Acura ILX: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Acura ILX problems by model year, from 269 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2014 (60%, 6 drivetrain complaints) and 2013 (44%, 17 drivetrain complaints). 2 of the 4 Acura ILX years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2019 (17%) and 2016 (32%). 2019 and 2016 rest on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat them as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2013 drew the most drivetrain complaints (17 of 41 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021 and 2022 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Acura ILX year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 ILX | high | 44% | 17 | 66 | 2/4 | 6 |
| 2014 ILX | very high | 60% | 6 | 29 | 1/4 | 5 |
| 2015 ILX | too few to score | – | 3 | 19 | – | 4 |
| 2016 ILX | no elevated signal | 32% | 12 | 52 | 3/4 | 6 |
| 2017 ILX | too few to score | – | 5 | 20 | – | 4 |
| 2018 ILX | too few to score | – | 13 | 23 | – | 4 |
| 2019 ILX | no elevated signal | 17% | 6 | 36 | 4/4 | 5 |
| 2020 ILX | too few to score | – | 1 | 10 | – | 2 |
| 2021 ILX | too few to score | – | 0 | 11 | – | 0 |
| 2022 ILX | too few to score | – | 1 | 3 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Acura ILX years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Acura ILX powertrain recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the Acura ILX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 11 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2019 | 19V052000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2014, 2016, 2019 |
| Jun 2019 | 19V424000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2016–2019 |
| Dec 2020 | 20V770000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2013–2014 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V215000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2019 |
| Dec 2023 | 23V858000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2016–2019 |
6 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2012 | 12V338000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2013 |
| Jun 2014 | 14V323000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2013–2014 |
| Feb 2016 | 16V061000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2013, 2014, 2016 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V182000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2013, 2014, 2016 |
| Jun 2019 | 19V500000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2013 |
| Dec 2025 | 25V859000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder | 2016–2019 |
What the free pages leave out on the Acura ILX
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Acura ILX
What are the worst years for the Acura ILX?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Acura ILX years are the 2014 (60% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2013 (44% of relevant complaints, high). 2 of 4 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Acura ILX?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Acura ILX years are the 2019 (17%) and the 2016 (32%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Acura ILX have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 4 scored years, 41 of 122 relevant NHTSA complaints (34%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2013 and 2014.
Is the Acura ILX reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 2 of 4 Acura ILX years we score have an elevated complaint share and 2 do not. Pooled across those years, 34% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Acura ILX?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Acura ILX years we track, out of 11 in total: 20V770000 (Dec 2020, 2013–2014), 21V215000 (Mar 2021, 2019), 23V858000 (Dec 2023, 2016–2019), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.