YearToAvoid

2017 Acura RDX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

53/100

#8 most-complained of 16 RDX years

The 2017 Acura RDX has a Complaint Index of 53 and ranks 8th worst among 16 model years, earning a "Caution" verdict relative to other RDX years. Its top problem area is Transmission & Powertrain (30% of complaints), followed by Electrical System (25%).

Complaints
76
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
7 / 1
Injuries / deaths
6 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22.5
19.5 city / 27.5 hwy

Top 2017 Acura RDX problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain23 (30%)
  2. Electrical System19 (25%)
  3. Engine14 (18%)
  4. Brakes13 (17%)
  5. Other8 (11%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (5%)
  7. Airbags3 (4%)
  8. Fuel System3 (4%)
  9. Lane Departure3 (4%)
  10. Seat Belts2 (3%)

What owners report

  • Brakes reportedly fail to respond or the pedal drops to the floor, in one case causing the driver to rear-end multiple vehicles.
  • Owners describe sudden loss of power at highway speed accompanied by dashboard warning lights, sometimes followed by a stall.
  • The transmission is reported to overheat and accelerate unexpectedly when coming to a stop, with clutch assembly problems found by the dealership.
  • Vehicles shake or vibrate at high speed when brakes are applied, attributed to warped rotors even after resurfacing and pad replacement.
  • Front airbags reportedly failed to deploy in a frontal crash while side curtain airbags did deploy.
  • The rear-view split-screen camera display was described as distorted, making an approaching vehicle appear to veer into the driver's lane.
2017 Acura RDX complaints: complaints filed per quarter62017 Q12018 Q22020 Q12021 Q42023 Q12024 Q32025 Q4
99 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2017 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q3 (6).

2017 Acura RDX recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 17V256000Apr 18, 2017Other1,425 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017 CR-V and Acura RDX vehicles. The Certification Labels on the affected vehicles were printed with ink that may be inadvertently wiped away with an alcohol solvent. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."

    Risk: If the label information can be wiped away, the operator may not be able to refer to the information, possibly resulting in the vehicle being overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Honda and Acura will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Certification Label, free of charge. The recall began June 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KF3 (CR-V)and KF4 (RDX).

2017 Acura RDX fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19.5 MPG
Highway
27.5 MPG
Combined
22.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,550
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2017 compared with other RDX years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Avoid87411322.5
2016Good2740222.5
2017Caution5376122.5
2018Good4777122.5
2019Avoid100438523.5

All Acura RDX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Acura RDX reliable?
NHTSA lists 76 complaints for the 2017 RDX with a Complaint Index of 53, ranking it 8th worst out of 16 model years and giving it a "Caution" verdict compared to other RDX years.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Acura RDX?
Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 30% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 49,869 miles, followed by Electrical System issues at 25%.
Does the 2017 Acura RDX have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (campaign 17V256000) was issued because the Certification Label ink could be wiped away with alcohol solvent; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2017 RDX compare to other years?
The 2017 RDX (Complaint Index 53) is worse than 2016 (27) and 2018 (47) but better than 2014, 2015, 2019, and 2020, which all carry "Avoid" verdicts with higher indexes.
What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Acura RDX?
EPA rates the 2017 RDX at 22.5 mpg combined (19.5 city / 27.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.