Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Acura MDX, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 9 | 17% |
| Air bags | 4 | 8% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 8% |
| Power train | 3 | 6% |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 6% |
| Engine | 3 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 4% |
| Seats | 2 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
No major incidents, hits, or bumps no off roading only drove on city roads and highways. Tread and all rubber on the outside half of the tire has completely seperated from the inner tire on a section.
NHTSA complaint: Tires
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 vehi
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
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 m
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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
NHTSA complaint: Power 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 b
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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.
NHTSA complaint: Steering
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 nev
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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 o
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
| Reliability raw | 76 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 79 | good |
| Depreciation | 64 | average |
| Performance | 69 | good |
| Efficiency | 30 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 9 of them (17%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 76/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2009 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.