What are the most common problems with the 2017 Acura MDX?

The engine group has the most complaints at 98, followed by the power train at 69 and the electrical system at 48. See the problems section above for what owners describe.

Does the 2017 Acura MDX have recalls?

Yes, the 2017 MDX has 9 recalls. They are listed by code in the Recalls section of this page.

What gas mileage does the 2017 Acura MDX get?

The fuel economy section of this page shows the EPA figures and the estimated yearly fuel cost.

Is the 2017 Acura MDX reliable?

Owners filed 268 complaints with NHTSA, and the largest groups are the engine and power train. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so they show what owners report and not a reliability score.

Is 2017 a good year for the Acura MDX?

The by-year section of this page compares the model years side by side using complaint and recall counts.

2017 Acura MDX Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 268 owner complaints on file for the 2017 Acura MDX^[1]. The engine group is the largest, with 98 complaints^[2].

268owner complaints^[1]

9recalls^[3]

21–27MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Owners filed complaints across several parts of the 2017 MDX, and these are the groups from biggest to smallest.

Engine. 98 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe the SUV surging forward at low speed on its own, losing power while merging onto a highway, and refusing to move after a stop with warning messages on the dash.
Power Train. 69 complaints^[6]. Owners describe rough, jerky shifting, a lurch when pulling away or parking on a slope, and moments when the engine revs but the SUV does not go.
Electrical System. 48 complaints^[7]. Owners describe a dash full of warning lights at once, the whole vehicle shutting off at a stop, and driver assist features dropping out.
Forward Collision Avoidance. 38 complaints^[8]. Owners describe the automatic braking system stopping the SUV hard when nothing was in the road, which worries them about the drivers behind.
Unknown Or Other. 30 complaints^[9]. These reports do not point to one clear part.
Brakes. 23 complaints^[10].
Speed Control. 22 complaints^[11].
Lane Departure. 21 complaints^[12].

These are reports sent in by owners and NHTSA has not verified them. One complaint can name more than one part.

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2017 MDX is necessarily included.

Suspension › Rear (26V365), June 2026. About 965,561 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger (26V332), May 2026. About 98,892 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Interior Lighting (25V259), April 2025. About 152,800 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced visibility. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump (23V858), December 2023. About 2,490,460 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]
Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine › Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical (23V751), November 2023. About 248,999 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, a crash, injury, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[17]
Exterior Lighting (19V256), March 2019. About 322,897 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced visibility. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[18]
Fuel System, Other › Delivery › Fuel Pump (19V060), January 2019. About 437,032 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[19]
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper (18V777), November 2018. About 64,785 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[20]
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings (17V424), June 2017. About 193 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[21]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
MDX FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive^[22]	20 / 27 / 23	$3,550
MDX FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive^[23]	19 / 27 / 22	$3,750
MDX AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, All-Wheel Drive^[24]	19 / 26 / 22	$3,750
MDX AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, All-Wheel Drive^[25]	18 / 26 / 21	$3,900
MDX Hybrid AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic (AM-S7), Premium, All-Wheel Drive^[4]	26 / 27 / 27	$3,050

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD^[5]	5	5	5	4	16.4%
SUV FWD^[26]	5	5	5	4	16.4%

How 2017 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each MDX model year. The 2017 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2001	224	4
2002	205	4
2003	206	11
2004	171	8
2005	180	11
2006	87	9
2007	99	0
2008	49	0
2009	52	0
2010	45	1
2011	70	0
2012	76	1
2013	30	1
2014	172	8
2015	71	8
2016	377	7
2017	268	9
2018	170	10
2019	198	9
2020	229	8
2022	180	3
2023	48	3
2024	43	3
2025	111	4
2026	9	1

NHTSA's counts for the MDX show 268 complaints and 9 recalls for 2017^[3]. Among the 25 model years listed, 23 have fewer complaints than 2017 and 1 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2026 (9) and the most are for 2016 (377)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2017 MDX?

The 2017 MDX has a real pile of owner complaints on file, with 268 in total^[1]. Engine and power train reports lead the list at 98 and 69^[2]^[6]. Owners also describe electrical glitches and surprise braking from the collision avoidance system^[7]^[8]. The model also carries 9 recalls, which are listed in the Recalls section above^[3]. If you are shopping for one, check that every open recall has been fixed and ask about the shifting and warning light issues on a test drive.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2017 Acura MDX?: The engine group has the most complaints at 98^[2], followed by the power train at 69^[6] and the electrical system at 48^[7]. See the problems section above for what owners describe.
Does the 2017 Acura MDX have recalls?: Yes, the 2017 MDX has 9 recalls^[3]. They are listed by code in the Recalls section of this page.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Acura MDX get?: The fuel economy section of this page shows the EPA figures and the estimated yearly fuel cost.
Is the 2017 Acura MDX reliable?: Owners filed 268 complaints with NHTSA^[1], and the largest groups are the engine and power train^[2]^[6]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so they show what owners report and not a reliability score.
Is 2017 a good year for the Acura MDX?: The by-year section of this page compares the model years side by side using complaint and recall counts.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Acura MDX

2008 49 complaints, 0 recalls
2011 70 complaints, 0 recalls
2012 76 complaints, 1 recall
2014 172 complaints, 8 recalls
2015 71 complaints, 8 recalls
2016 377 complaints, 7 recalls
2017 this page

Compare all model years of the Acura MDX

Other Acura models from 2017

2017 Acura RDX 79 complaints, 1 recall

All Acura models

Similar cars from 2017: small suvs

2017 Subaru Forester 592 complaints, 1 recall
2017 Toyota Highlander 274 complaints, 3 recalls
2017 Toyota RAV4 321 complaints, 3 recalls
2017 Volkswagen Tiguan 76 complaints, 4 recalls
2017 Chevrolet Equinox 276 complaints, 0 recalls
2017 Dodge Journey 201 complaints, 2 recalls

All small suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 268 owner complaints on file for the 2017 Acura MDX (8 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 4 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
98 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 81,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Acura MDX model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for MDX Hybrid AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic (AM-S7), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 26 city / 27 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
69 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 30,038). NHTSA vehicle records
48 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 35,824). NHTSA vehicle records
38 complaints name the forward collision avoidance component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
30 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 12,000). NHTSA vehicle records
23 complaints name the brakes component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 12,431). NHTSA vehicle records
22 complaints name the speed control component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 23,500). NHTSA vehicle records
21 complaints name the lane departure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 26V365, filed June 4, 2026: Suspension › Rear. NHTSA recall database
Recall 26V332, filed May 21, 2026: Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger. NHTSA recall database
Recall 25V259, filed April 17, 2025: Interior Lighting. NHTSA recall database
Recall 23V858, filed December 18, 2023: Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump. NHTSA recall database
Recall 23V751, filed November 13, 2023: Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine › Hard Parts Internal / Mechanical. NHTSA recall database
Recall 19V256, filed March 28, 2019: Exterior Lighting. NHTSA recall database
Recall 19V060, filed January 29, 2019: Fuel System, Other › Delivery › Fuel Pump. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V777, filed November 1, 2018: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V424, filed June 30, 2017: Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines / Piping, And Fittings. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for MDX FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 27 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for MDX FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 27 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,750. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for MDX AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,750. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for MDX AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.4%. NHTSA vehicle records

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2017 Acura MDX: problems, recalls and fuel economy