ACURA MDX · model year

2009 ACURA MDX

74 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2009ACURAMDX carries 74 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 1 fire, 7 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 MDX is electrical system with 17 filings, followed by power train (8) and engine (8). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2009 MDX, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

74
Complaints
6
Crashes
1
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

74 filings

Crashes Reported

6 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17
POWER TRAIN8
ENGINE8
EXTERIOR LIGHTING6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
AIR BAGS4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
WHEELS3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES2
SUSPENSION2
STEERING2
SEAT BELTS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20250130AIR BAGS

On Jan 21, 2025 the drivers side air bag deployed as I was driving. I did not hit or get hit by anyone or anything, I did not run over anything either the airbag deployed on drivers side from the front to the back of my Acura MDX it was sudden it was random Nd damn scary. I was injured from the impact of the air bag ... I have had my car approximately 6 months I am purchasing from Drive now in Wichita, KS and am still making payments on this vehicle..

20240624ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I just got this car in September and it is now throwing all kinds of different codes to the point where I can’t drive it sh-awd /check charging station / emission light etc

20240624POWER TRAIN

I just got this car in September and it is now throwing all kinds of different codes to the point where I can’t drive it sh-awd /check charging station / emission light etc

20240624EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I just got this car in September and it is now throwing all kinds of different codes to the point where I can’t drive it sh-awd /check charging station / emission light etc

20220706ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While driving vehicle, all power shut off after all lights(airbag, tire, engine, etc. came on the dashboard) not able to start vehicle now at all. Has power but will not run, turn over, stay running, etc. has brand new battery so that’s not the problem no problems until today.

20220706ENGINE

While driving vehicle, all power shut off after all lights(airbag, tire, engine, etc. came on the dashboard) not able to start vehicle now at all. Has power but will not run, turn over, stay running, etc. has brand new battery so that’s not the problem no problems until today.

20220706POWER TRAIN

While driving vehicle, all power shut off after all lights(airbag, tire, engine, etc. came on the dashboard) not able to start vehicle now at all. Has power but will not run, turn over, stay running, etc. has brand new battery so that’s not the problem no problems until today.

20220426STEERING

I was driving onto an exit ramp around 50 to 60 mph on Rt 50 yo 495 south and VSA light appeared on dash. Also steering felt extremely loose. No control to steer and could not accelerate either.

20220426SUSPENSION

I was driving onto an exit ramp around 50 to 60 mph on Rt 50 yo 495 south and VSA light appeared on dash. Also steering felt extremely loose. No control to steer and could not accelerate either.

20220209AIR BAGS

Vehicle produced a dash warning light for airbag/supplemental restraint system on January 29th or 30th, 2022. Went away and back on again 3 times in the following week. No prior issues related to this. Vehicle has never been in an accident. Acura dealer scanned vehicle 2/5/2022 to find vehicle code 11-11, meaning bad airbag and possibly bad cable reel. No recalls or effort by Acura (contacted by me) to assist with fix. Replacement isn't readily available, nor is a dealer loaner. Part is $1202.75. Vehicle is 2009 with only 89,7XX miles.

20210802ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The battery has been drained on three separate occasions this year (2021). I replaced the battery after the first occurrence. Each time I have had to use a battery jump to restart the vehicle which sufficed to get it operating and return home. On the last occasion, the car started to display dash board warning messages before arriving at home after driving only 15 miles. This came with a fully charged battery installed to get the car restarted. Previously I could see no error codes, but following this latest incident the AWD error code 77-01 is displayed by an OBD reader. The vehicle began to run roughly and flashed many dashboard warnings as the battery began to draw down to zero power. Latest incident required a battery replacement instead of just a jump to restart.

20210701POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2009 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and approaching a stop sign, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact shifted the vehicle to neutral and back to drive and the vehicle responded slowly. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,061.

Mileage: 150,061

20210209EXTERIOR LIGHTING

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT IS EXTREMELY DIM, CAN BARELY SEE AT NIGHT. CHANGING THE LIGHT BULB DOES NOT SOLVE. HEADLIGHT COVER IS NOT FOGGY OR CLOUDY, IT IS CLEAR. SUSPECTING INTERNAL REFLECTOR ISSUE AS ACURA HAS DONE RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS FOR THE SAME ISSUE BUT NOT ON RDX.

Mileage: 50,000

20200713EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY HEADLIGHTS IN MY 2009 MDX ARE GETTING VERY FOGGY LIKE THEY TURNNIG WHITE IN OUTSIDE SURFACE IS HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT TIME WHIT THE LOW BEANS I USE THE HIGH BEANS TO BE ABLE TO SEE I TAKE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY CANNOT DO NOTHING I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD I SEE OTHERS ACURA WHIT THE SAME PROBLEM THEY SURE PUT THIS PROBLEM IN RECALL...THANKS

20200207ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HFL MODULE # 39770-STX-A011-M1 STOPPED WORKING PREVENTING CONNECTION TO MY CELL PHONE. 2009 MDX WITH 92,004 MILES. CALLED ALL THE DEALERSHIPS IN MY AREA AND OTHERS ON THE INTERNET AND NO ONE HAS THE MODULE. I WAS TOLD BY THEM IT'S ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER FOR SONE TIME NOW ( 2/5/2020 ) . DOING FURTHER RESEARCH BROUGHT TO LIGHT THERE IS A 2016 OR 2017 CLASS ACTION SUIT ON THIS HFL MODULE/SYSTEM FAILING AND DRAINING POWER FROM THE BATTERY, CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE OF SAID BATTERY, WHICH ALSO HAPPENED TO ME AS WELL AS NO START CONDITIONS WHICH ALSO HAS HAPPENED TO ME. SO FAR NO STALL OUTS WITH THE VEHICLE MOVING. I CURRENTLY HAVE A HFL MODULE ON ORDER FROM ACURA AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE THEIR ON BACK ORDER IT COULD BE SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE THEY GET THEIR ORDER. ALSO THEY WANT MY OLD MODULE WHICH THEY ADDED A $50.00 CORE CHARGE TO THE PRICE. THOUGH THERE MAYBE JUST A FEW OFFICIAL COMPLAINTS LISTED HERE JUST CHECK THE WEB. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A FAULT IN THESE MODULES AND THE MANUFACTURE IS

Mileage: 95,000

20191230ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I HAVE ACCURA MDX 2009.UNABLE TO OPEN CAR DOOR USING MY KEY.COULD NOT OPEN TRUNK.BOTH SIDES LIGHT SIGNALS DO NOT WORK.CALLED AAA SERVICE TO OPEN DOOR.VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY

Mileage: 92,000

20191230ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE ACCURA MDX 2009.UNABLE TO OPEN CAR DOOR USING MY KEY.COULD NOT OPEN TRUNK.BOTH SIDES LIGHT SIGNALS DO NOT WORK.CALLED AAA SERVICE TO OPEN DOOR.VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY

Mileage: 92,000

20190826ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE BLUETOOTH MODULE DRAINS THE BATTERY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND I AM AFRAID THAT MY VEHICLE COULD BE TURNED OFF BY DRAINING THE BATTERY WHEN RUNNING CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE REGISTERED THE CASE WITH ACURA CUSTOMER SERVER AND HAVE NOT HELPED ME WITH THE FREE REPLACEMENT. THE ACURA CASE NUMBER IS [XXX] 2009 ACURA MDX AWD VIN: 2HNYD28679H[XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

Mileage: 70,000

20190708CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

ON JUNE 30TH 2019 AFTER LEAVING FROM WORK I WAS ON MY WAY TO PIER 1 WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES AWAY. I TURNED INTO THE PARKING LOT PARKED IN FRONT OF PIER 1 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. IT JUMPED THE CURB CRASHED THROUGH PIER 1 WINDOW INTO THE STORE AND DIDN'T STOP UNTIL IT HIT A WALL. AT THIS TIME I'M IN SHOCK GLASS IS EVERY WHERE AND I COULD MOVE I HEAR PEOPLE IN THE BACKGROUND TELLING ME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR BUT I WAS FROZEN FROM WHAT JUST HAPPENED. I JUST WANT TO HOLD ACURA ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE I SEE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE

Mileage: 150,000

20190708CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON JUNE 30TH 2019 AFTER LEAVING FROM WORK I WAS ON MY WAY TO PIER 1 WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES AWAY. I TURNED INTO THE PARKING LOT PARKED IN FRONT OF PIER 1 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. IT JUMPED THE CURB CRASHED THROUGH PIER 1 WINDOW INTO THE STORE AND DIDN'T STOP UNTIL IT HIT A WALL. AT THIS TIME I'M IN SHOCK GLASS IS EVERY WHERE AND I COULD MOVE I HEAR PEOPLE IN THE BACKGROUND TELLING ME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR BUT I WAS FROZEN FROM WHAT JUST HAPPENED. I JUST WANT TO HOLD ACURA ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE I SEE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE

Mileage: 150,000

Compare 2009ACURAMDX to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 ACURA MDX have?
The 2009 ACURA MDX has 74 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 1 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 ACURA MDX?
The most-complained component for the 2009 ACURA MDX is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 17 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and ENGINE.
Is the 2009 ACURA MDX safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.