2018 Acura MDX problems and recalls

Owners filed 97 complaints on the 2018 Acura MDX in the last three full years, out of 164 on record. The most cited component is the Engine.

164
Complaints
10
Recalls
3
Crash reports
4
Fire reports
3
Injuries
45.8
Severity index

Severity index 45.8 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 45.8p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 84 of 122 by severity index among 2018 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 31% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2018 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 35 complaints (21.3%)35 21%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 28 complaints (17.1%)28 17%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 27 complaints (16.5%)27 16%Power TrainPower Train: 23 complaints (14.0%)23 14%Fuel SystemFuel System: 22 complaints (13.4%)22 13%GasolineGasoline: 22 complaints (13.4%)22 13%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 21 complaints (12.8%)21 13%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 19 complaints (11.6%)19 12%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE3521.3%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2817.1%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2716.5%
POWER TRAIN2314.0%
FUEL SYSTEM2213.4%
GASOLINE2213.4%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE2112.8%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1911.6%

Complaints filed per year

024472017: 12018: 92019: 132020: 32021: 42022: 122023: 162024: 472025: 342026: 25 (partial year)1718192021222324472526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20171
20189
201913
20203
20214
202212
202316
202447
202534
2026 (year to date)25
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 5.1x those in 2020 to 2022 (97 against 19).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V06000029/01/2019FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPHonda (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.
19V25600028/03/2019EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTSHonda (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.
19V29800012/04/2019ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYSHonda (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.
18V77700001/11/2018SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPERHonda (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, reduci
18V22100005/04/2018SEATSHonda (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 improperl
23V75100013/11/2023ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICALHonda (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
23V85800018/12/2023FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPHonda (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 H
25V25900017/04/2025EXTERIOR LIGHTINGHonda (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 an
26V33200021/05/2026AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERHonda (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-
26V36500004/06/2026STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERSAmerican 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, Massachuse

Other Acura MDX model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 13 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-06. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.