2018 Acura MDX: problems, recalls and reliability
10 recalls and 163 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine (13% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · 5 new complaints in the last 90 days · latest recall Jun 2026
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 163 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Transmission failed and light appeared. Speed reduced from 30 to 15. Acura stated they had to reset computer system and claimed when they started the car no lights shown and was able to reverse car. I was unable to reverse car, struggled and tugged feeling in the car. This is the 2nd time and they always repeat same solution no lights appeared and to reset system.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2026
“Driving my Acura MDX on the highway, I hear a noticeable engine whine as I accelerate, and it rises in pitch when I take my foot off the accelerator.”Owner report · Power Train · Jun 2026
“The contact owns 2018 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, there was a loud banging noise coming from the sunroof. The contact mention she pulled to the right side of the road and discovered it was shattered. An Independent mechanic or A dealer were not contacted. The contact mention she called her insurance company, and they working with a company through Safe lite. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and they opened a case . The approximate failure mileage was 109,000.”Owner report · Visibility · May 2026
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“Rob bearing recall was performed on a 2018 Acura MDX at around 78,000 miles. After a long ordeal with Acura because the recall had not yet been extended to the 2018 MDX's yet, Honda agreed to replace the motor. The new replacement motor has already seized again with only 30,000 miles. Dealer has taken motor apart and confirmed it is the same rod bearing issue as the recall. So the new motor that was replaced must have the same issue. After further investigation, it also appears that the Acura dealership that replaced the motor, did not tighten or replace many bolts during the repair. I have attached pictures of missing frame bolts, engine bolts, and the spun rod bearings.”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2026
“Warning lights for Collision Mitigation System, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control. Lane Keeping Assistance, Auto High Beam. Features are now disabled causing safety issue. Dealer confirms issues and recommends repairs that have not not been solved by others online. Errors appeared before battery Failure in March 2026. Battery was replaced. Common complaint by many online. Need recall to fix.”Owner report · Forward Collision Avoidance · Mar 2026
“I was merging into traffic on interstate. The car lagged as if it wasn't getting gas. I pulled over to get out of traffic. Scary situation. Please advise!”Owner report · Electrical System · Feb 2026
“The contact owns a 2018 Acura MDX. The contact received a notification from Lyft regarding NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The dealer informed the contact that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jan 2026
“Vehicle experiences dangerous throttle delay from a stop. When making left-hand turns across traffic, pressing the accelerator results in no response for 1-2 seconds. Vehicle hesitates while exposed in intersection, creating risk of collision. Issue has been present since low mileage and not resolved by recall repairs.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Dec 2025
“I want to say that the engine or transmission is faulty. Sometimes while at a complete stop, the car will not advance and tries to stall or lose power. It takes about 2 or 3 seconds to finally go after I push the accelerator pedal almost 3/4 throttle. No it has not been reproduced at the dealer. I took it May of 2024 for the engine recall repair. They said that the repairs should fix the problem but it has maybe even worsened. No warning lamps appear when the problems happen.”Owner report · Power Train · Nov 2025
“When at a complete stop at a stop light or stop sign and ready to press the gas to accelerate, there's a delay for the car to even start moving. It doesn't want to go when pressed on. Which can cause the person behind me to hit the back of the car. It nearly came to that. There's sudden fast movement when accelerating to get the car to move forward. It's been happening numerous times where the gas pedal isn't recognizing the acceleration part. I've read plenty forums about this issue with this vehicle and still not enough complaints for a recall? Can we look into this as this is a safety issue. The car won't accelerate when you want it to.”Owner report · Engine · Nov 2025
When filing, owners marked a crash in 3 of these complaints and injuries in 3 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 10 campaigns
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Acura MDX, 2017-2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda HR-V and Honda Odyssey, and 2016 Honda HR-V vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating, causing gas pockets to form, reducing brake performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Remedy: Owners will be notified, and Honda or Acura dealers will bleed the brakes, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are C31 and L30.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Acura MDX and 2017-2019 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid lights, possibly causing a loss of the tailgate lid lights and the taillights.
Remedy: Acura will notify owners, and dealers will modify the tailgate lid lights and install updated gaskets and a wiring sub-harness or will replace both tailgate lid lights. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is M49.
American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Acura MDX, 2015-2019 Acura TLX and 2015-2017 Honda Accord vehicles, equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine. Particulates in fuel may adhere to the internal components of the fuel pump, reducing its performance.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the fuel injection engine control unit (FI-ECU) software and, if necessary, replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 25, 2019. Owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's recall number for this recall is P3W. Honda's recall number for this recall is N3X.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles. Moisture may enter the tailgate lid light assembly and wiring harness, which can cause the interior and exterior lights to fail, including the lid lights, position lights, license plate lights and taillights.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wiring and install a fuse harness, replace the lid light, and repair the body dust sealer, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2025. Owners may contact Acura's customer service at 1-800-382-2238. Acura's number for this recall is FLI. Vehicles included in this recall that were previously repaired under NHTSA recall number 19V-256 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura MDX and Honda Pilot vehicles and 2019 Acura RLX, RLX Sport Hybrid, TLX and Honda Odyssey and Ridgeline vehicles. The timing belt teeth may separate from the belt.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected timing belt free of charge. Vehicles receiving a replacement timing belt will also have the engine inspected and any damaged components will be replaced for free. The recall began June 7, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is L4M. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is Z4L.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda Pilot and Ridgeline vehicles and 2018 Acura MDX vehicles. The front driver and passenger powered seats in the Honda vehicles and the driver powered seats in the Acura vehicles may have been assembled with improperly manufactured rivets. In the event of a crash, the rivets can break causing the seats not to be secured to the floor. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems," and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver seat frame assembly in Acura MDX vehicles, and replace the driver and front passenger seat slide rail frames in Honda Pilot and Ridgeline vehicles, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall is D0S, and T0T.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2018 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact MDX by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Acura MDX reliable?
NHTSA has 163 owner complaints and 10 recall campaigns on record for the 2018 Acura MDX. The most complained-about area is engine (13% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2018 Acura MDX problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 40,000 miles or less.
Does the 2018 Acura MDX have open recalls?
10 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.