2013 Acura Ilx Problems and Recalls (66 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2013 Acura Ilx is Airbags (35% of 66 owner reports). There are 6 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Airbags — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 66 complaints · 6 recalls
What problems show up on the 2013 Acura Ilx?
23 of 66 filings named Airbags (35% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Electrical (7 reports).
There are 6 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Lights, Airbags, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The previous year is not published here. Use the year list to jump around.
What owners reported
System named most often: Airbags 23 complaints · 34.9% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 7
- Fires 0
- Injuries 3
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags (AIR BAGS) | 23 | 34.9% | 3 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 7 | 10.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 7 | 10.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 6 | 9.1% | 3 crashes · 0 fires |
| Suspension (SUSPENSION) | 4 | 6.1% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) | 3 | 4.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 2 | 3.0% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 2 | 3.0% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 2 | 3.0% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 7 | 10.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 19V182000 was reported 1,084 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 19V500000 was reported 1,197 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 20V770000 was reported 1,737 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2013-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2014-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2014-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2015-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2015-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2016-Q1 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2016-Q2 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2016-Q3 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2017-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2017-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2018-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 12V338000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 14V323000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V061000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V182000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V500000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V770000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA21002 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA21002 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP22005 |
Safety Recalls (6)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Lights, Airbags, and Transmission / driveline.
-
Recall campaign 12V338000
Safety recall 12V338000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- If the door is not fully latched, the door may open while driving or in a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the vehicle occupants.
- Remedy:
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front door latch assemblies in the affected vehicles, free of charge. Additionally, the interior front door handles in certain Honda CR-Vs will also be replaced, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on, or about, August 16, 2012. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
-
Recall campaign 14V323000
Lights
- Report date
- Component:
- Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 16V061000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 19V182000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 19V500000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy:
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B and W59.
-
Recall campaign 20V770000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- 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.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Showing 3 of 66 complaints · page 1 of 3
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Component or system that failed/malfunctioned: Frontal Airbag Deployment System / Airbag Control Module (ACU). The vehicle is currently towed and available for inspection upon request before any insurance salvage disposition. Safety risk: The non-deployment exposed the driver to severe direct impact forces against the steering wheel and cabin structure during a high-force frontal collision, significantly increasing the risk of traumatic head, neck, chest, and internal injuries. Reproduction/confirmation by dealer or service center: No, the vehicle was involved in a collision yesterday and was towed directly from the scene. It has not yet been inspected by an authorized Acura dealer or service center. Inspections by manufacturer, police, insurance, or others: The vehicle was picked up today by a towing/body shop representative for insurance evaluation. It has not yet been inspected by Acura/Honda corporate representatives. Police responded to the crash scene. Warning lamps or symptoms prior to failure: No warning lamps (such as an illuminated SRS/airbag light), error messages, or pre-existing symptoms were present prior to the collision. On [XXX], my 2013 Acura ILX (VIN: [XXX]) was involved in a frontal collision during a U-turn execution, resulting in severe structural deformation crushing the front end inward to the front tires. Despite the high-deceleration frontal impact, none of the frontal airbags deployed. No SRS warning lights or system fault indicators were active prior to the crash. The vehicle was towed today for insurance assessment and remains available for inspection upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I am submitting this complaint to document what I believe is a recurring defect involving the air conditioning compressor on my 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid. Vehicle history: * 2013: Vehicle purchased new. * 2019: Original A/C compressor failed and required replacement. * 2026: Replacement A/C compressor has failed again. This means the vehicle is now on its third A/C compressor since new. Based on my experience, each compressor has lasted only about 4–6 years before failing. The first compressor replacement, performed by an Acura dealer in 2019, cost approximately $5,700. I have now been quoted approximately $3,600 by an independent repair facility and approximately $5,200 by an Acura dealer for the current repair. In addition to the extremely high repair cost, I have found that many independent A/C repair shops are reluctant to perform this repair because of the complexity and expense of replacing the compressor on this hybrid model. Replacement options are also very limited because this compressor is essentially an Acura OEM-specific component, with few, if any, widely available equivalent alternatives. The current failure began with a rattling/chattering noise whenever the A/C was engaged. Eventually, the compressor load became severe enough that the accessory belt was thrown off when the A/C engaged. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle, ruled out the belt tensioner, and concluded that the compressor is the source of the problem. While compressors are wear items, replacing the compressor three times over the life of the vehicle—with each unit lasting only about five years—appears to be an unusually short service life, especially considering the exceptionally high cost of repair. In my opinion, this suggests a potential design or durability issue with the compressor used in the 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid. I am requesting that NHTSA document this complaint and review whether other owners of the same vehicle have experienced similar repeated compressor failur
CrashFireInjuryDeath
While driving downhill and using regenerative braking, my 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid suddenly experienced a hybrid system malfunction. Immediately after the event, the vehicle displayed "Check IMA System" and "Check Charging System" warnings and began exhibiting drivability and electrical-system problems. Following the failure, the vehicle experienced reduced acceleration from a stop, rough engine restarts, loss of auto-stop functionality, charging-system issues, intermittent low-voltage behavior, and eventual no-start/jump-start conditions. The vehicle was inspected and diagnosed by an authorized Acura dealership. Diagnostic testing identified fault codes P0A78 (Motor Power Inverter Internal Circuit Malfunction), P1440 (Motor Power Inverter Module Output Circuit Malfunction), and P1437 (Motor Power Inverter Module Short Circuit). The dealership determined that the Motor Power Inverter had failed and required replacement. The failure affected vehicle propulsion, charging-system operation, and regenerative braking operation. Reduced acceleration and unexpected hybrid-system malfunction while driving created concerns regarding vehicle safety and reliability during normal operation. The Motor Power Inverter was replaced by an Acura dealership and the warning messages, drivability concerns, and related symptoms were resolved. I am submitting this complaint to document a confirmed Motor Power Inverter failure involving a 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2013 Acura Ilx?
Owners named Airbags most often — 23 of 66 reports (35%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2013 Acura Ilx?
NHTSA lists 6 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Lights, Airbags, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2013 Acura Ilx?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.