NHTSA vehicle safety data

2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Acura dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid, describing incidents dated March 29, 2018.

Most-cited components

Visibility/Wiper 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11129399 · Filed September 13, 2018
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW, IN LATE MARCH 2018; I BELIEVE WE TOOK DELIVERY ON MARCH 29, 2018. WE HAVE HAD AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE MEMORY POSITIONING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. OUR VEHICLE HAS THE ADVANCED PACKAGE. INTERMITTENTLY, THE SEAT WILL GO TO THE MEMORIZED POSITION, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL…

Read the full complaint

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Defect Petition DP22-005: Pedestrian alert sounds
Closed August 7, 2023
- Recall 22V-063

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Possible Loss of a Tailgate Lid Light

NHTSA #19V256000 · Exterior Lighting — Tail Lights · NHTSA notice

Reported March 28, 2019 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Potentially affected: 322,897 vehicles

Repair completion: 86.28% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign M49 · Owners notified May 7, 2019 · Vehicles built August 24, 2017 – July 25, 2018 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Coating on Rear Brake Caliper Pistons/FMVSS 135

NHTSA #18V777000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Disc — Caliper · NHTSA notice

Reported November 1, 2018 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Potentially affected: 64,785 vehicles

Repair completion: 91.9% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign C31, L30 · Owners notified December 11, 2018 · Vehicles built April 4, 2018 – July 25, 2018 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid SUV AWD

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Frontal Crash

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Rollover

16% rollover risk

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control Forward Collision Warning Lane Departure Warning

1 investigation

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid.

Visibility/Wiper

ODI #11129399

Incident: March 29, 2018 · Filed: September 13, 2018

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW, IN LATE MARCH 2018; I BELIEVE WE TOOK DELIVERY ON MARCH 29, 2018. WE HAVE HAD AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE MEMORY POSITIONING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. OUR VEHICLE HAS THE ADVANCED PACKAGE. INTERMITTENTLY, THE SEAT WILL GO TO THE MEMORIZED POSITION, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL STAY IN THE POSITION FOR EXITING THE VEHICLE. THAT POSITION IS IN THE HIGHEST POSITION THE STEERING WHEEL CAN BE PLACED IN. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AT BAKERSFIELD ACURA FOUR SEPARATE TIMES TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. BAKERSFIELD ACURA HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS AT THEIR FACILITY. THEIR SERVICE WRITER, OMAR, ACTUALLY WITNESSED THE MALFUNCTION WHEN I DROPPED THE VEHICLE ON JULY 16, 2018. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH ACURA CLIENT RELATIONS, CASE NUMBER 08936387. ACURA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE. I HAVE EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STAYS IN THE HIGHEST POSITION, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE OVER THE STEERING WHEEL, BLOCKING OUR VISION OF THE ROAD. MY WIFE AND I JUST GET IN THE VEHICLE, START IT UP AND TAKE OFF. NORMALLY, IT IS NOT UNTIL WE ARE DRIVING THAT WE NOTICE THE ISSUE. AT THAT POINT, WE ARE FUMBLING AROUND TRYING TO LOCATE THE LEVER TO MANUALLY ADJUST THE STEERING WHEEL. AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THAT IS VERY DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS. A SPLIT SECOND OF DISTRACTED DRIVING CAN CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. TIFFANY AT ACURA CLIENT RELATIONS, AND DAVID, THE SERVICE MANAGER AT BAKERSFIELD ACURA HAVE BOTH ADMITTED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT CONTEND IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN BOTH DRIVER ONE AND DRIVER TWO KEYS ARE PRESENT. APPARENTLY, THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF CORRECTING THE MALFUNCTION. TO BE CLEAR, IT HAPPENS WHEN ONLY ONE KEY IS PRESENT AS WELL AS WHEN BOTH KEYS ARE PRESENT.

Other Acura MDX Sport Hybrid model years

Check your 2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Acura MDX Sport Hybrid at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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