2009 Acura MDX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
52 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
55,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 37 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 52 complaints (32.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 23.1% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 11.5% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 7.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.8% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 3.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Wheels | 3 |
Electrical System: 17; Engine: 8; Power Train: 8; Exterior Lighting: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Air Bags: 4; Unknown Or Other: 3; Wheels: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 15 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2009: 4; 2010: 6; 2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 9; 2016: 2; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2022: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10262358 · 2009-03-18 (March 18, 2009)
NEW CARS ARE BEING MADE WITH HEADLIGHTS WAY TOO BRIGHT, EVEN ON THE DIM SETTINGS. WHEN THE ONCOMING CAR IS ON THE SAME LEVEL AND ORIENTATION (I.E., FLAT ROAD), THE BRIGHTNESS IS NOT TOO BAD, BUT ROADS ARE NOT FLAT. THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT INCREASE IN BRIGHTNESS IN RECENT YEARS. IN CONNECTICUT (WHERE I LIVE), IT IS A COMMON SCENARIO TO BE ON A CORNER COMBINED WITH A SMALL ELEVATION PEAK RESULTING IN ONCOMING HEADLIGHTS POINTING DIRECTLY AT YOU. WITH NEWER CARS, THE RESULT IS MOMENTARY TOTAL BLINDNESS (LOOKING LOW AND TO THE RIGHT DOES NOT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10262358 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10267737 · 2009-05-05 (May 5, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT THAT HANGS FROM THE CEILING TO THE MIDDLE SEAT BECAME WRAPPED AROUND THE CHILD'S NECK. THE CHILD WAS UNABLE TO BREATH PROPERLY. THE CHILD WAS SEATED IN THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 10,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10267737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10293557 · 2009-11-25 (November 25, 2009)
2009 ACURA MDX WITH LESS THAN 4000 MILES DEVELOPED AN ISSUE WITH TIMING BELT PULLEYS, TIMING BELT AND FRONT PART OF ENGINE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293557 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10295242 · 2009-12-10 (December 10, 2009)
MY 2009 MDX WITH 3500+ MILES HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. ONCE I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WAS ISSUE WITH POOR QUALITY TIMING BELT PULLEY. SO TIMING BELT GOT SHREDDED. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE BOTH. THEY TOOK ALMOST WEEK TO REPLACE IT. WITH IN A DAY, 2009 MDX DEVELOPED ISSUE. THIS TIME THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THEY TOOK ANOTHER WEEK TO REPLACE. AGAIN WITH IN TWO DAYS, "CHECK EMISSION SYSTEM" CAME UP AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE ANOTHER C…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295242 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313689 · 2010-02-24 (February 24, 2010)
CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. TOWED IT TO THE DEALER THE DEALER REPAIRED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOLLOWING IS THE STATEMENT FROM DEALER 'FOUND INSTRUMENT INTERNAL DEFECTIVE CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL REMOVE AND REPLACE GAUGE RECHECK OPERATION'. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,449 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313695 · 2010-02-24 (February 24, 2010)
CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. TOWED TO THE DEALER. IDENTIFIED AS AN INTERNAL THROTTLE PROBLEM. DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE BODY. FOLLOWING IS THE STATEMENT OF THE DEALER 'PERFORMED DIAG FOUND INTERNAL THROTTLE FAILURE'. 'THROTTLE BODY - REPLACE' *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,469 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313695 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313708 · 2010-02-24 (February 24, 2010)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE BROOKLYN-QUEENS EXPRESSWAY (I 278 E)AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED THE CAR STALLED NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, TRUCK AND TRACTOR TRAILERS CAME BARRELING DOWN TOWARDS MY STALLED VEHICLE AND ABRUPTLY CHANGING LANES TO AVOID CRASHING INTO MY CAR. I DIALED 911 AND THE NYPD HIGHWAY UNIT SENT A TOWTRUCK IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID ACCIDENTS (I WAS PETRIFIED WAITING FOR THE TOW) THE DEALER IDENTIFIED A THROTTLE FAILURE, REPLACED THE THROTTLE AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,389 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10344247 · 2010-07-20 (July 20, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID ENGAGED ON ITS OWN AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN DIRECTLY TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FUSE TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE DISCONNECTED AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THIS WAS A KNOWN FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER AUTHORIZED DEALER BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS NEEDED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 14,808.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,808 miles reported. Look up ODI 10344247 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.