NHTSA has 52 owner complaints on file for the 2009 Acura MDX[1]. The electrical system is the biggest group, with 18 complaints[2].
Most reported problems
Here are the complaint groups in the NHTSA file, biggest first.
- Electrical System. 18 complaints[2]. Owners describe the car losing power while driving, dashboards going dark, batteries that keep dying, and wipers that would not turn off.
- Engine. 11 complaints[4]. In the stories we read, owners talk about no-start days and belt and pulley trouble early in the car's life.
- Power Train. 8 complaints[5]. Owners describe shaking at highway speed, a whine and a shudder that dealers struggled to pin down, and a car that was slow to respond when the pedal was pressed.
- Exterior Lighting. 6 complaints[6]. Owners describe headlights that turned foggy or dim at night, and one writer found oncoming lights too bright.
- Speed Control. 5 complaints[7]. This group has the most crash reports of any group on the list, 3 in all[7].
- Air Bags. 4 complaints[8].
- Unknown Or Other. 3 complaints[9].
- Wheels. 3 complaints[10].
Recalls
NHTSA's records show 0 recalls for the 2009 MDX[11].
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
| Version | City / highway / combined MPG | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|
| MDX 4WD, 3.7L 6-cyl, Automatic (S5), Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive[3] | 15 / 20 / 17 | $4,850 |
Safety ratings
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR AWD[12] | n/a | n/a | n/a | 4 | 14.0% |
Engine and size
These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.
| Version | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDX 4DR SUV AWD /TECH/ELITE[13] | 191 in | 78 in | 68 in | 108 in | 4,550 lb |
How 2009 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 224 | 4 |
| 2002 | 205 | 4 |
| 2003 | 206 | 11 |
| 2004 | 171 | 8 |
| 2005 | 180 | 11 |
| 2006 | 87 | 9 |
| 2007 | 99 | 0 |
| 2008 | 49 | 0 |
| 2009 | 52 | 0 |
| 2010 | 45 | 1 |
| 2011 | 70 | 0 |
| 2012 | 76 | 1 |
| 2013 | 30 | 1 |
| 2014 | 172 | 8 |
| 2015 | 71 | 8 |
| 2016 | 377 | 7 |
| 2017 | 268 | 9 |
| 2018 | 170 | 10 |
| 2019 | 198 | 9 |
| 2020 | 229 | 8 |
| 2022 | 180 | 3 |
| 2023 | 48 | 3 |
| 2024 | 43 | 3 |
| 2025 | 111 | 4 |
| 2026 | 9 | 1 |
NHTSA's counts for the MDX show 52 complaints and 0 recalls for 2009[11]. Among the 25 model years listed, 6 have fewer complaints than 2009 and 18 have more[11]. The fewest complaints are for 2026 (9) and the most are for 2016 (377)[11]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.
Should you buy a used 2009 MDX?
The file for this model year holds 52 complaints, and none of them report a death[1]. Electrical trouble is the largest group at 18 complaints[2], so it is worth checking how the car starts and how the dashboard behaves on a test drive. Engine complaints are next at 11[4]. These are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for how many cars were sold. Read the recalls section and the by-year comparison on this page before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Acura MDX?
- Electrical System leads with 18 complaints[2], followed by Engine with 11[4] and Power Train with 8[5].
- Does the 2009 Acura MDX have recalls?
- The recall count for 2009 is 0 in our data[11]. Any recalls are listed in the Recalls section of this page.
- Is the 2009 Acura MDX reliable?
- NHTSA has 52 complaints on file for this year[1]. They are unverified owner reports, so use them as a guide and not a verdict. The by-year section shows how this year sits next to the others.
- What is the gas mileage of the 2009 Acura MDX?
- See the Fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.
- Is 2009 the best year for the Acura MDX?
- The by-year comparison on this page lays out each year side by side. This year has 52 complaints[11].
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Acura MDX
Compare all model years of the Acura MDX
Other Acura models from 2009
Similar cars from 2009: suvs
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 52 owner complaints on file for the 2009 Acura MDX (4 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 6 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- 18 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 72,500). NHTSA vehicle records
- EPA rating for MDX 4WD, 3.7L 6-cyl, Automatic (S5), Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 15 city / 20 highway / 17 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,850. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- 11 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 8 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 6 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 5 complaints name the speed control component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 55,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 4 complaints name the air bags component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 3 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 3 complaints name the wheels component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Acura MDX model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR AWD: rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 14.0%. NHTSA vehicle records
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MDX 4DR SUV AWD /TECH/ELITE: length 191 in, width 78 in, height 68 in, wheelbase 108 in, curb weight 4,550 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov