Acura ILX Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2016 draws 2.17 complaints per run and the 2014 1.39, a 1.6-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age, so 54.9% land after the 4-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Air Bags, with 78 complaints, typically at 3.3 years.

Acura ILX years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Acura ILX — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2022	1	3	3	too new
2021	1.38	11	8	too new
2020	1.13	9	8	yes
2019	1.59	35	22	yes
2018	1.38	22	16	yes
2017	1.46	19	13	yes
2016	2.17	50	23	yes
2015	1.29	18	14	yes
2014	1.39	25	18	yes
2013	1.68	64	38	yes

ROWS 10·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2016 ILX asks a median $10,900, against $13,995 for a 2017, the next model year: about 22% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.

Among the 4 Acura ILX years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2016, 2013, 2019; the three worth hunting are 2014, 2019, 2013.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Acura ILX — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	31	12.3%	covered
1 year	22	20.9%	covered
2 years	31	33.2%	covered
3 years	30	45.1%	covered
4 years	14	50.6%	you pay
5 years	29	62.1%	you pay
6 years	23	71.1%	you pay
7 years	23	80.2%	you pay
8 years	11	84.6%	you pay
9 years	12	89.3%	you pay
10 years	14	94.9%	you pay
11 years	6	97.2%	you pay
12 years	2	98%	you pay
13 years	5	100%	you pay

ROWS 14·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 4 years / 50,000 miles. Only 45.1% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 54.9% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (6 years / 70,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 9% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Acura ILX, the early trouble is Air Bags — reported at around 3.3 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Service Brakes at 6.1 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Acura ILX — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Air Bags	78	3.3 yrs	10	—
Service Brakes	45	6.1 yrs	6	—
Unknown Or Other	29	4.7 yrs	2	—
Electrical System	28	5.9 yrs	1	—
Fuel/propulsion System	26	5.2 yrs	—	—
Power Train	23	4.8 yrs	1	—
Fuel System	22	5.5 yrs	1	—
Gasoline	22	5.5 yrs	1	—

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the ILX's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Corolla draws 5.16, the Lexus IS 1.31 and the BMW M3 1.49, against 1.6 for the ILX.

FIG.05·Acura ILX — rivals in the same class
Same class as the ILX	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Toyota Corolla	12,389	219	1981–2026
Lexus IS	47	118	2001–2026
BMW M3	565	78	1988–2026
Acura TLX	893	41	2015–2026
Ford Focus	22,576	138	2000–2026
Subaru WRX	290	17	2015–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Acura ILX

Recalls38 campaigns Fuel economy38 mpg best Common problems269 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space12 cu ft Used prices463 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2013–2026

Frequently asked questions

Is the Acura ILX reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.6 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which ILX years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2016, 2013, 2019. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2014, 2019, 2013. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do ILX problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age. The most reported system is Air Bags, typically at 3.3 years, followed by Service Brakes.

Will the warranty cover ILX problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 4 years / 50,000 miles, and only 45.1% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 9% of the complaints here.

Is the ILX more reliable than the Toyota Corolla?

Yes: 1.6 complaints per production run for the ILX against 5.16 for the Toyota Corolla.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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