2009 Acura RDX vs 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.
2009 Acura RDX
2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Stories from the shop
Buyers cross-shop the 2009 Acura RDX and the 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class but they're solving slightly different problems. The reliability data tells you what breaks on each one. The right pick depends on which set of trade-offs fits your actual driving more than which score is higher.
If you lean 2009 Acura RDX, know what you're getting into on airbags. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than the 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.
Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.
Side-by-side by problem area
Common questions
Which is more reliable, the 2009 Acura RDX or the 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
It's close to a tie. Both vehicles score within 0.2 points on our reliability index (4.3 vs 4.4). At this margin, either choice is defensible — base your decision on the specific failure modes that matter to you.
What goes wrong more often on the 2009 Acura RDX?
Compared to the 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the 2009 Acura RDX sees more reported issues in airbags. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.
What goes wrong more often on the 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
On the categories we tracked, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class doesn't show meaningfully more complaints than the 2009 Acura RDX. The two are running close.
Which has more recalls?
Both vehicles have 0 active recalls. Total recall count alone isn't a great signal — what matters is severity. See the recall counts by severity in the comparison table.
Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?
Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $1,100 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.