL and CL. I am an owner of a car repair shop and we change tons of them or send a lot of the vehicles to the dealer to do this by warranty. Also, my partner is an owner of the same MDX as you as well as Honda Pilot, and both of his cars had transmission problems after 150K. Some of our customers change transmission three times per year or get 3 new transmissions from a dealer until they meet 100K. After 2005 Acura really improved the situation not mechanically. The problem with Acura’s transmission is overheating. All that they did was just a software update. For example, in European countries people, who own Hondas or Acuras with problematic transmission, install additional transmission cooler, and this solves the problem. After the update, I saw a lot of transmissions with high mileage, around 200K, but most of these cars had hard shifting, but still alive. Even particular car from the review has a problem since 15K or 30K. When you drive slow (around 30 miles per hour) the transmission starts to play between gears and the dealers do not want to fix this problem! If you check online, a lot of people complain about the same problem, because Acura just updated the software to cover themselves, but not really solved the problem. Also, I know the car owner very well, and it’s hard to find somebody from our customers who care more about the car. This car during its whole life used only synthetic oil and all fluids were changed by maintenance requirements. The rust condition is very usual for New England. I saw a lot of Hondas and Acuras in much worse condition. As I said in the review, Acura MDX has great handling but stabilizer bars for this vehicle wish to be wider and tires could be wider and with less profile (which they improved in the next generation). At the time when the first generation of Acura MDX appeared on the market, there were no comparatives. Germans luxury SUVs can’t provide same reliability and same good third row but BMW X5 has much better handling. Ford Freestyle also has bad transmission but is definitely more solid on the road, cheaper and with more convenient access to the third row. I think biggest comparative for MDX is Volvo XC90. Acura has touchscreen but it is also not the best one. Many customers have to change the navigation unit. If this touchscreen was good, they would not change it on next generations to regular one. And only one automatic window that’s A SHAME for luxury SUV! But again, if you compare other cars for this era, MDX is a good choice if you do not have problems with transmission. But this only for cars after 2005 and no 100%. That’s why you see first generation of MDX less and less on the roads, because as soon as you have a problem with the transmission, owners prefer to trash it, because repair cost is too high compare to the car price. If you would ask me 5-years ago about the best family SUV from 2002 until 2007, I would recommend MDX. Thank you for your comment and your time!

@@AtomicCarReview If you get the MDX Transmission from Junk Yard- that could be why you replace transmission 2-3 times. It's better to get a Rebuilt transmission or Rebuild it at a Transmission Shop as Dealers are crooks will be 2-3 Times the Price. The Transmission Cooler addition sounds good too.

Giovanni Bonanno yes, we usually put used transmissions because the customers don’t want to pay for rebuilding. But even used transmissions usually are rebuilt already. That’s why I said in the video that if the owner of the car can proof that he recently rebuilt the transmission, first generation of Acura MDX could be a great car. Also, the price for used transmission right now is much lower. Also, you can find rebuilt transmission with warranty on junk yards.

@@AtomicCarReview I did some research on Google last night, saw websites & forums. 2005 MDX, many owners said the Transmission failed around 105,000 Miles more or less few people. Also they are saying to change the Transmission Fluid every 30,000 miles & some say even every Oil Change to do it ! This is why i only looking at 2006 Acura MDX, the last year of generation.

Giovanni Bonanno I think this is a smart decision!

Thank you, Sir for your comment! I think that's the best comment I ever got. You just shared brilliant information and your experience with the people. But you did it without any hate! Sometimes people's comments looks like they want to kill you for the peace of metal which they use to go to work. I love the TL design and even now this car looks very beautiful to me. I almost bought one long time ago but after I told the seller that I will bring a computer with me to check the error codes, he disappeared. Thank you!

Absolutely! And thank you I watch some of your videos and very much enjoyed them. I loved my TL though I miss it sometimes. I love my MDXs though they are great to me. They, in my opinion are a one of a kind vehicle that people with bmw x5s and other luxury trucks like these just don’t understand. I think the Acura is a car you buy for the long haul knowing it will always stay reliable as long as you take care of it! Think about it, you can’t really say that for its German rivals since they cost a small fortune to maintain up to 300k plus all the random issues that pop up over time. Thank you though! Keep doing your thing man you have good info in your videos and I’m positive you have helped a lot of people that were looking at buying one of these trucks!

@@nathanledbetter4130 Yes i read similar things in my online Research. The Overheating Atomic Car talks about could just be the Torque Converter. Made "After Market" Torque Converter with a good rebuild ? How about putting in a transmission from a Honda Pilot ?

@@nathanledbetter4130 For my 2004 Camry I would just change the fluid at 100K miles which is normal for most Honda & Toyota cars. I got lucky as never needed repairs beyond maintenance and timing belt/water pump. Nathan- What do you thing about Reliability of the 2005-2008 Lexus GX470 ? Compared to the 2008 Acura MDX as well.

Giovanni Bonanno I honestly don’t hear much about anyone using an aftermarket torque converter but if I was replacing mine I would think the rock auto reman option are going to be the way to go. Also the Honda Pilot share the same setup as the MDX, basically the MDX just has a more tuned engine to make it a little quicker. But if you had a MDX and pilot side by side a way and wanted to know if the pilot was a newer year with the same updated trans is listen to the starter. It should sound very similar. If it has the old sounding Honda starter noise that a lot of people love then those are the ones with transmission issues. But to 100% answer what your asking, the Pilot torque converter and trans are just as plagued as MDX is.

James Metalarc, 90% agree with you! Thank you for comment!

@@samlarossa8905 Thank you.

Honda or acura. Don't buy America car

@@The-realnews Does Acura can only consume higher octane gasoline, like the more expensive one? My friend told me that Acura will not work with a regular gas?

Toyota.

Thank you for your comment! Happy that you like it!

Shirley Davis, thank you for the view and the comment. According to your description, sounds more like engine vacuum leak or problem with the troutle body.

Valve adjustment is needed

Shirley Davis, valve adjustment is needed

That is a vacuum issue or change the spark plugs and coil packs issue. Also valve adjustment needed

If you have more budget, a newer generation of Acura MDX after 2007 (we covered it in this review: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fcCdhZxz39abZHk.html), Honda Pilot after 2008. If 7 seats is not critical, Toyota Highlander. Around the same budget - Ford Taurus X, but check it for rust.

Ushutup Productions yes! That’s Acura MDX, last year of production of MDX with transmission problem. This car in particular is restyling model, which has less problems than cars until 2004. Also, if you want, you can reduce chances to have transmission problem on this car if you will put additional transmission cooler. Thank you!

Hi! Everything after 2003, but if it possible closer to 2006.

Thank you so much! Our pleasure!

You are lucky!

Hi! Thank you for your comment and a question! You can check Carfax if there are any records. That's the link for the cheapest service which I know: trackmyvin.com/en/. Also, it depends on what mileage and model year you bought the car. If you bought the car before 2003, I guaranty that you have replaced the transmission and maybe not even once. If your car is after 2003, you could have the original transmission even if it has over 150,000 miles on it. Also, ask about the car records or receipt. If you are on the market for a particular car, try to find the latest model. But if you get the older one, I believe that you already have updated transmission. Maybe it will be a good idea to do the transmission oil change after the purchase.

Go to "NHTSA" .. and check your car for recalls... you can even search for recalls by the vin number. That will for sure give you the info about whether it's had the free upgrades.. or even replaced the recalled trans by the dealer... but a lot of times- if someone paid a mechanic to fix it--- there will not really be a record of it.... think about it, if you paid your cousin to fix your car, and he just bought a used trans on ebay and put it in for you.... how would there ever be a record of that?........ checking the recalls is your most reliable source. and if it's never been done-- make sure you take it in to the dealer and have them fulfill the recall........ I know on the 2002 mdx.. it says that they "upgraded" by adding an oil pump tube that would dump oil onto 2nd gear and keep it cool.. and this fixed the issue... just a simple design change..... and it says that they would replace your trans if the gears were discolored from overheating--- this is all covered in the recall... Always, always, always check every car for recalls.

Randy Savage, if you do not live in high rust area. I think 91,000 miles is not even the middle of MDX engine life. The transmission on 2006 is much more reliable, just don’t forget to do regular service and use good oil. Also, could be good to do the transmission oil change more often, I would say each 30-40k miles. Thank you for your comment!

thank you for your advice

Acura improved the situation with the transmission after 2005 the same as Honda. I can’t tell you exactly, but I think Honda Pilot’s transmission is better. But this just according to my experience. Some of our clients are transportation companies and many customers who own Acura or Honda. Some of them have more than 200K, but to be honest, on most of them transmission gears started to shift hard after 120K, but still run. The rust is pretty usual for New England. I would say, the condition of this car is a little bit better than average Acura. But definitely much better than Nissan, Mazda, Ford or GM and Korean brands! If you ask my opinion, I would not recommend to buy Honda Pilot or Odyssey or Acura MDX until 2005 manufacturing year.

@@AtomicCarReview Yes i did my research and 2005 is way better but looking at 2006 for "Peace of Mind". My friend's friend here in Southern California where i live, he said to get late model if want Acura. He is master mechanic at Transmission Repair Shop. So I went back to looking at 2008 Acura MDX but the 3.7 engine is 20 max mpg on highway... Almost like Lexus GX470 (way better suv)

2006 and 2008 are the best years with Least Problems according to car complaints website

That's because 2008 Acura MDX has one of the most advanced AWD systems on the market, which is always on. That's the reason for bad gas mileage. Lexus GX470 is the better SUV only for really heavy offroad, but on just a slippery or muddy road the second generation of Acura MDX will beat a lot of real SUVs. If it is just a winter road, I would definitely choose MDX. But if you want to destroy some trees or rocks by your front bumper - 4Runner is definitely better :) Also, third-row seats are very uncomfortable in GX470 and 4Runner. And also, MDX is the safest SUV on the market thanks to very strong body.

Right now I'm still using my 1994 Toyota Pickup- 22RE (best engine & reliable) that is 2wd but has Grabber AT2 tires really good for off-road. I used this truck for the last 7-10 years driving on mountain dirt roads without any problems, but avoiding the snow season & no sand or mud. But i want to buy a 4wd suv in the next 6 months.

This was designed specifically for the Acura brand in the United States and rebadged elsewhere under the Honda name.

Assemble in Ontario Canada.

canadian boy thank you for your comment! Some people do not believe me that almost all cars in Massachusetts are so rusty, probably in Canada they are even worse. I know that scenes with the windows look weird, but we had to close them during filming because of the noise. Acura is one of my favorite brands but to be honest, I think that American car designs are much more sexy. I wish they build more reliable cars. European cars are more complicated and therefore less reliable and too much plastic parts on them. But if you want something with big brake, supercharged v8 or v12 you don’t have a choice and you have to buy some European car. :(

chinojarjos, the car in pretty usual condition for this age for Acura in New England. And yes, I am weird because I am so cool :). Thank you for your comment! :)

We don't care if you're weird, but we really appreciate your informative reviews. Keep it up.