Research · Compact Cars

2015 Acura ILXRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 19 owner complaints for the 2015 Acura ILX. Most complaints involve air bags (12) and electrical system (3). The EPA rates it 25–28 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
25–28mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
4campaigns
Latest Dec 2020
Owner complaints
19
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$2,750est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

4 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Power train: driveshaft

Remedy pending

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.

Power trainReported Dec 10, 2020NHTSA 20V770000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Mar 6, 2019NHTSA 19V182000

Fuel system

Free remedy

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.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Jan 24, 2019NHTSA 19V052000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

19 complaints filed with NHTSA · May 2015 – Sep 2025
  1. Air bags12
  2. Electrical system3
  3. Engine2
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic1
  5. Steering1
  6. Fuel/propulsion system1
  7. Other / unknown1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each ILX model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
201366
201429
201519
201652
201720
201823
201936
202010
202111
20223
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
1
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

12 reports
“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 deployment on Honda's website. The first representative treated me, "I can have you arrested." during our phone conversation on July 12th, 2023. The second representative requested that I turn over my vehicle to Acura "So we can do our internal investigation." I declined, and his rebuttal was to take my car from the bank since there was a lien on it. I replied that my vehicle has no lien; it's paid in full. My insurance company initially told me they were going to inspect the…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 5, 2023Air bagsODI 11536683

Electrical system

3 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 8, 2021Electrical system, EngineODI 11395299

Engine

2 reports1 fire
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 5, 2018EngineFire reportedODI 11133532
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl · 2.4L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S5) · Manual 6-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
ILX
Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
243428$2,750321
ILX
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
223125$3,100350
  • ILX
    Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    24 city · 34 hwy · $2,750/yr
    28
    mpg comb.
  • ILX
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    22 city · 31 hwy · $3,100/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Acura ILX 4 DR FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
4 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
10.7%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 9111
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2015 ILX questions

How many recalls does the 2015 Acura ILX have?

4 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2015 Acura ILX problems?

Owners filed 19 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (12), electrical system (3), engine (2). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2015 Acura ILX get?

The EPA rates the 2015 Acura ILX at 25–28 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

How safe is the 2015 Acura ILX?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2015 Acura ILX 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026