← Back to Search

2018 Acura MDX Technology SH-AWD

The 2018 Acura MDX Technology SH-AWD is a 290-hp 3.5-liter SUV with a 9-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. It starts at $50,600 MSRP and is rated at 21 mpg combined.

It makes 290 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 267 lb-ft of torque at 4700 rpm. EPA fuel-economy estimates are 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway (21 mpg combined).

The MDX measures 196.2 inches long on a 111.0-inch wheelbase and has a curb weight of 4,244 lb.

Spec Value
Vehicle
Body TypeSUV
PowertrainGas
Price
MSRP$50,600
MSRP with Destination$51,595
Destination Charge$995
Engine
Engine Type3.5-liter direct-injection SOHC V-6 (Earth Dreams Technology)
Displacement3.5 L
Horsepower290 hp @ 6,200 rpm
Torque267 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm
Valvetrain24-valve, SOHC i-VTEC, Variable Cylinder Management (VCM)
Compression Ratio11.5:1
Injection TypeDirect injection, Drive-By-Wire throttle
Drivetrain
Drive TypeSH-AWD
Transmission
Transmission9-speed automatic with Sequential SportShift paddle shifters
1st Gear4.71
2nd Gear2.84
3rd Gear1.91
4th Gear1.38
5th Gear1
6th Gear0.81
7th Gear0.7
8th Gear0.58
9th Gear0.48
Reverse3.83
Final Drive4.33
Fuel Economy
City18 MPG
Highway26 MPG
Combined21 MPG
Recommended FuelPremium unleaded, 91 octane
Tank Capacity19.5 gal
Suspension
Front SuspensionIndependent MacPherson strut w/ Amplitude Reactive Dampers
Rear SuspensionIndependent multi-link w/ Amplitude Reactive Dampers
Brakes
Front Brake DiscVentilated, 12.6" (320 mm) diameter
Rear Brake DiscSolid, 13.0" (330 mm) diameter
Tires & Wheels
Wheels Front20" x 8.0" 10-spoke Pewter Gray metallic machine-finished alloy
Wheels Rear20" x 8.0" 10-spoke Pewter Gray metallic machine-finished alloy
Tires Front245/50R20 all-season
Tires Rear245/50R20 all-season
Dimensions & Weight
Length196.2 in
Width77.7 in
Height67.4 in
Wheelbase111 in
Front Track66.3 in
Rear Track66.3 in
Ground Clearance7.3 in
Approach Angle14.9°
Departure Angle17.4°
Cargo Volume90.9 ft³
Curb Weight4,244 lbs
Weight Distribution (F/R)57% / 43%
Interior
Headroom Front38.1 in
Headroom Rear38.3 in
Legroom Front41.4 in
Legroom Rear36.6 in
Shoulder Room Front61.1 in
Shoulder Room Rear59.1 in
Hip Room Front57.5 in
Hip Room Rear57.8 in

Safety & Recalls

NCAP safety ratings

Overall ★★★★★
Frontal crash ★★★★★
Side crash ★★★★★
Rollover ★★★★★ (16.4 % risk)
Tested variant: 2018 Acura MDX SUV AWD
Other tested variants (1)
  • 2018 Acura MDX SUV FWD: 5 ★ overall

Recalls

10 recalls on file with NHTSA for the 2018 Acura MDX. Not every recall applies to every trim or VIN — check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Jun 4, 2026 · STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

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.

NHTSA campaign 26V365000

May 21, 2026 · AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

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.

NHTSA campaign 26V332000

Apr 17, 2025 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

NHTSA campaign 25V259000

Dec 18, 2023 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

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.

NHTSA campaign 23V858000

Nov 13, 2023 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL

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.

NHTSA campaign 23V751000

Apr 12, 2019 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

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.

NHTSA campaign 19V298000

Mar 28, 2019 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

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.

NHTSA campaign 19V256000

Jan 29, 2019 · FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

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.

NHTSA campaign 19V060000

Nov 1, 2018 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

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.

NHTSA campaign 18V777000

Apr 5, 2018 · SEATS

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.

NHTSA campaign 18V221000

169 owner complaints to NHTSA for the 2018 Acura MDX

Owner Complaints

169 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Acura MDX (3 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 2 an injury). See all on nhtsa.gov

Most-cited areas
Engine35
Electrical System28
Fuel/Propulsion System28
Forward Collision Avoidance23
Fuel System23
Gasoline23
A complaint can cite more than one area.
Most recent complaints
Oct 6, 2026 · Electrical System
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Acura MDX on August 26, 2026. While registering the vehicle, the contact was informed that the previous title indicated that the odometer was reported at…”
Sep 30, 2026 · Forward Collision Avoidance, Lane Departure
“All the light light up”
Sep 29, 2026 · Fuel System, Gasoline
“The contact owns a 2018 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power but was able to restart. On another occasion, while the contact's…”
Sep 28, 2026 · Unknown Or Other
“Hi I'm very disappointed because my 2018 Acura MDX got stolen on 8/11/25.. Unbelievable because got stolen from my driveway and i had a keys ..also it was super quick because my neighbors camera…”
Sep 14, 2026 · Forward Collision Avoidance, Lane Departure
“The vehicle was being driven and the dashboard was lit up with all the systems in error related to ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control)”

Complaints are unverified reports submitted to NHTSA by owners. They cover the whole model year, not a specific trim, and a count alone doesn't show how common a problem is.

Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov), matched as 2018 ACURA MDX. US-market vehicles only; data cached for up to 7 days.

← Back to Search