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Acura RDXModel year report

2009 Acura RDX Problems

Complaints
15filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
33,899miles, 4 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 2.3L 4-cyl 4WD/AWD · 17 city / 22 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Acura RDX (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2009 Acura RDX. The part named most often is air bags, with 10 complaints (67% of the total), followed by brakes (2) and transmission and drivetrain (1). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 33,899 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 55 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the inflator module and 31 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall called Acura national , told to call Acura dealership. Dealership doesn't know when new part will be available and doesn't have loaner car to give me. Car is being driven by my 18 y/o daughter for school commute. Repair will be more than 60 days and there is no provision for temporary replacement for my older 2009 car when I know a recent replacement was already installed on a 2016 RDX in nearby norwalk, connecticut dealership.”

NHTSA complaint #10862384, filed 2016-05

Brakes: “An error message always comes on for the brake system & tire pressure sensors . They become problematic when the temp outside drops to 20 and below. Living in connecticut during the winter time a lot of our friends and family members recognized this issue with their Acura RDX's and mdx's. As soon as you turn the vehicle on the error messages engage and the brake pedal feels different from the normal. As soon as the car warms up or the outside temp goes up higher than 30 degrees it goes away. …”

NHTSA complaint #11062739, filed 2018-01, 79,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Vehicle fails to shift and hits rev limiter stoping all forward momentum. Merging into traffic, this almost caused an accident. This vehicle is marketed as an automatic, but when the car is put in s , you have to use the shifters to shift, however if you are in even a slight turn, you cannot access the shifters as they turn with the steering wheel. There are no warnings of this huge safety issue. Acura has been contacted an refuses to look at my vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #10339462, filed 2010-06, 50 miles

Vehicle speed control: “2009 Acura RDX has uncontrollable acceleration problem. The consumer stated as he was pulling into a parking space, he applied the brake. However, the vehicle continued to accelerate. He pushed harder on the brake, but to no avail. The consumer then switched the gear from drive to neutral and then the vehicle stopped going forward, but the engine revved even more. The consumer stated it has happened two more times since the first incident.”

NHTSA complaint #10291729, filed 2009-11

Mileage when problems were reported

50% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 11,623 and 56,175 miles.

25%0–1025%10–250%25–5025%50–7525%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (4 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 33,899 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

20092010201220167201720182025
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Acura RDX. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
RDX · sedan AWDnot rated5 / 5——4 · 15.5% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Acura RDX version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
RDX 4WD2.3L 4-cyl5-speed automatic172219$4,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2009 Acura RDX → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 55 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 55 bulletins →

Other model years of the Acura RDX

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2025302,1001523Too new to compareToo new
20241216,5002523—Too new
20232418,9942524—Too new
2022318,000252445 · TypicalRising
202111730,000352487 · MoreRising
20203506,3505524100 · MoreRising
201944111,1615524100 · MoreRising
2018786,500152333 · FewerRising
20178013,500152343 · TypicalRising
20164125,500252335 · FewerStable
201541655,000352389 · MoreRising
201424460,000352382 · MoreRising
201316247,5003—2350 · TypicalRising
20121540,0002—21—Rising
20111665,3352—21—Falling
20102270,0002—21—Stable
20091533,8992—19—Rising
20083360,0003—190 · FewerStable
20075368,0572—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Acura RDX model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Acura RDX have?

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2009 Acura RDX as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Acura RDX is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 10 complaints (67% of the total), followed by brakes with 2.

Has the 2009 Acura RDX been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Acura RDX get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Acura RDX (RDX 4WD, 2.3L 4-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 17 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Acura RDX reported?

Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 33,899 miles and the middle half falls between 11,623 and 56,175 miles; 50% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.