UsedScore

2017 Acura MDX: Use caution

Owners filed 77 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Acura MDX in its first five years on the road, about 140 for every 100,000 sold: 1.9× the rate of a typical MDX year. That's above average, so use caution.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (38% of complaints, median 17,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.9×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical MDX year
Rank
10th of 13
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
77
first five years; 140 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
9
campaigns
3rd generation, 2014–2020 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2017–2020 Acura MDX (facelift)

Photo: 2017–2020 Acura MDX (facelift) · Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Powertrain38% · 29 complaints · median 17,000 miles
  2. Electrical27% · 21 complaints · median 31,000 miles
  3. Brakes16% · 12 complaints · median 12,000 miles
  4. Engine19% · 15 complaints · median 12,000 miles
  5. Speed control14% · 11 complaints · median 16,000 miles
  6. Fuel and propulsion9% · 7 complaints · median 16,000 miles
  7. Body and structure6% · 5 complaints
  8. Driver assistance6% · 5 complaints
  9. Wheels and tires4% · 3 complaints
  10. Air bags1% · 1 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Brakes

Owners describe unexpected brake-related warning lights, sudden automatic braking, or brief brake failure in their 2017 MDX, sometimes accompanied by stalling or gear problems. Dealers frequently couldn't reproduce the issue, leaving some owners uncertain whether repairs solved it.

Warning signs:
Owners report dashboard warnings for the parking brake, emissions, and stability or collision systems, along with stalling, vibration when braking, or the car losing power before the event.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate or diagnose the issue, though some replaced brake calipers, the transmission, or a fuel pump, and a few owners mention recalls that did not apply to their VIN.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 35,000 miles, among 11 complaints that give it

“When applying brakes, irrespective of speed at which I am traveling, I experience a distinct vibration/judder in the front brakes”

“my vehicle brake stopped working after being stopped on a road at a traffic light behind a semi truck”

Electrical

Owners describe electrical warning lights appearing across several systems at once, often paired with sudden loss of power, unexpected shifts to neutral, or difficulty shifting into park or drive. Many say dealers struggled to duplicate or permanently fix the problem despite repeated visits, software updates, or part replacements.

Warning signs:
Many report dash warnings (electric parking brake, transmission, emissions, blind spot) flashing together, sudden braking or deceleration, and the gear shifter failing to move into park or drive.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate or find the issue, sometimes performed software updates, replaced batteries, starters, shifter assemblies, or transmissions, and some owners say symptoms returned.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 45,000 miles, among 21 complaints that give it

“The zf 9-speed transmission dropped into neutral without warning, causing the vehicle to lose all ability to move forward.”

“The car shifted itself into neutral while running between 65-70 mph on the interstate.”

Powertrain

Owners of this model describe transmission hesitation, jerking, and sudden drops into neutral, sometimes with a temporary loss of power at speed. Some also report engine failures requiring replacement, and dealers have varied in whether they could fix or even replicate the issue.

Warning signs:
Many report warning lights for the transmission, parking brake, or emission systems, along with hesitation, lurching, jerking, knocking noises, or a sudden loss of power before the failure.
What shops did:
Dealers often performed software updates, reset codes, or replaced transmission components; some replaced the transmission or engine outright, while others could not duplicate or diagnose the problem.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 60,000 miles, among 32 complaints that give it

“The zf 9-speed transmission dropped into neutral without warning, causing the vehicle to lose all ability to move forward”

“at highway speeds, the transmission unexpectedly shifts to neutral with no warning”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (9)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 26V365000June 2026880,514 vehicles

    Suspension: rear · Structure: frame and members

    American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.

    Risk: Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 26V332000May 202698,892 vehicles

    Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 25V259000April 2025152,800 vehicles

    Interior lighting · Exterior lighting

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid light assembly and wiring harness, which can cause the interior and exterior lights to fail, including the lid lights, position lights, license plate lights and taillights.

    Risk: Vehicle lights that fail to illuminate can decrease visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect the wiring and install a fuse harness, replace the lid light, and repair the body dust sealer, as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 23V858000December 20232,490,460 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 23V751000November 2023248,999 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.

    Risk: A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 19V256000March 2019322,897 vehicles

    Exterior lighting · Exterior lighting: tail lights

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Acura MDX and 2017-2019 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid lights, possibly causing a loss of the tailgate lid lights and the taillights.

    Risk: Loss of the taillights reduces the vehicle's visibility, increasing the risk of crash.

    Fix: Acura will notify owners, and dealers will modify the tailgate lid lights and install updated gaskets and a wiring sub-harness or will replace both tailgate lid lights.

  • NHTSA 19V060000January 2019437,032 vehicles

    Fuel system, other: delivery: fuel pump

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Acura MDX, 2015-2019 Acura TLX and 2015-2017 Honda Accord vehicles, equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine. Particulates in fuel may adhere to the internal components of the fuel pump, reducing its performance.

    Risk: Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the fuel injection engine control unit (FI-ECU) software and, if necessary, replace the fuel pump, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V777000November 201864,785 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Acura MDX, 2017-2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda HR-V and Honda Odyssey, and 2016 Honda HR-V vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating, causing gas pockets to form, reducing brake performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

    Risk: A reduction of braking performance increases the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Owners will be notified, and Honda or Acura dealers will bleed the brakes, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 17V424000June 2017193 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles have an engine fuel feed hose and a fuel purge hose that may have been misrouted during vehicle assembly.

    Risk: The misrouting can cause the hoses to be damaged from contact with other components, potentially resulting in a fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of a fire.

    Fix: Acura will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the routing of the fuel feed hose and the fuel purge hose.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Acura sent NHTSA 245 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2017 MDX. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • ONL6T603102023 · March 2023 · Warranty extensionWarranty Extension reimbursement form for engine idle stop repairs made before the warranty extension notice date.
  • ONL6T603102023-3 · March 2023 · Warranty extensionUnder certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart.
  • B23-002 · March 2023Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque.
  • B23-001 · January 2023Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart.
  • BBOM01062023 · January 2023Dealer Message - During development, the idle stop enable criteria was mis-set allowing idle stop to improperly engage while battery health is low.
  • ONLJ8F20220830 · August 2022Owner notification - Our records indicate that a Emissions Recall has not been completed on this vehicle.
  • BTI&03282022903 · March 2022Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
  • BTI&02222022902 · February 2022Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

All 2017 MDX bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2017 Acura MDX reliable?
Owners filed 77 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Acura MDX in its first five years on the road, about 140 for every 100,000 sold: 1.9× the rate of a typical MDX year. That's above average, so use caution. Ratings compare MDX years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2017 MDX problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (38%), the electrical system (27%) and the brakes (16%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2017 Acura MDX been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2017 Acura MDX, the most recent in June 2026 (suspension). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Acura. The 2017 Acura MDX on NHTSA.gov · How we rate