2018 Acura MDX: complaints, problems and recalls

THE 2018 ACURA MDX HAS WINDSHIELD DISTORTIONS AFFECTING VISIBILITY AND CAN LEAD TO DIZZINESS RESULTING FROM VISUAL VERTIGO. IMAGES SEEN THROUGH THE OUTER EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD ARE DISTORTED. STRAIGHT LINES (ROAD BARRIERS, LINES ON THE STREET, FENCES, CURBS, ETC) APPEAR BENT/CURVED. OBJECTS ALSO QUICKLY MAGNIFY AND THEN REVERT TO NORMAL SIZE CAUSING BLURRYINESS AS WELL AS AFFECTING THE ABILITY TO DETERMINE ACCURACY OF OBJECT PLACEMENT AROUND YOU WHEN DRIVING. THE WINDSHIELD IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY HAZARD PUTTING DRIVERS AT RISK FOR ACCIDENTS.…

Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 11053511 at NHTSA ↗

PURCHASED ACURA MDX IN JANUARY OF 2018 SO IT IS NOW 3 MONTHS. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING SIGNIFICANTLY WRONG WITH ITS AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HILL ON A RESIDENTAL, FAST PACED ROAD, WITH A GUARDRAIL TO MY RIGHT SIDE AND ANOTHER CAR PASSING ME ON THE LEFT SIDE. WE BOTH WE TRAVELING AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 40 MILES PER HOUR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR'S BRAKES WENT ON, CAUSING ME TO SWERVE INTO THE GUARDRAIL. FROM THERE, I WAS THROWN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC CAUSING A COLLISON. I BELIEVE THE SYSTEM BECAME CONFUSED AND STEPPED O…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11081739 at NHTSA ↗

AT APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN VIBRATING WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 58-62 MPH. STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED WITH AND WITHOUT BRAKING. AT APPROXIMATELY 1,000 MILES, STEERING WHEEL BEGAN VIBRATING VIOLENTLY WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 58-62 MPH. STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED WITH AND WITHOUT BRAKING. DEALERSHIP ROTATED TIRES. MODERATE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION STILL REMAINED WHEN BRAKING BETWEEN 58-62 MPH. AT APPROXIMATELY 2,400 MILES, STEERING WHEEL BEGAN VIBRATING VIOLENTLY AGAIN WHEN BRAKING BETWEEN 58-62 MPH. THE DEALER…

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11089994 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11099303 at NHTSA ↗

[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11120933 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL A CAR APPROX 1000 FEET AHEAD OF ME WAS SLOWING DOWN TO TURN RIGHT WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL TURNING BUT COMPLETELY OUT OF THE INTERSECTION THE AUTOMATIC BRAKES CAME ON AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR THAT TURNED RIGHT WAS DOWN THE STREET IT HAD TURNED ON COMPLETELY OUT OF SENSOR RANGE AND THE AUTOMATIC BRAKES WOULD NOT LET OFF, WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE IT GOT STUCK IN GEAR BUT WOULD NOT BUDGE. LIKE WHEN YOU DONT SHIFT A GEAR FOR TOO LONG IN A STICK SHIFT CAR. FINALLY THE BRAKES LET OFF AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BUT FURT…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11129431 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER SWITCHING TO DRIVE FROM REVERSE THE NAV DISPLAY WOULD NOT SWITCH BACK FROM THE BACK UP CAMERA WHILE DRIVING AHEAD, WHEN A CAR WOULD BE ANYWHERE NEAR MINE ON THE ROAD, STILL IN DRIVE, WHETHER IDLE AT A STOP LIGHT OR IN MOTION ON THE STREET, THE BACK UP SENSORS THAT RESPOND TO PASSING CARS DID NOT BEEP. I TRIED PRESSING THE BACK BUTTON, NAV BUTTON, SETTINGS BUTTON & TURNING THE CAR ON/OFF ALL FAILING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAMERA REMAINED ON EVEN WHILE IN PARK ONCE I ARRIVED HOME.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11129434 at NHTSA ↗

FRONT PASSENGER MISALIGNMENT ALLOWING RAIN WATER TO SEEP INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS A NEW VEHICLE PURCHASE. IT WAS ONLY DISCOVERABLE WHEN A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WAS RIDING IN THE NEW VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS RAINING. THE LEAK WAS ONGOING FOR AN UNSPECIFIED TIME, FROM THE TIME THE VEHICLE LEFT THE MANUFACTURER, HONDA UNTIL THE TIME THE DEALERSHIP TOOK DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE, RADLEY ACURA, FALLS CHURCH, VA. HONDA NORTH AMERICA HAS ADMITTED THAT IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT AND DO NOT NOT WANT TO DO A BUY BACK. HONDA CLAIMS THE REPAIRS FORM LEAKS E…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11141645 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2018-04-05 (April 5, 2018)

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."

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver seat frame assembly in Acura MDX vehicles, and replace the driver and front passenger seat slide rail frames in Honda Pilot and Ridgeline vehicles, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall is D0S, and T0T.

Reported: 2018-11-01 (November 1, 2018)

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."

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

Remedy: Owners will be notified, and Honda or Acura dealers will bleed the brakes, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are C31 and L30.

Reported: 2019-01-29 (January 29, 2019)

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.

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

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the fuel injection engine control unit (FI-ECU) software and, if necessary, replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 25, 2019. Owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's recall number for this recall is P3W. Honda's recall number for this recall is N3X.

Reported: 2019-03-28 (March 28, 2019)

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.

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

Remedy: Acura will notify owners, and dealers will modify the tailgate lid lights and install updated gaskets and a wiring sub-harness or will replace both tailgate lid lights. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is M49.

Reported: 2019-04-12 (April 12, 2019)

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.

Reported: 2023-11-13 (November 13, 2023)

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.

Reported: 2023-12-18 (December 18, 2023)

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.

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

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

Reported: 2025-04-17 (April 17, 2025)

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.

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

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wiring and install a fuse harness, replace the lid light, and repair the body dust sealer, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2025. Owners may contact Acura's customer service at 1-800-382-2238. Acura's number for this recall is FLI. Vehicles included in this recall that were previously repaired under NHTSA recall number 19V-256 will need to have the new remedy completed.

Reported: 2026-05-21 (May 21, 2026)

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.

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

Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

Reported: 2026-06-04 (June 4, 2026)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.