FaultScore

FaultScore report

2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid problems

Owners have filed 13 complaints about the 2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid with NHTSA between 2018 and 2025. The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain.

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

13

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

15,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

92%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

NHTSA overall crash rating

From the agency's own crash tests

How 2017 compares with every other Acura MDX Sport Hybrid

Click any bar to open that year's report.

17 18 19 20
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Transmission & Drivetrain 5 38.5%

Median failure at 10,750 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 2 15.4%

Median failure at 9,500 miles

Electrical System 2 15.4%

Median failure at 21,750 miles

Stability & Traction Control 1 7.7%

Median failure at 16,000 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 7.7%

Median failure at 20,000 miles

Steering 1 7.7%

Median failure at 16,000 miles

Engine & Cooling 1 7.7%

Median failure at 3,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

1,000 – 9,999 miles 5 41.7%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 6 50.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 1 8.3%

NHTSA crash tests

The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own photographs and star ratings.

Configuration Overall Front Side Rollover
2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid SUV AWD
16.4% risk

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Apr 2018 peak 3 Sep 2025

NHTSA investigations into the 2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

DP22005 Opened 27 Jan 2023 Closed 7 Aug 2023 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM

Pedestrian alert sounds

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after Marc...

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Lee's Summit, MO

POWER TRAIN

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 complaint #11689105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Fremont, CA

POWER TRAIN

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 complaint #11408329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Fremont, CA

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION WILL JERK HEAVILY WHEN DRIVING AND HAS A CONTINUOUS SHIFTING SOUND LIKE IT STAYS NEUTRAL. WILL JUDDER WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPS AND ON ACCELERATION. THE CAR NEEDS TO BE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON TO RESET. I CAN'T USE ALL DRIVE SETTINGS AS IT HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE SPORT MODES. THE ISSUE FIRST STARTED HAPPENING AT 15K MILES. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO RHE DEALERSHIP SIX TIMES, THE LAST TIME WAS A WEEK AGO. THE DEALERSHIP HAS KEPT THE CAR OVERNIGHT, REPLACED THE SHIFT MECHANISMS, UPDATED SYSTEM SETTINGS, AND THE GAS PUMPS. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I ATTEMPTED TO UPLOAD SERVICE RECORDS, MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS.

NHTSA complaint #11406968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles Bristol, TN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

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 complaint #11361871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 37,000 miles Cincinnati, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 complaint #11342770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,500 miles Rockville Centre, NY

POWER TRAIN

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 complaint #11164832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,500 miles Rockville Centre, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 complaint #11164832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,000 miles Roanoke, VA

POWER TRAIN

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 complaint #11128155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,000 miles Roanoke, VA

ENGINE

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 complaint #11128155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,000 miles Roanoke, VA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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 complaint #11128155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,000 miles Gastonia, NC

STEERING

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 complaint #11084738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,000 miles Gastonia, NC

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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 complaint #11084738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,000 miles Gastonia, NC

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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 complaint #11084738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.