UsedScore

2009 Acura MDX: Solid

Owners filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Acura MDX in its first five years on the road, about 43 for every 100,000 sold: 0.6× the rate of a typical MDX year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the seats and seat belts (20% of complaints).

Complaint index
0.6×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical MDX year
Rank
5th of 13
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
15
first five years; 43 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
0
campaigns
2nd generation, 2007–2013 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2007–2008 Acura MDX

Photo: 2007–2008 Acura MDX · IFCAR, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Seats and belts20% · 3 complaints
  2. Engine27% · 4 complaints
  3. Doors and latches13% · 2 complaints
  4. Powertrain13% · 2 complaints
  5. Electrical13% · 2 complaints
  6. Lights13% · 2 complaints
  7. Speed control13% · 2 complaints
  8. Steering7% · 1 complaints
  9. Suspension7% · 1 complaints
  10. Wheels and tires7% · 1 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Engine

Owners of this MDX describe a range of engine-related issues including warning lights, battery drain, stalling, and occasional major engine damage. Repairs often involved multiple dealer visits and replacement parts, with some problems recurring after service.

Warning signs:
Owners report warning lights (check engine, oil, airbag), whining noises, battery dying repeatedly, knocking sounds, and loss of power while driving.
What shops did:
Dealers replaced sensors, batteries, starters, timing belts, catalytic converters, or power steering pumps, sometimes with recurring issues afterward.
Mileage:
most between 35,000 and 90,000 miles, among 9 complaints that give it

“The car makes a whine at about 1500 RPM”

“The check engine warning light sporadically illuminates while driving”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2009 Acura MDX.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Acura sent NHTSA 35 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2009 MDX. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • DOR-M3J3F-07 · June 2020These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters.
  • SB-11-023 · August 2011Honda acura: the air bag light is on with a stored trouble code.
  • BER-11030B · April 2011Acura: american honda would like to inspect certain model year 2009-2011 vehicles (mdx), concerning one of the doors will not open using the inner handle.
  • B23040A · May 2023Service News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect.
  • B21120A · January 2022ServiceNews Article - The clock shows the incorrect time.
  • BBOM05242018901 · May 2018Dealer message - Today, May 24, 2018, Acura is announcing a warranty extension for 2002-17 Acura vehicles.
  • B05-018 · November 2016navigation system information.
  • CUSTOMER LETTER · November 2016"customer letter - on some 2007–13 mdx and 2010–12 zdx vehicles located in cold areas, the front and rear active dampers may leak.

All 2009 MDX bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2009 Acura MDX reliable?
Owners filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Acura MDX in its first five years on the road, about 43 for every 100,000 sold: 0.6× the rate of a typical MDX year. That's close to a typical year. Ratings compare MDX years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2009 MDX problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the seats and seat belts (20%), the engine (27%) and doors, latches and locks (13%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2009 Acura MDX been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2009 Acura MDX.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Acura. The 2009 Acura MDX on NHTSA.gov · How we rate