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2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
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Latest Sep 23, 2025
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Powertrain (other)538.5%
  • Driver assistance215.4%
  • Electrical215.4%
  • Fuel system215.4%
  • Engine17.7%
  • Steering17.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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.

NHTSA ID 11689105 · filed Sep 23, 2025

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 MODES. IN THE PAST--THE RIDE WAS SMOOTHER, NOW IT'S A HIT OR MISS. IT WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP DURING A SERVICE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE KEPT THE CAR OVERNIGHT, REPLACE THE SHIFT MECHANISM, UPDATED SYSTEM SETTINGS, AND THE GAS PUMP. DURING MY LAST VISIT, THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT NO ISSUE WAS FOUND. THE ISSUE STILL PERSISTS. FROM MY RESEARCH, IT IS A COMMON ISSUE AND SHOULD NOT BE. IT STARTED BACK IN 2018 AND AS LATE AS 4/14/2021.

NHTSA ID 11408329 · filed Apr 16, 2021

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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.

NHTSA ID 11361871 · filed Sep 29, 2020

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 NEARLY REAR ENDED US DUE TO THE IMMEDIATE AND UNNECESSARY APPLICATION OF BRAKES BY THE MDX. 2. LANE KEEP ASSIST - ON A MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE WHILE REMAINING IN OUR LANE TO AVOID A ROAD HAZARD. THE CAR FIGHTS AGAINST YOU WITH SUCH FORCE AS TO NEARLY MAKE THE VEHICLE NON-MANEUVERABLE. BOTH OF THE ITEMS ABOVE HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER TWICE. IN BOTH CASES WE WERE TOLD THIS IS NORMAL AND THAT WE SHOULD ADJUST THE SENSOR SENSITIVITY. WE'VE TRIED ALL LEVELS OF THE SENSOR SENSITIVITY AND NOTHING HAS WORKED. 3. UNINTENDED ACCELERATION - THIS IS EASILY THE MOST SCARY THING THAT HAS OCCURRED. WHILE SLOWLY DRIVING THROUGH A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, MY FOOT WAS HOVERING OVER THE BRAKE. OUR MDX ALL OF A SUDDEN WITH NO DRIVER INPUT AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED ABRUPTLY. I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE RESPONDED. THANKFULLY, NO PEDESTRIAN WAS CROSSING IN FRONT OF ME. I'VE YET TO SEE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN HOWEVER THIS CAUSES SERIOUS CONCERN.

NHTSA ID 11084738 · filed Apr 12, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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.

NHTSA ID 11342770 · filed Aug 2, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID 11164832 · filed Jan 7, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 ABRUPTLY APPLY BRAKES. THE VEHICLE BELIEVES THESE VEHICLES ARE IN OUR LANE WHEN THEY ARE IN FACT IN THE ADJACENT LANE. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WHERE THE VEHICLE BEHIND US ALMOST REAR ENDED US DUE TO THE IMMEDIATE AND UNNECESSARY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. WE HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THIS VEHICLES TECHNOLOGY TO PERFORM AS INTENDED AND FEAR EVENTUALLY SOMEONE WILL BE HURT OR KILLED AS IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE PEDESTRIANS EITHER.

NHTSA ID 11128155 · filed Sep 7, 2018

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 NEARLY REAR ENDED US DUE TO THE IMMEDIATE AND UNNECESSARY APPLICATION OF BRAKES BY THE MDX. 2. LANE KEEP ASSIST - ON A MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE WHILE REMAINING IN OUR LANE TO AVOID A ROAD HAZARD. THE CAR FIGHTS AGAINST YOU WITH SUCH FORCE AS TO NEARLY MAKE THE VEHICLE NON-MANEUVERABLE. BOTH OF THE ITEMS ABOVE HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER TWICE. IN BOTH CASES WE WERE TOLD THIS IS NORMAL AND THAT WE SHOULD ADJUST THE SENSOR SENSITIVITY. WE'VE TRIED ALL LEVELS OF THE SENSOR SENSITIVITY AND NOTHING HAS WORKED. 3. UNINTENDED ACCELERATION - THIS IS EASILY THE MOST SCARY THING THAT HAS OCCURRED. WHILE SLOWLY DRIVING THROUGH A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, MY FOOT WAS HOVERING OVER THE BRAKE. OUR MDX ALL OF A SUDDEN WITH NO DRIVER INPUT AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED ABRUPTLY. I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE RESPONDED. THANKFULLY, NO PEDESTRIAN WAS CROSSING IN FRONT OF ME. I'VE YET TO SEE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN HOWEVER THIS CAUSES SERIOUS CONCERN.

NHTSA ID 11084738 · filed Apr 12, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 ABRUPTLY APPLY BRAKES. THE VEHICLE BELIEVES THESE VEHICLES ARE IN OUR LANE WHEN THEY ARE IN FACT IN THE ADJACENT LANE. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WHERE THE VEHICLE BEHIND US ALMOST REAR ENDED US DUE TO THE IMMEDIATE AND UNNECESSARY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. WE HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THIS VEHICLES TECHNOLOGY TO PERFORM AS INTENDED AND FEAR EVENTUALLY SOMEONE WILL BE HURT OR KILLED AS IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE PEDESTRIANS EITHER.

NHTSA ID 11128155 · filed Sep 7, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 NEARLY REAR ENDED US DUE TO THE IMMEDIATE AND UNNECESSARY APPLICATION OF BRAKES BY THE MDX. 2. LANE KEEP ASSIST - ON A MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE WHILE REMAINING IN OUR LANE TO AVOID A ROAD HAZARD. THE CAR FIGHTS AGAINST YOU WITH SUCH FORCE AS TO NEARLY MAKE THE VEHICLE NON-MANEUVERABLE. BOTH OF THE ITEMS ABOVE HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER TWICE. IN BOTH CASES WE WERE TOLD THIS IS NORMAL AND THAT WE SHOULD ADJUST THE SENSOR SENSITIVITY. WE'VE TRIED ALL LEVELS OF THE SENSOR SENSITIVITY AND NOTHING HAS WORKED. 3. UNINTENDED ACCELERATION - THIS IS EASILY THE MOST SCARY THING THAT HAS OCCURRED. WHILE SLOWLY DRIVING THROUGH A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, MY FOOT WAS HOVERING OVER THE BRAKE. OUR MDX ALL OF A SUDDEN WITH NO DRIVER INPUT AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED ABRUPTLY. I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE RESPONDED. THANKFULLY, NO PEDESTRIAN WAS CROSSING IN FRONT OF ME. I'VE YET TO SEE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN HOWEVER THIS CAUSES SERIOUS CONCERN.

NHTSA ID 11084738 · filed Apr 12, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .