2017 Acura MDX: harsh or hard shifting

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 Oct 16, 2025 · Engine · NJ

My 2017 Acura MDX with only 87,000 miles has suffered catastrophic engine failure. The vehicle has been properly maintained and all repairs recommended by the dealership where the performed since it was purchased new. While the dealership has confirmed the engine failure cause is exactly what is feared by the Recall Report 23V‑751, Honda has refused to acknowledge their responsibility since my VIN does not fall within their "identified" inventory. The engine is currently at the dealership and will be maintained as evidence for the "to-be-filed" lawsuit that will be required to recover the repair costs. The engine seized while driving and had to maneuver the vehicle to a safe location. Had I been travelling on the highway at the time. the outcome would have been disastrous. The problem is described in detail in Recall Report 23V‑251. There were no warning lights or issues other than a clunking sound the night before. I was driving to the dealership at the time the engine failure occurred.

Filed Jun 8, 2025 · Transmission · CA

We purchased vehicle in Sept 2020. The vehicle has always had a rough jerk or rough shift when initially moving at stop lights or any stop and as vehicle is accelerated and to shifting to next gear. It is not a smooth transmission shift from initial start to first few gears. Just seems that at any time transmission may fail and vehicles behind may run into it.

Filed Jan 4, 2025 · Engine · IL

Possibly the connecting rod bearings failed. The engine with less than a 100,00 milage has a loud knocking and clunking sound and losing power, but the car is not part of the Honda/Acura J35 engine recall.

Filed Dec 25, 2023 · Body, Electrical · WA

i bought new car in 2017 November and around over 2500k miles I heard engine chirping sound and if you're surrounded by wall you can hear it louder. took it to dealership several time but they said it's normal and show me another car to prove to me. Which it did had same sound. Then yrs go by I hear loud clunking sound underneath the car every time I reversed and when switching gear to reverse. also about 1-2 yr owning it I heard clunking sound on steering wheel so when mechanic looked at dealership they said it could have been air bag wires so they secured it and shouldn't have any more problem. on 3rd yr I went back to dealership because I know something is wrong with steering wheel clunking sound when turning low speed to right and felt much tighter to turn. they said one of suspension is problem so they replaced but 2wks later happen again. I was in rush for them to resolve before my 4yr warranty ends but they keep playing around saying initially by experience mechanic when we did test drive he heard the sound and thinks it's steering rack or pinion. so I was relived after yr of back n forth they figured out and tells me to wait for next step. but after 1hr waiting at lobby they told me after lifting car up can't manipulate the sound again so can't fix. I wanted to speak to that mechanic again and the way he looked at me and said sorry I don't know what's wrong with it seem like his been told by higher up to lie bc that day they had corporate person visit and that person refused my claim. I asked to fix steering rack or both and they said we can't bc its costing them money and what if that's not the case. I took it to local mechanic and whenever my vehicle is lifted its hard to find the sound but when on ground you can hear. Then recently I brought up that clunk sound to different mechanic during oil change they found out that my body frame was loose so he tighten the bolts. He said it's rare to have frame loose. after that no more clunking when reversing.

Filed Jun 6, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 5,000 miles · CA

We have experienced many issues with our 2017 mdx sh-awd. On a cold start when shifting from first to second gear there is a sudden lurch hard shift. Once warm this is still present but not as pronounced. The transmission seems to slip through gears and have sudden downshifts that decelerate the car or the vehicle will lurch forward without having your foot on the gas as it shifts itself into a different gear. When trying to 'punch it' and accelerate quickly it will often hesitate to go into the correct gear then suddenly rev high as it speeds up. Hunting up and down through gears while staying at a constant speed. The navigation system is extremely slow to come up and respond to inputs when the car is started. Acura has claimed this is due to cell phone bluetooth interference. Collision mitigation system has engaged twice. The first time by husband was in a parkinglot driving through a row looking for a spot to park. The car slammed on the breaks with no cars in his path and nearly caused the car behind him to rear end him. The second time I was approaching a stop light to turn right, there was a vehichle in front of me but the distance I was stoping from the rear of that vehichle was not an abnormal or alarming distance. The brakes locked up with lights flashing on the dash and an awful grinding noise coming from beneath the car. On one occasion from a parked position it would not allow us to engage it in drive. It flashed "shift to park" on the dash. It took three attempts to get it to go in to drive. The rear hatch hydrolics had to be replaced within the first 6 months as the power liftgate stopped working. One of the two key fobs also went out on us in the first 6 months, replacing the battery did nothing and the whole fob needed to be replaced.

Filed Mar 17, 2018 · Transmission · 378 miles · MD

On february 23,2018, I purchase a new 2017 acura mdx with technology package. The vehicle had 378 miles when I purchased it. It had never been titled and was sold as a new vehicle. Upon taking delivery of the vehicle, I noticed that the vehicle hesitates when shifting gears. When stopped at a traffic light on a flat paved, city street, the vehicle experiences poor acceleration when taking off. I am pressing the gas pedal down really hard, yet the vehicle is moving very slowly--not equal to the amount of pressure I am applying to the gas pedal. The acceleration is very poor, especially when pulling off from a stopped position. When I am going downhill on a paved city street, the vehicle accelerates even when no gas is applied. Experiencing rough shifting, especially in low gears on all paved roads. Dangerous when trying to merge onto the highway due to extremely slow acceleration. Sometimes when slowing down to stop, the vehicle accelerates. When I try to make a left turn against oncoming traffic, the vehicle hesitates and could cause a serious accident. All driving takes places on city streets, highways and paved roadways. On one occasion, the vehicle would not shift into reverse from a parked position. I received an error code saying 'transmission problem, pull over when safe." the poor acceleration problem is worse when I enable the adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist features. I have returned the vehicle to the dealership on 2 separate occasions. Each time they tell me the vehicle is operating as designed. They even said that I need to drive the vehicle more so that the transmission will learn my driving patterns and make the necessary adjustments.