Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 RLX.
The 2018 Acura RLX is a passenger car equipped with an automatic transmission (S10) and achieves EPA fuel economy ratings of 20/29/23 mpg, positioning it within the brand's luxury sedan lineup as a mid-cycle update model; reliability data for this model year shows only six owner complaints with a single recall issued, placing the 2018 RLX in the middle of a complaint trend that peaked at 83 issues in 2014 and declined to just two by 2020, suggesting meaningful improvement in long-term dependability as the model matured.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 550 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (S10) |
| Overall length | 197.6 in |
| Overall width | 74.8 in |
| Overall height | 57.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 112.2 in |
| Curb weight | 4354 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 64.2 / 64.2 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 57/43 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 20 / 29 / 23 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Passenger volume | 102 cu ft |
| Cargo volume | 15 cu ft |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the RLX of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Sport Hybrid SH-AWD Advance Package 3.5L V6 + Elec 1.1-kWh | 4.90 sec | 13.60 sec | 377 hp | AWD |
| 2018 | Sport Hybrid SH-AWD Advance Package 3.5L V6 + Elec 1.1-kWh | 4.90 sec | 13.60 sec | 377 hp | AWD |
| 2014 | Advance Package 3.5L V6 | 5.80 sec | 14.30 sec | 310 hp | FWD |
| 2014 | Advance Package 3.5L V6 | 5.80 sec | 14.30 sec | 310 hp | FWD |
| 2014 | Advance Package 3.5L V6 | 5.90 sec | 14.40 sec | 310 hp | FWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
Torque lug nuts to 94 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.
| Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s) | 9.0 ft-lbs |
| Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s) | 3.0 ft-lbs |
| Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s) | 9.0 ft-lbs |
| Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s) | 3.0 ft-lbs |
| Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) | 68.0 ft-lbs |
| Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) | 68.0 ft-lbs |
| Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s) | 9.0 ft-lbs |
| Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s) | 33.0 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 94 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-4-2-5-3-6 |
| Curb Idle Speed (No Load) | 680 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load) | 50 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed (No Load) | 950 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load) | 50 rpm |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | Acura |
| Spark Plug Gap | 3471cc and 3474cc Engines: |
| Spark Plug Torque | 16 ft-lbs |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Refrigerant Capacity | .959-1.069 lbs. |
| Oil Capacity | 4.75 oz |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 24F |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 550 cca |
| Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum | 60.0 psi |
| Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum | 68.0 psi |
| Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum) | 60.0 |
| Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque | Front: 36; Rear: 26 /; Front: 37; Rear: 26 |
| Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque | Front: 101; Rear: 80 |
| Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque | Front: 53; Rear: 26 |
| Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque | Front: 101; Rear: 80 |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement | Front: .906; Rear: .315 |
| Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation | .0006 |
| Maximum Rotor Runout | .0016 |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement | Front: 1.024; Rear: .315 |
| 1 | 15.0 ft. lbs. | 15 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 1 | 89.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 degrees. Only if you are using a new pulley bolt or crankshaft, tighten the bolt in the following steps: Step 1: 52.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 degrees, Step 3: loosen bolt, Step 4: 89.0 ft. lbs., Step 5: 90 | 89 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 22 ft. lbs. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | Turn 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 3 | Turn 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 4 | New bolts turn an additional 90 degrees. | 90 degrees |
Prep Bearing cap bolts:
| 1 | 30.0 ft. lbs. | 30 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 47 degrees; Side cap bolts: 36.0 ft. lbs. | 47 degrees |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2018 Acura RLX sits in a clearly maturing phase of this generation's federal record, after complaints, recalls, and TSBs all declined sharply from the 2014 launch year (83 complaints, 5 recalls, 188 TSBs) through 2017 (3 complaints, 0 recalls, 50 TSBs). For 2018 specifically, complaints ticked up slightly to 6 from 2017's 3, the model returned to the recall rolls with 1 recall and 1 investigation, and TSBs continued their downward trajectory to 21 — all while crash and fire complaints remained at zero. The top complaint areas were engine and electrical-system related, though the data does not specify root causes. Compared with 2019, which had zero complaints but 3 recalls, and 2020, which had 2 complaints and 1 recall, 2018's complaint volume remains low and the single recall is not an outlier for this later-production run. The overall arc shows a launch-year spike followed by sustained improvement, and 2018 fits that late-generation stability pattern despite a modest year-over-year complaint increase. For a used-car buyer, the 2018 RLX looks like a reasonable choice: low federal complaint volume, no crash or fire complaints, and a recall count that is modest relative to the generation's history.
All 6 complaints on record, top 5 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
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… 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…
Showing 5 of 21 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| ONL6R508212023 | 2023-08-21 | Steering | Warranty Extension - Under certain circumstances, abnormal noise may be heard from the… |
| ONL6R507142023 | 2023-07-14 | Steering | Owner Notification Letter - Under certain circumstances, abnormal noise may be heard from… |
| BBOM06092023901 | 2023-06-09 | Steering | Dealer Message - Due to manufacturing errors, abnormal noise may be heard from the rear… |
| B23-022 | 2023-06-09 | Steering | Service Bulletin - Due to manufacturing errors, abnormal noise may be heard from the rear… |
| BTI&05102022901 | 2022-05-10 | Fuel System, Gasoline | American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2020 MDXs, RLXs & TLXs… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 20 city / 29 highway / 23 combined mpg.