What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2018 Acura MDX

Typical pattern

5.2% of complaints about the 2018 Acura MDX came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2018 vehicle — around the middle of the 182 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.7 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (35 complaints), typically at 6.4 yr or about 44,000 miles.

Complaints
286
Median age at failure
6.7 yr
Median mileage
30,000 n=60
Crash / fire / tow
4.9% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
35 reports · 44,000 mi
6.4 yr
5.7%
Collision avoidance
35 reports
8.1 yr
0%
Fuel / propulsion
28 reports · 45,000 mi
6.4 yr
7.1%
Electrical system
26 reports · 12,000 mi
6.3 yr
7.7%
Lane departure
23 reports
7.9 yr
0%
Power train
22 reports · 40,000 mi
6.3 yr
4.5%
Fuel system
22 reports · 65,000 mi
6.8 yr
4.5%
Other
19 reports · 15,150 mi
4.3 yr
5.3%
Engine cooling
19 reports · 98,031 mi
6.7 yr
5.3%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

26V365000 2026-06-04
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, 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.

Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

26V332000 2026-05-21
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-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.

Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

25V259000 2025-04-17
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 and taillights.

Vehicle lights that fail to illuminate can decrease visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

23V858000 2023-12-18
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 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

23V751000 2023-11-13
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 the engine.

A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.

19V298000 2019-04-12
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.

Teeth separation from the timing belt may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.

19V256000 2019-03-28
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.

Loss of the taillights reduces the vehicle's visibility, increasing the risk of crash.

19V060000 2019-01-29
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.

Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.

18V777000 2018-11-01
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, 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."

A reduction of braking performance increases the risk of a crash.

18V221000 2018-04-05
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 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."

In the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the floor, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.

In owners’ own words

Engine 1,900 mi 8 mo in service
STARTER FAILED WITH AUTO START/STOP WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. SINCE ENGINE WOULDN'T START, CAR SHIFTED TO PARK AUTOMATICALLY AND CAN NOT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND UNABLE TO START. THE BATTERY WAS FINE AND COULD GO INTO AUX MODE, BUT STILL WON'T SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. ASIDE FROM QUALITY ISSUES RELATED TO STARTER, SIGNIFICANT SAFETY DESIGN FLAW.
Engine 25,345 mi 2.9 yr in service
TICKING NOISES COMING FROM ENGINE. CONFIRMED WITH DEALER ACURA IS LOOKING INTO THIS. I'M ALSO EXPERIENCING BRIEF LOSS OF POWER DEALER STATES THIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH ENGINE.
Engine mileage not reported 3.6 yr in service
On a regular basis, if accelerating to cross an intersection, car stops or hesitates for several seconds. We have almost been hit by cars several times in the past year. Dealership states everytime i have it serviced, they are unable to replicate and they have never heard of this. In a 5 minute internet search I have found many references to the same issue.
Other 1,900 mi 8 mo in service
STARTER FAILED WITH AUTO START/STOP WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. SINCE ENGINE WOULDN'T START, CAR SHIFTED TO PARK AUTOMATICALLY AND CAN NOT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND UNABLE TO START. THE BATTERY WAS FINE AND COULD GO INTO AUX MODE, BUT STILL WON'T SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. ASIDE FROM QUALITY ISSUES RELATED TO STARTER, SIGNIFICANT SAFETY DESIGN FLAW.

Other MDX model years

2025202220202019201820172016201520142012201120092007200620052004200320022001

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