The transmission failed. It is not able to be inspected unless retrieved by the dealer. While driving the vehicle the transmission would disengage. There were no warning lights or failures picked up by the CAN bus. This would happen during normal driving on the highway, potentially leaving the vehicle stranded in the middle of the highway. When issue occurred the transmission would make a whining…
2017 acura MDX powertrain problems
moderate 61 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
61
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2024 FROM A CERTIFIED ACUARA DEALER. ON DECEMBER 26TH THE VEHCILE SUDDENLY WENT INTO NEUTRAL MODE AND WOULD NOT CHANGE INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. THE CAR WAS SHUTDOWN AND RESTARTED ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER WITH THE DASHBOARD FULL OF WARNING LAMPS AT START UP. I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE CAR FROM THE ROADWAY BUT THE GEAR SHIFT CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK IN ANY GEAR. TRANSMISSION WAR…
When stopping for traffic or at a light and accelerating for take off the car has a delay. It does nothing. It’s a 2sec delay that will be deadly to someone.
AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE FROM ACURA IN MARCH 2020 WITH APPROXIMATELY 49,500 MILES AND NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS SLIPPING AROUND 20 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR. MY FIANCEE DROVE IT AS WELL AND FELT IT SLIPPING IN A CITY STOP AND GO UNDER THE SAME SPEED. WE CALLED ACURA TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SLIPPING AS WELL AS THE BATTERY MALFUNCTIONING. THEY TOLD US TO BRING IT IN AND WE DID. THE BATTERY END UP BEING D…
The contact owns a 2017 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the transmission system error message displayed. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road and turned off, and attempted to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to respond. A local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the trans…
In October I noticed my engine knocking. It has always made a ticking sound so how long it might have knocked before we noticed I don’t know however in October it was clearly noticeable. The first thing I did was check my oil level and it was full. Over the several days it became more noticeable and one morning while driving my check engine light came on and the vehicle lost most(maybe 80%) of it’…
In October the car had 46,000 miles and suddenly the car stopped because there was a transmission problem and we went to the dealer, they said it was an update the software problem, this is considered is not safe for me and my family because the car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road. What if I was going 60 mph on the highway and they car suddenly stopped and caused an accident, and someon…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2017 acura MDX?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 61 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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