Hello All,

I've been part of the acurazine community since owning my 2005 TL however this is my first post. I recently traded it in about 4 months ago for a 2011 MDX Tech package since I have a family now.

Recently (with only around 2700 miles) my wife was out and about and could not start up the car when she was leaving the store, she explained to me that everything seemed to power on (dash lights, A/C, and steering wheel set) however the car would not crank. "Check Starter System" illuminated on the dash. I couldn't believe it, she tried 3 or 4 times and it would not start. After calling me I told her to contact roadside assistance and try again, eventually she got the car to start and got home safely luckily.

When I got home i contacted the acura service department and they told me to bring it in immediately. We set the appointment for the following day so that we were guaranteed a loaner. The next morning, prior to myself leaving for work I attempted to start the car, the MDX would not start again, I witnessed what my wife explained to me exactly. Car powered on but the engine would not crank! Pissed off I called the service department on what to do and they told me to get it towed their, aggravated i explained to them that my wife has an infant and needs a loaner how will she get thier? Their response was to "ride with the tow truck driver". Already pissed off about the car, I was aggravated at the lack of compassion from the service department, I thought they would have treated us better. I told my wife just skip the service and i'll deal with it when i get home. Long story short, my wife went to check the car herself and it started for her and she brought the car in.

At the service department the car did not "fail" it started up every time however they acknowledged that the "check starter system" code did show on the computer however it was a "generic" code and that their diagnosis could not pinpoint the issue. Based on prior knowledge of a part issue they replaced the starter relay and tested it from cold start the next day, and of course it started. There were a couple other issues related to the window that I brought up and that they fixed so they turned the vehicle back over to me.

2 days later, same problem!!! Car would not start same "check starter system" issue. Pissed off even more I called acura to relay the same problem. Of course they said bring it in and we'll look at it again. Fast forward and my car has been in their possession for almost two full weeks. Acura engineering can not locate the issue and explain to me that their is not enough information for them to make a recommendation, they need the starter to fail again and have ME look for certain component functionality. Obviously irritated I refuse to accept the car back until they fix the problem. I will not put my wife and infant child back into an unreliable car that I just purchased. The car seems to start every time for them and they want to return the car to me because they can not VALIDATE the issue.

I worked with the service manager on this issue and have requested a meeting with the district manager (whom they will not give me any direct contact information for). I'm not sure legally what obligation Acura has to address this issue if they can not validate, however this $50K+ car that I purchased for its reliability has not met my expectations. Depending upon the outcome of my meeting with the district manager I may seek legal counsel.

This is the third Acura that I have owned and may be the last if they do not resolve this issue fairly. As a consumer I think that they need to step up and look at it from my perspective, it may not be a true "safety" concern for them but it is sure a safety issue for me regarding my family. I refuse to leave my wife and infant child in uncertainty and at the mercy of a tow truck driver that is outsourced by acura and do not possess the same accountability. It's a shame because I really enjoy acura's products but this situation can totally be a game changer for me and my family.

Any insight/advice???

 

minus well go up the food chain and contact acura corporate themselves?
http://owners.acura.com/Site/Customer_Relations.aspx
i think they can reign down upon your local dealer to fix the issues hopefully in a more timely and customer satisfying fashion. i sure as heck would raise hell especially dropping $50K+ and this truck is the main transportation for my family.
Good luck and let us know what happens

 

File the paperwork for the lemon law that comes with the owners manual. Acura Client Services will call you and have a regional rep come with engineers from honda/acura to figure out the issue. If the problem occurs again they can either give you a 2012 MDX Tech or give you your money back for a new car.

My battery kept on dying on my 2006 MDX and Acura tried 2x to fix it. We filed the lemon law paperwork, they fixed it one last time in FL and it seemed to be working. We went on vacation and it died over there again. Honda paid for a new battery and got us home and paid our expenses. When we got back, they asked us to go to a dealer and pick out which car we wanted or if we wanted our money back. Now I have a 2007 MDX Sport/Ent that works beautifully!

 

Maybe the "problem" is that on the MDX and other Acuras you just turn the starter switch quickly and release and the MDX will crank until it starts. If you hold it for any length of time it could set the code. Did you and/or your wife show the Acura techs how you start the MDX? It could also be the transmission safety switch that is preventing the car from starting.

 

WINNER

 

UPDATE: District Manager did not do anything for me and was rude. Basically told me that there is no tangible issue that they can fix, essentially no hard code was dispatched to the computer. And that he can not just start fixing stuff that may be the issue or send out an engineer to look at it.

This a**hole basically told me to return "his" loaner and come pick up your car. If it happens again bring it in again...

This is very frustrating so I will just pursue taking it up the ladder like what goon54 mentioned with Acura Customer relations and BBB better business bureau.

Csmeance - Unfortunately this problem does not fit under the lemon law as of yet. They have not "technically" replaced anything that was faulting, plus I can not prove that it is not starting (which if it happens again i will video tape it).

Rexorg - Yes I went into the shop this past saturday and started the car myself showing the technician, of course it fired up!

 

Do you ever get a green key icon light on the dash? Around the same mileage, my MDX Tech would start, run for a couple seconds, then die, and wouldn’t start for a while. My dealership was NOT able to duplicate the issue, but they said it threw a few codes. I had my immobilizer system replaced and haven’t had a problem since.

 

That sucks man.. u may need to add physical evidence. record the process of trying to start up your car? seems like u need all the ammo u can get since the ecu isnt readin any codes....
Good luck bud

 

LexSux - yeah they want us to "monitor" that immobilizer light if it does happen again in the future and if it blinks green fast or turns red they can tell if it is the immobilizer. They said that they just can't replace the immobilizer right now because there is no associated code to it. I will contact them about what code it did record on the CPU because i am interested on what "generic" means? I'm hoping that it is something easy as that...thanks for your input though!

goon54 - definitely going to record it hopefully they won't try to claim that i edited it lol...dam i want to lawyer up but would probably spend another $50k on that haha

 

Csmeance is 100% correct as to Acura's stance. Videotaping is the way to go if the problem occurs again. I feel your pain, as I've had similar situations over the many years I've been a car owner. However, other than a bad battery in my RL that was replaced under warranty, I've not had any other problems with my other Acuras and Hondas. Keep us informed about your situation and good luck getting it resolved.

 

It could very well be the immobilizer system cutting off the starter.... Check for this... I've got a Camry that does this.. (yeah, I know... apples 'n oranges) If I do not start the car within a short period of time after unlocking the vehicle, the car won't start as the immobilizer system kicks in and cuts off access to the starter. I've got to unlock the car via the remote and then start the car when I get into such a situation... Good luck!

 

it does not matter that they have not replaced anything, each time you go in is a repair attempt. Here is the Washington State Lemon Law Guide's words:

"Types of Defects Covered Under the Lemon Law

The Lemon Law covers 2 types of defects. Each is defined by how dangerous a defect is and how the defect affects the vehicle’s reliability, value and general safety.

Nonconformity
A ‘nonconformity’ is a defect that “substantially impairs” the use, value or safety of the motor vehicle making the vehicle unreliable, unsafe for ordinary use or diminished in resale value compared to equivalent vehicles.

Serious Safety Defect
A ‘serious safety defect’ is a life-threatening malfunction that impairs the driver’s ability to control or operate the vehicle, or creates a risk of fire or explosion.


Unrepaired Nonconformity

A ‘nonconformity’ covered by a manufacturer warranty where:
• The ‘nonconformity has been subject to diagnosis or repair four or more times including at least once during the period of the manufacturer’s written warranty and during the “eligibility period” (see What Is The Eligibility Period?)
• The nonconformity continues to exist
• The consumer sent a written request to the manufacturer asking for repurchase or replacement of the vehicle
• The manufacturer failed to respond or did not reach a resolution with the consumer within 40 days.

and

Days Out of service

Days out of service accumulated during attempts to diagnose or repair due to one or more ‘nonconformities’ or ‘serious safety defects’. The vehicle has been out of service due to diagnosis or repair:
•a cumulative total of 30 or more cumulative calendar days
•at least 15 days occurred during the period of the manufacturer’s written warranty and during the “eligibility period” (see What Is The Eligibility Period?)
•The consumer sent a written request to the manufacturer asking for repurchase or replacement of the vehicle and
•manufacturer failed to respond or did not reached a resolution with the consumer within 40 days
Note: Days out of service are included whether or not a substantial defect has been repaired. "


Here is their website:
http://www.atg.wa.gov/lemonlaw/default.aspx


What matters is that you are taking the car to the dealer when the problem occurs and a problem exists. As well the car is giving them error codes (even generic at best) that show that there is a problem. You can make a video if you want to but you don't need to. File the paperwork and Acura Headquarters will contact you and help you out.

 

Thanks Csmeance, trust me i've read the WA lemon law thoroughly and have even had some legal consultation.

The part that still does not qualify me for this law is that this "non-conformity" has not happened 4 times w/o resolution as the law requires (stated below).

The Washington Lemon Law protects buyers of motor vehicles, including demonstration vehicles, certain motorcycles, and motor homes. The Washington State Lemon Law also covers used motor vehicles with less than 24,000 miles on them when purchased or leased. A vehicle may qualify as a “lemon” if has one or more “substantial” defects that have undergone a reasonable number of repair attempts.

Substantial defects include ones that render a car or truck unsafe as well as ones that significantly impair a car or truck’s reliability, use, or value. Under the Washington Lemon Law, a car or truck is subject to “a reasonable number of attempts” if:

1. The vehicle undergoes at least two (2) attempts to diagnose or repair a serious safety defect (at least one during the warranty period) and the defect continues to exist;
2. The vehicle undergoes at least four (4) attempts to diagnose or repair a nonconformity (at least one during the warranty period) and the nonconformity continues to exist; or
3. The vehicle is out of service a cumulative total of thirty (30) or more calendar days for diagnosis or repair of one or more nonconformities or serious safety defects (at least 15 days during the warranty period).

 

So i re-looked at my invoice today and talked to the service technician. The code that was recorded was P0615 "starter relay circuit malfunction" unfortunately when they go in and look at the CPU recorder it shows "0" meaning that the CPU shows that there was no starter fault???

 

Even though it does this, contact acura via the lemon law paperwork and shot them that it's a continuing issue and your dealer isn't doing anything to resolve it and that it is on the path to end up fully lemoned.

HDS should be able to pull up all prior codes and errors and such that are showing up.

 

I am also from western WA, which of the three dealerships are you working with on this problem? We have had excellent service from Hinshaw's, you might have them take a look at it and see if they can diagnose anything different. We had an issue with our TSX power to radio/nav would turn it off causing me to punch in the codes, they diagnosed a bad grounding cable and have never had the problem occur since.

 

Acura of Bellevue - service department folks have been fair its just that they are following their established processes for this type of situation which i don't agree with. Corporate has not been much help either...i don't know what to do now the car has started everytime for my wife but it just worries me that it may fail again!

I don't know who to elevate it to both district service manager and corporate have been 0 help! Acura has definitely lost me as a customer, the worst customer experience ever...