2017 Acura MDX: sudden loss of power

Filed Nov 2, 2026 · Transmission · TX

While driving my 2017 Acura MDX on I-35W in Fort Worth, Texas, at approximately 60 mph, the vehicle suddenly displayed a "Transmission Problem – See Manual" warning and completely lost the ability to move forward. The accelerator became unresponsive, and the vehicle would not move in Drive. We could only coast using the vehicle's remaining momentum. There were six people in the vehicle, including two children and two elderly passengers. We were in heavy highway traffic near a complex interchange, in the second lane from the left, with a very narrow left shoulder. The vehicle was rapidly losing speed while other cars continued approaching at highway speeds. We had to carefully cross approximately four to five lanes of traffic to reach the right shoulder. Other drivers honked and maneuvered around us, creating an extremely dangerous situation. If the vehicle had stopped in an active traffic lane, we could easily have been struck from behind by another vehicle traveling at highway speed. With six occupants, including young children and elderly passengers, the consequences could have been catastrophic or fatal. This sudden loss of power put not only our family but also other motorists at serious risk. We activated the hazard lights and called 911. A police officer eventually positioned a patrol vehicle behind us with emergency lights to protect the scene. The MDX was subsequently transported by flatbed tow truck. The mechanical cause has not yet been determined. The vehicle should be available for inspection upon request. I am reporting this incident because a sudden loss of the ability to move forward at highway speed is an extremely serious safety hazard that could result in a major collision, serious injuries, or loss of life.

Filed Aug 24, 2026 · Engine, Lights · CO

On my 2017 Acura MDX SH-AWD with approximately 112,000 miles, the engine experienced a sudden catastrophic failure while I was traveling at highway speed. The vehicle abruptly lost power, the accelerator became unresponsive, smoke came from the vehicle hood and exhaust area, and multiple warning lights illuminated. The failure occurred with no advance warning and created a serious safety risk because I suddenly lost propulsion while traveling approximately 75 mph in highway traffic. An independent repair facility inspected the vehicle and reported that connecting rod/bearing failure resulted in catastrophic engine damage. I was advised that two connecting rods/bearings failed and caused holes in the engine block, with a rod/component also damaging the A/C compressor. Oil subsequently leaked from the damaged engine. Prior to the sudden failure, I did not have warning lights or other indications suggesting an imminent engine failure. The warning lights appeared during or immediately after the loss of power. The vehicle has been inspected by a repair facility and the engine requires replacement. The vehicle/failed components can be made available for inspection upon request. I am particularly concerned because Acura has previously recalled certain vehicles for connecting rod bearing failures that can result in engine damage, stalling, or loss of motive power. My vehicle is the same model year and has experienced an apparently similar catastrophic connecting rod/bearing failure, but my VIN is not currently included in the recall 23V‑751. I am submitting this complaint so the federal safety agency can evaluate whether the affected population may extend beyond the VINs currently covered in that recall. This is also linked to the federal safety agency’s new investigation PE25008.

Filed Aug 6, 2026 · Engine · MD · fire

I was driving home late at night with my family in the car. The car suddenly loss power and the check engine light came on and began flashing. I pulled over and turned the car off and back on. The light went away. I began driving again and after a short while, a bunch of lights popped up on the dashboard and the car began to loose power again and started making weird rattling noises from the engine. Just moments before pulling over again I realized the car was on fire and evasively pulled over and frantically got my sleeping children out of the car and we created distance from the vehicle since it was on fire underneath. We called the fire department and they responded very quickly and put out the fire. We secured a few belongings and the children’s car seats and my brother in law picked us up. The car was towed from the scene. I called the incident into the insurance the next day and filed a claim. After a few days once the adjuster came out, it was determined that the insurance company would not be covering the claim because the cause of the fire was internal engine failure. It had shot a bearing cap through the oil pan and that is what caused the fire. I contacted Honda about the issue and have yet to hear back from them. This was over a month ago. I am now stuck repairing the vehicle on my own since I cannot afford to take the car to the dealer and I am mechanically inclined as it is what I do for a living. The car is currently in my garage and after taking the engine apart, I found that the main bearing for cylinder #6 had failed and in turn fell apart and broken the piston for that cylinder and the broken debris destroyed the engine block and even bent the valves on the from head for that cylinder. I now have to rebuild my entire engine with no warning whatsoever that this was going to happened. The car was maintained on schedule and nothing was ever overlooked or not performed. It was a great car until the engine decided to grandad itself out of nowhere.

Filed Jun 29, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · 97,000 miles · AZ

The contact owns a 2017 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle lost power and stalled in the middle of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. Additionally, the transmission failed to shift out of park(P). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

Filed Jun 4, 2026 · Engine · 180,000 miles · MA

The contact stated that while driving, the engine made clunking noise, sudden loss of power and the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a connecting rod bearing failure and engine replacement is necessary. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.

Filed Apr 4, 2026 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · FL

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.

Filed Mar 21, 2026 · Fuel system · PA

I noticed a whirring sound while driving my MDX. The repair shop investigated and noted that the bearing in my transfer case assembly is failing and needs immediate replacement to prevent total power loss to the propulsion system of the car. Current milage of the vehicle is 99,500.

Filed Jan 9, 2026 · Engine · AL

On my way home from work one evening, the car started making a loud knocking noise, then the car started losing power, the rpms jumping up and down and the dashboard lit up with warnings of all kinds. The traffic was somewhat heavy and and cars were speeding pass me, brakes screeching, horns blowing and my car steadily losing power. I was afraid, I didn't know what to do. I was trying to find a safe place to pull off the road. It was a traumatic experience as a large truck swerved into the other lane of traffic to avoid hitting me, almost causing an accident. Luckily I made it home safely. I had a mechanic look at it the next day and he said the engine needed to be replaced. Not convinced of the diagnosis, I had the car towed to another mechanic who confirmed the engine would have to be replaced. I had no issues with the car or the mechanics of the car prior to this. I could not for the life of me understand how my 2017 Acura MDX with only 74,000 miles on it, could possibly need a new engine unless it was defective. So I then towed the car to the Acura dealership where they confirmed, the engine needed to be replaced. However, when I asked about the engine recall, I was told my VIN is not included in the recall although it is the same exact issue. Acura did offer a one time goodwill assistance for 25% of the repair costs if performed at Acura. Admission of guilt knowing my car has a defective engine is what that says to me about Acura's offer of 25%! Since the car was useless without a engine, I have since had it repaired by an independent mechanic. I'm very disappointed in Acura.

Filed Sep 9, 2025 · Engine · TX

On [XXX], while driving at approximately 50 mph on [XXX], the vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of power accompanied by severe shuddering. Multiple warning lights illuminated on the dashboard, including the check engine light. The vehicle would momentarily regain power before failing again. This created a significant safety hazard, as I was unable to maintain speed or accelerate safely in traffic. The vehicle was immediately taken to Team Gillman & then transferred to Sterling McCall Acura located at Houston, TX. The dealership diagnosed a catastrophic internal engine failure, originating from the bottom end, requiring a full engine replacement. The vehicle's mileage at the time of failure was approximately 142,250 miles. This critical failure occurred without any prior warning. I am aware of the federal safety agency Investigation Number ODI PE25008 regarding faulty connecting rods in certain Acura and Honda vehicles, which can lead to sudden engine failure. While my vehicle's VIN was not included in the initial recall population, its symptoms and failure mode are identical to those described in the investigation. I requested that Acura address this known defect through a goodwill repair, given the clear correlation to an ongoing federal safety investigation. This request was formally denied June 2025. Given that the federal safety agency has expanded its investigation to include additional vehicles and model years, including that of my MDX, I am filing this complaint to ensure my vehicle and its specific failure data are included in the official the federal safety agency record. Urge the agency to compel American Honda Motor Co. to expand any subsequent recall to include my vehicle and others with identical failure patterns. The sudden nature of this engine failure presents an unacceptable safety risk to the driver, passengers, and the public. Thank you for your attention to this matter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 6, 2025 · Transmission · 84,542 miles · FL

On [XXX], while driving from Orlando, FL to Atlanta, GA, I experienced one of the most terrifying moments of my life. I was traveling on the freeway at approximately 80 MPH, in lane 3 or 4, when my vehicle suddenly began to hesitate and lose power without any warning. In that moment, fear and panic took over. Cars were flying past me, and I could feel my truck rapidly decelerating. I immediately turned on my hazard lights and began honking to alert other drivers, praying they would give me space to move over. Thankfully, I was able to carefully navigate across lanes and reach the far-left shoulder. Once I got into the acceleration/deceleration lane, the vehicle suddenly lurched forward and began accelerating again—completely on its own. I knew I couldn't risk staying on the road, so I exited at the next ramp and pulled into a gas station, still shaken. After refueling, I attempted to restart the truck, but it would no longer shift into Drive or Neutral. The truck was stuck in Park and completely inoperable. A roadside mechanic responded to my call for help and made several attempts to restore mobility, but nothing worked. I spent the evening stranded and alone, unsure of what to do next. The following day, [XXX], I had the vehicle towed to Honda South near Atlanta, GA. After inspection, I was informed that the issue was a complete transmission failure. In addition to needing a new transmission, the vehicle also required replacement of critical sub-assembly components, including the transmission control module (TCM). This situation was not just a mechanical failure—it was a serious safety event that put my life and the lives of others at risk. I’m still shaken by what happened and deeply concerned about how such a failure could occur so suddenly and without warning. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 23, 2025 · Engine · TX

While driving on the interstate, the engine suddenly lost power and a lot of malfunction indicator lights turned on. Driver was able to pull over without incident. Mechanic reported the engine had failed due to loss of oil pressure. The engine had to be replaced.

Filed Mar 1, 2025 · Engine · CA

On [XXX] had a problem with my 2017 Acura MDX. Engine had loud knocking sound and major loss of power. Had car towed to Acura of Santa Barbara Ca. Was told they had found #2 rod bearing was bad and would cost over $17000 or more to repair. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)