2018 Acura MDX: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 160 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 10 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
160
Complaints
10
Recalls
3
Crash reports
4
Fire reports
3
Injuries
37.5
Severity index
Severity index 37.5 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 121 2018 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2018 Acura MDX ranks 75 of 121 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 38% of its model-year peers. See the full 2018 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 35 | 21.9% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 28 | 17.5% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 27 | 16.9% |
| POWER TRAIN | 23 | 14.4% |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 22 | 13.8% |
| GASOLINE | 22 | 13.8% |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 19 | 11.9% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 19 | 11.9% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 35 of 160 complaints (21.9%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 16 |
| 2024 | 47 |
| 2025 | 34 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 21 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 5.1x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V060000 | 29/01/2019 | FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 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. |
| 19V256000 | 28/03/2019 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS | 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. |
| 19V298000 | 12/04/2019 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 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. |
| 18V777000 | 01/11/2018 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 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, reduci |
| 18V221000 | 05/04/2018 | SEATS | 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 improperl |
| 23V751000 | 13/11/2023 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL | 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 |
| 23V858000 | 18/12/2023 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 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 H |
| 25V259000 | 17/04/2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 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 an |
| 26V332000 | 21/05/2026 | AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER | 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- |
| 26V365000 | 04/06/2026 | STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 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, Massachuse |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.