Problems · NHTSA complaints
2009 Acura MDX problems
Owners filed 52 complaints about the 2009 Acura MDX with NHTSA between Mar 2009 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (18).
Complaints
52
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system18
- Power train8
- Engine8
- Exterior lighting6
- Vehicle speed control5
- Air bags4
- Wheels3
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Tires2
- Steering2
- Suspension2
- Seats2
- Latches/locks/linkages2
- Electronic stability control (esc)1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
6
2
3
1
4
9
2
4
1
4
2
3
3
0
1
1
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
18 reports
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2009 Acura MDX. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 117,500. At the time of the vehicle registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 140,223.”
Power train
8 reports
“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”
Engine
8 reports1 fire
“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.”
Exterior lighting
6 reports
“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.”
Vehicle speed control
5 reports3 crashes
“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”
Air bags
4 reports
“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..”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.