VehicleVerdict

2016 Acura ILX problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 80 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 3.2 times the median ILX year — the 2016 model ranks #2 of 10 ILX years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across airbags (17), brakes (16), and other (10), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect. In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

80

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

0

Investigations

7

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

8

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2016 compare to other ILX years?

ILX NHTSA complaints by model year, 2016 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, 2016 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all ILX years to avoid →

What are the most common 2016 Acura ILX problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Airbags1721%
Brakes1620%
Other1013%
Transmission911%
Fuel System79%
Electrical System56%
Speed Control45%
Body & Structure45%
Steering34%
Visibility & Wipers11%
Suspension11%
Tires & Wheels11%
Driver Assistance11%
Engine11%

Does the 2016 Acura ILX have recalls?

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

25V859000BrakesDecember 11, 2025 · 70,658 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2020 Acura ILX vehicles. Contaminated brake fluid may cause a seal inside the brake master cylinder to deform, which can cause an internal brake fluid leak and reduce brake function.

Consequence

Reduced brake function can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 4, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is RN5. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 17, 2025. The information in your report suggests that Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) may have been aware of this issue more than five business days before filing a report with NHTSA. Please be reminded that under Federal law, this agency is to be notified of all safety defect and/or noncompliance decisions within five business days. 49 CFR 573.6 Significant civil penalties can be assessed for this violation.

23V858000Fuel SystemDecember 18, 2023 · 2,490,460 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Consequence

Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

19V424000TransmissionJune 6, 2019 · 49,898 units

Defect

Acura (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Acura ILX vehicles. Excessive grease may prevent the set-ring on the half shaft from fully engaging, allowing the driveshaft to separate from the half shaft.

Consequence

A separated driveshaft can cause the vehicle to have a loss of drive or allow the vehicle to move even while in Park, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy

Acura will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and, as necessary, replace the driveshaft and half shaft, free of charge. The recall began August 1, 2019. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is G54.

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

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

"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS INVOLVED IN A WRECK WITH AN 18 WHEELER. I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE TRAVELING SOUTH ON HWY 59 RIGHT OUTSIDE OF GARRISON, TX AND THE 18 WHEELER WAS IN THE LEFT LANE. THE 18 WHEELER CAME INTO MY LANE HITTING MY REAR DRIVERS SIDE BUMPER. THIS KNOCKED MY VEHICLE OUT OF THE RIGHT LANE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · September 25, 2016 · crash

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF AS I PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE. I STEPED ON THE BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE JUST SURGED FORWARD. NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, BUT JUST THAT DAY MORNING AS I PARKED IN FRONT OF MY WORKING PLACE, SOME MALFUNCTIONS EITHER IN COMPUTER OR OVERALL VEHICLE SYSTEM OCCURRED THAT DAY.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · February 20, 2019 · crash

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF AS I PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE. I STEPED ON THE BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE JUST SURGED FORWARD. NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, BUT JUST THAT DAY MORNING AS I PARKED IN FRONT OF MY WORKING PLACE, SOME MALFUNCTIONS EITHER IN COMPUTER OR OVERALL VEHICLE SYSTEM OCCURRED THAT DAY.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · February 20, 2019 · crash

THERE EIS A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE IS A METAL TO METAL CLUNKING WHEREVER THERE IS SHIFT IN DRIVE TRAIN TORQUE. TECHNICIAN SUSPECTED BAD ENGINE/TRANSMISSION MOUNT CLUNKING AGAINST THE SUBFRAME OR BODY. I'VE BROUGHT IT TO SERVICE OVER 4 TIMES AND BEEN WITHOUT MY CAR FOR OVER…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · February 3, 2016

The contact owns a 2016 Acura ILX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle. The contact stated that the airbags did not deploy during the crash. The contact did not sustain injuries at the scene and no medical attention was…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · May 28, 2026 · crash

2016 Acura ILX — common questions

Is the 2016 Acura ILX reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 80 complaints put the 2016 model at #2 of 10 ILX years. It is one of the ILX years to avoid.

What are the most common 2016 ILX problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (17 complaints), brakes (16 complaints), other (10 complaints).

Does the 2016 Acura ILX have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 2016 Acura ILX. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

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 2016 Acura ILX?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2016 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.