2017 Acura MDX acceleration problems

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

The contact owns a 2017 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate and lost motive power. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road and then regained normal operation and accelerated as intended. There were no warning lights illuminated. The failure had occurred three times while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to retrieve a fault code. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.

NHTSA complaint #11746158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

While driving on the interstate over 2 hours from home the car put itself into neutral and almost caused us to get into a collision. While accelerating after a construction zone, the lights on the dash of the vehicle lit up with transmission, emissions, electronic parking brake, and more codes. The car shifted itself into neutral while running between 65-70 mph on the interstate. Multiple vehicles were accelerating after the 55 mph work zone area was over, and we had to swerve between cars to get to the shoulder of the road because the vehicle lost all acceleration capabilities. We have taken the vehicle to the dealer for past recalls and software updates and mentioned this issue happening before and were told that the vehicle showed no codes concerning the electronic parking brake issue. Upon further investigation, there are multiple reports and forums of this particular vehicle having the same issue. Its a miracle we didn't get involved in a massive collision with semi trucks and other vehicles amongst us when the vehicle lost all ability to accelerate. This could cause a huge problem if it were to happen again in a more populated area or at increased speeds. We were stuck on the side of the road for 4 hours waiting on a flatbed to tow it because it locks up the AWD system with the electronic parking brake and doesn't allow the wheels to move. This is the second time we've had it towed for this same issue only to be told that it's not a problem. I'm willing to bet that the company knows exactly what the issue is but won't issue a recall because they don't classify it as a safety recall until people start losing their lives or cost the company stockholders money. This problem has the ability to cause major harm or death to people with this vehicle if it were to shift itself into neutral or lock up the electronic parking brake while in a heavy populated area. I hope they issue a safety recall and hold the company accountable before people lose their life.

NHTSA complaint #11736956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

My 2017 Acura MDX unexpectedly shifts into neutral while I am driving, specifically when slowing down approaching stop signs. When this happens, the vehicle loses power and will not accelerate, creating a dangerous situation in traffic. I have to manually press the Drive button to put the vehicle back into gear while still on the road. This has happened multiple times without warning and no recall exists for this issue. This is a serious safety hazard because the vehicle can lose power in traffic or intersections.

NHTSA complaint #11729196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

There were several instances where my vehicle either accelerated or decelerated while I was driving. I first noticed the issue about a week after I purchased the car in May 2022. I took it back to Acura of Brookfield, and they said they couldn’t replicate the issue. I also took my car to Acura of Brookfield in September 2023 for the same jerking issue. They charged me for an update, but the issue did not change. I continued noticing the problem over the years, but it happened more frequently in 2025. In May 2025, I was driving down a hill in Brookfield, Wisconsin, when my car jerked aggressively and then accelerated on its own. Throughout the rest of the year, it would either accelerate or decelerate while I was on the highway. On January 20, while I was on my way to the gym, my car jerked and decelerated while I was on the highway. I was able to pick up speed again and continue driving to the gym. When I came back out, my car started, but it would not shift out of park. I had the car towed to Acura of Brookfield, and they said something about the hydraulics inside the transmission being bad, and that they had to replace the entire transmission.

NHTSA complaint #11716599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The contact owns a 2017 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. There was no warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was not provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened and immediately closed a case for the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.

NHTSA complaint #11676235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Car loosing power

NHTSA complaint #11639014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

When stopping for traffic or at a light and accelerating for take off the car has a delay. It does nothing. It’s a 2sec delay that will be deadly to someone.

NHTSA complaint #11561238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Great hesitation, in acceleration, clicking of gears and drive and while putting in reverse also clicking of the years when accelerating

NHTSA complaint #11544992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

at highway speeds, the transmission unexpectedly shifts to neutral with no warning. The only indication is unexpected decrease in speed and accompanying engine rev. My typical driver response is to take foot off accelerator, then put back on again. Engine overrevs then shifts in to gear. I'd estimate it's out of gear for ~ 5 seconds, but hard to say in the heat of the driving moment. This happens 1-2X most highway trips, but not occur at lower speeds (it does not shift very smoothly in lower gears at times, but it's not currently a safety issue). I've taken it to my local dealer (Hendrick Acura, Durham, NC) and contacted Acura Customer Care, and am trying to get a diagnostic scheduled (it's been a process). The behavior started to worsen over the past several months (e.g. the slip to neutral has lengthened in time) but shorter slips have been occurring for a longer time period.

NHTSA complaint #11520417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I was driving on the highway at normal highway speeds of 70MPH when the car lost the ability to accelerate, and I was forced to make an emergency stop on the side of the interstate. With the heavy traffic on the interstate, this scenario could have been catastrophic as there is currently construction and no place to pull over for emergencies. The vehicle was towed to Hubler Acura in Greenwood IN where they performed a diagnostic test and no known issues were found on their diagnostic computer. However, the issue is not happening on a computer at the dealer, the issue occurred on the interstate while traveling 70mph. I have read several message boards where the users have posted similar experiences about losing power when accelerating in their 2017 MDX. The dealerships seem to offer a transmission fluid change or a computer reset as a solution. I have previously had the same acceleration issue and had these two items already completed within the past 90 days and neither issue resolved the problem, which further led to the most recent interstate incident. From my online research, Honda is either unwilling or unable to diagnose this common transmission problem and they need to be held accountable for their inaction. This issue needs to be addressed before it creates a scenario with fatalities.

NHTSA complaint #11459554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Driving East on Interstate 20/59 10 miles East of Meridian, MS November 17, 2021 around 2:00 PM. A lot of trucks on the road. Had speed control set at 69 MPH. Came up behind a semi doing about 65, pulled over to the left lane to go around him. When I got about half way all of a sudden all hell breaks loose. Vehicle goes in into emergency stop with lights flashing all over the dash. Vehicle brakes to around 30 MPH within a couple of hundred feet with semi's and cars beside and behind me. Finally got the vehicle over to the side of the rode without and accident. (A miracle inself). Code DTC P0716. After about an hour of shutdown, started engine and all messages were gone. Took it to the Acura dealer and they, evidently, updated the TCM software. I had not been notified that it needed and update which is negligence on Acura. This incidence could have been a catastrophe with possible deaths. Now my wife is really afraid to drive this vehicle.

NHTSA complaint #11440998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I OWN A 2017 ACURA MDX. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP IT HESITATES FOR A SECOND OR TWO AND THEN JERKS WHEN IT FINDS ITS GEAR. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS USED. MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE OR SWITCHING LANES CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #11388127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MULTIPLE SYSTEMS INDICATOR FAILURES WEN ON, PER ATTACHED PICTURES. THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN THE 1ST GEAR, THE VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING AND WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THIS CREATED A DRIVING HAZARD, AS I WAS ON THE ROADWAY.

NHTSA complaint #11364898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SINCE OWNERS AND ON 4 SPECIFIC OCCASIONS. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED UPON ACCELERATION AT 70 MPH AUTO WENT DEAD. LOST ALL POWER. AFTER EIGHT MINUTES AUTO RESTARTED. 9 MONTHS AGO, WHILE PLACED INTO REVERES TO AUTO SELF ACCELERATED T HIGH SPEED. AFTER BRAKES APPLIED AND VEHICLE PLACED INTO DRIVE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HGH RATE OF SPEED. LOCK BRAKES PUT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL RESTARTED. ONE MONTH AGO WHILE TURNING LEFT INTO TRAFFIC AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION, CAR BRAKES APPLIED AWAITING LEFT TURN AGAINST TRAFFIC. WENT TO ACCELERATE, CAR DASH LIGHTS WENT WILD ALL BEGIN BLING RAPIDLY, DASH WENT BLACK, ABS BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR CAR WENT BY ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL. TOOK OVER 8 MINUTES TO RESTART. ON 9/24.19 TUESDAY AT 1:41 PM WHILE TRAVELING WEST BOUND ON INTERSTATE 90, AT 74 MPH WHILE PASSING A SEMI TRUCK AS I PASSED THE TRUCK, WITH A CLEAR DISTANCE AND PROCEEDED TO TURN INTO THE RIGHT DRIVING LANE IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK AS I PULLED RIGHT THE VEHICLE DASH WENT BLACK, THE ABS AND BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DECELERATED RAPIDLY FROM 74 TO 50 MPH WITHIN A SECOND. THE SEMI LOCKED THE BRAKES TO AVOID A SERIOUS REAR END COLLISION. AS I REACHED 50 MPH THE DASH RE LITE AND ALL INSTRUMENTATION APPEAR TO FUNCTION AND AS I PUSHED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE REGAINED SPEED. I CAN REPORT PERHAPS 15 TO 20 OTHER MAJOR ITEMS WITH COLLISION AVOIDANCE AND ELECTRONIC DASH ABNORMALITIES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE ACURA SHOP MINIMALLY 15 TO 20 TIMES OVER 24 MONTHS TO NO AVAIL. ACURA REPORTS SOFTWARE UPDATES OR BAD BATTERY CAUSING LOW VOLTAGE SIGNALS. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS AND IF NOT ADDRESSED WILL CAUSE DEATH.

NHTSA complaint #11258285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SPEED CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. AUTO BRAKES ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING DOWN CITY STREET AT 40 MPH IN OUTSIDE LANE OF 4 LANE ROAD. NO CARS IN FRONT OR IMMEDIATELY TO MY LEFT. FORTUNITLY THERE WERE NO CARS/TRUCKS BEHIND ME. CAR CAME TO SUDDENED STOP ENGAGING THE SEAT BELTS. AFTER STOPPING I PUT PUT ON GAS AGAIN AND DROVE 2 MORE BLOCKS BEFORE I PARKED CAR FOR 2+ HOURS. CALLED DEALERSHIP & DROVE TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR REPAIR. DEALER KEPT CAR OVERNIGHT AND SAID THERE WERE NO ISSUES THEY COULD FIND BY DRIVING OR CHECKING DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER RECORDS. SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THESE ELECTRICAL ISSUES HAVE APPEARED AND COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED IN THE PAST 20 MONTHS......1 - SUDDENDED EMERGENCY BRAKING - 1X, SPEED CONTROL NOT ENGAGING - 3 TIMES, PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR NOT CLOSING - 10+ TIMES, CAR LOCKING OR NOT UNLOCKING DOORS WITH KEY INSIDE CAR - 3 TIMES. ONCE WILL AT AIRPORT AND WITH CAR RUNNING.

NHTSA complaint #11254064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2017 ACURA MDX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA complaint #11131189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I BELIEVE THE 9-SPEED TRANSMISSION IN THE 2017 MDX PRESENTS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. ONE OF MY MAJOR CONCERNS IS THE SIGNIFICANT "LURCHING" I GET WHEN PARKING ON A SLOPE, SHIFTING TO "PARK" AND THEN TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. ON SNOW OR ICE, THE CAR COULD EASILY SLIDE SOME DISTANCE. I SIMILAR LURCHING ALSO FREQUENTLY OCCURS WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE WHEN ON A SLOPE AND THEN STARTING TO ACCELERATE. MY SECOND MAJOR CONCERN IS THAT WHEN I DOWNSHIFT ON A DOWN-SLOPE IN LIEU OF BRAKING, THE CAR ACTUALLY FIRST SPEEDS SIGNIFICANTLY UP AFTER DOWNSHIFTING AND DOES NOT SLOW DOWN AS IT SHOULD. I DO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DRIVING IN MOUNTAINS WHERE DOWN-SHIFTING IS SAFER THAN BRAKING AND THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. LASTLY, THE CAR HESITATES AT TIMES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AT LEAST TWICE AND AM TOLD THAT THESE ISSUES ARE JUST THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #11083783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AS I REDUCE SPEED, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WHEN I RELEASE THE BREAK TO START ACCELERATING AGAIN. THE ACCELERATION HAPPEN WHEN YOU ARE GOING AT SLOW SPEED. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IT HAD HAPPENED IN 4 OCCASIONS AND I HAD ATRIBUTED THE INCIDENT TO LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN DRIVING A NEW CAR. BECAUSE IT HAPPENED IN FRONT OF MY DAUGHTERS SCHOOL ' AND IN THEORY I COULD HAVE ACTUALLY KILLED A CHILD ' I PROMPTLY DELIVER IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. DURING THE TEST DRIVE WITH THE TECHNICIAN, THE CAR CHANGED GEARS FROM THE COMFORT MODE TO SPORT MODE ON ITS OWN. BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, THEY INFORMED ME THAT AN ENGINEER FROM ACURA WOULD COME AND INSPECT THE UNIT. AFTER A WEEK WITH MY CAR, THEY JUST DID AN UPDATE INTO THE TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE - AND INFORMED ME THEY WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE ISSUE. THIRTY THREE DAYS LATER' WHILE DROPPING MY DAD AT HIS DIALYSIS ' AT A TURN - THE CAR WENT FORM 3 MILES TO 25 MILES, AND IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT IT WAS 5:45 IN THE MORNING ' SINCE I COULD CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT CONSIDERING I ALMOST RAN A LIGHT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND ON FEBRUARY 1, DROPPED AGAIN THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP. 11 DAYS LATER I CALLED BACK TO FOLLOW UP AND WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT ACURA SHOULD HAVE CONTACTED ME ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 9 TO LET ME KNOW THAT THEY WOULD BE SENDING AN ENGINEER TO CHECK THE VEHICLE AGAIN. OUR CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DOCUMENTED ON TWO PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS IN THIS FORUM, THAT CONSTITUTE A SERIOUS RISK FOR MY FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. AT 11:00 AM ON FEBRUARY 12 I HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM ACURA ALTHOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11072322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE 2017 ACURA MDX WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT YOUR CONTROL AND SURGES OR LURCHES WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU. ACURA IS AWARE OF THIS AND SAYS IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 6 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS OF THEIR OLDER CARS AND THE NEW 9 SPEED TRANSMISSION BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX IT OR OFFER A SOLUTION.

NHTSA complaint #11058523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WE OWN A 2017 ACURA MDX, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE SUV ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE BRIEFLY ACCELERATED. I WAS DRIVING THE SUV AT LOW SPEED WHEN IT BRIEFLY ACCELERATED, I WAS KIND OF STUNNED, AND ASKED DID YOU FEEL THAT, SHE SAID YES, AND THEN STATED I GUESS I WASN'T IMAGING IT WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME, THESE WERE SEPARATE ISSUES AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND DATES. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE AND THIS ISSUE WAS MENTIONED, THE SERVICE WRITER EXPLAINED THAT ACURA IS AWARE OF THIS AND IT'S AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE AND ACURA HAS NO FIX, IT WAS ASKED WHY ACURA HASN'T WARNED OWNERS OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM AND THE SERVICE WRITER EXPLAINED IT'S A INTERMITTENT ISSUE THAT HASN'T BEEN REPLICATED IN SERVICE AND DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ALL THE VEHICLES. WE ASKED DOESN'T SOMEONE THINK IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE, THAT WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN LACONIA NH BIKE WEEK IT COULD HAVE ACCELERATED INTO A MOTORCYCLE OR PEDESTRIAN. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE OTHER THAN PLEASE RATE US GOOD ON THE SERVICE CALL WHAT WE DID NOT WHAT ACURA ISN'T DOING?????????

NHTSA complaint #11000462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.