Service Bulletin - The lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the transmission indicator flashing “D” and set DTC P0741 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck OFF.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Acura RDX engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Acura RDX have filed 5 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 RDX (this page) | 5 |
| 2018 RDX | 3 |
| 2019 RDX | 49 |
| 2020 RDX | 32 |
| 2021 RDX | 5 |
When does it fail?
Of the 5 engine complaints filed for the 2017 Acura RDX, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
Service Bulletin - The lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the transmission indicator flashing âDâ and set DTC P0741 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck OFF.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - The lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the transmission indicator flashing âDâ and set DTC P0741 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck OFF.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications. As a result, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock-up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the MIL illuminating and set DTC P0741 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck OFF.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - The lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) and set DTC P0741 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck OFF.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I requested free diagnostic from Acura and they denied due to involvement of accident on 2/27/2018(rear-end). But the vehicle was repaired in the body shop certified by Acura and I made claim again to geico insurance company to figure out. The subject vehicle have the fuel consumption dropped from 25 miles/gallon to 20 miles/gallon and smell gasoline when turn on the engine. Acura case# is…
Premature defective hydraulic timing belt tensioner similarly to the 2018 and 2019 RDX under recall. The seal in the tensioner prematurely aged causing hydraulic leakage making it unable to maintain timing belt tension. If the tensioner fail at highway speed causing the timing belt to skip leading to out of timing and major engine malfunction.
The engine upper magnesium intake manifold is spider cracked around several mating half bolts causing an engine emission warning light to illuminate for bank #2 lean code. I believe the part number for the upper intake manifold is P/N 17160-5G0-A00. 2017 Acura RDX with 84,000 miles. The Acura mechanic knew what the issue was right away stating that it’s known problem with the magnesium intake…
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2017 Acura RDX?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 5 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 5 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 14,500 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.