Problems · NHTSA complaints
2017 Acura MDX problems
Owners filed 260 complaints about the 2017 Acura MDX with NHTSA between Sep 2016 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is engine (79).
Complaints
260
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine79
- Power train64
- Electrical system46
- Forward collision avoidance38
- Service brakes21
- Lane departure21
- Vehicle speed control21
- Fuel/propulsion system18
- Engine and engine cooling18
- Structure10
- Exterior lighting7
- Wheels4
- Seat belts3
- Back over prevention3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
9
18
20
11
16
19
21
36
59
50
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2019 | 20 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 19 |
| 2023 | 21 |
| 2024 | 36 |
| 2025 | 59 |
| 2026 | 50 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine
79 reports1 crash2 fires
“As I was driving in a stop and go traffic jam, the vehicle would not go forward although I was pressing on the gas pedal, the engine stall and when it finally reacted after pressing it for the second time it went too fast that I couldn’t stop in time to avoid rear ending the other vehicle, the emergency braking system did not function properly either. This has happened multiple times even when I driven on highways and there’s incoming traffic and the engine goes on stall. But this time it led to an unavoidable accident. I have been concerned for a long time about this issue but I have never received a recall to remedy this problem.”
Power train
64 reports
“On my 2017 Acura MDX SH-AWD with approximately 112,000 miles, the engine experienced a sudden catastrophic failure while I was traveling at highway speed. The vehicle abruptly lost power, the accelerator became unresponsive, smoke came from the vehicle hood and exhaust area, and multiple warning lights illuminated. The failure occurred with no advance warning and created a serious safety risk because I suddenly lost propulsion while traveling approximately 75 mph in highway traffic. An independent repair facility inspected the vehicle and reported that connecting rod/bearing failure resulted in catastrophic engine damage. I was advised that two connecting rods/bearings failed and caused holes in the engine block, with a rod/component also damaging the A/C compressor. Oil subsequently leaked from the damaged engine. Prior to the sudden failure, I did not have warning lights or other indications suggesting an imminent engine failure. The warning lights appeared during or immediately after the loss of power. The vehicle has been inspected by a repair facility and the engine requires replacement. The vehicle/failed components can be made available for inspection…”
Electrical system
46 reports1 crash1 fire
“Brake system, Cruise control, lane keeping system get malfunction erratically (ever since 2022, and has been like this), and one of the two sets of brakes never wears off (More than 100 K mileage now (Oct. 2026) , one set of brake pads still is still have sufficient life and does not seem to require replacement. Additiionally, recently (August 2026) the electronic system has gone very bad, the dashboard automatically restarts, headlight turns on, and trying to engaging something, then turned off automatically, then a new cycle starts, and even I turned off again, the cycle will restart until battery is drained and dead, if I do not lock the car (and I had to replace a new battery that was used for less than 1.5 year. If I lock the car, the car will start the same cycle and will honk, and honk, until the surrounding people had to remove the car.”
Forward collision avoidance
38 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2017 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving, the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), brake, and Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) warning lights were intermittently illuminated. The contact associated the failure with the brake pads, which had not been replaced since the vehicle was purchased brand new; however, the dealer confirmed that the brake pads were in good condition. Additionally, the contact stated that there were electrical failures after the vehicle was parked. The steering wheel was raised, and the warning light was illuminated while making a continuous clicking sound, and the horn was honking continuously while the vehicle was parked and locked. The electrical failures caused the battery drain and the battery was replaced. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to jumpstart the vehicle. The contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from under the hood. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions; however, the cause of the failures could not be determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.”
Service brakes
21 reports3 crashes
“I was stopped, my vehicle brake stopped working after being stopped on a road at a traffic light behind a semi truck. My vehicle crawled slowly forward, it would not stop (like the car wash pace). My brake would not work, I tried putting car in park to stop it moving. It proceeded to ram into the semi in front of me and keep trying to go forward until the light turned green and the semi drove away at that point I was able to drive my car and pull off the road and my brake began to work when I pulled off. It completely stopped working when I was on a busy road and caused the accident. It could have been much worse if I was not stopped already.”
Lane departure
21 reports
“The on board camera mounted on windshield above rear view mirror has failed and now none of the safety feature function (lane keep assist, adaptive cruise, etc).”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.