How to decode a 2018 Acura MDX VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2018 Acura MDX VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are unique three-letter sequences that identify the manufacturer of any given vehicle worldwide. For the 2018 Acura MDX, the WMI is “5FR,” signifying that it was produced by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., specifically for models running from 2014 to 2018. This information denotes that the vehicle is categorized as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) and was manufactured in Torrance, California, United States. The WMI is an integral part of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), ensuring that each vehicle can be uniquely identified by its manufacturer, vehicle type, and location of manufacture. For consumers and industry professionals alike, understanding a vehicle’s WMI can provide valuable insights into its origins and specifications.

List of WMI Codes for a 2018 Acura MDX

WMI: 5J8

Model Years Covered: 2017-2020, 2022-2024
Example VIN: 5J8YD3H50JL000672
Manufacturer Name: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: Torrance
State or Province: California
Country: United States WMI: 5FR
Model Years Covered: 2014-2018
Example VIN: 5FRYD4H39JG688422
Manufacturer Name: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: Torrance
State or Province: California
Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2018 Acura MDX VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

Engine type
Transmission
Model or trim
Body style
Gross vehicle weight range

Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a 2018 Acura MDX:

Known VDS for a 2018 Acura MDX
YD3H5	YD7H7	YD3H8	YD7H9	YD4H5	YD3H3	YD4H9	YD4H0	YD4H8	YD4H3
YD3H7	YD7H5	YD4H2	YD3H9	YD4H4	YD4H7

Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.

Character 9 is the “check digit” in a 2018 Acura MDX VIN.

Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.

10th Character in the 2018 Acura MDX VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
J	2018

11th Character in the 2018 Acura MDX VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2018 Acura MDX Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
G	El Salto	Jalisco	Mexico		5FRYD4H39JG688422
L	East Liberty	Ohio	United States		5J8YD3H50JL000672

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2018 Acura MDX

The final 6 characters in a 2018 Acura MDX’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Acura MDX’s VIN below:

How to find a 2018 Acura MDX’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2018 Acura MDX is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 2018 Acura MDX. It’s typically visible through the windshield on the lower corner.
Look at the door pillar on the driver’s side when you open the door of your Acura MDX. The VIN can usually be found on a label or sticker where the door latches.
Inspect the engine block of your Acura MDX, as the VIN is sometimes stamped onto the engine itself.
Check the vehicle’s registration documents, insurance papers, or the title (also known as the pink slip); the VIN of your 2018 MDX will be listed there.
Peek under the spare tire in the trunk area of your Acura MDX. Sometimes the VIN is printed in this location as well.
Review the owner’s manual or maintenance records if they are available for your 2018 Acura MDX, as the VIN is often recorded in these documents.

What info can a 2018 Acura MDX VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year as 2018, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class and Doors: The VIN decoding may suggest that the Honda MDX is a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) with 5 doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and passenger capacity.
Engine Type: It features a V-Shaped 6-cylinder engine with a displacement of 3,000 cc (183.07 CI) or 3 liters, indicating its engine size and configuration.
Fuel Efficiency: The vehicle operates on a combination of gasoline and electricity, highlighting it as a Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), which can possibly affect its fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
Safety Features: The VIN encodes an array of standard safety features such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Blind Spot Warning (BSW), and Forward Collision Warning (FCW), possibly emphasizing the vehicle’s focus on safety.
Drive Type: The vehicle is equipped with 4WD (4-Wheel Drive) and a 9-speed automatic transmission, providing potential insights into its drivability and performance specifications.
Manufacturing Details: It was manufactured in the United States, potentially providing insights into the vehicle’s origin and build quality.

Don’t have your 2018 Acura MDX’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2018 Acura MDX

Vehicle Spec	Value
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)	Standard
Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB)	Standard
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)	Standard
Auto-Reverse System for Windows and Sunroofs	Standard
Automatic Pedestrian Alerting Sound (for Hybrid and EV only)	Standard
Backup Camera	Standard
Blind Spot Warning (BSW)	Standard
Body Class	Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Cooling Type	Water
Crash Imminent Braking (CIB)	Standard
Curtain Air Bag Locations	1st and 2nd Rows
Daytime Running Light (DRL)	Standard
Destination Market	Canada
Displacement (CC)	3000
Displacement (CI)	183.0712322841
Displacement (L)	3
Doors	5
Drive Type	4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
Dynamic Brake Support (DBS)	Standard
Electrification Level	Strong HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle)
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)	Standard
Engine Brake (hp) From	257
Engine Configuration	V-Shaped
Engine Manufacturer	Honda
Engine Model	JNA2
Engine Number of Cylinders	6
Engine Stroke Cycles	4
Forward Collision Warning (FCW)	Standard
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Fuel Type - Secondary	Electric
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)
Keyless Ignition	Standard
Knee Air Bag Locations	Driver Seat Only
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)	Standard
Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA)	Standard
Model	MDX
Model Year	2018
Number of Seat Rows	3
Number of Seats	7
Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking (PAEB)	Standard
Plant City	East Liberty
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Ohio
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching	Standard
Series	SH-E-AWD
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Traction Control	Standard
Transmission Speeds	9
Transmission Style	Automatic
Trim	Sport Hybrid 4WD
Valve Train Design	Single Overhead Cam (SOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	5J8YD7H9*JL
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Sample_VIN	5J8YD7H9XJL800051