2013 Acura Ilx: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 66 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (38% of complaints); the 2014 and 2015 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · 2 new complaints in the last 90 days · latest recall Dec 2020
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 66 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“My car has faulty code P0AE1 (Bypass Contractor Malfunction) that causes the 12v battery and hybrid battery failure. It also causes the brake less effective without hybrid assisting, and loss acceleration that are extremely dangerous while driving on road. This is well known issue for 2013 Acura ILX hybrid that triggers recall in Service Bulletin 20-021. My car has been inspected by Honda/Acura dealer, but the VIN is not in the recall campaign, so Acura denied the service warranty for this. I believe there are more vehicles that are effected that is not in the recall campaign VIN.”Owner report · Electrical System · May 2026
“IIU malfunction not valid for this vin, even though it is the exact issue that every other model faced. Acura REFUSED to complete the repair without paying $3400”Owner report · Service Brakes · Feb 2026
“The contact owns a 2013 Acura ILX. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2024
Show 7 more owner reports
“Power train issue the vehicle loses power while driving on the roads and highway. (i have a 1-year-old daughter) It has not been confirmed by a dealer/professional when i bought it in they can't diagnose without warning lights. the warning light were not on when I first brought it in a couple year ago, but the car still loses power frequently and now all the brakes system lights are on.”Owner report · Power Train · Aug 2024
“Over the past few weeks the vehicle warning lamp states "Check Power Steering System." A customer service representative from Acura Dealer witnessed the problem. Then somehow it corrects itself for a while and steering is back to normal. My most recent diagnostic by an independent service center did not indicate a problem. However, 2 days later the problem reoccurred which caused the wheel to shake and stiffen while driving. The most difficulty experience is turning the wheel to park.”Owner report · Steering · May 2024
“1. Bypass Contractor Malfunction causing multiple lights to be on due to faulty Intelligent Inverter UNIT (IIU)/Motor Power Invterter (MPI), causing error code P0AE1. Car is already repaired but still available for inspection if needed. 2. Car stalled on and off while getting onto freeway onramp 3. Yes, issue was reproduced by dealer and they recommended repairs 4. Vehicle was inspectd by Vandergriff Acura in Arlington, TX 5. There were no warning messages or indicators prior to the failure.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Feb 2024
“The car jerked while braking and then gave the code p1440. The ima light, check engine light, and brake light all came on. The car feels like it is dragging and does not have the same power. The battery is no longer charging nor is it indicating the battery is being used. It continues the have a jerk at rhe end of braking. It seems there is an extension warranty for certain Vins of this same year and make but mine is not included even though it has having the same problem”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Sep 2022
“Tl* the contact owns a 2013 acura ilx. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20v770000 (power train) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was taken to acura of boston (1600 soldiers field rd, brighton, ma 02135) where it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that unless the vehicle experiences the failure, a loaner vehicle would not be provided. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.*dt”Owner report · Power Train · Mar 2021
“Tl* the contact owns a 2013 acura ilx. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20v770000 (power train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Power Train · Jan 2021
“Tl* the contact owns a 2013 acura ilx. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20v770000 (power train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to ed napleton acura (745 w lake st, elmhurst, il 60126, (630) 559-0447) where it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Power Train · Dec 2020
When filing, owners marked a crash in 7 of these complaints and injuries in 3 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
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.
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.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
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.
American Honda Motor Co., Inc (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2013 Acura ILX vehicles manufactured January 16, 2012 to March 1, 2013, ILX Hybrid vehicles manufactured January 12, 2012 to February 7, 2013, and certain model year 2014 ILX vehicles manufactured May 2, 2013, to May 31, 2014, and ILX Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 18, 2013 to February 19, 2014. Excessive heat temperatures around the headlight bulb and reflector unit may diminish the output of the headlight and cause smoke, melting, and fire. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
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.
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012 Honda CR-V and model year 2013 Acura ILX vehicles. If the manual or power door lock is activated while an interior front door handle is being operated by an occupant, the cable connecting the interior door handle to the door latch mechanism may become loose and move out of position. There is a possibility that the cable can move far enough out of position to prevent the door from properly latching.
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.
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.
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.) 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.
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.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2013 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Ilx by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Acura Ilx reliable?
NHTSA has 66 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2013 Acura Ilx. The most complained-about area is air bags (38% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2013 Acura Ilx problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 48,000 miles or less.
Does the 2013 Acura Ilx have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.