FaultScore

2009 Acura MDX electrical problems

18 of the 76 complaints about the 2009 Acura MDX are about the electrical system — 24% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 72,500 miles.

C

18

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 17 94.4%
Speedometer/Odometer 1 5.6%

Electrical System across every Acura MDX year

2002 12 2.7%
2003 18 4.1%
2004 21 4.7%
2005 18 4.1%
2007 51 11.5%
2009 18 4.1%
2012 13 2.9%
2014 27 6.1%
2015 15 3.4%
2016 37 8.3%
2017 43 9.7%
2018 27 6.1%
2019 39 8.8%
2020 38 8.6%
2022 20 4.5%
2024 10 2.3%
2025 37 8.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 140,223 miles Sanford, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

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.

NHTSA complaint #11751832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tulsa, OK

ELECTRICAL 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

NHTSA complaint #11596234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sparta, TN

ELECTRICAL 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.

NHTSA complaint #11472580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albuquerque, NM

ELECTRICAL 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.

NHTSA complaint #11427483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles East Haven, CT

ELECTRICAL 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 EITHER DOING REVERSE FAILURE ANALYSIS ON THE RETURNED MODULES OR WIRSE YET FIXING THE BROKEN ONES AND SENDING THEM OUT AS THE REPLACEMENTS. EITHER WAY THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW IS WRONG WITH THESE MODULES. THIS MODULE IS NOT WHAT IS CONSIDERED A NORMAL ATTRITION PIECE LIKE TIRES, BRAKES, LIGHT BULBS , BELTS , HOSES. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU PLANNED ON REPLACING A BROKEN RADIO IN YOUR VEHICLE, YOU DON'T. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PLAN OR PAY TO REPLACE MY HFL MODULE, QUALITY CONTROL AND MANUFACTURE LOYALTY TO THEIR CUSTOMERS IS ABISMAL.

NHTSA complaint #11307646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 92,000 miles Voorhees, NJ

ELECTRICAL 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

NHTSA complaint #11292143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Portland, OR

ELECTRICAL 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).

NHTSA complaint #11246429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charlottesville, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ALL DOOR LOCKS, WINDOWS, TRUNK, FUEL DOOR, AND SUNROOF DOES NOT WORK

NHTSA complaint #11217190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Hoffman Estates, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

BLUETOOTH HANDFREE LINK (HFL) IN MY 2009 ACURA MDX WAS DRAINING MY BATTERY. I HAD TO CALL TOWING SERVICE A FEW TIMES TO START THE VEHICLE. WHEN I OPENED THE COMPARTMENT WHERE HANDS FREE LINK DEVICE IS LOCATED, I NOTICED THAT THE DEVICE WAS EXTREMELY HOT (FIRE HAZARD). FINALLY, IT GAVE UP AFTER A WHILE. THIS HAPPENED AFTER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 100K MILES. MY STATE (STATE OF ILLINOIS) REQUIRES USING A HANDS FREE LINK WHILE DRIVING, SO, I FEEL ACURA SHOULD RECALL THE HFL UNIT AND REPLACE THIS FREE OF CHARGE TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE LAW. WILL APPRECIATE IF NHTSA LOOKS INTO THIS CASE AND REQUIRES ACURA/HONDA TO ISSUE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE IN MANY ACURAS BASED ON MY GOOGLE SEARCH.

NHTSA complaint #11066751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,400 miles Palos Hills, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY MDX HAS ONLY 62,400 MILES AND TODAY I GOT A MESSAGE "CHECK STARTER SYSTEM" DUE TO THE HFL MODULE IS DRAINING THE BATTERY. LUCKILY THE CAR WAS IN MY GARAGE AT THE TIME. I HAD TO CHARGE THE BATTERY SO I COULD START THE CAR. ALL THE INFO I HAVE READ ONLINE STATES THE THE HFL MODULE GETS REAL HOT AND CAN CAUSE FIRE. MY GARAGE IS UNDER MY BEDROOM. THIS IS A PART MADE BY JOHNSON CONTROLS, ACURA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ITEM.

NHTSA complaint #10905961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Springfield, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

BLUETOOTH STOPPED WORKING AND A FEW WEEKS LATER, MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I REPLACED THE BATTERY AND A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR STALLED ON ME AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY SPOT!!!!! I WENT TO THE ACURA DEALER AND EXPLAINED TO THE GUY THAT MY BATTERY KEPT DRAINING. HE ASKED ME IF MY BLUETOOTH STOPPED WORKING, I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE I HADN'T MENTIONED ANY ISSUES WITH MY BLUETOOTH BUT I LET HIM KNOW THAT IN FACT, THE BLUETOOTH HAD STOPPED. THE REP SAID IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM IN MY VEHICLE. HAD TO REPLACE THE BLUETOOTH AND PAID $600!!!! MY FRIENDS SISTER HAS THE SAME MAKE CAR AND HER BLUETOOTH STOPPED WORKING AND HER CAR BATTERY KEEPS GOING DEAD. IT'S VERY SCARY SINCE APPARENTLY I MUST HAVE STARTED THE CAR RIGHT BEFORE THE BATTERY DIED AGAIN. IMAGINE WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED IF IT HAD STALLED ON A HIGHWAY OR A BUSY STREET!

NHTSA complaint #10823427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,000 miles Temecula, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH 2009 ACURA MDX- THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATES WHILE DRIVING INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO AN ACURA REPAIR FACILITY. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT IT IS A FAULTY SENSOR AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 ACURA MDX. THE DEALERSHIP FURTHER STATED THAT IT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $700.00 FOR THEM TO MAKE THE REPAIR AS ACURA HAS NOT YET ISSUED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SENSOR.

NHTSA complaint #10717681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Austin, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

"NOX SENSOR WIRING HARNESS CHEWED BY MOUSE" PER ACURA DEALERSHIP. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT DAMAGE OR PRESENCE ELSEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PRIOR MODELS PRIOR TO 2009, BUT MY PARTICULAR CAR DOESN'T HAVE THE PROBLEM. THE WIRING HAS BEEN COVERED BY HONDA RODENT DETERRENT TAPE AS SHOWING IN THE PICTURES. I HAVE CONTACTED ACURA/HONDA DEALERSHIPS, THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ALSO THE IRRESPECTIVE, ACURA/HONDA MANUFACTURER CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY OTHER CAR (HONDA ODYSSEY 2009) WITHIN A SPAN OF ONE WEEK WITH EXACTLY SIMILAR PRESENTATION. WHEN I REQUESTED INFORMATION FROM THE ABOVE SOURCES, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR CUSTOMERS AND THAT IS IT IS A RARE EVENT AND NOT RELATED TO MANUFACTURING DEFECTS AND ALSO THERE WAS NO DEFINITIVE TREND IN ACURA/HONDA(SAME COMPANY) NOX SENSOR WIRING HARNESS CHEWED BY RODENTS AND HAVE REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM TO WHICH I HAVE SUBSCRIBED/PURCHASED. I HAVE ANOTHER ENTRY REGARDING THE OTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10713348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Omaha, NE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD JUST COME ON AND NOT SHUT OFF. WE TRIED SEVERAL THINGS BUT THE WIPERS WOULD NOT STOP. I HAD TO TAKE THE FUSE OUT SO IT CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10713004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Omaha, NE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE MESSAGE CENTER CAME ON TELLING ME TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL AND PRESSURE. PULL OVER ASAP AND HAVE IT TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES NOW AND EACH TIME THEY SAY ITS A SENSOR BUT HOW MANY CAN THERE BE AND HOW CAN THEY KEEP GOING OUT. WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING THE WIPERS WILL SHORT OUT AS WELL AND RADIO WILL FADE IN AND OUT. THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL.

NHTSA complaint #10713005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,000 miles Cranberry TWP, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO I WENT TO START THE MEDIC AND IT WOULD NOT START. NO LIGHTS OR ANY OTHER ACCESSORIES WERE LEFT ON. THE CAR WAS JUMPED AND STARTED. BEING THE CAR WAS 4 YEARS OLD AND I HAD REVIEWS OF BATTERY PROBLEMS IN THE MEDIC, I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. IT WAS JUMPED AGAIN AND TAKEN TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP TO BE TESTED. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THE BATTERY WAS WEAK, SO IT WAS REPLACED AGAIN. IT'S BEEN ABOUT 2 MONTHS NOW AND TODAY WHEN I WENT TO START IT, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN. THREE BATTERIES DO NOT GO BAD THAT QUICKLY, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTICED OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE ON THIS WEB SITE.

NHTSA complaint #10553906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,000 miles N/A, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ACURA MDX 2009 HAPPENED TWO TIMES WITHIN 3 WEEKS. WHILE DRIVING CAR LOST ALL ELECTRIC, ENTIRE DASHBOARD WENT DEAD, NO HEADLIGHTS, NO DOOR/TRUNK LOCKS, NO NAVIGATION, NO DVD, NO RADIO, CAR STALLED AND COULDN'T BE STARTED AGAIN. HAD TO BE TOWED. SECOND TIME SAME THING HAPPENED WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AND TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. CAR WAS TOWED AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10360439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,449 miles Brooklyn, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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'.

NHTSA complaint #10313689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2009 Acura MDX problems

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