Model year record

2017 Acura Mdx Sport Hybrid recalls & problems

The 2017 Acura Mdx Sport Hybrid has 3 safety recalls and 8 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (5 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints8filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

NHTSA overall5 ★crash-test stars

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingMar 28, 2019

Exterior lighting

Recall 19V256000322,897 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: Loss of the taillights reduces the vehicle's visibility, increasing the risk of crash.
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 free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is M49.

Components: Exterior lighting; Exterior lighting › Tail lights

Service brakes, hydraulicNov 1, 2018

Foundation components › Disc › Caliper

Recall 18V77700064,785 vehicles

Problem: 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."
Risk: A reduction of braking performance increases the risk of a crash.
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 numbers for this recall are C31 and L30.

Fuel system, gasolineJun 30, 2017

Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 17V424000193 vehicles

Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles have an engine fuel feed hose and a fuel purge hose that may have been misrouted during vehicle assembly.
Risk: The misrouting can cause the hoses to be damaged from contact with other components, potentially resulting in a fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Acura will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the routing of the fuel feed hose and the fuel purge hose. If misrouted, the hoses will be replaced and installed correctly, free of charge. The recall began on August 14, 2017. Owners may contact Acura Client Relations at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KF8.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid SUV AWD

Overall★★★★★

Frontal crash	★★★★★
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	16.4%

Forward collision warning: Standard · Lane departure warning: Standard

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Typical mileage*
Power train	5	10,750 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	2	—
Electrical system	2	—
Electronic stability control (esc)	1	—
Steering	1	—
Engine	1	—
Vehicle speed controlCruise control	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Power train
The car has been experiencing roughness and shaking in reverse 50% of the time. Some times it shakes and jerks much more than other times, but either way it seems to be a common problem when searching forums and there doesn't seem to be any solution besides replacing the transmission. The dealership has recommended a full transmission replacement which costs more than the value of the car. There are no lights that come up, but the jerkiness in reverse seems dangerous and there's a chance that if it jerks at the wrong time it can cause an accident.
Jul 15, 2025
Power train
THE TRANSMISSION WILL JERK WHEN DRIVING UPON ACCELERATION AND HAS A CONTINUOUS SHIFTING SOUND AND FEELING AS THOUGH THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL OR THE DRIVE MODE IS BEING CHANGED (LIKE THAT WHEN YOU SHIFT GEARS ON A BIKE). I AM UNABLE TO USE ALL DRIVE MODES AS THE ISSUE OCCURS IN EVERY MODE--BUT EVEN MORE IN THE SPORT MODES. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS, I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON AND THAT WILL USUALLY FIX THE PROBLEM--BUT IF I CHANGE IT TO ANOTHER DRIVE MODE OR HAVE IT IN THE SPORT MODES IT OCCURS RANDOMLY. IF I'M ON THE FREEWAY DURING COMMUTE TIMES, I DON'T PULL OVER TO DO SO. THE ISSUE FIRST STARTED AT 15K MILES WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS UTILIZING ONE OF THE SPORT…
Apr 14, 2021 · 15,000 miles
Power train
TRANSMISSION WILL JERK HEAVILY WHEN DRIVING AND HAS A CONTINUOUS SHIFTING SOUND LIKE IT STAYS NEUTRAL. WILL JUDDER WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPS AND ON ACCELERATION. THE CAR NEEDS TO BE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON TO RESET. I CAN'T USE ALL DRIVE SETTINGS AS IT HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE SPORT MODES. THE ISSUE FIRST STARTED HAPPENING AT 15K MILES. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO RHE DEALERSHIP SIX TIMES, THE LAST TIME WAS A WEEK AGO. THE DEALERSHIP HAS KEPT THE CAR OVERNIGHT, REPLACED THE SHIFT MECHANISMS, UPDATED SYSTEM SETTINGS, AND THE GAS PUMPS. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I ATTEMPTED TO UPLOAD SERVICE RECORDS, MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS.
Apr 5, 2021 · 15,000 miles
Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
THE VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY IGNORES THE MILES-PER-HOUR SET ON THE CRUISE CONTROLS - - EXCEEDING THE MPH BY OVER 5 MILES PER HOUR OR EVEN MORE. THIS IS A SAFELY HAZARD PLUS CAN EASILY LEAD TO SPEEDING TICKETS. I HAVE NOTICED THIS HAPPENING MANY TIMES ON HIGHWAYS (NORMALLY WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 55 - 65.
Sep 3, 2020 · 20,000 miles
Electrical system
REAR BACK UP CAMERA HAS UP TO 1 MINUTE DELAY IN ACTIVATING WHEN I SELECTED REVERSE. ALSO DELAYS THE SAFETY SYSTEMS ASSOCIATED WITH IT LIKE CROSS TRAFFIC WARNINGS AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE.
Jul 18, 2020 · 37,000 miles
Electrical system
VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY BREAKS DOWN WITH "POWER SYSTEM" AND "AWD" WARNING LIGHTS TRIGGERING SAFE MODE OPERATION. SAFE MODE LIMITS POWER AND POTENTIALLY CREATES UNSAFE CONDITION AS CAR CANNOT BE OPERATED AT FULL POWER. ACURA REFUSES TO REPAIR. PROBLEM OCCURS BOTH WITH IN MOTION AND WHEN AT IDLE.
Oct 26, 2018 · 6,500 miles
Engine
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION - WHILE COASTING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN UP TO 30MPH. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE APPROACHING TRAFFIC LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS, PARKING LOTS, CROSSWALKS AND PARKING IN THE GARAGE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS AND EVEN THE DEALER HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLS WHILE STOPPED IN THE ROADWAY TO TURN. ACURA SENT A REGIONAL SERVICE DIRECTOR TO TEST THE VEHICLE AND MY DRIVING SKILLS AND STATES THAT SINCE THERE ARE NO TROUBLE CODES FROM THE COMPUTER, ALL SYSTEMS ARE OPERATING AS DESIGNED. BRAKING - THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WILL SENSE LARGE VEHICLES IN ADJACENT LANES AND SMALL VEHICLES ON CURVES AND…
Sep 7, 2018 · 3,000 miles
Electronic stability control (esc)
THIS CAR HAS SERIOUS ISSUES. THE PREVIOUS BRAKING COMPLAINT IS ABSOLUTELY VALID! THE FIRST TWO ISSUES OUTLINED BELOW ARE MOST PROBLEMATIC AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SET. THAT BEING SAID, PROBLEM NUMBER ONE IN PARTICULAR OCCURS ON A REGULAR BASIS WHENEVER THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET. 1. BRAKING - THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WILL SENSE LARGE VEHICLES IN ADJACENT LANES AND ABRUPTLY APPLY BRAKES. IT SEEMS THE MDX 'THINKS' THESE VEHICLES ARE IN YOUR LANE WHEN THEY ARE IN FACT IN THE LANE NEXT TO YOU. THE SAME WILL OCCUR WHEN A CAR IN AN ADJACENT LANE DRIFTS NEAR, BUT NOT INTO THE LANE OCCUPIED BY THE MDX. WE HAVE HAD NO LESS THAN THREE NEAR MISSES WHERE THE VEHICLE BEHIND US…
Mar 29, 2018 · 16,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Pedestrian alert soundsClosedLed to recall 22V063000
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review…
DP22005 · opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023