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I am looking for suggestions/advice on how to deal with an issue, My 2018 MDX was involved in an accident. The only damage is to the tailgate. Just above the license plate and below the window. Please see the attached picture. I am paying for this repair out of pocket. I have taken it to several body shops and the estimates vary. Most of the shops have suggested just replacing the outer shell. A third guy gave me a price to replace the shell and another to replace the entire hatch with a salvaged part . The price to repair vs replace was pretty close. I hadn't even considered this as viable option. That being said, I started looking online and I found a 2019 MDX tailgate that is the same color. How much of an effort is it to swap out the hatch? Are there any materials I can consult to learn the steps and also confirm whether a 2019 hatch will fit my 2018 MDX?
The first photo is my 2018 MDX. The second photo is the salvaged 2019 MDX.
The forum where you originally posted, the AcuraZine User Help, Support & Suggestions Area , is meant for problems, comments, and suggestions for the website itself, so I moved your thread to the car specific forum applicable to your vehicle.
This was explained in the sticky thread at the top of that forum, or click here if you can't find it, which will explain why you shouldn't have posted your thread there.
This part listing suggests the metal tailgate is the same for all years in the generation. Wiring could vary but as you have the original you could swap whatever is different between the two. There was a recall to replace the tailgate taillights a few years back. Might want to see if the replacement tailgate was included in that recall - I don’t remember the specifics.
Make sure the color code is in fact the same between your 2018 and the 2019 salvage unit. I know that for 2019 they introduced Performance Red Pearl (what I have on my MDX) which looks pretty close to the 2018 San Marino Red from a distance - but is definitely a much different color when you get closer. Just be sure you make sure the codes are in fact the same. Otherwise the hatch should fit just fine.
