2017 Acura MDX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
387 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2017 Acura MDX, alongside 8 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 75/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 86,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2017 Acura MDX sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2008–2010, 2013.
Avoid
Where 2017 sits among all MDX years
What owners report
“Engine frozen up while driving on 231 towed to Acura Montgomery Al. They installed a used engine to the tune of 8700.00”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 MDX
“There are warning lights for all safety modules, The LKAS, Headlight warning system accident prevention system, collision avoidance system etc..”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 MDX
“Transmission goes into neutral on its own. Loses power. Delay in acceleration. Jerky gear shifting.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 MDX
“I was driving on the road and an electronic parking error light came up, along with emissions error. I pulled over to the side and I could not start the vehicle and the gears won’t shift”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 MDX
“Vehicle anti collision activated on straight city street at approx 35 mph when other vehicle had made right turn and was no longer in collision path. Brakes automatically applied to dead stop, causing following vehicle to take evasive action.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 MDX
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 133 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 35,649 miles. Half of those reports fall between 12,000 and 76,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (8)
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,…
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. Interim letters notifying…
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,…
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for…
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,…
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. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2025.…
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…
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall…
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…
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024.…
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.
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. The repairs will be performed…
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…
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. The recall began March 25, 2019.…
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…
Fix: Owners will be notified, and Honda or Acura dealers will bleed the brakes, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's…
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: ENGINE
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 414 reports of connecting rod bearing failures in the 3.5L V6 engine used in the following vehicles: Model Years (MY) 2018-2020 Acura TLX, MY2016-2020 Acura MDX, MY2016-2020 Honda Pilot, MY2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, and MY2017-2019 Honda…
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:CRANK/CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its…
Model years named: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Technical service bulletins
229 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2017 Acura MDX. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2017 Acura MDX reliable?
The 2017 Acura MDX drew 387 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 75/100, scored against the model's worst year (2016).
What are the most common 2017 Acura MDX problems?
The top reported problems for the 2017 Acura MDX are engine (95 complaints), driver assistance (64), and transmission & drivetrain (63).
At what mileage do 2017 Acura MDX problems show up?
Owners most often report 2017 Acura MDX problems around 35,649 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 12,000 and 76,000 miles.
Does the 2017 Acura MDX have recalls?
8 recall campaigns apply to the 2017 Acura MDX. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.