AI Damage2017 Acura RDX: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Acura RDX filed 80 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and electrical system. The maker issued 101 service bulletins for this year. We found 3 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 80
- involving a crash
- 7
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 101
- YouTube repair videos
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 30% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 23% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 14% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 10% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 6% of all complaints
- 7 Forward collision avoidance 5% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 4% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 24 complaints (30% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 10.
- Electrical system: 18 complaints (23% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 13.
- Service brakes: 11 complaints (14% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Engine: 11 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Vehicle speed control: 8 complaints (10% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 80 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 24 | 1 | 10 |
| Electrical system | 18 | 0 | 13 |
| Service brakes | 11 | 3 | 5 |
| Engine | 11 | 0 | 4 |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 5 | 2 | 6 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 20 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
During the crash the front end of the vehicle was severely damaged but the front driver's side air bag did not deploy. The front passenger side curtain air bag did deploy although no passenger was seated in the vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. A police report was taken at the scene.
Upon impact ( which I have pictures of) my driver side seatbelt released completely unbuckled & dangling , my dash lit up & said airbags deployed. But no airbags deployed. In turn upon impact my sternum hit my steering wheel. It busted the radiator so now my car will not even turn on.
First, the transmission had overheated, there were problems in the clutch assembly, and I don't know the third.
The contact stated that while she was driving, the adaptive cruise control was set to 25 mph, when she depressed on the brake pedal at the stoplight, but the brakes failed to respond, which resulted in her vehicle rear-ending six other vehicles. The air bags deployed.
airbag light came on in vehicle in Dec 2025. Took vehicle to local Acura dealer for service. they said a new airbag module part (77810-TX4-A40ZA) is needed. Been waiting 11 months for the part and only get no eta from corporate and the dealer.
When I was able to exit the highway and check, I was shocked to see my sunroof had shattered! Nothing had hit the sunroof. It was a spontaneous break! If I hadn’t had the inside sunroof closed, glass would have hit me and my passenger.
Transmision warning light comes on along with side warning indicator , stays on till vehicle is turned off . Then may or maynot come back on . Very intermitent.
No warning lights were illuminated. The failure occurred on several different occasions. A dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure and stated that the failure was possibly caused by the torque converter however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 661 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 31% most complained about).
On average one model year of the RDX has 109 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 80, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Owner Notification Letter - Under certain circumstances, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot…
Owner Notification Letter - Under certain circumstances, 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…
- Service Bulletin - The lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down…
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…
- 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 not…
- Service Bulletin - The lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down…
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…
- Service Bulletin - The lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down…
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…
- Dealer message - American Honda is investigating a potential quality concern with RDX Accessory Cross Bar kit
Due to this investigation, American Honda is requesting all dealers to return any uninstalled inventory to American Honda for investigation and validation by the supplier.
- Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2020 MDXs, RDXs & TLXs with a client complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0171 & P0174 (Rear/Front Bank Fuel System…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for 2017 MDXs, RDXs, RLXs & TLXs with a client complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P2652 (Rocker Arm Oil Pressure Switch B [Bank 1] Stuck On) & P3400 (Valve Pause…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2017-2021 ILXs, 2022 MDXs & 2017-2018 RDXs with a client complaint of front suspension/damper noise. Noise can be described as knock, clunk, rattle, thump or creak. To better understand…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2018 RDXs with a client complaint of the rear view camera loose or hanging. Clients may also notice a shaky image or a skewed angle view on the rear view camera screen when the…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2013-2017 RDXs with a client complaint of paint peeling on the rear roof panel. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle…
- This bulletin covers the total quality inspection (TQI), including testing, of the navigation system for…
This bulletin covers the total quality inspection (TQI), including testing, of the navigation system for the 2017 RDX. It includes these topics
NHTSA lists 101 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Acura RDX?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, electrical system, service brakes. Total complaints: 80. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (20%), jerking, harsh shifts (14%), driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Acura RDX?
NHTSA lists 101 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2017 Acura RDX from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2017 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.