Acura MDX 2017 User Guide

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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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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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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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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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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

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AFETY

Side Airbags
The side airbags help protect the upper torso and pelvis of the driver or a front
passenger during a moderate-to-severe side impact. They are housed in the
outside edge of the driver’s and front passenger’s seat-backs. Both are marked
SIDE AIRBAG.
Side Curtain Airbags
The side curtain airbags help protect the heads of the driver and passengers in
outer seating positions during a moderate-to-severe side impact or angeled-
frontal impact. The side curtain airbags equipped in this vehicle are also designed
to help reduce the likelihood of partial and complete ejection of vehicle occupants
through side windows in crashes, particularly rollover crashes.
The side curtain airbags are located in the ceiling
above the side windows on both sides of the
vehicle.
The side curtain airbags are designed to deploy
in a rollover or moderate-to-severe side impact.
If the SRS control unit senses that your vehicle is
about to roll over, it immediately deploys both side
curtain airbags and activates both front seat belt
tensioners. If the impact is on the passenger’s side,
the passenger’s side curtain airbag will inflate even
if there are no occupants on that side of the vehicle.
To get the best protection from the side curtain
airbags, occupants should wear their seat belts
properly and sit upright and well back in their seats.
Do not attach any objects to the side windows or roof pillars, as they can interfere
with the proper operation of the side curtain airbags.
When side curtain airbags deploy in a frontal collision
One or both side curtain airbags may inflate in a moderate-to-severe angled
frontal collision. In this case, the side curtain airbags will deploy slightly after the
front airbags.
Side curtain airbag storage
Deployed side curtain airbags

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Important Facts About Your Airbags
Always wear your seat belt properly, and sit upright and as far back from the
steering wheel as possible while allowing full control of the vehicle. A front
passenger should move their seat as far back from the dashboard as possible.
Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and a front airbag.
Carrying hard or sharp objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp
object in your mouth, can result in injuries if your front airbag inflates.
Do not attach or place objects on the front and driver’s knee airbag covers.
Objects on the covers marked SRS AIRBAG could interfere with the proper
operation of the airbags or be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone if
the airbags inflate.
Do not attach accessories on or near the side airbags. They can interfere with
the proper operation of the airbags, or hurt someone if an airbag inflates.
Do not attach any objects to the side windows or roof pillars. They can
interfere with the proper operation of the side curtain airbags.
Do not cover or replace the front seat-back covers. This can prevent your side
airbags from properly deploying during a side impact.
Ignoring the SRS indicator can result in serious injury or death if the airbag
systems or tensioners do not work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a dealer as soon as possible if the SRS indicator
alerts you to a possible problem.
WARNING
Airbag System Indicators
If a problem occurs in the airbag system, the SRS indicator comes on and a
message appears on the multi-information display.
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) Indicator
If the indicator comes on at any other time besides
vehicle start-up, or does not come on at all, have
the system checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
If you don’t, your airbags and seat belt tensioners
may not work properly when they are needed. An open glove box can cause serious injury to your passenger in a crash, even
if the passenger is wearing the seat belt.
Always keep the glove box closed while driving.
WARNING
Airbag System
(SRS) Problem

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AFETY
Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
The indicator comes on to alert you that the front
passenger’s front airbag has been turned off. This
occurs when the front passenger’s weight sensors
detect 65 lbs (29 kg) or less, the weight of an infant
or small child on the seat.
Infants and small children should always ride
properly restrained in a back seat.
Objects placed on the front passenger’s seat can also cause the indicator to come
on.
If the front passenger’s seat is empty, the passenger’s front airbag will not deploy
and the indicator will not come on.
If the indicator comes on with no occupant or objects in the front passenger’s
seat, something may be interfering with the weight sensors, such as:
•
An object hanging on the seat or

in the seat-back pocket.
•
A child seat or other object

pressing against the rear of the seat-back.
•
A rear passenger pushing or pulling

on the back of the front passenger’s seat.
•
The front seat

or seat-back is forced against an object on the seat or floor
behind it.
•
An object placed under the

front passenger’s seat.
If none of these conditions exist, have your vehicle checked by a dealer as soon as
possible.
The passenger airbag off indicator may go on and off repeatedly if the total
weight on the seat is near the airbag cutoff threshold.
U.S. Canada

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AFETY

Airbag System Components
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1 Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) front airbags. The driver’s airbag
is stored in the center of the steering wheel; the front passenger’s airbag is
stored in the dashboard. Both are marked SRS AIRBAG.
2 Driver’s knee airbag. The knee airbag is stored under the steering column. It is marked SRS AIRBAG.
3 Two side airbags, one for the driver and one for the front passenger. The airbags are stored in the outer edges of the seatbacks. Both are marked SIDE
AIRBAG.
4 Two side curtain airbags, one for each side of the vehicle. The airbags are stored in the ceiling, above the side windows. The front and rear pillars are
marked SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG.
5 An electronic control unit that, when the power mode is on, continually monitors information about the various impact sensors, seat and buckle
sensors, airbag activators, and seat belt tensioners.
6 Automatic front seat belt tensioners. The driver’s and front passenger’s seat belts incorporate sensors that detect whether or not they are fastened.
7 A driver’s seat position sensor. If the seat is too far forward, the driver’s front airbag will inflate with less force.
8 Weight sensors in the front passenger’s seat. The front passenger’s front airbag will be turned off if the weight on the seat is approximately
65
lbs (29 kg) or less (the

weight of an infant or small child).
9 Impact sensors that can detect a moderate-to-severe front or side impact.