How to look up Acura parts by VIN
Start from the VIN every time. The model name will not tell you the drive layout.
- 1. Copy the VIN from the car. Example prefixes include JH4 for Japanese-built Acura cars, 19U for cars built in Ohio and 5J8 for Acura SUVs. Check the model year with the free decoder at /vin-decoder/.
- 2. Open the Acura catalog on VINsearch, which runs on Honda EPC, and paste the VIN.
- 3. Check the vehicle record, including drive layout and equipment, then verify the application of the diagrams and individual positions.
- 4. Go to the assembly group and find the part in the exploded view.
- 5. Read all three blocks of the number and follow any supersession to the current one.
- 6. Check it against the old part. If only the first block matches, you have the same kind of part for a different model, which is a different part.
Honda numbers on an Acura
An Acura part number is a Honda part number. The first block names the kind of part across both brands: 17045 is a fuel pump module on an MDX and on a TLX. The middle block follows the model, and where an Acura shares hardware with a Honda it can be the same for both.
Honda’s 2019 fuel pump recall shows both sides of that. The module for the TLX and the Accord was one part, 17045-T2B-A10, while the MDX took its own, 17045-TZ5-A10. The engine story is similar: the 2.0 turbo in the 2019 RDX belongs to the Accord engine family. This does not make every engine component interchangeable.
So a Honda-looking number on an Acura diagram is normal. Check the complete reference and its application to the vehicle.
Front-wheel drive or SH-AWD
SH-AWD, Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, arrived on the 2005 RL. Clutches in the rear drive unit vary torque between the rear wheels. Distribution between the front and rear axles depends on generation and driving conditions; 90 percent front and 10 percent rear is not a universal rule. Acura has used SH-AWD on the RL, RDX, MDX, TL, TLX and first-generation ZDX.
The RDX and TLX have been sold with front-wheel drive or SH-AWD, and so has the MDX since its third generation. A front-drive car has no rear drive unit and none of the shafts and mountings around it. Two cars with the same name and year can need different parts from the engine back.
Same badge, different car
The ZDX shows how far a name can drift. The first ZDX, sold for the 2010 to 2013 model years, was a crossover built in Alliston, Ontario, on Pilot and MDX underpinnings. The ZDX of 2024 is electric, built by General Motors at Spring Hill, Tennessee, on GM’s Ultium architecture, and shares components with the Cadillac Lyriq. Production ended within two years. This does not confirm Honda EPC coverage of the electric generation.
Imports add another layer. Acura markets have included the United States, Canada, Mexico and Panama, and some Acuras were Hondas at home: the RSX was the Japanese-market Integra, the DC5, with an Acura badge. Whatever the badge says, the VIN or frame number decides what the catalog opens.
Common Acura nameplates
These nameplates help you find the right vehicle family. Confirm the exact model, market and production period against the active catalog before quoting a part:
| Model | Production years |
|---|---|
| Acura MDX | — |
| Acura RDX | — |
| Acura TLX | — |
Frequently asked questions
How do I look up Acura parts by VIN?
Enter the 17-character VIN in the Acura catalog on VINsearch, which runs on Honda EPC. Check the Honda EPC vehicle record, including drive layout and equipment. Open the assembly group, read the complete three-block number and its supersessions, then compare application and the old part.
Are Acura parts the same as Honda parts?
Where the hardware is shared, yes, down to the number. Honda’s 2019 fuel pump recall named one module, 17045-T2B-A10, for both the Acura TLX and the Honda Accord. Styling, trim and lighting are usually Acura’s own.
Does SH-AWD change which parts fit?
Yes. An SH-AWD car has a rear drive unit and the shafts and mountings that go with it, and a front-drive version of the same model does not. Check the record found by VIN and the application of each position.
What does an Acura part number look like?
Three blocks, such as 17045-TZ5-A10: five digits for the part type, then a model code, then the variant. The first block is the same across Honda and Acura for the same kind of part.
How much does it cost?
A Day Pass is $5, a month $50 and a year $500. Every plan opens all 53 catalogs, with no per-search fees.