NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Acura MDX. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Acura MDX. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 85,000. The contact stated that on the day of the purchase; after refueling the vehicle and then attempting to pull out of the gas station, the Emissions, check engine, and parking brake warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact took the vehicle to an auto repair shop, and had the vehicle scanned and then diagnosed, DTC: P0158 (Oxygen sensor Circuit High Voltage, DTC Severity 2 of 3, T0159 Oxygen sensor Circuit Slow Response (Bank2 and Sensor 2), and an Electric Parking Brake Failure were displayed. The scan indicated that the vehicle was subjected to odometer fraud. The contact reviewed the paperwork and received it at the time of sale and became aware that the mileage stickers, along with other indications that the documentations were false. The contact retrieved a Carfax Report and discovered that the actual mileage was 225,802. The contact reported the odometer fraud to the Police Department and was informed that the dealer was known for odometer fraud. The Police also informed the contact that there was a case and a warrant already issued.
Warning lights for Collision Mitigation System, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control. Lane Keeping Assistance, Auto High Beam. Features are now disabled causing safety issue. Dealer confirms issues and recommends repairs that have not not been solved by others online. Errors appeared before battery Failure in March 2026. Battery was replaced. Common complaint by many online. Need recall to fix.
The Electric Parking brake system continuously fails (every 3-4 months)
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!
While driving the car, several warning lights turned on all at once, saying that the following components were disabled: Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic High Beams, and Collision Mitigation Braking System. Not being able to use these features is more dangerous, not to mention that the warning lights associated with their disabling are distracting (making it likely that, if a more serious warning was flashing, it would not be noticed by the driver) and cannot be turned off without an expensive replacement. Yes, the problem was confirmed by a trusted mechanic (the warning lights will not turn off so it's not hard to confirm), who indicated that the radar camera needed to be replaced. No, the component has not been inspected by others. There was no warning of the problem.
The contact owns a 2018 Acura MDX. The contact received a notification from Lyft regarding NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The dealer informed the contact that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
I had a recall done by local Acura dealer, Miami Doral Acura, where they replaced parts that connected the engine to the car, they are like rods. I recently took the car to a mechanic because I needed to change the timing belt components and he advised me that one of the rods that were replaced failed. This means that the engine was attached by only one rod, the other rod was cut, not connected. I called Acura today reporting the issue with the recall, they gave me a case number 16125924, advising me that some one would get back to me. The same mechanic also advised me that the high pressure fuel pump was not working properly and that my car could stall while driving it and he advised that it would be dangerous to drive it without replacing it. The part he quoted me was around $700. I looked for recalls for this car with this fuel pump issue and found that Acura only recalled some VIN numbers and my car is not one of the VIN numbers recalled. I believe Acura has not recalled all cars involved with the pressure pump. I find it hard to believe that they are not aware of this issue affecting more of the 2018 MDX model. The recall with the rods failed just a year after they replaced them. I had the rod recall done in 1/25. I cannot drive the car until I have the mechanic replace the high pressure fuel pump and fix the problem with the engine rod recall. Acura needs to be heal accountable and compensate owners that are dealing with the same issue I am.
When trying to accelerate from a stop the car has a noticeable lag in throttle response. 2+ seconds. This does not always happen but is intermittent. Much more often when the engine is colder. This makes a left turn in front of traffic or any move where you need to merge with traffic go from safe to dangerous, this also confuses other drivers as they wonder why you are not moving. Someone who was unfamiliar with my car ended up in the middle of an intersection blocking because they didn’t accelerate. Looking into the problem it seems to be reported quite often and is “normal”. Honda does not see this as a problem and anyone who has “fixed” the problem has used aftermarket parts. The car does not have auto engine stop/start so the car is always running.
Vehicle experiences dangerous throttle delay from a stop. When making left-hand turns across traffic, pressing the accelerator results in no response for 1–2 seconds. Vehicle hesitates while exposed in intersection, creating risk of collision. Issue has been present since low mileage and not resolved by recall repairs.
I want to say that the engine or transmission is faulty. Sometimes while at a complete stop, the car will not advance and tries to stall or lose power. It takes about 2 or 3 seconds to finally go after I push the accelerator pedal almost 3/4 throttle. No it has not been reproduced at the dealer. I took it May of 2024 for the engine recall repair. They said that the repairs should fix the problem but it has maybe even worsened. No warning lamps appear when the problems happen.
The paint on the tailgate chipped off
When at a complete stop at a stop light or stop sign and ready to press the gas to accelerate, there’s a delay for the car to even start moving. It doesn’t want to go when pressed on. Which can cause the person behind me to hit the back of the car. It nearly came to that. There’s sudden fast movement when accelerating to get the car to move forward. It’s been happening numerous times where the gas pedal isn’t recognizing the acceleration part. I’ve read plenty forums about this issue with this vehicle and still not enough complaints for a recall? Can we look into this as this is a safety issue. The car won’t accelerate when you want it to.
When you press the accelerator pedal there is a significant delay in the pedal response particularly at low speed. As you press accelerator pedal nothing happens for a second or two. Then the vehicles accelerates not a gradual rate but at the rate of where the accelerator pedal is at when the vehicle begins to speed up. This causes sudden and hard acceleration. This delay and or sudden acceleration is dangerous when trying to pull into traffic. The Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Was brought to dealer and after a very short inspection, was told nothing was wrong. They did do a transmission software update. This did not change anything. This is an issue reported in on-long blogs frequently. No warning lamps to error codes related to this issue according to the dealer. This has been an ongoing issue for as long I have owned the vehicle but gets worse as the vehicle gets older.
This is a complaint about the defective TPMS components in this vehicle. I sent a copy to Acura and Honda Client Relations and to the Dealer (Montano Acura). [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I am filing this report regarding my 2018 Acura MDX that has experienced complete engine failure directly related to the Connecting-Rod Bearing Safety Recall (NHTSA Recall 23V-751) and Acura’s failure to perform the recall when I first reported issues. In 2024, my vehicle began showing engine trouble codes (P0159) and experienced reduced acceleration and check engine light warnings. I contacted Acura corporate and opened a case, explaining that the vehicle was exhibiting symptoms similar to those described in the recall, including engine hesitation and performance issues. I also took the vehicle to Acura of Chattanooga on Chapman Road, where I worked with Tara, a service advisor who acknowledged remembering my repeated attempts to get the recall addressed. Despite this, the recall repair was never performed, and I was treated rudely and dismissed each time. Over the past two years, I have made multiple documented attempts to have the recall completed. Each time, Acura failed to take action or stated that parts or authorization were unavailable. In 2025, my vehicle displayed Code P0430 (Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold, Bank 2) and ultimately suffered complete engine failure. The issues with oil circulation, catalytic converter performance, and acceleration are consistent with the rod bearing defect Acura has acknowledged as part of this recall. Recently, Acura informed me that my recall was “completed,” even though the engine is now inoperable. This is unacceptable, as the recall was meant to prevent this exact type of engine damage, and Acura had two years of opportunity to address the issue before failure occurred. The current situation has left me with a non-functioning engine, significant repair costs, and a serious safety concern that could have been prevented if Acura had honored its recall responsibilities in a timely manner. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate Acura’s handling of this recall and their pattern of delaying or denying recall repairs
I submit this complaint because my 2018 Acura MDX, covered under NHTSA recall 23V-751 for connecting-rod bearing defects, has suffered progressive engine damage and final engine failure that I believe was caused by the manufacturer’s recalled defect and by the dealer/manufacturer’s failure to timely perform the recall repair. Timeline & key facts: 2024: Vehicle displayed code P0159 (O₂ sensor slow response). I contacted Acura corporate and opened a case. The O₂ sensor was replaced under warranty. I continued to report reduced acceleration and intermittent check-engine illumination to the dealer and to Acura corporate. I repeatedly requested that the recall inspection/repair be performed, but the repair was delayed or not scheduled despite the vehicle’s symptoms and my repeated follow-ups.2024–2025: Over the following months I repeatedly requested recall service and documented those requests with the dealer and Acura corporate. On many occasions I was not scheduled for the recall or was told to wait for parts/authorization. I was also treated rudely by dealership staff (identified service advisor: Tara at Acura on Chapman Road), and my case was not escalated appropriately despite my persistence. 2025: Vehicle later displayed P0430 (catalyst efficiency below threshold, Bank 2), and within [insert timeframe] the engine experienced complete failure requiring immobilization. Dealer notes show an oil-pump leak and catalytic converter symptoms consistent with oil/fuel contamination and bearing-related engine issues. I have service records documenting the sensor replacement, subsequent dx, and the dealer’s findings. Effect: I have been wi/o a vehicle since the engine failure, incurred hotel cancellation charges $116 and other consequential damages. I believe the engine damage was preventable and is directly tied to the acknowledged defect in the recall; the catalyst and O₂ sensor failures were downstream consequences of recall-related engine problems (oil consumption,
The front camera failure. Needs replacement. Camera apparently is used for the ACC , lane departure assistance.
Front multipurpose camera is starting to fail intermittently. Multiple warnings pop up (LKAS, Auto High Beam, Forward Collision Warning)
Driver seat slippage/moves.
The contact owned a 2018 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to several dealers but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Hello, My 2018 Acura MDX has moisture and water inside the inner tailgate (trunk) tail light assembly, which caused the light to stop working. I understand there is a recall affecting some 2014–2020 Acura MDX vehicles related to moisture entering the tailgate light assembly, and my vehicle appears to have the same issue. Recall link: [XXX] Last week I visited the Acura dealership(Acura Columbus) in Dublin, OH for a fuel pump recall service. During that visit, the technician also noticed the water inside the inner tail light but quoted about $750 for the repair. Although my VIN does not show this recall, my vehicle is experiencing the same problem described. Could you please review and advise if this may qualify for recall coverage or goodwill assistance? Thank you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Many times, when I drove the car on the road leaving the stop sign and it lost power or hesitated to go.
Front camera stopped working at 65 000 miles. Seems to be a faulty part as many Hondas and Acuras have the same problem and the dealer wants over $2000 to replace a $700 part that sounds like less than 45 minutes to replace.
The contact owns a 2018 Acura MDX. The contact stated that the vehicle was designed with the engine Auto Start-Stop feature. The contact stated that while at a complete stop and releasing the brake pedal, the engine failed to restart. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to restart. The contact then noticed that the gear shift indicator displayed that the transmission was in neutral(N). The contact shifted to park(P) and was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring, almost causing the vehicle to be rear-ended. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and recommended a diagnostic testing to determine the cause of the failure, but the contact declined due to the cost. The contact stated that the starter was previously replaced under an unknown recall, which the contact related to the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
Got multiple warnings, systems don't work: Collision Mitigation System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Asist, Road Departure Mitigation System. All those additional systems designed for safety are no longer working. The front camera failed, as confirmed by the dealer. Part is available for inspection.
factory paint chipping off at multiple locations at rear of car
Emission systems problem and parking brake problem lights came on simultaneously. Mechanic has not been able to figure out the problem Replaced vent valve
My vehicle started a couple of months ago making a noise like the transmission was having trouble shifting smoothly. I do not drive this vehicle that often so I thought it was maybe my ears. When researching I found out there to TSB's on Acura MDX's B20-015 & B19-004 to from 2016 to 2019. My wife does not feel safe driving this vehicle. Can you help ASAP. Thank you so much.
Washer fluid pump is fail its a common problem in this vehicle after fluid go low and you refill the reservoir pump will not work anymore a lot of complain have be files again this problem
The car alarm started going off randomly after the car was locked and armed. This would happen periodically. The car was locked using the indoor lock and then left unlocked and the lights would go off and on periodically. The internal dash periodically would flicker off and on (dash lights/screens). The car eventually drained the battery one night cycling down to 4.25v and had to be replaced (it was too damaged to be jumped). Upon replacing the battery codes were read, cleared and the car driven. The alarm and light issue came back, and the hood latch was disconnected. This stopped the alarm, but after rain events or humid days the lights would still come on (as if someone unlocked the car or walked up with the key) and the dash lights would occasionally flicker. The wireless control unit was removed and inspected and dendritic growth was noticed on one location of the board. This was cleaned with alcohol and this has appeared to solve the issue so far. The part of the board with the growth is not sealed and looks like it is right on the edge of the factory sealing.
My 2018 Acura MDX experiences a persistent and unsafe delay in acceleration from a complete stop. When pressing the gas pedal, there is often a hesitation of approximately one second before the vehicle responds. This throttle lag creates a serious safety concern, especially when attempting to merge into traffic, turn across intersections, or respond quickly in emergency situations. The dealership has been unable to resolve the issue despite applying all available software updates. Based on online reports, this appears to be a widespread issue affecting multiple model years and drivetrains.
While operating the vehicle, multiple driver-assist warning indicators illuminated on the dashboard, including LKAS (Lane Keeping Assist System), ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control), and CMBS (Collision Mitigation Braking System). The systems either disengaged or functioned erratically during normal driving conditions. At times, the vehicle failed to maintain lane position, abruptly disengaged adaptive cruise control, or displayed collision alerts when no obstruction was present. Now it is constant. Safety Impact: The failure of the LKAS, ACC, and related systems can cause unexpected loss of vehicle assist functions, leading to abrupt speed changes or compromised lane control, increasing the risk of collision if not promptly corrected.
5 waning lights on : Adaptive Cruise Control , Lane Departure Warning , Lane Keeping Assistance , front light, and the emergency braking . Service crew at Acura Dealer told me that the front multipurpose camera has internal error. It is very dangerous since all these functions must be fixed before I can drive it on road.
While driving at freeway speeds (70–85 mph), I experience a sudden and complete loss of acceleration when pressing the gas pedal fully. The vehicle stops responding to throttle input entirely for 1–2 seconds. To regain power, I must take my foot off the pedal for a moment and then press it again. This has happened multiple times and presents a severe safety hazard when merging, passing, or trying to avoid collisions. •Frequency & Reproducibility: This has occurred at least 3 times over the past year, under similar conditions. It is intermittent, but consistently happens during high-speed acceleration. •Dealership Response: I’ve reported the issue to the dealership, but they claim they cannot replicate the problem and do not consider it a concern. No resolution or inspection has been offered beyond a basic check. •Why It’s Dangerous: This issue could lead to a deadly accident if I’m unable to accelerate in time to avoid a crash. It creates a sudden and unexpected loss of control at highway speeds.
Lane Keep assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning all stopped working and received error codes. Dealership stated camera was faulty and needed to be replaced at my cost. Continued issues with electrical systems where the car alarm will go off intermittently, and vehicle will not lock unless manually locking. Dealership stated smart control unit needs to also be replaced at my cost. part number for control unit #38320 was issued by honda motor company service bulletin 21-055 for their honda ridgeline. Acura Dealer will not honor since part number does not specify acura. Part issued in Service bulletin is 38320-T6Z-A11 (honda ridgeline) part needed to be replaced by acura is 38320-TRX-A11. Other service bulletins related to original issues: 20-015, 19-005, 23-008, and 24-022 and safety recall report 23V-751. Dealership is still placing responsibility of repair of defective parts on car owner.
•Make: Acura •Model: MDX •Year: 2018 •VIN: [XXX] •Mileage: 80,594 (as of March 22, 2025) Complaint Type: Vehicle Component/Recall Reoccurrence Component Affected: Exterior Lighting – Taillights Summary of Problem: I am filing a complaint regarding a recurring safety issue involving my 2018 Acura MDX’s taillight assembly, which was previously the subject of a recall. In 2019, the left taillight was repaired under a manufacturer recall related to water intrusion that caused lighting failure. On March 22, 2025, during a routine visit to Acura of Boston (Bernardi Acura), it was determined that the same taillight assembly had failed again due to signs of water intrusion, causing the light to malfunction. The dealership estimated a cost of $805.82 for the replacement. I contacted Honda and requested goodwill assistance since this issue was previously addressed as a safety recall, but they denied my request due to warranty expiration—even though this is clearly a recurrence of the original defect. This poses a potential safety hazard, as taillight failure can impair visibility and increase the risk of rear-end collisions, especially in low-light conditions. The fact that the exact issue has returned after an official recall fix raises concerns about the long-term effectiveness of the original repair. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether this issue is affecting other 2018 Acura MDX vehicles and whether an extended recall or follow-up campaign should be considered. Dealership Details: •Service Date: March 22, 2025 •Dealer: Acura of Boston, 1600 Soldiers Field Rd, Brighton, MA •Original Recall Repair: Prime Acura of Westwood (2019) Attachments available upon request: Service estimate, VIN, dealer findings, and photos. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The front camera seems to be faulty and is throwing warning lights on the Dash. Lane keep assist system, front collision and adaptive cruise control lights show up. These warnings disappear when the car cools down, but does appear again
Vehicle stalls when accelerating from A stop. Has done this since first purchased. Acura charged me for transmission software but did not resolve issue. Vehicle hesitates and stalls when accelerating from a stop. My wife refuses to ever drive vehicle as we have had many close calls with accidents.
Electric Parking Brake light and Emissions System light popped up at the same time. Replaced the battery the lights gone immediately for weeks, but reappears again. Disconnected the battery and reconnected it the lights gone for one month and came back again. Search online there are a lot of similar situations. The dealer replaced parts but the issue stated. There must be some malfunctions of the ECU or something else.
The contact owns a 2018 Acura MDX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2018 Acura MDX. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) and 23V858000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
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 bags did not deploy upon impact. No injuries were reported and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was able to drive away from the scene of the accident. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The contact's vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) but had yet to be serviced. The vehicle had yet to be diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 98,031.
While accelerating, the vehicle to decelerated rapidly, the gas pedal became unresponsive when pushed down. Numerous warning lights started Additionally, the vehicle shifted into neutral while the vehicle was being driven and would not shift out even after stopped. I was on a very busy 6 lane highway going 80 mph in thanksgiving traffic, my wife, 1 year old and 3 year old were in the vehicle. This appears to be a known issue from Honda, please see [XXX], et al. v. American Honda Motor Company Inc., et al., Case No. [XXX], INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2018 Acura MDX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. An unknown local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Contacted dealer to schedule a recall repair appointment in July 2024. The appointment was scheduled for November 11th. I showed up on November 11th and was told my appointment was not scheduled until December 11th. It’s been more than 4 months since I contacted them and the repair hasn’t been done.
At 40k miles the connecting rod bearings gave out, car was taken to the shop and bottom end was rebuilt under warranty. at 80k miles the same issue began to start. cars been in the shop for weeks for the same connecting rod bearing issue.
The contact owns a 2018 Acura MDX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, parts to do the recall repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2018 Acura MDX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2018 Acura MDX. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that occasionally while attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle occasionally stalled while the accelerator pedal was depressed. No warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
We experienced multiple/many warning lights all at the same time. Systems not working. Repeated every time. The Acura dealer diagnosed the problem to the DTC U3000-49 Multipurpose Camera internal electronic failure. Replaced the unit and they performed a couple of calibrations. Thank You, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026