CSR

Acura · NHTSA safety record

2015 Acura ILX

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

19

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2015 Acura ILX have filed 19 safety complaints with NHTSA between May 2015 and September 2025. The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 12 of them (63%). The typical failure was reported at 17,000 miles, the median across the 10 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Recalls (4)

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

20V770000 · December 10, 2020

The 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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 248,358 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

19V182000 · March 6, 2019

The 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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 1,101,534 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

19V052000 · January 24, 2019

The 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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 4,455 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

16V061000 · February 3, 2016

The 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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 2,232,187 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

EA21002

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

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.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 19.

AIR BAGS 12 63%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 16%
ENGINE 2 11%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 5%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 1 5%
STEERING 1 5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 5%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2016 at 8.

2015 2016 2025
2015 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 injured

Takata front passenger side ceiling airbag and front passenger seat airbag deployed without impact or collision after I left my garage and drove less than a quarter of a mile. There was an excessive heat warning and higher-than-average humidity. I suffered auditory injuries due to the high-decibel explosion the Takata airbags produced in the sealed cab of my car. My insurance has ruled my vehicle a total loss (with no fault of my own). Still, I have yet to accept the insurance's total loss offer, and I wanted to provide an opportunity for further inspection of the Takata airbag system to help this ongoing crisis further. Two Acura representatives called after I registered my airbag

NHTSA complaint 11536683, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire · 18,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 ACURA ILX. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE, IT CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND TRIED TO SELL THE CONTACT A NEW VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT CLAIM THE VEHICLE FIRE AS A SAFETY MATTER, THEY WOULD NOT LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION. THE FIRE EVENT WAS SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER'S TOTAL LOSS DEPARTMENT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA complaint 11133532. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Check airbag system light keeps coming on and worried airbag may rupture or explode

NHTSA complaint 11686105. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Check air bag system keeps turning on..

NHTSA complaint 11654549. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

50,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 Acura ILX. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, with the ABS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the electronic braking control module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA complaint 11609370. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

139,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 Acura ILX. The contact stated while driving 30-40 MPH, the vehicle started pulling to the right. The contact was able to steer the vehicle and continued driving. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel abruptly jerked and violently turned to the left, causing the vehicle to pull to the left. The contact stated that he was unable to turn the steering wheel to the right. The contact stated that he depressed the brake pedal and came to a complete stop. The contact was then able to pull to the side of the road. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer,

NHTSA complaint 11544573, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

45,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 ACURA ILX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT PUSH TO START FAILURES WITH SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE NEEDED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.

NHTSA complaint 11395299. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Acura ILX

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2020 9 2
2019 36 5
2018 23 4
2017 20 4
2016 52 6
2014 29 5
2013 66 6

Other 2015 Acura models

Every Acura on this site — 71 vehicles, 113 recall campaigns and 3 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst