2017 Acura MDX Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2017 Acura MDX. Part of Generation 3 — 2014–2020.

20162018
Complaints
347
per 10K Sold
63.2
US Sales
54,886
Crashes
12
Fires
5
Injuries
10
Fatalities
Recalls
6

Worst 2017 Acura MDX Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#170 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:53,940 mi
Fires:1
#262 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:40,831 mi
#337 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:31,165 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2017 Acura MDX.

Engine Problems
70
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
53,940
Transmission / Drivetrain
62
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
40,831
Electrical Faults
37
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
31,165
Brakes
20
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
25,210
Unintended Acceleration
19
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
33,926
Engine & Cooling
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
101,350
Fuel System
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
32,250
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
52,687
Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
3,100
Lane Departure: Warning
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Assist
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
10,747
Headlight/Taillight Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Airbags
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Warnings
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Parking-Brake Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Adas
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2017 Acura MDX. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2017 Acura MDX

6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~3,716,973 vehicles.

25V259000Interior Lighting · Exterior Lighting
~152,800 affected

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.

23V858000Fuel Pump
~2,490,460 affected

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.

23V751000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:hard Parts Internal/mechanical
~248,999 affected

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.

19V256000Exterior Lighting · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
~322,897 affected

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.

19V060000Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump
~437,032 affected

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.

18V777000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper
~64,785 affected

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."

Other Acura MDX Years

2017 Acura MDX — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2017 Acura MDX reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2017 Acura MDX has 347 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash-related, and 6 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 70 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2017 Acura MDX?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (70 complaints, avg 53,940 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (62 complaints, avg 40,831 mi); Electrical Faults (37 complaints, avg 31,165 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2017 Acura MDX?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 43,623 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2017 Acura MDX?
NHTSA complaints for the 2017 Acura MDX include 12 crash-related reports, 5 fire reports, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2017 Acura MDX have any recalls?
Yes — 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,716,973 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2017 Acura MDX?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (engine problems) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Acura MDX reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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