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Broken Sway bar

31855 Views 144 Replies 38 Participants Last post by  phild_mason
Hi.

I just want to know if anyone has the same problem as me :
I have broken sway bar in the rear driver's side and the dealer I went to told me that the part is in back-order and they don't know when they will get.
Anyone knows if it is dangerous or harmful to the car by keeping driving with a broken sway bar ? The service guy told me it is ok beause the sway bar just keep the car from leaning in a turn. But every time I make a right turn where there is a curb I heard a "scrubbing kind of noise" but no noise when there is no curb.

The other is weeping mirror. Does anyone have probem (wind noise) after fixing it ? I want to get it done but afraid of the probem afterward.
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Our 02 just broke the rear sway bar link [driver side]. Our X has a little over 7,000 miles. Sounds like this is a COMMON PROBLEM ....
Broken sway bar link

Our '01 just broke as well. 56 are on back order at Acura so this is not a rare problem. At least our dealer is giving us a new TL to drive.....JH:D
NTENNA,

Our dealer acknowledged that the sway bar link was a "known problem" and had them in stock! Your post adds a little bit more info:

** The size of the backlog and the fact that one exists indicates that this is a "significant problem".

** Our vehicle is an 02 but yours is an 01. Thus, this indicates to me that the part is simply weak and likely to break in time.

Now, I wonder about the following:

** I did ask the dealer if they replaced both [since left and right are known to break] or only the broken one. Acura only lets them replace the broken one. Soooo, another failure can be expected.

** There is no indication that Acura has "fixed the problem". They simply might be replacing the broken ones with ones that will break in the future!!

Tim ... If you see this, do you know if the part problem was "corrected"?????
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srpbep said:
NTENNA,

Our dealer acknowledged that the sway bar link was a "known problem" and had them in stock! Your post adds a little bit more info:

** The size of the backlog and the fact that one exists indicates that this is a "significant problem".

** Our vehicle is an 02 but yours is an 01. Thus, this indicates to me that the part is simply weak and likely to break in time.

Now, I wonder about the following:

** I did ask the dealer if they replaced both [since left and right are known to break] or only the broken one. Acura only lets them replace the broken one. Soooo, another failure can be expected.

** There is no indication that Acura has "fixed the problem". They simply might be replacing the broken ones with ones that will break in the future!!

Tim ... If you see this, do you know if the part problem was "corrected"?????
This was discussed before, and it was suggested it could have been a bad lot rather than a design problem even they look rather fragile. I wouldn't try breaking one over my knee...:eek:
What does the Sway bar look like? What are the symptoms of a broken sway bar?
MARFONG,

It is not the sway bar that is breaking, rather it is the "sway bar link". This is a little rod that extends from the sway bar down to the rear suspension, 1 sway bar link on each side of the car.
DaleB wrote:
This was discussed before, and it was suggested it could have been a bad lot rather than a design problem even they look rather fragile. I wouldn't try breaking one over my knee...
DaleB,

I hear what you are saying and I have some issues:

=================
Issue-1: Let's assume that it is a "bad batch" of links. The dealer has confirmed that "both sides break" [it does not only happen on one side of the X]. Thus the bad batch would appear to involve both sides. YET, when one breaks, Acura is only replacing the one that breaks. Thus, one can assume that the other will break also at some other point in time. Is Acura only replacing the one that breaks with the hope that the other will break after warranty has expired and thus the repair will be paid for by the customer rather that Acura? If it is a bad batch, why not simply replace both defective parts and get it over with. Or is this simply too logical and simple?

=================

Issue-2: Maybe it is more than a bad batch. The problem seems to occur on both 01s and 02s. This would imply that the problem has spanned some length of time indicating to me that the problem is much more than "ONE BAD BATCH". Why are you assuming that this is a "one time problem" vs. an ongoing problem? Why do you assume that the problem is "fixed"?

=================

I think that a survey might be interesting to see what is going on here. The things that I would be interested in here are:

** MDX Model Year.
** MDX Manufacture Date.
** Mileage at time of failure.
** Which side failed.

Don't you think that the answer to the above would help us qualify and quantify the problem?
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An accident waiting to happen

Don't get me started on the potential loss of stability, and therefore control, a broken link has on a car, let alone more top-heavy SUV!

But what I really want to know is, can any of you who've experienced this problem trace it back to something that caused the break? Like running over the dog or cornering too fast into the driveway. Did it break driving on unpaved or bumpy roads, perhaps?

Was a noise associated with its breakage or did you know by the difference in handling?
:8:
Re: An accident waiting to happen

Lugnut said:
Don't get me started on the potential loss of stability, and therefore control, a broken link has on a car, let alone more top-heavy SUV!

But what I really want to know is, can any of you who've experienced this problem trace it back to something that caused the break? Like running over the dog or cornering too fast into the driveway. Did it break driving on unpaved or bumpy roads, perhaps?

Was a noise associated with its breakage or did you know by the difference in handling?
:8:
Strange people don't think driving on a mini-spare as a bigger stability issue. And that could happen anywhere too, in a remote location, in adverse weather, etc,. etc..
Hi DaleB:

___The real difference with driving on a mini-donut spare is that you know you're driving on a mini-donut spare. You wouldn’t necessarily know your driving with a broken sway bar link nor would you be able to simply replace it at the tens of thousands of tire replacement shops around the country from my reads of this thread …

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___[email protected]
srpbep said:

DaleB,

I hear what you are saying and I have some issues:

=================
Issue-1: Let's assume that it is a "bad batch" of links. The dealer has confirmed that "both sides break" [it does not only happen on one side of the X]. Thus the bad batch would appear to involve both sides. YET, when one breaks, Acura is only replacing the one that breaks. Thus, one can assume that the other will break also at some other point in time. Is Acura only replacing the one that breaks with the hope that the other will break after warranty has expired and thus the repair will be paid for by the customer rather that Acura? If it is a bad batch, why not simply replace both defective parts and get it over with. Or is this simply too logical and simple?

=================

Issue-2: Maybe it is more than a bad batch. The problem seems to occur on both 01s and 02s. This would imply that the problem has spanned some length of time indicating to me that the problem is much more than "ONE BAD BATCH". Why are you assuming that this is a "one time problem" vs. an ongoing problem? Why do you assume that the problem is "fixed"?

=================

I think that a survey might be interesting to see what is going on here. The things that I would be interested in here are:

** MDX Model Year.
** MDX Manufacture Date.
** Mileage at time of failure.
** Which side failed.

Don't you think that the answer to the above would help us qualify and quantify the problem?
No. 1 .. It seems if it was not a lot problem but required a re-design, that would be a better reason to replace both sides.
It could still be a batch problem, and that could be related to a hardening process, or whatever. And only 10% were affected. Now what do they do?
Hopefully, all the bad one's are weeded out, and if they are, then bad ones already installed in vehicles will be replaced as they fail.
I am assessing what MAY be happening, not defending it.

No. 2....I never said the problem was fixed. It could be a one time problem, and implementation is not complete, but it's possible all bad ones have been removed from bins, as I suggested previously.
I am only offering suggestions, none of us really know, obviously.
xcel said:
Hi DaleB:

___The real difference with driving on a mini-donut spare is that you know your driving on a mini-donut spare. You wouldn’t necessarily know your driving with a broken sway bar link nor would you be able to simply replace it at the tens of thousands of tire replacement shops around the country from my reads of this thread …

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___[email protected]
I understand that from a real-world perspective, and what will likely happen.
I was looking at the degree of instability and I would think the donut tire represents the worse end of the scale, but don't know that for sure.
I think either situation is unacceptable especially for an SUV.
Just to add to the total, just saw that my rear passenger sway bar endlink is also broken. :(

Guess it's time to bring it back to the dealer! for the 3rd time.
pmspwrdmdx,

A couple of questions:

** What year MDX do you drive?

** What was manufacture date?

** Which side of vehicle had broken link?


PS -- You might want to put some vehicle info into your signature line -- sorta helps
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srpbep said:
pmspwrdmdx,

A couple of questions:

** What year MDX do you drive?

** What was manufacture date?

** Which side of vehicle had broken link?


PS -- You might want to put some vehicle info into your signature line -- sorta helps
I doubt the side makes much difference since they have the same part numbers.
Yes, it is possible one side is stressed more, but unlikely looking at the service manual.
Statistically, a few all on the same side would be insignificant.
DaleB,

Thanks for the info on the part number. The parts "looked the same", but ya never know.

Regarding stress on one side vs. the other, I would agree that probably the same (I can't see a reason for more stress on L vs R, but then again I'm not a mechanical engineer).

The dealer that services are X has acknowledged the problem and has indicated that the problem appears without "discrimination" (e.g. left and right seem to fail equally).

What keeps troubling me is that I have a sneaking suspicion that this is not merely a "bad batch of parts". I suspect that the weld (this is where it breaks) varies slightly and some parts fail before others. Thus, I fear that the parts are all doomed and it is merely a question of when (e.g. time, miles, stress from driving, etc.).
I have 2002 SS with Touring..

Both of mine has broken.. and got new ones put in free.. but was pain in the :bootyshak
that I had to wait for them..

I wish it counts as a lemon.. and so they can get me a 2003.. heh.

Same question as other's have talk about..

Why put in the same one that didn't work so we'll have to pay for it when the warrenty runs out?

Devil's in the deatils.. :mad:
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srpbep said:
Thus, I fear that the parts are all doomed and it is merely a question of when (e.g. time, miles, stress from driving, etc.).
I thought there were actually a higher number of 2002s with the problem, at least as reported on the forum.
DaleB:

Does anyone know when the problem started?

Does anyone know how many have been replaced?

Does anyone know if a replaced link has broken?

Hmmmmm
I am sure if a replacement link broke someone would have reported on here if it happened to them.
Although the topic comes up now and then, I think the number of people on this forum reporting any broken links has not been more than 5 or 6.
On one of the threads I reported hearing a very loud bang at the rear of my X after making a turn.
I thought for sure something either hit the underpan or the right rear fender.
No evidence of either when I looked, and no broken links.
I also remember many years ago hearing such a noise on a newer car could mean a rear coil spring reseated itself, if it was slightly off center in it's mounting.
At least a friend of mine was told that by his mechanic. Whatever,,,,I digress.
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