2017 Acura RDX Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2017 Acura RDX has a Complaint Index of 67, ranking 7th worst of 19 model years, and carries a Caution verdict. Owners most often reported transmission and powertrain issues (30% of complaints) and electrical problems (25%), with brake complaints tied to some crashes.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 67/100
- #7 of 19 RDX years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 76
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 7
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 6
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22.5
- 19.5 city / 27.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 1
Top 2017 Acura RDX problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain23 (30%)
- Electrical System19 (25%)
- Engine14 (18%)
- Brakes13 (17%)
- Other8 (11%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (5%)
- Airbags3 (4%)
- Fuel System3 (4%)
- Lane Departure3 (4%)
- Seat Belts2 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Brake pedal reportedly goes to the floor with little or no stopping power, in one case during highway driving near a construction zone.
- Adaptive cruise control reportedly failed to respond when the brake pedal was pressed, resulting in a multi-vehicle rear-end crash.
- Transmission reportedly overheats and causes rapid acceleration when coming to a stop, with dealers finding clutch assembly problems.
- Front driver's side airbag reportedly failed to deploy in a frontal impact while the passenger-side curtain airbag did deploy.
- Vehicle reportedly loses power at highway speed with the collision avoidance warning light illuminating, sometimes with no fault found by the dealer.
- Rotors reportedly warp, causing vehicle shaking under braking at high speed even after resurfacing and pad replacement.
2017 Acura RDX recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- 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
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Acura RDX reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2017 RDX a Complaint Index of 67, ranking 7th worst among the 19 model years covered, which earns it a Caution verdict relative to other RDX years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2017 Acura RDX?
- Owners most frequently reported transmission and powertrain issues, making up 30% of complaints, followed by electrical system problems at 25% and engine issues at 18%.
- Does the 2017 Acura RDX have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists one recall for the 2017 RDX, covering a certification label printed with ink that could be wiped away with alcohol solvent; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
- At what mileage do 2017 RDX transmission problems typically show up?
- NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage of 49,869 miles at failure for transmission and powertrain complaints on the 2017 RDX.
- How does the 2017 RDX compare to other RDX years?
- The 2017 RDX's Complaint Index of 67 is worse than Good/Best years like 2011, 2012, and 2016, but better than Avoid years such as 2019 and 2020, which reached index scores of 94 and 100.