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EnginePart report

2017 Acura MDX Engine Problems

Complaints
79about this part
Share
30%of 260 total for the year
Median mileage
63,500miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 79 complaints about the engine of the 2017 Acura MDX, 30% of the 260 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 63,500 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“We own a 2017 Acura MDX, my wife was driving the SUV attempting to park when the vehicle briefly accelerated. I was driving the SUV at low speed when it briefly accelerated, I was kind of stunned, and asked did you feel that, she said yes, and then stated I guess I wasn't imaging it when it happened to me, these were separate issues at different times and dates. …”

NHTSA complaint #11000462, filed 2017-06, 7,500 miles

“2017 Acura Mdx. Earlier this year I suspected something was wrong with the car so we took it to Acura in weir canyon to get it checked out. They figured it was the throttle body so they replaced it and then about 2 weeks later the engine had a catastrophic failure. I was driving the car coming out of the freeway and right before I turned right the engine made a huge noise. We tried asking Acura for goodwill assistance but they did not offer anything at all because I bought the car used. I always took the car for its maintenance while the time I've had it. …”

NHTSA complaint #11696229, filed 2025-10, 67,996 miles

“I have been complaining for two years that my car intermittently hesitates when accelerating. I have pulled out into traffic and my car has hesitated long enough that I've almost got slammed in the back by another car. The car feels like it is about to stall. I will press the gas pedal down to the floor and finally the car starts moving again. Brought the car in on several occasions to Acura and since they could not reproduce the hesitation, they decided there was nothing wrong with the car. Another issue I've had is with my brakes. …”

NHTSA complaint #11205308, filed 2019-05, 7,946 miles

“Yesterday while stopped a light, the MDX refused to move once I took my foot off the break. The engine became very loud and 'emissions system problem' and 'brake parking problem' appeared on the dashboard. The trunk opened but wdnt close automatically. I had to have the vehicle towed to the dealer. The vehicle had issues staying in neutral and would immediately revert back to park. The towing company had me continuously hold it in neutral in order to get it on the flat bed. It took 45 mins to finally get the vehicle on the bed. …”

NHTSA complaint #11128347, filed 2018-09, 22,000 miles

“We have experienced many issues with our 2017 MDX sh-awd. On a cold start when shifting from first to second gear there is a sudden lurch hard shift. Once warm this is still present but not as pronounced. The transmission seems to slip through gears and have sudden downshifts that decelerate the car or the vehicle will lurch forward without having your foot on the gas as it shifts itself into a different gear. When trying to 'punch it' and accelerate quickly it will often hesitate to go into the correct gear then suddenly rev high as it speeds up. …”

NHTSA complaint #11100193, filed 2018-06, 5,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2026222%
20256962%
2024615%
202312%
202296%
20208638%
20194825%
20183521%
20177930%
201616343%
2015710%
20142615%
2013930%
20122330%
20112840%
20101124%
2009815%
200836%
20071111%
2006910%
200574%
2004138%
2003105%
200252%
200131%

Other parts of the 2017 Acura MDX

Transmission and drivetrain
64 complaints
Electrical system
46 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
38 complaints
Other or unknown
30 complaints
Brakes
23 complaints
Lane departure
21 complaints
Vehicle speed control
21 complaints
Fuel system
19 complaints
Engine cooling
18 complaints
Body and structure
10 complaints
Exterior lighting
7 complaints
Wheels
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2017 Acura MDX

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology