Reliable Auto DB

2018 Acura RLX reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2018 Acura RLX holds 6 complaints after 9 years, a rate of 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most RLX years here — under the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Fuel pump.

2014 Acura RLX
Photo by Kevauto, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

6

Per year

0

Recalls

1

Years on the road

9

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (2 of 6), then Engine (2) and Engine and engine cooling (2).

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 RLX has 3 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2019 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2019.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2018 Acura RLX. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall Fuel pump 2023-12-18 · NHTSA campaign 23V858000
Summary 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.
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.

Complaints by component (6 total)

Electrical system
2
Engine
2
Engine and engine cooling
2
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

220241202532026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The first time I heard the engine noise was on [XXX]. I brought the vehicle to the Schaumburg Muller Acura dealership and dropped it off on May 20. On May 21, the dealership performed an initial inspection and informed…"
    Engine · filed 2026-06-02
  • "The contact owns a 2018 Acura RLX. The contact stated while driving her vehicle at an undisclosed speed, stated that the vehicle would not start up, and noticed every single waring light illuminated up on her dash. The…"
    Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling · filed 2026-05-18
  • "The contact owns a 2018 Acura RLX. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the headlight failure message was displayed. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was…"
    Electrical system · filed 2026-03-06
  • "The contact owns a 2018 Acura RLX. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the oil change and tire rotation messages were displayed. The contact stated that a dealer was contacted. The contact stated that an oil change…"
    Engine and engine cooling · filed 2025-02-12
  • "The contact owns a 2018 Acura RLX. 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…"
    Fuel system, gasoline · filed 2024-12-03

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2018 Acura RLX 4 DR FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars
2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid 4 DR AWD Not rated Not rated 5 stars 5 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
RLX 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Front-wheel drive 20 29 23 MPG $3450
RLX hybrid 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (AM-S7) All-wheel drive 28 29 28 MPG $2850

Specs and fitment

1st generation (KC1/KC2), 2014–2020
Body styles Sedan
Oil 0W-20 , 4.5 qt capacity
Tire size 245/40R19

Known issues for this generation

Recall 13V-622 covers certain 2014 Acura RLX vehicles: bolts that attach the rear lower control arms to the subframe may have loosened during transport to dealerships. Loose rear lower control arm bolts may reduce steering ability and increase crash risk; dealers replace those bolts. Recall 23V-858 covers certain Acura RLX vehicles among many Honda and Acura models: the low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail, which can stall the engine while driving and increase crash risk. Dealers replace the fuel pump module. That campaign's published unit count is shared across the listed Honda and Acura nameplates.

Compare

See every Acura RLX model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Acura RLX reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2018 Acura RLX holds 6 complaints after 9 years, a rate of 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most RLX years here — under the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Fuel pump.

What are common problems with a 2018 Acura RLX?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (2 of 6), then Engine (2) and Engine and engine cooling (2).

Is the 2018 Acura RLX more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2017 RLX has 3 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2019 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2019.

Has the 2018 Acura RLX been recalled?

The 2018 Acura RLX has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2018 Acura RLX?

Owners have filed 6 complaints about the 2018 Acura RLX with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2018 Acura RLX get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2018 Acura RLX is 25.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does an Acura RLX use?

U.S. owner manuals specify 0W-20 with about 4.5 qt including filter on typical RLX powertrains.

What tire size is on the Acura RLX?

Common OE fitment is 245/40R19 on front and rear for many RLX sedans; verify on the door placard.

What NHTSA recalls mention the Acura RLX?

Recall 13V-622 covers certain 2014 RLX rear lower control arm bolts; recall 23V-858 covers certain RLX models for low-pressure fuel pump failure among shared Honda/Acura campaigns.