YearToAvoid

2009 Acura MDX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

37/100

#13 most-complained of 20 MDX years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2009 Acura MDX has 52 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 37 out of 100 — #13 highest of 20 MDX model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is electrical system (21 complaints, 40% of the total). Complaints report 4 crashes, 1 fire, and 6 injuries.

Complaints
52
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
4 / 1
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
17
15 city / 20 hwy

Top 2009 Acura MDX problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System21 (40%)
  2. Engine16 (31%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain8 (15%)
  4. Structure & Body5 (10%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (10%)
  6. Airbags4 (8%)
  7. Other4 (8%)
  8. Steering2 (4%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers2 (4%)
  10. Brakes1 (2%)
2009 Acura MDX complaints: complaints filed per month6Mar 2009Aug 2010Oct 2012Feb 2015May 2017Aug 2019Aug 2021Jul 2026
69 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2009 to Jul 2026; peak Apr 2015 (6).

2009 Acura MDX recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2009 Acura MDX fuel economy and fuel cost

City
15 MPG
Highway
20 MPG
Combined
17 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,700
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2009 compared with other MDX years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Best1199017
2008Best549017
2009Good3752017
2010Good3245118
2011Good2670018

All Acura MDX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Acura MDX a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Acura MDX ranks #13 of 20 among MDX model years (Complaint Index 37/100, verdict: Good). It has 52 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Acura MDX?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (21 complaints), engine (16 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (8 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 55,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Acura MDX have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2009 Acura MDX in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Acura MDX?
EPA rates the 2009 Acura MDX at 17 MPG combined (15 city / 20 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,700. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.