Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2020 MDXs, RDXs & TLXs with a client complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0171 & P0174 (Rear/Front Bank Fuel System Too Lean), or P219A&B (Air-Fuel Ratio Variation of Cylinder) stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Acura RDX electrical problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Acura RDX have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 RDX | 6 |
| 2014 RDX | 8 |
| 2015 RDX | 6 |
| 2016 RDX | 8 |
| 2017 RDX (this page) | 13 |
| 2018 RDX | 6 |
| 2019 RDX | 31 |
| 2020 RDX | 18 |
| 2021 RDX | 7 |
What stands out
Among the 12 model years of Acura RDX in our records for electrical problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2020 MDXs, RDXs & TLXs with a client complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0171 & P0174 (Rear/Front Bank Fuel System Too Lean), or P219A&B (Air-Fuel Ratio Variation of Cylinder) stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2020 MDXs, RDXs & TLXs with a client complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0171 & P0174 (Rear/Front Bank Fuel System Too Lean), or P219A&B (Air-Fuel Ratio Variation of Cylinder) stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2020 MDXs, RDXs & TLXs with a client complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0171 & P0174 (Rear/Front Bank Fuel System Too Lean), or P219A&B (Air-Fuel Ratio Variation of Cylinder) stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2020 MDXs, RDXs & TLXs with a client complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0171 & P0174 (Rear/Front Bank Fuel System Too Lean), or P219A&B (Air-Fuel Ratio Variation of Cylinder) stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2017 Acura RDX has two distinct electrical failure patterns. The first involves abrupt power loss and engine shutdown while driving—owners describe jerking, loss of acceleration, and complete stalling, often accompanied by all dashboard warning lights coming on simultaneously. This has occurred on highways at 65 mph, creating collision hazards; one owner had to floor the accelerator to avoid being rear-ended during a merge. A few cases show diagnostic codes P0304, P0305, and P0306 (cylinder misfire codes), with one dealership attributing the fault to a software update. However, owners report this problem recurring months or years after dealer repairs and Honda/Acura assurances of a fix—one owner documented failures in March 2018, July 2018, June 2019, July 2019, and again in May 2022.
The second pattern involves the smart power control unit (part 38320-TX4-A31) and keyless access system. Owners report random alarm triggering at night, interior and exterior lights flickering on and off when the car is parked and locked, doors locking/unlocking by themselves, and the car failing to recognize the key fob. One dealer stated replacement parts are unavailable. Owners note these issues are widely discussed on forums for 2017 Acura RDX and similar-year models, suggesting a design or manufacturing defect. No recall or manufacturer response has been issued to address either problem.
Same Acura RDX electrical reports on nearby years: 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Loss of power / engine cutout with all warning lights
Engine loses power, jerks, and cuts out completely while driving; all dashboard warning lights illuminate (check engine, ABS, brake, power steering, airbag, collision avoidance). In multiple cases, owners had to accelerate hard to avoid highway collisions. Restart may temporarily restore function, but failure recurs. One owner reported this happening at least four separate dates between March 2018 and May 2022.
When: 2,000 to 9,249 miles; incidents from March 2018 through May 2022; some owners experienced failure multiple times within a month
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power while accelerating or merging; Jerking/hesitation during acceleration; Complete engine shutdown mid-drive; All dashboard warning lights illuminate simultaneously; Slow acceleration (30 seconds to reach 15 mph in one case); Collision avoidance warning indicator; Loss of vehicle-to-self communication (one owner noted car does not communicate with itself)
Codes mentioned: P0304, P0305, P0306
Repairs/costs cited: One dealership attributed to software update requirement (no specific update details provided). One dealership kept vehicle for three weeks, claimed nothing wrong, but failure recurred. Another kept vehicle for several weeks claiming problem fixed, but failure reoccurred in May 2022.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners report calling Honda/Acura multiple times; manufacturer assured one owner problem was fixed after dealer work, but it recurred. No recall or TSB mentioned for this failure mode.
Keyless Access Control Unit / Smart Power Control Unit failure
Control unit part number 38320-TX4-A31 (Smart Power Control Unit) and/or keyless access system malfunction causing widespread electrical failures. This component reportedly affects safety features including airbags. One dealer stated replacement parts are unavailable. Multiple owners note this is a known issue on online forums for 2017 Acura RDX and similar-year models.
When: Timing not specified in narratives; noted as persistent issue for model year
Symptoms owners cite: Random alarm triggering at all hours; Dashboard lights flickering on and off when car is off; Exterior lights flashing randomly; Clicking noises from electrical system; Doors locking/unlocking on their own; Car says key is not present when attempting to start; Electrical components activating without key fob or door manipulation
Repairs/costs cited: Part number 38320-TX4-A31 identified as defective. Dealer reports unable to source replacement parts.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued. No TSB or warranty extension mentioned by owners.
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Dashboard warning lights all light up at once. Flickering on and off. Lights turn on and off inside car, it unlocks and locks car on it’s own. Says key is not close to car when trying to turn on car. Alarm goes off randomly once parked and locked.
The alarm and lights keep going off for No reason. The doors can be locked and Armed. Goes off even when not locked.
Acura RDX alarm keeps going off; smart power control unit (keyless access/tpms) is faulty.
Had electrical trouble with your 2017 Acura RDX?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2017 Acura RDX?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 24,512 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Acura/RDX.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.