What are the most common problems with the 2018 Acura MDX?

The engine group has the most complaints at 54. Electrical and fuel/propulsion follow with 28 each.

Does the 2018 Acura MDX have recalls?

Yes. The by-year fact shows 10 recalls for this model year. They are listed by code in the Recalls section of this page.

How many complaints are there for the 2018 Acura MDX?

NHTSA has 170 owner complaints on file. These are unverified owner reports.

What is the gas mileage of the 2018 Acura MDX?

See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.

Is the 2018 Acura MDX reliable?

Complaints are spread over several groups, led by the engine. See the by-year section to compare it with other years of the same model.

2018 Acura MDX Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 170 owner complaints on file for the 2018 Acura MDX^[1]. The engine group is the biggest, with 54 complaints^[2].

170owner complaints^[1]

10recalls^[3]

21–27MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here is how the complaints on file split by component group, biggest first.

Engine. 54 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe a car that hesitates or briefly stops when they press the gas, plus ticking noises, a starter that quit at a red light, and stalls where the shifter would not move.
Electrical System. 28 complaints^[6]. Owners describe a rear camera view that stays on the screen after shifting forward, parking sensors that go quiet, and a string of smaller electrical faults on one new car.
Fuel/Propulsion System. 28 complaints^[7]. Owners describe sudden slowdowns on the highway, a delay before the car moves from a stop, and smoke or flames from under the hood in the worst stories.
Power Train. 23 complaints^[8]. Owners describe jerky shifts, a car that stays in one gear, and a pause before it picks up speed.
Forward Collision Avoidance. 23 complaints^[9].
Fuel System, Gasoline. 23 complaints^[10].
Unknown Or Other. 20 complaints^[11].
Lane Departure. 18 complaints^[12].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2018 MDX is necessarily included.

Suspension › Rear (26V365), June 2026. About 965,561 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger (26V332), May 2026. About 98,892 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Interior Lighting (25V259), April 2025. About 152,800 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced visibility. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump (23V858), December 2023. About 2,490,460 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]
Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine › Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical (23V751), November 2023. About 248,999 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, a crash, injury, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[17]
Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts And Associated Pulleys (19V298), April 2019. About 93,946 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[18]
Exterior Lighting (19V256), March 2019. About 322,897 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced visibility. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[19]
Fuel System, Other › Delivery › Fuel Pump (19V060), January 2019. About 437,032 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[20]
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper (18V777), November 2018. About 64,785 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[21]
Seats (18V221), April 2018. About 5,810 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[22]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
MDX FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive^[23]	20 / 27 / 23	$3,550
MDX FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive^[24]	19 / 27 / 22	$3,750
MDX AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, All-Wheel Drive^[25]	19 / 26 / 22	$3,750
MDX AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, All-Wheel Drive^[26]	18 / 26 / 21	$3,900
MDX Hybrid AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic (AM-S7), Premium, All-Wheel Drive^[4]	26 / 27 / 27	$3,050

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD^[5]	5	5	5	4	16.4%
SUV FWD^[27]	5	5	5	4	16.4%
SUV AWD^[28]	5	5	5	4	16.4%

Engine and size

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
MDX 4DR SUV AWD^[29]	196 in	77 in	67 in	111 in	4,343 lb

How 2018 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each MDX model year. The 2018 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2001	224	4
2002	205	4
2003	206	11
2004	171	8
2005	180	11
2006	87	9
2007	99	0
2008	49	0
2009	52	0
2010	45	1
2011	70	0
2012	76	1
2013	30	1
2014	172	8
2015	71	8
2016	377	7
2017	268	9
2018	170	10
2019	198	9
2020	229	8
2022	180	3
2023	48	3
2024	43	3
2025	111	4
2026	9	1

NHTSA's counts for the MDX show 170 complaints and 10 recalls for 2018^[3]. Among the 25 model years listed, 13 have fewer complaints than 2018 and 11 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2026 (9) and the most are for 2016 (377)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2018 MDX?

The 2018 Acura MDX has 170 complaints on file^[1]. Engine reports lead the list at 54^[2], and the pause when accelerating shows up across more than one group^[7]^[8]. The page also shows 10 recalls for this model year^[3]. Complaints are unverified reports and are not adjusted for sales^[1]. Read the recall list below, check which ones apply to a specific car, and weigh the complaint groups against how you plan to use it.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Acura MDX?: The engine group has the most complaints at 54^[2]. Electrical and fuel/propulsion follow with 28 each^[6]^[7].
Does the 2018 Acura MDX have recalls?: Yes. The by-year fact shows 10 recalls for this model year^[3]. They are listed by code in the Recalls section of this page.
How many complaints are there for the 2018 Acura MDX?: NHTSA has 170 owner complaints on file^[1]. These are unverified owner reports.
What is the gas mileage of the 2018 Acura MDX?: See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.
Is the 2018 Acura MDX reliable?: Complaints are spread over several groups, led by the engine^[2]. See the by-year section to compare it with other years of the same model.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Acura MDX

2008 49 complaints, 0 recalls
2011 70 complaints, 0 recalls
2012 76 complaints, 1 recall
2013 30 complaints, 1 recall
2014 172 complaints, 8 recalls
2015 71 complaints, 8 recalls
2016 377 complaints, 7 recalls
2017 268 complaints, 9 recalls
2018 this page
2020 229 complaints, 8 recalls

Compare all model years of the Acura MDX

Other Acura models from 2018

2018 Acura RDX 77 complaints, 1 recall

All Acura models

Similar cars from 2018: small suvs

2018 Audi Q5 208 complaints, 6 recalls
2018 Chevrolet Equinox 410 complaints, 5 recalls
2018 Dodge Journey 237 complaints, 6 recalls
2018 Ford Edge 846 complaints, 7 recalls
2018 Ford Escape 1,820 complaints, 4 recalls
2018 GMC Terrain 225 complaints, 5 recalls

All small suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 170 owner complaints on file for the 2018 Acura MDX (3 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 3 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
54 complaints name the engine component group (2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 65,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Acura MDX model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for MDX Hybrid AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic (AM-S7), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 26 city / 27 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
28 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 28,500). NHTSA vehicle records
28 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
23 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 40,000). NHTSA vehicle records
23 complaints name the forward collision avoidance component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
23 complaints name the fuel system, gasoline component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 76,000). NHTSA vehicle records
20 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
18 complaints name the lane departure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 26V365, filed June 4, 2026: Suspension › Rear. NHTSA recall database
Recall 26V332, filed May 21, 2026: Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger. NHTSA recall database
Recall 25V259, filed April 17, 2025: Interior Lighting. NHTSA recall database
Recall 23V858, filed December 18, 2023: Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump. NHTSA recall database
Recall 23V751, filed November 13, 2023: Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine › Hard Parts Internal / Mechanical. NHTSA recall database
Recall 19V298, filed April 12, 2019: Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts And Associated Pulleys. NHTSA recall database
Recall 19V256, filed March 28, 2019: Exterior Lighting. NHTSA recall database
Recall 19V060, filed January 29, 2019: Fuel System, Other › Delivery › Fuel Pump. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V777, filed November 1, 2018: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V221, filed April 5, 2018: Seats. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for MDX FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 27 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for MDX FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 27 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,750. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for MDX AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,750. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for MDX AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MDX 4DR SUV AWD: length 196 in, width 77 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 111 in, curb weight 4,343 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2018 Acura MDX: problems, recalls and fuel economy