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2018 Acura RDX problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
46% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2018 Acura RDX are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 59% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 6 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 43%).
Does the 2018 Acura RDX have fuel system problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 33 of 71 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Acura RDX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (46%), and the largest group is filed under fuel/propulsion system (17). For comparison, the 2017 scores 47% and the 2019 scores 29%. On a test drive, check for hard starts, stalling, hesitation, a fuel smell or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2018 compares with other Acura RDX years
Of the 10 Acura RDX years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (46%). The worst is the 2017 (47%), the best the 2022 (3%). By volume, the 2018 drew 77 complaints (33 drivetrain), against 77 for the 2017 and 437 for the 2019.
Acura RDX years to avoid and best years →
2013 RDX problems · 2014 RDX problems · 2015 RDX problems · 2016 RDX problems · 2017 RDX problems · 2018 · 2019 RDX problems · 2020 RDX problems · 2021 RDX problems · 2022 RDX problems
The rest of the picture on the 2018 Acura RDX
- What the repair costs. Typical fuel system repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 33 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2018 Acura RDX fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Acura RDX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.…
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2018 Acura RDX? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2018 Acura RDX have fuel system problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 33 of 71 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Acura RDX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (46%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the fuel system and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Acura RDX?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Acura RDX is fuel/propulsion system: 17 of 77 complaints (22%) name it, followed by fuel system (17) and gasoline (17). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2018 Acura RDX reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 46% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 59% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 10 Acura RDX years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Acura RDX?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Acura RDX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total: 23V858000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Acura RDX years are better?
Among the Acura RDX years we track, the 2022 (3%), the 2014 (11%) and the 2013 (22%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (46%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/acura-rdx
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.