no report yet
Structure: frame and members
NewRisk. 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.
2018 Acura MDXProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 169 owner complaints about the 2018 Acura MDX, most often about the engine. It is covered by 10 safety recalls, and for recall 25V-259 the manufacturer reports only 65% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 6, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2018 Acura MDX has problems
169 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
35Engine2 crash/fire/injury
28Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
28Fuel/propulsion system2 crash/fire/injury
23Fuel system, gasoline
23Power train
23Forward collision avoidance
19Engine and engine cooling1 crash/fire/injury
18Lane departure
14Vehicle speed control
4415 other systems3 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 35 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 28 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 28 | 2 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 23 | 0 |
| Power train | 23 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 23 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 19 | 1 |
| Lane departure | 18 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 14 | 0 |
| 15 other systems | 44 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
10 recalls
2018 Acura MDX recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Occupant classification: front passenger
NewRisk. Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Exterior lighting
Risk. Vehicle lights that fail to illuminate can decrease visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Show 6 more recalls
repaired · 2025 Q4
Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
Risk. A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Gasoline: belts and associated pulleys
Risk. Teeth separation from the timing belt may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Exterior lighting
Risk. Loss of the taillights reduces the vehicle's visibility, increasing the risk of crash.
repaired · 2020 Q2
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
repaired · 2020 Q1
Disc: caliper
Risk. A reduction of braking performance increases the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2019 Q3
Seats
Risk. 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.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Acura.
Best & worst years
2018 vs. every other MDX year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the MDX median. How we score
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2018 Acura MDX safety ratings
2018 Acura MDX SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (16.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Standard
- Lane departure warning: Standard
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2018 Acura MDX, and the recalls they led to.
- No Restart After Auto Start/Stop EngagesOpen
- Engine failureOpen
- Engine failureNo recall
In owners' words
What MDX owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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…
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…
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!
Own a 2018 MDX?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.