A Acura MDX VIN opens with 5J8 (the United States). Position 11, the plant, shows 6 codes, most often H (42%); a 2026 MDX carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 45 recall campaigns and 3,013 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Acura MDX VIN
Here is a real 2026 Acura MDX VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 5J8YD8H82TL006225 — decoded free on its own report page.
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Where Acura MDX VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 273 Acura MDX VINs we have on file, these are the codes that actually show up — and the plants behind them:
| WMI | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on file | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5J8 | United States | — | 170 | |
| 5FR | United States | — | 52 | |
| 2HN | Canada | — | 51 |
Country and vehicle type come from the NHTSA manufacturer registry. Share is measured across VINs decoded on ForCar, not production volume.
Model-year codes for the Acura MDX
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Acura MDX has not yet outlived: its 26 years still map one-to-one. All 26 model years of the Acura MDX, 2001 to 2026, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | T | — |
| 2025 | S | — |
| 2024 | R | — |
| 2023 | P | — |
| 2022 | N | — |
| 2021 | M | — |
| 2020 | L | — |
| 2019 | K | — |
| 2018 | J | — |
| 2017 | H | — |
| 2016 | G | — |
| 2015 | F | — |
| 2014 | E | — |
| 2013 | D | — |
| 2012 | C | — |
| 2011 | B | — |
| 2010 | A | — |
| 2009 | 9 | — |
| 2008 | 8 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | — |
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Acura MDX VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 273 VINs the Acura MDX uses 9 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | Y (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | D (64%) · E (36%) | 2 distinct |
| 8 — engine | 8 (24%) · 4 (22%) · 0 (13%) · 3 (12%) · 5 (7%) · 2 (7%) | 6 distinct |
What a decoded Acura MDX VIN gets you
Behind a Acura MDX VIN: 3,013 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 45 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 3,013 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 21 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Crash-test ratings | 15 rated model years | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 26 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Acura MDX
A Acura MDX VIN normally opens with 5J8; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Acura MDX VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 45 recall campaigns and 3,013 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Acura MDX.
What year is my MDX by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 MDX carries T, a 2025 MDX carries S, a 2024 MDX carries R.
Where was my MDX built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 3,005 dated Acura MDX VINs it reads H 42%, L 31%, B 27%, 8 0% and 2 rarer codes.
What does position 4 mean on a Acura MDX VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 273 Acura MDX VINs here, Y is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
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