2017 Acura MDX Owner's Guide

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V
ISUAL INDEX
Dashboard and Ceiling Controls
1 Color information display
2 On-Demand Multi-Use DisplayTM
(ODMD) p. 58
3 Hazard warning button
4 Climate control buttons p. 51
5 Moonroof switch p. 36
Map lights p. 40
HomeLink® buttons p. 50
AcuraLink® buttons* p. 79
6 Power window switches p. 35
Door lock switches p. 34

Door mirror controls

p. 46
Power folding mirr

or button* p. 46
7 Power tailgate button p. 33
Fuel fill door r
elease button p. 119
8 Hood release handle p. 139
9 Driving Position Memory System

buttons p. 47
10 Integrated Dynamics System
(D
YNAMIC MODE) button p. 101
Electronic gear selector p. 98
Auto idle stop OFF button* p. 100
11 Audio/phone/navigation/
Surround View Camera*
buttons
p. 50, 65, 75, 105
12 Rear entertainment system* p. 67
13 (inside center console)
USB ports p. 57
Auxiliary input jack p. 57
Accessory power socket

p. 57
1
2834
5
67
9
101112
*if equipped
13

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S
AFETY
Your safety—and the safety of others—is very important, and operating this vehicle
safely is an important responsibility. While we strive to help you make informed
decisions about safety, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the
hazards associated with operating or maintaining your vehicle. Therefore, you must
use your own good judgment.
Important Safety Information
This guide explains many of your vehicle’s safety features and how to use them.
Please read this information carefully. Following the instructions below will also
help to keep you and your passengers safe.
Important Safety Precautions
•
Always wear
your seat belt.
•
Secure all children in

the proper restraint system.
•
Be aware of airbag hazar

ds.
•
Don’t drink and drive.
•
Pay appr

opriate attention to the task of driving safely.
•
Control y

our speed.
•
Keep y

our vehicle in safe condition.
Engaging in cell phone conversation or other activities that keep you from paying
close attention to the road, other vehicles, and pedestrians could lead to a crash.
Remember, situations can change quickly, and only you can decide when it is safe
to divert some attention away from driving.
Important Handling Information Your vehicle has a higher ground clearance than a passenger vehicle designed for
use only on pavement. Higher ground clearance has many advantages for off-
highway driving. It allows you to travel over bumps, obstacles, and rough terrain.
It also provides good visibility so you can anticipate problems earlier.
These advantages come at some cost. Because your vehicle is taller and rides
higher off the ground, it has a higher center of gravity, making it more susceptible
to tipping or rollover if you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles have a significantly
higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. In a rollover crash, an unbelted
person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. As a
reminder, make sure you and your passengers always wear seat belts.
SAFETY INFORMATION

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AFETY
Improperly operating this vehicle on or off pavement can cause a crash or
rollover in which you and your passengers can be seriously injured or killed.
• Follow all instructions and guidelines in this guide.
• Keep your speed low, and don’t drive faster than conditions permit.
WARNING
Safety Messages
When you see the following messages throughout this guide, pay close attention.
You WILL be KILLED

or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t




follow instructions.
You CAN be KILLED

or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t




follow instructions.

You CAN be HUR

T if you don’t follow instructions.
This information is intended to help y

ou avoid damage to your


vehicle, other pr

operty, or the environment.
WARNING
CAUTION
NOTICE
DANGER
Carbon Monoxide Gas
The engine exhaust from this vehicle contains carbon monoxide, a colorless,
odorless, and highly toxic gas. As long as you properly maintain your vehicle and
follow the instructions set forth below, you will not accumulate dangerous levels
of carbon monoxide gas in the vehicle interior.
Have the exhaust system inspected for leaks whenever:
•
The exhaust system is making an unusual noise.
•
The exhaust system may have been damaged.
•
The vehicle is raised

for an oil change.
When you operate a vehicle with the tailgate open, airflow can pull exhaust gas
into the interior and create a hazardous condition. If you must drive with the
tailgate open, open all the windows and set the climate control system as shown
below.
1.
Select the fr

esh air mode.
2.
Select the mode.
3.
Set the fan speed to

high.
4.
Set the temperatur

e control to a comfortable setting.
Adjust the climate contr

ol system in the same manner if you sit in your parked
vehicle with the engine running.

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S
AFETY
An enclosed area such as a garage can quickly fill up with carbon monoxide gas.
Do not run the engine with the garage door closed. Even when the garage door is
open, drive out of the garage immediately after starting the engine.
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic. Breathing it can cause unconsciousness and
even kill you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or activities that expose you to carbon monoxide.
WARNING
Seat Belts
A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags are designed to
supplement seat belts, not replace them. So even though your vehicle is equipped
with airbags, make sure you and your passengers always wear your seat belts and
wear them properly.
Lap/Shoulder Seat Belts
All six or seven seating positions are equipped with lap/shoulder seat belts with
emergency locking retractors. In normal driving, the retractor lets you move
freely while keeping some tension on the belt. During a collision or sudden stop,
the retractor locks to restrain your body. The front passenger’s, second-row, and
third-row seat belts also have a lockable retractor for use with child seats.
The front seats are equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners to enhance
safety. The tensioners automatically tighten the front seat belts during a
moderate-to-severe front collision, sometimes even if the collision is not severe
enough to inflate the front airbags or the driver’s knee airbag.
Proper Use of Seat BeltsFollow these guidelines for proper use:
•
All occupants should sit upright,

well back in the seat, and remain in that
position for the duration of the trip. Slouching and leaning reduces the
effectiveness of the belt and can increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.
•
Never place the shoulder part

of a lap/shoulder seat belt under your arm or
behind your back. This could cause very serious injuries in a crash.
•
Two people should never use

the same seat belt. If they do, they could be very
seriously injured in a crash.
•
Do not put any accessories on

the seat belts. Devices intended to improve
comfort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can reduce the protective
capability and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.
•
No one should sit in a seat with an inoperativ

e seat belt or one that does not
appear to be working correctly. Using a seat belt that is not working properly
may not protect the occupant in a crash. Have a dealer check the belt as soon
as possible.

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S
AFETY
Not wearing a seat belt properly increases the chance of a serious injury or
death in a crash, even though your vehicle has airbags.
Be sure you and your passengers always wear seat belts and wear them
properly.
WARNING
Seat Belt Inspection
Regularly check the condition of your seat belts as follows:
•
Pull each belt out full

y, and look for frays, cuts, burns, and wear.
•
Check that the latches

work smoothly and the belts retract easily. If a belt does
not retract easily, cleaning the belt may correct the problem. Only use a mild
soap and warm water. Do not use bleach or cleaning solvents. Make sure the
belt is completely dry before allowing it to retract.
Any belt that is not in good condition or working properly will not provide proper
protection and should be replaced as soon as possible.
A belt that has been worn during a crash may not provide the same level of
protection in a subsequent crash. Have your seat belts inspected by a dealer after
any collision.
Not checking or maintaining seat belts can result in serious injury or death if
the seat belts do not work properly when needed.
Check your seat belts regularly and have any problem corrected as soon as
possible.
WARNING

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S
AFETY
Fastening a Seat Belt
Adjust your seat to the proper position (see page 43), and then follow the
below steps.
1.
Pull the seat belt out slowl

y.
2.
Insert the latch plate

into the buckle, then tug
on the belt to make sure the buckle is secure.
Make sure that the belt is not twisted or
caught on anything. The front seat belts retract
automatically.
3.
Position the lap part

of the belt as low as
possible across your hips, then pull up on the
shoulder part of the belt so the lap part fits
snugly. This lets your strong pelvic bones take
the force of a crash and reduces the chance of
internal injuries.
4.
If necessary, pull up on

the belt again to remove
any slack, then make sure that the belt rests
across the center of your chest and over your
shoulder. This spreads the forces of a crash over
the strongest bones in your upper body.
To release

the belt, push the red PRESS button


then guide the belt by hand until it has

retracted completely

.
Adjusting the Shoulder Anchor
The front seats have adjustable shoulder anchors to accommodate taller and
shorter occupants.
1.
Move

the anchor up and down while holding the
release button.
2.
Position the anchor so

that the belt rests across
the center of your chest and over your shoulder.
Pull out
slowl y.
Lap belt
as low as
possible
Latch
plate
Buckle
Pull out
slowly.
Lap belt
as low as
possible
Latch
plate
Buckle
Pull out
slowly.
Lap belt
as low as
possible
Latch
plate
Buckle
Push
Improperly positioning the seat belts can cause serious injury or death in a
crash.
Make sure all seat belts are properly positioned before driving.
WARNING

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AFETY
Seat Belt with Detachable Anchor
Models with second-row bench seat
1.
Pull out the seat belt

’s small latch plate and the
latch plate from each holding slot in the ceiling.
2.
Line up the triangle marks on the

small latch
plate and anchor buckle. Make sure the seat
belt is not twisted. Attach the belt to the anchor
buckle.
3.
Insert the latch plate into the buckle. Pr

operly
fasten the seat belt the same way you fasten the
lap/shoulder seat belt.
To unlatch the

detachable anchor, insert the


latch plate into the

slot on the side of the


anchor buckle.
Small latch plate
Latch plate
Small latch plate
Anchor buckle
Latch
plate
Buckle Latch plate
Small latch plate
Using the seat belt with the detachable anchor unlatched increases the
chance of serious injury or death in a crash.
Before using the seat belt, make sure the detachable anchor is correctly
latched.
WARNING

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S
AFETY
Airbags
Your vehicle is equipped with several types of airbags: front airbags, driver’s knee
airbag, side airbags, and side curtain airbags.
Front Airbags (SRS)
The front SRS airbags inflate in a moderate-to-severe frontal collision to help
protect the head and chest of the driver and/or front passenger. They are housed
in the center of the steering wheel for the driver, and in the dashboard for the
front passenger. Both airbags are marked SRS AIRBAG.
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indicates that the airbags are designed to
supplement seat belts, not replace them. Seat belts are the occupant’s primary
restraint system.
Driver’s Knee AirbagThe driver’s knee SRS airbag inflates with the driver’s front airbag in a moderate-
to-severe frontal collision to help keep the driver in the proper position and to
help maximize the benefit provided by the vehicle’s other safety features.
Advanced Airbags
Your front airbags have advanced features to help reduce the likelihood of airbag-
related injuries to smaller occupants.
The driver’s advanced front airbag system includes
a seat position sensor. If the seat is too far forward,
the airbag inflates with less force, regardless of the
severity of the impact.
If there is a problem with the driver’s seat position
sensor, the SRS indicator will come on and
the airbag will inflate with full (normal) force,
regardless of the driver’s seating position.
The passenger’s advanced front airbag system
has weight sensors. Although Acura recommends
against carrying an infant or small child in front, if
the sensors detect the weight of a child (up to 65
lbs or 29 kg), the system will automatically turn off
the passenger’s front airbag.
For both advanced front airbags to work properly:
•
Do not spill any liquid on

or under the seats.
•
Do not put any object under

the passenger’s seat.
•
Make sure an

y objects are positioned properly on the floor. Improperly
positioned objects can interfere with the advanced airbag sensors.
•
All occupants should sit upright and wear

their seat belts properly.
•
Do not place any cov

er over any part of the passenger side dashboard.
•
Make sure

the floor mat behind the front passenger’s seat is hooked to the floor
mat anchor. An improperly placed mat can interfere with the advanced airbag
sensors.
Driver’s
seat
position
sensor
Passenger’s
seat weight
sensors