THUD ANSWER from ACURA CLIENT SERVICES

Reproducing the THUD...

I was a victim of the THUD. My MDX was delivered on 12/15/2000, so that may rule out that only some batches were affected, considering rvehock's was picked up on 12/13/2000 and no THUD's been heard yet. I had my left (driver's side) front lower control arms and bushing taken apart, relubed and put back together/retorqued to factory specs. THUD went away. It took an entire week for them to find a cure.

The first day I brought it in, a service rep came with me for a quick ride to try and reproduce the sound. I barely was able to reproduce the THUD. (At first I thought I could only make it happen when accelerating from a complete stop while steering right.) He said he thought he heard it. A couple days later when they thought they might have fixed it, they asked me to drive it again to see if it was fixed, this time I had the Service Rep, and a head Mechanic in the MDX. This time I reproduced it everytime! The first time it was from a complete stop while proceeding to make a right turn and slamming on the accelerator. On the suggestion of the tech, I slammed on the brakes after gaining some speed...THUD! He then asked me to just hit the accelerator while going straight... THUD! Drove a little, slammed on the brakes... THUD! THUD, THUD, THUD, they said "damn... wow". They were surprised. It was incredible, and I was actually quite relieved that I was able to reproduce it like 5 or 6 times in succession, they probably thought I was dreaming this up. The mechanic figured something was shifting, well, apparently it was the bushing and control arms.

In addition, was I not only able to hear the loud THUDs, but I could also feel it in the deadpedal, it felt like a mallet was knocking hard up against the bottom of the floorpanel where your left foot is supposed to rest (I still don't like the placement of the deadpedal, too close, but that's another thread).

Anyways, I suggest that people attempt to duplicate your THUDS, and when you bring it into the dealer, you (hopefully) can reproduce it for them, and show them they're the crazy ones for not believing us.

Actually, I've had good experiences with my service department in San Diego, any problems or concerns and maintenance I've had so far have been handled... AND just yesterday my Service Rep told me that a cure for the weeping/dripping mirrors is in the works!, but that too is another thread. I have over 9,000 miles on my MDX and over 6,000 miles since the THUD!

Good Luck to anyone dealing with the THUD.

Ok; I started this thread, so I figured I should give a status report. First of all, can a moderator or someone please try to combine this thread with the main thread/folder on "THE THUD" to avoid confusion? Sorry to have posted another thread, I was new to this back then.

ANYWAY; I got back in touch with Acura Client Services. It turns out that they are not sending new struts for my MDX. Struts are NOT the problem unless they are leaking (Like on any car, if they leak, they are a problem and will eventually make noise).

The Manager I spoke with admits that the SPRING BUFFERS, (Which are heater hose like rubber things, designed to stop the coils of the springs from bumping in to each other on compression) are not doing it because that's not the problem. They have outlined some procedures for the dealers to check for and areas of the front end to be tightened in each instance. That is not working on all vehicles because their is a possibility that what we are all referring to as the THUD, might be a a bunch of different problems / noises, not one common one. Maybe Not though.

Client Services contacted my Service Manager who then contacted me to bring the car in for another test drive. My Service Manager at the dealership was GREAT today. He spent 2 hours with me driving the car over Bumps near my house which was 15 - 20 minutes away from the dealer, (because I had "known" bumps/dips that i could reproduce the noise on). FINALLY, I was able to reproduce it so someone else could here it. At least he knows I'm not crazy now. He narrowed it down in some respects. (Just a side note, I have the noise in BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT). The reason the noise is inconsistent is that it makes a difeerence if the suspension is LOADED at the time of impact to the dip in road, meaning if the weight is ALREADY shifted to the given side of the car or not BEFORE the car goes into the Dip. He took lots of notes and personally crawled through the wheel wells to see if any thing was making rub marks which they were not. He has some theories (that make a lot of sense but this post is way too long already so I'll spare all of you the details for now) but will call his GURUS at TECH-LINE to discuss and then bring my car in.

He also checked the Part number database for front end parts to see if any one part had different or multiple numbers listed, meaning that they changed the vendor or some aspect of the part in the middle of production. NONE were found.

I was told a field engineer will come out to my dealer if needed. I'll give it another month or so............Then I'll tell them I'm pursuing the LEMON LAW (I know it's tough) and tell them to give me a new car.

My Dad got an MDX after I did. NO THUD. My cousin got one way BEFORE I did, No thud. There goes the theory of a certain batch of VINS having the problem, unless they admit o changing an installation process on the assembly line. That's being checked as well.

I'll let you all know if you care when I know.

ACURA IS ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS ON THE THUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BACK TO SQUARE 1, as they say! I just had my service manager personally perform the repair that ucdtriton, had performed. He even contacted the service manager and head tech at that dealer in San Diego to get step by step details on what to F--- with in the front end. IT DOESN'T WORK, IT EVEN GOT A LITTLE WORSE. "TECH-LINE", still has no answer, "THEY ARE WORKING ON IT."

Meanwhile, I don't know how many of you bought your MDXs for Cash, but I'll bet most of you, like me are making some pretty hefty monthly payments. In general, I can't complain, this is an awesome vehicle, but this THUD problem is ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. I HOPE SOME PEOPLE FROM ACURA ARE READING THESE POSTS.

I'm putting a call through to the Manager I have been in touch with at ACURA CLIENT SERVICES - PETE ANDERSON.
I will be informing him that I am losing my patience to be writing out huge checks each month to drive a $40,000.00 vehicle that makes noise over bumps, with NO CORRECTIVE ACTION WHATSOEVER IN SIGHT.

LEXUS, BMW AND MERCEDES BENZ SUVS don't do this;

I'm giving them 60 more days. At that point, I will have owned this vehicle for 6 months and will not accept the "WE'RE WORKING ON IT" Answer any longer. I want the car replaced!!!! I want the car replaced!!!! I want the car replaced!!!! I want the car replaced!!!! I want the car replaced!!!!

I suggest to all who have this same problem to start calling ACURA CLIENT SERVICES AND COMPLAIN....CONSTANTLY. If we don't, they will not move their butts.

Everyone seems to be a little more concerned with the WEEPING MIRROR ISSUE. Come on guys, let's get HARD-NOSED on this Front End issue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If they get tired of the calls, they'll put a higher priority on it.

I'll report back after my next contact with Pete Anderson @ ACS.