The 2004 Acura MDX has 6 recalls, all centered on the airbag system, with the most serious risk being that the driver or passenger frontal airbag inflators can explode and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin, potentially causing serious injury or death.
All six recalls involve the airbag system, and they fall into two related problems. The larger issue covers both the driver and passenger side frontal airbag inflators, which can rupture violently during deployment rather than inflating normally. Instead of cushioning occupants in a crash, these inflators can burst and scatter metal shards throughout the cabin, reaching the driver, front passenger, or anyone seated nearby. Prior repair attempts addressed this problem in phases across different groups of affected vehicles, but additional filings have continued to identify vehicles where the inflator risk was not yet resolved. There is also a separate airbag concern where electrical noise inside the airbag control module can trigger unintended deployment of the front airbags, side curtain airbags, and seatbelt pretensioners while the vehicle is in motion, raising the risk of a crash even without any collision occurring.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front airbag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front airbag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The driver frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Driver air bag inflators installed during previous recalls or as service parts may explode during a crash when the air bag deploys due to a manufacturing defect.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflator with a different inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver air bag inflator may rupture due to moisture and manufacturing variations that develop over time.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Electrical noise can damage a component in the air bag control module, causing front air bags, side curtain air bags, and seatbelt pretensioners to deploy unexpectedly while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a noise suppressor unit to prevent electrical interference in the air bag system.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
