engine stumbles at low speed - 2013 MDX

[jajaxxon]

My 2013 MDX tends to stumble - hesitate after letting off gas and then accelerating. RPMs seem to drop significantly when this happens, probably causing the stumbling feel as it spins up

Taking it in next week - anyone having any similar situation??

[boston]

When you lift off, it stays in a high gear or changes up. When you ask for acceleration it changes down giving you a sensation of hesitation


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[AC_MDX]

When you say accelerating, are you accelerating hard? There is a switch down on the left side of the steering wheel where you can turn off the X electronic stability control system. With it off, the stability control system will not cut off engine torque to the engine when you accelerate hard. The X sensors can feel the wheels slipping before you can, so it cuts the engine torque to keep the vehicle stable.

Try it with that off and see how it feels. You just push the button for a couple of seconds and it will beep and show an orange icon on the dashboard telling you that the option is off. It's good that you are taking it to the dealer, too, just to make sure it does not need any other small adjustments.

AC

Originally Posted by jajaxxon

My 2013 MDX tends to stumble - hesitate after letting off gas and then accelerating. RPMs seem to drop significantly when this happens, probably causing the stumbling feel as it spins up

Taking it in next week - anyone having any similar situation??

[rabit]

not a good idea to push hard on gas on a new vehicle, even thought they say there is no break-in period it is still a good practice to let the vehicle work in lower rpm's (I'd say no more than 3-4k rpm) for the first 1000 or so km's.

[dzionassi]

Originally Posted by rabit

not a good idea to push hard on gas on a new vehicle, even thought they say there is no break-in period it is still a good practice to let the vehicle work in lower rpm's (I'd say no more than 3-4k rpm) for the first 1000 or so km's.

yes there is break in period. It is 600 miles according manual. I am at 1000 miles right now and will try to stay under 3000k rpms for another thousand. I dont think that 600 miles is enough for the engine tranny...

[skinny2]

I think you're feeling the transmission as well. I've posted a few times about how this thing loves to stay in the tallest gear and it doesn't come straight down into a lower gear quickly. S mode is far better though so you might try the same thing there and see what happens. For a vehicle with relatively decent power...you have to really work to get it. The car feels very comfortable if you like to drive passively...my wife loves it for the most part, but has complained about it lugging going up a couple steep hills we have around town.

[tolson37]

Originally Posted by jajaxxon

My 2013 MDX tends to stumble - hesitate after letting off gas and then accelerating. RPMs seem to drop significantly when this happens, probably causing the stumbling feel as it spins up

Taking it in next week - anyone having any similar situation??

Make sure you have the transmission software update. I have a 2012 and it cured the so called lugging. For some reason even new ones don't have this update. That was my experience.


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[Tsturbo]

Stumbling or slight hesitation? We had been using Costco premium fuel, and noticed a slight hesitation, switched to Shell from a quality station, hesitation gone. You might try switching gas brand and station.

Also, got consistently less mpg on Costco fuel. I "want" to love Costco fuel because of the price, but reduced mpg and the slight hesitation has me going elsewhere.

[tolson37]

Another option is to really push the x more aggressively. Take it somewhere where you can do this safely. It learns fast. It will learn and down / up shift earlier / later.


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[desmonsm]

Originally Posted by tolson37

Make sure you have the transmission software update. I have a 2012 and it cured the so called lugging. For some reason even new ones don't have this update. That was my experience.


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Is there a TSB or something similar for this transmission software update? My '12 was built in June and I'd like to make sure it has this.

[tolson37]

Originally Posted by desmonsm

Is there a TSB or something similar for this transmission software update? My '12 was built in June and I'd like to make sure it has this.

I don't know if there is a website to look this up. I would contact your Acura dealership and ask.


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[jajaxxon]

taking it in tomorrow

Thought it might be a transmission issue

More to come

[jajaxxon]

Just returned from dealer
All shift pooints and engine check out
No TSBs for 2013 model
Test drive reveals no issues
Sooo, guess I just need to get used to low speed acceleration lag
Thanks for all responses