VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Acura ILX20132022

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

TOP PICK
2021
Buyer Score 96/100
10
Years Analyzed
24
Total Recalls
83
Total Complaints
6
Reported Injuries

Best Years to Buy a Acura ILX

Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.

#1 PICK5yr old
2021
Strong Buy · 96/100
Reliability100/100
Value window88/100
Recalls0
Complaints0
#2 PICK4yr old
2022
Strong Buy · 94/100
Reliability100/100
Value window82/100
Recalls0
Complaints0
#3 PICK6yr old
2020
Strong Buy · 89/100
Reliability91/100
Value window84/100
Recalls0
Complaints9
Top issue: VISIBILITY/WIPER

Acura ILX Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2016

0 recalls · 46 complaints

4 reported injuries

Top issue: AIR BAGS

#2 WORST
2014

5 recalls · 28 complaints

2 reported injuries

Top issue: AIR BAGS

#3 WORST
2013

6 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Acura ILX — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
202200
100
82
94
Excellent
202100
100
88
96
Excellent
202009
91
84
89
Good
201950
75
74
75
Good
201800
100
62
87
Excellent
201740
80
50
70
Good
20160464
68
40
58
Avoid
201540
80
40
66
Good
20145282
46
40
44
Avoid
201360
70
40
60
Good

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Known Acura ILX Problems

Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.

AIR BAGS
28
SERVICE BRAKES
6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4
POWER TRAIN
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
3
VISIBILITY/WIPER
3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2

Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the ILX compares — best year within each era shown.

2018–Present

Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2021 (Buyer Score 96).

Best: 2021

2013–2017

Mid-decade models in the depreciation sweet spot — typically 35–55% below original MSRP. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and recall completion. Best: 2017 (Buyer Score 70).

Best: 2017

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year ILX to buy?+

The 2021 Acura ILX scores highest on our Buyer Score (96/100) — combining a reliability score of 100/100 with a value score of 88/100. It has 0 recalls and 0 NHTSA complaints on record.

Which ILX years have the most problems?+

The 2016, 2014, 2013 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2016 ILX leads with 0 recalls and 46 owner complaints.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common ILX problems?+

The most frequently reported Acura ILX issues involve: AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, POWER TRAIN. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.

Deep-Dive Research

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

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