2003 Acura MDX vs 2003 Honda Pilot
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Acura MDX | 2003 Honda Pilot |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 206 | 720 |
| Recall campaigns | 11 | 13 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 189 | 307 |
| Investigations | 5 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 11 | 38 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 11 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 17 | 17 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 109,773 mi | 120,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Acura MDX | Honda Pilot |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 104 | 224 |
| Air Bags | 42 | 115 |
| Electrical System | 18 | 129 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 16 | 37 |
| Structure | 3 | 47 |
| Seats | 1 | 40 |
| Engine | 10 | 25 |
| Steering | 3 | 32 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 16 | 51 |
| Shifting problems | 9 | 18 |
| Airbag warning light | 9 | 8 |
| Check engine light | 7 | 27 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 24 |
| Stalling | 5 | 40 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 24 |
2003 Acura MDX
2003 Honda Pilot
Compare all Acura MDX vs Honda Pilot years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.