2003 Acura MDX Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

Owners Choice infoOutline
2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
17 City / 23 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
260
Seats
7
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Diane F
It has third row seating! People always ask me about that because they didn't know there is extra seating the int back where the seats fold up and down.
My Acura is very dependable. It is a car that other people like and make comments about it. It works well for me and my family.
accountCircle Primus I
Great vehicle and longevity for it is price.
Car leaks a lot of cooling agents and stains the concrete in our garage. But the car works perfectly fine, although the seats are not the most comfortable.
accountCircle Renee R
Reliable car with room for the whole family.
Very reliable vehicle. It has fairly high mileage (180k), but still runs great. We have had very few problems, aside from general maintenance issues and have taken the car on long outings. I especially appreciate how roomy it is for our family of four and two dogs.
accountCircle Raphael F
Mdx... What a car, fun to drive super safe.
Very few problems, super comfy, reliable, wish it had built in nav and sat radio, great tire wear, auto windows, door locks seats, heated seats, all wheel Dr, easy in and out of care, great visibility through all windows, no real blind spots, auto mirrors.
accountCircle Abbie K
It is a very comfortable ride.
I like that it has all the features I need and then some. It runs really well, and it is very reliable. The only thing I do not like about it is the fact that it does not have an auxiliary port since it is an older model, so I had to get a cassette adapter.
accountCircle Roosevelt B
It has been extremely dependable.
I like that the vehicle is well built, and so far extremely dependable. Design and technology has appeared to be somewhat timeless. I dislike the high price of replacement items such as the cargo cover and navigation disc.
accountCircle Linda W
It is very dependable. I have no problems at all with it. Just have routine maintenance.
It is very comfortable. It has great back support. It is almost maintenance free.
accountCircle Maureen R
It is well worth the price to drive a luxury SUV.
I love my vehicle and it looks, drives and lots of space

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Teriyonne S
That the transmission type it uses is no longer sold.
I dislike that it is worn down. Considering its age it has a lot of problems.
accountCircle David A
Great mileage. And spacious.
Mileage can be better there is always a engine issue every 3 months. There needs more pace for passengers. To small a truck space.
accountCircle Louis A
Performance and low maintenance are the key.
Great cars should be high performance. In addition, emphasis should be placed on customer service as well as name brand recognition. In addition, my performance is based a great automobile that has very little in terms of maintenance. The reliability is close to 100 percent with proper oil changes.
accountCircle Alexa R
Spacious, strong, & sleek.
This car was handed down to me from my mother, and for 16 years old, being used a regularly as it has, it is still incredibly dependable. It is comfortable, and very spacious-- which was great for my mom as she hauled a bunch of kids around to soccer tournaments for years, and is great for me now as a college student who has to move around semi-regularly. It is an SUV, so the mileage is not very good (15-16 mpg), but it is a fair trade-off for how much it can carry.
accountCircle Crystal S
That it's not a taxi and treat it well my kids are in it
I need more room and it has some get up and go it was given to me. But time for a change
accountCircle Oussama E
The car have extra seats and nice radio system also have a roof window
My car is safe has more room and never have a serious problem with the car
accountCircle Jennifer J
Acura mix's are great SUVs that can fit your whole family.
Getting older, need to buy newer model. Starting to not be as reliable. Some problems with the engine.
accountCircle Michelle D
Love how there is 7 seats and it is spacious and roomy.
It is a good car. But it is pretty vintage when it comes to the navigation system. Screen is black and grey which is a downside compared to other newer models. Not to fond of my car color which is solar green, which looks grey on most days. The grey interior gets worn out pretty easily.

Acura MDX Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
Base
260 HP 20-20 MPG 7 Seats
car
Touring Pkg
260 HP 20-20 MPG 7 Seats
car
Touring Pkg RES
260 HP 20-20 MPG 7 Seats
car
Touring Pkg w/Navigation System
260 HP 20-20 MPG 7 Seats
car
Touring Pkg RES w/Navigation System
260 HP 20-20 MPG 7 Seats
Photos may not match model

2003 Acura MDX Owner Reviews

4.18
55 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 47%
4 stars 31%
3 stars 16%
2 stars 4%
1 star 2%
accountCircle Megan J on March 14, 2021
Reliable and withstanding.
My Acura is a solid, reliable car that has been in my family for years. It was my mother's before mine and it still runs smoothly, nearly 16 years later. The brakes are extremely worn and the interior engine is rough, but it is nothing that a little hands-on maintenance cannot fix, even for inexperienced car owners.
accountCircle Iris G on February 25, 2021
One of its highlights is functionality it is got the option of a third row.
My vehicle has proved to be in excellent condition despite its years. It is over 100k miles and I have had very little repairs needed. Few small issues with hoses, but overall the make and model are of amazing quality. I have also noticed that the body is very well built. I once hit a pole and it literally did no damage to my vehicle aside from a few scratches whilst the pole was bent and damaged.
View All Reviews (55) chevronRightAlternative

Ranks #6 Luxury Midsize SUV by Owners

The 2003 Acura MDX has an average owner rating of 4.18 out of 5 which ranks it #6 of 10 other Luxury Midsize SUVs.

1
car
2003 INFINITI QX4
4.78
2
car
2003 Lexus GX
4.67
6
car
2003 Acura MDX
4.18

Ranks #2 Luxury Midsize SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2003 Acura MDX has a combined MPG of 23 which ranks it #2 of 11 other Luxury Midsize SUVs.

1
car
2003 Volvo XC90
24 MPG
2
car
2003 Acura MDX
23 MPG
3
car
2003 INFINITI FX35
22 MPG

Is The 2003 Acura MDX A Good Car?

I love my Acura! I gave the black on black leather interior. I have owned it 3 years now and for a 2003 it still runs great. It has had some minor issues that my husband was able to fix. This car... Read More
Jared R.
Yes! I bought it used, but still in nice condition. And for the age of car it was nice and study SUV. Love that it has a lot of bells and whistles. Like the choice 3rd seat in back. It’s just a very... Read More
Phyllis R.
Yes, this vehicle is very good especially when maintained properly. I bought this 2003 Acura MDX in February 2019 with about 130k miles on it. The only minor issue I encountered was when the battery... Read More
Rosie L.

How Reliable Is The 2003 Acura MDX?

We bought the car used and what car does not have issues but I would say any issues we have had have been minor and stuff my husband was able to fix at home.
Beverly R.
It’s been pretty reliable yes. Just the usual maintenance!It's had a few problems but just normal car things.
April T.
So far I have found my 2003 Acura MDX to be reliable. I have not had any major problems. After I purchased my vehicle in February 2019 I did routine maintenance.
Mike M.

Is The 2003 Acura MDX A Good Value?

That’s an awesome question I bought it used for $6000.00 but I believe when I looked up people selling the same year it’s going for 2000-4000
Tina B.
I purchased my 2003 Acura MDX for $3,200. I believe It was an amazing deal. After I bought new tires and did a few routine maintenance items my total came to be $3,830 for my newly used purchased... Read More
Nik C.

Related Articles for 2003 Acura MDX

From the Vehicle History blog

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Acura MDX Engine Reliability Review

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2003 Acura MDX knock sensor location?

Answer: The 2003 Acura MDX knock sensor location is under the lower intake manifold. The engine's knock sensor detects preignition and detonation, potentially damaging forms of abnormal combustion. Though full-blown...

What's the 2003 acura mdx engine oil type?

Answer: The 2003 Acura MDX engine oil type iS5w-20. Your oil needs to be changed eventually. Every 5,000 to 10,000 miles is a good rule of thumb. If You don't change it, there will be problems with the engine. Having...

2003 Acura MDX: What is the tire size and pressure, and wheel size?

Answer: The size of the tires on the 2003 Acura MDX is 235/65R17 for both the Base Model and the Touring. The recommended tire pressure for the vehicle iS32 psi for both the front and the rear tires. If the tire...

2003 Acura MDX: What is the oil type and capacity?

Answer: EacH2003 Acura MDX comes with the same 3.5L V6 engine, which useS4.2 quarts without filter (or 4.5 quarts with filter) of SAE 5W-20 full synthetic motor oil. Alternatively, Acura recommends the use of SAE 0W-20...

Does the 2003 Acura MDX have aux input?

Answer: The 2003 Acura MDX does not have an aux input or a USB port. That said You can find aftermarket parts that will allow You to install one. They are normally about 100 to 150 dollars on average and replace or...
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Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Not Rated

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety