VehicleVerdict

2014 Acura ILX problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2014 Acura ILX carries two red flags at once: 36 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture). It is one of the ILX years to avoid.

The trouble concentrates in one system: airbags issues account for 56% of all reports (20 of 36), far ahead of engine at 3. In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

36

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

1

Investigations · 1 open

3

Crash-involved

3

Fires reported

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2014 compare to other ILX years?

ILX NHTSA complaints by model year, 2014 highlighted89 complaints2013: 89 complaints2014: 36 complaints2015: 21 complaints2016: 80 complaints2017: 24 complaints2018: 26 complaints2019: 44 complaints2020: 10 complaints2021: 19 complaints2022: 5 complaints
ILX NHTSA complaints by model year, 2014 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all ILX years to avoid →

What are the most common 2014 Acura ILX problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Airbags2056%
Electrical System38%
Engine38%
Transmission26%
Lighting26%
Fuel System13%
Brakes13%
Seat Belts13%
Steering13%
Tires & Wheels13%
Driver Assistance13%

Does the 2014 Acura ILX have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

20V770000TransmissionDecember 10, 2020 · 248,358 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Acura ILX, 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid, and 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles with a manual transmission and 2009-2013 Honda Fit vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The drive shafts' protective coating may not have been applied properly during manufacturing, making it more susceptible to damage from road salt, or other contaminants, and potentially cause it to break.

Consequence

A broken drive shaft may cause a sudden loss of drive power. The vehicle could also roll away if the parking brake has not been applied before the vehicle has been exited. Either condition can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the drive shafts, replacing either the left or right drive shaft, if necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk with an interim letter mailed February 2, 2021. A second letter will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are P9M, PAV, BAY, TAX, CA0, and MAZ.

19V182000AirbagsMarch 6, 2019 · 1,101,534 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.

Consequence

An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.

19V052000Fuel SystemJanuary 24, 2019 · 4,455 units

Defect

Acura (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Acura ILX vehicles. The vehicles may have a deformed fuel tank, raising the height of the fuel pump and allowing the fuel level float to stick, possibly causing the fuel gauge to display an inaccurate fuel level.

Consequence

If the fuel gauge displays that the vehicle has more gas than it actually does, the vehicle may run out of gas and stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Acura will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is H3U, Z3T.

16V061000AirbagsFebruary 3, 2016 · 2,232,187 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JY0, JY1, and JY2.

14V323000LightingJune 13, 2014 · 14,078 units

Defect

American Honda Motor Co., Inc (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2013 Acura ILX vehicles manufactured January 16, 2012 to March 1, 2013, ILX Hybrid vehicles manufactured January 12, 2012 to February 7, 2013, and certain model year 2014 ILX vehicles manufactured May 2, 2013, to May 31, 2014, and ILX Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 18, 2013 to February 19, 2014. Excessive heat temperatures around the headlight bulb and reflector unit may diminish the output of the headlight and cause smoke, melting, and fire. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence

The diminished light output may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Additonally, the excessive heat coming from around the bulb and reflector could cause the headlights to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the headlights, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-862-2872. Honda's number for this recall is JE9.

Open NHTSA investigations

EA21002

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA ILX (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SPECIFY IF ANY INJURIES WERE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · March 27, 2015 · crash

“CAR CAUGHT A FIRE WHILE PARK WITH MOTOR RUNNING STARTED FROM HEADLIGHT FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND FIRE WAS PUT OUT..”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · January 3, 2018 · fire

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 ACURA ILX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE FRONT PASSENGER ALERTED THE CONTACT OF A SMOKE ODOR. THE PASSENGER IMMEDIATELY NOTICED SPARKS FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, THE HOOD BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 3, 2018 · fire

“CAR CAUGHT A FIRE WHILE PARK WITH MOTOR RUNNING STARTED FROM HEADLIGHT FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND FIRE WAS PUT OUT..”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · January 3, 2018 · fire

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA ILX (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SPECIFY IF ANY INJURIES WERE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · March 27, 2015 · crash

2014 Acura ILX — common questions

Is the 2014 Acura ILX reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 36 complaints put the 2014 model at #4 of 10 ILX years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the ILX years to avoid.

What are the most common 2014 ILX problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (20 complaints), engine (3 complaints), electrical system (3 complaints).

Does the 2014 Acura ILX have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2014 Acura ILX. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2014 Acura ILX under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — an investigation remains open (Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.

Which Acura ILX years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the ILX years to avoid are 2013, 2016, 2019, 2014, 2015. The cleanest record among ILX years belongs to 2022.

How safe is the 2014 Acura ILX?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2014 Acura ILX earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.