VehicleVerdict

2018 Acura MDX engine problems

The 2018 Acura MDX has 52 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 19% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

52

Engine complaints

19%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

MDX engine complaints by model year157 complaints2001: 23 complaints2002: 19 complaints2003: 28 complaints2004: 26 complaints2005: 16 complaints2006: 11 complaints2007: 15 complaints2008: 5 complaints2009: 11 complaints2010: 11 complaints2011: 29 complaints2012: 23 complaints2013: 10 complaints2014: 26 complaints2015: 6 complaints2016: 157 complaints2017: 93 complaints2018: 52 complaints2019: 76 complaints2020: 92 complaints2022: 9 complaints2023: 1 complaints2024: 5 complaints2025: 40 complaints2026: 1 complaints
MDX engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

23V751000EngineNovember 13, 2023 · 248,999 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.

19V298000EngineApril 12, 2019 · 93,946 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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

Remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected timing belt free of charge. Vehicles receiving a replacement timing belt will also have the engine inspected and any damaged components will be replaced for free. The recall began June 7, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is L4M. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is Z4L.

What owners report

“The contact owns a 2018 Acura MDX. The contact stated that at an idle stop, he allowed another vehicle to complete a turn. As the contact depressed the accelerator pedal to make a left turn, the vehicle came to an abrupt stop which caused the vehicle to be rear ended by another vehicle. The air…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · December 9, 2024 · crash

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2018 Acura MDX have?

NHTSA has 52 complaints about the 2018 Acura MDX engine — 19% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2018 Acura MDX engine?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the engine: 19V298000, 23V751000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.