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2017 Acura Rdx

The Verdict

78 Solid Pick

The 2017 Acura Rdx has 80 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are transmission (22 complaints) and electrical (20 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 78/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Acura Rdx, consider the 2024 model year which has 85% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2024 has 85% fewer complaints

View the 2024 Acura Rdx dashboard →

78

Klunk Score: Solid Pick

Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20071352762
2008512322
2009221001
2010201442
2011011212
201230822
201323112826
201426420851
201525037964
20161358105
2017169201322
20181549408
2019256173411616
202020821208015
2021571116245
2022234310
202391842
202473110
20251113411

By Category

Transmission
22
Electrical
20
Body
16
Engine
13
Brakes
9

By Severity

1
37
2
36
4
6
5
1

Worst Problems

Complaints

Electrical 2

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. the vehicle is unsafe to drive without the part and we are left stranded with no vehicle to drive.

5d ago
Transmission 1

DTC Code is registering Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance stuck or off (P0741) This can lead to ruining my transmission. It was an extended warranty to 150,000 miles or 10 years for known issue. Service Bulletin 23-029. Honda corporate refuses to pay or let a more local Honda dealership repair and reimburse. They want me to go to an actual Acura dealership which is over 250-300 miles away. My car won't make it. I've asked regional Honda dealers if they will do it and they said yes, but every time my case manager reaches out she blocks me and says they can't submit payment with no explanation. Same tools, same fluids and same 6 speed transmission as a Honda Pilot or Accord. All I get is excuses because they don't want to pay and offer no resolution. Worst customer experience I've ever had and can't leave town with my vehicle!

13d ago
Electrical 1

The airbag light came on in XXX. on our 2017 Acura RDX. Took the vehicle to Acura Buerkle in [XXX] for service and to look at the light. We were told the vehicle is not safe to drive as the air bag sensor needs to be replaced. Initially the dealership gave us a loaner vehicle and then called and said they don't know when the part will be available and gave us a rental vehicle. That was in XXX. Every month since all we hear is there is no estimated time of delivery for the part. Today, XXX, received a call from the dealership telling us again no ETA on the part and we need to return the rental vehicle. Acura is not going to keep paying for a rental yet they continue to tell us us the vehicle is not safe to drive without the part, but they want us to pick up the vehicle anyway. Since the car has sat for 10 months, we now have to replace the battery, brakes and rotors. Escalated a complaint with Honda directly and the only response I get is a weekly email telling me no ETA on the part. Since the vehicle is not under warranty (extended warranty expired a few weeks prior to us bringing it in) this is the excuse they are using for not covering the rental. The dealership also said since this isn't a recall issue, there is not urgency to the matter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

24d ago
Body 2

I was driving on 94E/ in Illinois; suddenly, I heard a loud shattering sound. 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.

1mo ago
Transmission 2

DTC23-029 and SB P0741 “torque converter and transmission system problem” illuminated on dash. My vehicle is eligible based on 10 year or 150k miles per warranty extension however the dealership where I purchased the vehicle, A bra. Ananda, and A bra America are denying coverage for the needed replacement of the torque converter. The vin decoder verifies the vehicle was manufactured in Ohio, USA. Carfax states it was then exported to Canada for the Canadian market. The vehicle eventually came into the US. I purchased from an authorized A bra dealership in WA state. At the time of purchase I was never informed the vehicle was a grey market vehicle. I am now learning the severe ramifications of this material information as I am being denied cost to replace torque converter. Had Carter Acura of Lynnwood, WA fully disclosed my vehicle was imported and warranty extensions would not be honored, I would not have purchased.

1mo ago
Transmission 1

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.

2mo ago
Electrical 2

I have been experiencing issues with the alarm system when I lock the car the alarm randomly goes off. I have had my battery replaced and it still happens. There is nothing touching the handles during these times, it happens randomly, something internal going on. The only way to be sure it won’t disturb my neighbors is to leave my door unlocked which is unsafe.

2mo ago
Transmission 1

The contact owns a 2017 Acura RDX. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle loss automotive power while the accelerator pedal was depressed. 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. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

5mo ago
Transmission 2

The contact owns a 2017 Acura RDX. While the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact's wife enabled the parking brake. The contact stated that at a later while, the vehicle independently accelerated. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the vehicle was repaired an unknown recall was associated with the turbocharger repair. The contact researched and discovered that the failure was a known failure with similar vehicles. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 143,500.

6mo ago
Transmission 1

The contact owns a 2017 Acura RDX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly sputtered, and the transmission warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and DTC: P0741 was retrieved. The mechanic determined that the torque converter clutch had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, where the same diagnostic results were provided. The contact was informed that the torque converter clutch had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 138,477.

7mo ago
Transmission 2

I was at a stop light, car was stopped, the electronics on the vehicle looked like it went through a reboot, a/c blower fluctuated (turned off then back on), all displays went out and restarted like it does when you start the car. When the traffic light turned green, and I stepped on the gas, the car shuddered and hesitated, like the transmission, abs and traction control were all going haywire. Then the car drove fine. As long as I do not slow down too much or stop. Once I got home and had to back up into the garage, it went through that haywire cycle again. This was the 3rd time this has happened on this car. But after I shut off the engine, wait a little while and start it again, symptom seems to go away, until it decides to happen again. I have had this car since July of 2024, and since that time, I have had this happen to me 3 times and 2 times to my wife. I have read on the net and one of the possibilities talked about if the abs control unit, where soldered wires seems to be melting off of the circuit boards and causing intermittent connection, therefore exhibiting erratic behavior. There are even services on ebay where you can send in your whole abs unit and they will open them up, clean and re-solder the wires. This seems to be scary and concerning from a safety perspective. Please investigate the issue for us who are affected. Occurrences are getting more frequent (almost every other day) and it just happened again today 3/3/26.

7mo ago
Engine 2

ENGINEN BRAKE DON

9mo ago
Engine 2

The engine upper magnesium intake manifold is spider cracked around several mating half bolts causing an engine emission warning light to illuminate for bank #2 lean code. I believe the part number for the upper intake manifold is P/N 17160-5G0-A00. 2017 Acura RDX with 84,000 miles. The Acura mechanic knew what the issue was right away stating that it’s known problem with the magnesium intake manifold, but Acura doesn’t have a recall.

12mo ago
Electrical 1

Acura RDX alarm keeps going off; smart power control unit (keyless access/tpms) is faulty.

13mo ago
Body 1

Locked Acura RDX alarm goes off randomly for no reason. When the alarm is turned off all the lights on the dash are flashing on and off and ticking. The most recent is 8/14/25. But has happened on several occasions especially if locked with the key fob or the lock on exterior of door. On 8/14/2025 it was lock by the inside door lock.

14mo ago
Body 1

Pearl white paint peeling on trunk of car, same issue as with MDX models.

15mo ago
Transmission 2

I was at a stop light, car was stopped, the electronics on the vehicle looked like it went through a reboot, A/C blower fluctuated (turned off then back on), all displays went out and restarted like it does when you start the car. When the traffic light turned green, and I stepped on the gas, the car shuddered and hesitated, like the transmission, ABS and traction control were all going haywire. Then the car drove fine. As long as I do not slow down too much or stop. Once I got home and had to back up into the garage, it went through that haywire cycle again. This was the 3rd time this has happened on this car. But after I shut off the engine, wait a little while and start it again, symptom seems to go away, until it decides to happen again. I have had this car since July of 2024, and since that time, I have had this happen to me 3 times and 2 times to my wife. I have read on the net and one of the possibilities talked about if the ABS control unit, where soldered wires seems to be melting off of the circuit boards and causing intermittent connection, therefore exhibiting erratic behavior. There are even services on eBay where you can send in your whole ABS unit and they will open them up, clean and re-solder the wires. This seems to be scary and concerning from a safety perspective. Please investigate the issue for us who are affected. It is not just my year model car, but it includes Honda branded and different Acura and Honda model cars too. Thank you.

15mo ago
Electrical 2

My car alarm starting going off at random throughout the night, last night and day today. The car also started flickering all the dashboard lights while the car was turned off completely. This seems like it’s the keyless access unit. I don’t know how the battery is not dead yet but seems like it will be tomorrow. The car has not been diagnosed by a dealership or independent service center but I’m seeing many people say they’ve had this same issue happen to them with the same year, make and model. There was no warning lights or symptoms instead I was woke up in the middle of the night to my car alarm going off. After turning the alarm off it happened again after about 5 minutes. My neighbor was outside and told me that it had actually been going off all night. I am now the villain of the neighborhood. This will definitely kill my battery as I’m watching and hearing electrical components turning on when I haven’t touched the key fob or door.

16mo ago
Transmission 1

The RDX has been experiencing stalls when trying to accelerate, shaking/vibrations when accelerating uphill or around curves in roads. I received a letter about the Torque Converter having its warrantee extended. The letter stated if you are experiences issues related to the torque converter to contact the dealership. I took my RDX to the Acura dealership in which they stated the car did not show the code to have the Torque Converter replaced but instead I needed a transmission flush. I have stated that I am experiencing problems related to the Torque Converter and after replacing it a transmission flush is part of the process. The dealership is refusing to replace the torque converter but charging me $500 for a transmission flush.

16mo ago
Transmission 2

Drive Train labor rear driver cv halfshaft axle could not locate axle part anywhere for repair, sold out and on back order! clear indication that other drivers are having same issue with this part. should be looked into and recalled!

17mo ago

80 total

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