Transport CanadaHigh Risk
At a glance
What can fail
This page covers 7 recalls, 50 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2016 Acura ILX.
29 mpg combined
8.1 L/100km
Compact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2016 Acura ILX, the dominant complaint pattern centers on the airbag system and service brakes. Airbags draw the highest complaint volume, though the narratives don't detail consistent symptom descriptions beyond general concerns. Brakes are the more vividly described issue: owners report the pedal sinking to the floor during braking attempts, with no warning light on the dashboard beforehand. Several owners mention being unable to get their vehicles repaired due to parts being on national back order, leaving them waiting weeks or longer for a fix. The powertrain rounds out the top three reported systems, though at lower volume. The brake pedal-to-floor complaint is the most consistently described symptom across multiple reports.
50
Total Complaints
3
Crash-Related
3
With Injuries
By System
The 2016 Acura ILX has 7 recalls, the most serious being two separate driveshaft issues that can cut power to the wheels or allow the car to roll away on its own, and a driver's airbag inflator that can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin.
The driveshaft problems stem from the same general area of the drivetrain: in one case the right axle half-shaft can detach entirely, and in another the driveshaft can separate from the half-shaft, either of which can leave the car without drive power or allow it to move while in Park. The airbag concern involves the driver's frontal inflator, which can rupture during deployment and throw metal fragments toward the driver or other occupants.
On the brake side, a seal inside the brake master cylinder can deform due to contaminated brake fluid, causing an internal fluid leak. When that happens, braking force drops and the car needs a longer distance to stop. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve this issue, which is why it appears in more than one filing.
The fuel system has two separate concerns. The fuel pump can fail outright and cause the engine to stall while driving. Separately, a deformed fuel tank can raise the fuel pump position enough that the float inside sticks, making the gauge read higher than the actual fuel level and leaving the driver unaware the tank is running low, which can also result in a stall.
At a glance
What can fail
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
A seal in the brake master cylinder can become damaged, allowing brake fluid to leak into the reservoir and reducing braking effectiveness.
What the fix does
Acura will mail you a notice. Take your vehicle to an Acura dealership to have the brake master cylinder replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Contaminated brake fluid can warp a seal in the brake master cylinder, allowing fluid to leak internally and reducing your braking power.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail, potentially stopping fuel delivery to the engine.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel pump module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Excessive grease on the half shaft's set-ring may prevent it from fully engaging, which can cause the driveshaft to separate from the half shaft.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the driveshaft and half shaft, and replace them if necessary, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The right axle half-shaft may detach from the driveshaft, cutting power to the drive wheels and potentially allowing the car to roll if the parking brake is not set.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the right driveshaft connection. If not fully engaged, both the driveshaft and half-shaft will be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel tank may be deformed, pushing the fuel pump higher and causing the fuel level float to stick. This makes the fuel gauge show an incorrect fuel level.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and replace it if needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Moisture can seep into the dual-stage driver frontal air bag inflator over time, potentially causing it to rupture.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
