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 ↗2017 Acura RDX powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Acura RDX have filed 20 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 RDX | 5 |
| 2015 RDX | 4 |
| 2016 RDX | 6 |
| 2017 RDX (this page) | 20 |
| 2018 RDX | 12 |
| 2019 RDX | 36 |
| 2020 RDX | 21 |
| 2021 RDX | 9 |
1crash
What stands out
Among the 8 model years of Acura RDX in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Powertrain accounts for 27% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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 - A judder from the torque converter lock-up clutch may be felt while driving between 20 and 60 mph. The problem is typically diagnosed as a bad torque converter. American Honda investigated the judder and found that the torque converter was not causing the judder and the transmission is not damaged by this judder.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - Clients receive excessive notifications for a low power mode through AcuraLink®. There is a false CAN signal transmitted through the telematics control unit.
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 powertrain shows a pattern of transmission and electrical issues. Harsh, jerky downshifts dominate complaints—drivers say the car lurches and shudders, especially between 3rd and 4th gear in standard Drive mode, though symptoms ease in Sport mode. Multiple owners hit torque converter clutch failure, with some receiving a manufacturer warranty extension letter yet dealerships refusing replacement, instead charging for fluid flushes.
Unexpected acceleration without pedal input happened to at least two owners—one reported the engine revving to 3000 rpm at 35 mph with foot off the gas. Another critical issue: brake pedal unresponsiveness at 143k miles. Electronic system reboots occur at stops, with displays going dark, A/C blower cycling, then transmission and ABS acting haywire on acceleration; symptoms repeat every few days or weeks and clear only after engine restart.
Engine hesitation and slow throttle response force owners to floor the accelerator, making highway merging unsafe. Transmission slipping and failure to engage gears, along with a CV axle shortage indicating widespread failure, round out the failures. One owner lost vehicle control during jerking. Dealerships tell owners that harsh shifts are "by design" or the transmission is "sensitive," yet these problems didn't appear on test drives.
Same Acura RDX powertrain reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Harsh/jerky transmission shifts
Transmission shifts, especially downshifts, are abrupt and jerky. Owners report the car lurches or shudders, particularly when downshifting from 5th to 4th gear (30-35 mph) and 4th to 3rd (20 mph). One owner noted the behavior is less severe in Sport mode. A dealership told one owner this is 'by design' for Acura transmissions, but the owner found it absent during test drives and unpleasant compared to other vehicles.
When: Early ownership, some reported from purchase; one started at 800 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Jerky/harsh gear shifts, especially on downshifts; Sudden jerk and speed drop when downshifting in Drive mode; Shuddering during acceleration or at low speeds; Hard shifts between 20-60 mph
Codes mentioned: P0848
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission flush mentioned ($500 charged at one dealership); one transmission replaced; fluid changes performed (1-2x by owners per recommended interval)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Torque converter warranty extension letter received by at least one owner; dealership statements that behavior is 'by design' or transmission is 'sensitive'
Torque converter failure
Multiple owners report torque converter clutch failure or problems. Owners received a warranty extension letter from the manufacturer specifically about the torque converter. One dealership refused to replace the torque converter despite the owner's symptoms and the extended warranty letter, instead charging for a transmission flush only. One owner had the torque converter replaced at 83,000 miles; another had it diagnosed as failed at 138,477 miles.
When: At 83,000 miles; at 138,477 miles; early ownership in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Sputtering while driving; Transmission warning light illuminated; Stalls when trying to accelerate; Shaking/vibrations when accelerating uphill or around curves
Codes mentioned: P0741
Repairs/costs cited: Torque converter replacement required; one owner paid $500 for transmission flush instead of torque converter replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty letter sent to owners; manufacturer made aware of failures
Unexpected acceleration without driver input
Vehicle accelerates on its own without throttle input. One owner reported the engine revved to over 3000 rpm at 35 mph while foot was off the gas pedal. Another owner reported the vehicle accelerated rapidly when coming to a stop. A third owner reported independent acceleration after parking brake was engaged following a failed braking attempt.
When: 20-35 mph during normal driving; at stops
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs to 3000+ rpm without pedal input; Rapid acceleration when stopped; Vehicle difficult to control due to unintended acceleration
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Case filed with manufacturer; one failure not duplicated by dealer
Brake system failure / brake pedal unresponsive
Brake pedal depressed but vehicle failed to stop as intended. Owner's wife had to engage parking brake. This occurred at an undisclosed speed at approximately 143,500 miles.
When: At 143,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed; vehicle did not stop; Failure to respond to braking input
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Failure not duplicated at dealer; case filed with manufacturer. Prior turbocharger recall repair performed on vehicle.
Electronic system reboot / electrical glitch during stop
Vehicle electronics appear to reboot while stopped at traffic lights or during backing up. A/C blower fluctuates, all displays go out and restart (similar to engine start sequence), then upon acceleration the transmission, ABS, and traction control act erratic before normalizing. Symptoms are intermittent and recur after stopping and restarting the engine. One owner suspects ABS control unit solder joint failure based on online research. Occurrences increased in frequency to almost every other day by one owner's report.
When: Multiple occurrences over several months of ownership (3-5+ times reported)
Symptoms owners cite: Electronics appear to reboot while stopped; A/C blower turns off then back on; All displays go out and restart; Transmission, ABS, and traction control act erratic after reboot; Vehicle shudders and hesitates upon acceleration; Symptoms go away after engine restart
Repairs/costs cited: One owner noted eBay services offer ABS unit repair (opening, cleaning, and re-soldering)
Keyless entry / power button failure
Keyless Access Unit failed, preventing vehicle start and powerplant operation. Occurred at under 50,000 miles. Vehicle had to be towed to dealership for replacement at over $800. Owner notes this is a critical system for a keyless-entry vehicle and creates stranding risk in unsafe conditions.
When: Under 50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Keyless entry system inoperative; Cannot start vehicle; No way to turn on vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Keyless Access Unit replacement required; cost over $800; requires dealership tow
Transmission overheating / AT HOT warning
Transmission overheats, triggering AT HOT warning light at high speeds (over 60 mph). One owner reported seized rear brake calipers causing excessive brake drag, which overheated the brake system and in turn the transmission/transfer casing. Rear brake pads remained at 4-5 mm for over 10 months while front pads were replaced twice and rotors once in the same period. Owner was informed by Acura dealership mechanic that seized calipers are a common problem.
When: Over 10 months of ownership at high speeds
Symptoms owners cite: AT HOT warning light engagement at speeds over 60 mph; Transmission/transfer case overheating; Minor transmission leaks
Repairs/costs cited: Seized rear calipers diagnosed; rear brake pads remained unchanged while front pads replaced twice and rotors once
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership mechanic stated this is a 'common problem'
Throttle hesitation / slow acceleration
Engine does not respond to throttle input initially, requiring driver to depress accelerator deeply. Engine then jerks and slowly accelerates. Vehicle appears to lose power or nearly die during deceleration situations. Highway merging and passing maneuvers are unsafe due to delayed response. One owner reported this started at 800 miles on the odometer.
When: Started at 800 miles on one vehicle; ongoing issue
Symptoms owners cite: Engine does not respond to throttle; Driver must depress accelerator to floor; Vehicle jerks and slowly accelerates; Engine appears to die during deceleration; Slow acceleration on highways makes merging/passing unsafe; Unpredictable hesitation
Transmission slipping / failure to engage gear
Vehicle fails to shift into gear or slips into manual shift mode. One owner reported loud thud at takeoff and vehicle revving but not shifting; problem recurs intermittently and disappears after engine restart. Another owner reported transmission slipping and hard shifts causing car to lurch forward and lose power during acceleration. Emissions and transmission indicator lights illuminate.
When: Various; one incident recurred one month after fluid changes
Symptoms owners cite: Loud thud at takeoff; Revs but does not shift into gear; Transmission slips during acceleration; Hard gear shifts causing lurch; Loss of power during acceleration; Emissions and transmission warning lights illuminated
Codes mentioned: Transmission warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission, transfer case, and rear differential fluids changed; one transmission replacement suspected/inspected
Rear CV halfshaft / axle part shortage
Rear driver CV halfshaft axle could not be located for repair. Part was sold out and on backorder, suggesting widespread failure across multiple vehicles of this model year.
When: At time of repair need
Symptoms owners cite: Rear driver CV halfshaft/axle failure
Repairs/costs cited: Part unavailable; sold out and on backorder
Multiple electrical and control module failures
Vehicle experienced cascading failures: jerking while in motion with all error messages rotating on screen (including P0848), followed by transmission replacement, then battery and starter failure two weeks later, then random alarm sounding and clicking noise from dash requiring control module replacement. Owner lost vehicle control during jerking incident.
When: Within weeks of each other; problem started before first transmission replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Jerking while in motion; All error messages rotating on dashboard display; Vehicle would not start two weeks after transmission replacement; Random alarm sounding at high decibels; Clicking noise from dash; Loss of vehicle control during jerking
Codes mentioned: P0848
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replaced by dealer; battery replaced; starter replaced; control module replacement in progress
Circuit board short / battery charging issue
Dead battery after driving in Sport mode then switching to standard mode. Upon jumpstart, vehicle exhibited jerking at low speeds. Dealership identified a short in the circuit board that controlled AcuraLink and battery charging. Jerking was deemed transmission-related by dealership.
When: After Sport mode driving and mode switch
Symptoms owners cite: Dead battery; Jerking at low speeds after jumpstart; Circuit board short
Repairs/costs cited: Jumpstart performed; circuit board issue identified
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership diagnosed short in circuit board controlling AcuraLink and charging
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Since we have had the car we have had multiple issues with the car jerking and shifting hard after driving in S mode then going to standard mode. Dealership told us the transmission is "sensitive" in our model year and if we go 1 mile overdue for a transmission fluid flush we will have shudder/jerking/ hard shifting. (we have changed the transmission fluid 1-2x since have had the car, which is…
Keyless entry system failed at under 50k miles. When this Keyless Access Unit fails, you cannot start the car and the powertrain. The only way to resolve is to have the car towed to the dealership and have the part orders and installed at over $800. In a worst case scenario, the driver could be stranded in unsafe conditions -- weather extremes (heat or cold) or parking at the side of the…
When the engine does not respond to the throttle, you continue to depress throttle, then the engine begines to jerk and slowly accelerate. Engine appears to die when you are in the slow down situation. I have to press accelerator to the floor to get the car going. Getting on the highway, is very unsafe because you need a lot of room to accelerate because a v6 engine hesitated at the…
1) harsh transmission shifts the transmission's gear shifts (both up and down) are jerky, and it's very obvious & unpleasant when compared to driving other cars (even to a 2005 Toyota corolla). The shifts seem much harsher especially when downshifting. When the car slows down, there is a sudden jerk and a noticeable drop in speed. I've concluded that it occurs most when the transmission…
The car accelerated rapidly when I came to a stop. When I brought it to, the dealership they found 3 problems with the transmission. First, the transmission had overheated, there were problems in the clutch assembly, and I don't know the third.
While driving, the car slips into manual gear shift and is slow to accelerate and it will have a hard shift of gears from 20 - 60 mph. The emissions check and transmission indicator lights are on. I can not drive the car safely because of the jerks of gear shifts or the slow acceleration when driving on roads and highways. The car is being inspected for transmission issues with concerns that…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2017 Acura RDX?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 20 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?
Based on the 20 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 100,462 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 $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.
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.