Head-to-head reliability
Acura ILX vs Honda Accord
How the Acura ILX and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Acura ILX vs Honda Accord: The ILX averages 27 complaints per year with 36 recalls, while the Accord averages 452 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The ILX has fewer crash-related reports (23 vs. 162) but more airbag complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura ILX or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Acura ILX
The Acura ILX is a compact luxury sedan with a relatively low complaint volume—about 27 per year over a decade—but its issues cluster around safety-critical systems. Owners frequently report airbag problems, including deployments without impact and long waits for recall parts, as well as brake master cylinder recalls with parts unavailable. Electrical gremlins like alarms going off and dashboard flickering also appear. While the ILX has fewer total complaints than the Accord, the nature of these faults can leave you without a working airbag or brakes for weeks.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream midsize sedan with a much higher complaint rate—roughly 452 per year—and a broader range of problems. Engine and electrical issues dominate, with reports of sudden power loss, warning lights, and even simultaneous failure of power steering and braking. Forward collision avoidance complaints describe unexpected braking or failure to intervene. The Accord also has more crash-related complaints and three deaths reported, though that must be weighed against its far larger sales volume.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura ILX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 269 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 36 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 23 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 26.9 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 14 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 3 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Acura ILX
- 01AIR BAGS78
- 02SERVICE BRAKES46
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM32
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER30
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM27
Owners report airbags deploying without a crash, causing injuries, and also being unable to get recall repairs done because parts are unavailable. This means your airbag may not work when needed or may go off unexpectedly.
A master cylinder recall affects some model years, but owners say dealers cannot perform the fix due to missing parts. Until repaired, you could experience brake failure or reduced braking power.
Complaints include the alarm sounding randomly, dashboard lights flickering, and the car failing to start. These electrical faults can leave you stranded or with a dead battery.
Fuel pump recalls have been issued, and owners report fuel delivery problems that can cause stalling or difficulty starting. A failing fuel pump can cut engine power without warning.
“I am submitting this complaint regarding a 2021 Acura ILX (VIN: [XXX] ) that has been unreleasable for an extended period due to manufacturer inability to supply a required safety component. The vehicle was involved in an accident on July 6, 2025 and delivere…”
“The contact owns a 2021 Acura ILX. The contact stated while attempting to park the vehicle, the airbag deployed without impact which resulted in the contact crashing into a pole. The contact sustained a hurt knee and headaches that required medical treatment.…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe sudden loss of power, rattling noises, and rough transitions between electric and gas modes. These issues can leave you unable to accelerate or maintain highway speeds.
Reports include simultaneous failure of power steering and braking, TPMS warnings leading to tire failure, and other electronic glitches. Such failures can make the car uncontrollable at speed.
Complaints say the system may brake unexpectedly or fail to react when needed, even under identical conditions. This undermines a key safety feature you might rely on.
Fuel pump recalls and complaints about fuel delivery can cause stalling or hesitation. A faulty fuel pump may stop the engine while driving.
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Acura ILX — 36 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2020 Acura ILX vehicles. Contaminated brake fluid may cause a seal inside the brake master cylinder to deform, which can cause an internal brake fluid leak and reduce brake function.
The risk: Reduced brake function can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 4, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is RN5. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VI…
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 fix: 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 H3…
The defect: Acura (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Acura ILX vehicles. Excessive grease may prevent the set-ring on the half shaft from fully engaging, allowing the driveshaft to separate from the half shaft.
The risk: A separated driveshaft can cause the vehicle to have a loss of drive or allow the vehicle to move even while in Park, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Acura will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and, as necessary, replace the driveshaft and half shaft, free of charge. The recall began August 1, 2019. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for…
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Acura ILX or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Acura ILX has far fewer complaints per year (about 27 vs. 452 for the Accord), but its problems often involve safety systems like airbags and brakes that may be hard to fix promptly. The Accord’s higher volume means more chances for engine or electrical failures that can strand you. In practice, the ILX may be less troublesome overall, but you must verify that any open recalls are resolved before buying.
Key differences
- The Acura ILX has about 27 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord has about 452—a 17-fold difference in reported problem frequency.
- ILX complaints center on airbags deploying without impact and brake master cylinder recalls with parts shortages; Accord complaints focus on engine power loss and electrical failures like steering/braking lockup.
- The Accord has 162 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths reported, versus 23 crash-related and 0 deaths for the ILX, though sales volumes differ greatly.
- Both have fuel pump recalls, but the Accord also has recalls for hybrid power control software and seat belt retractors, adding to its complexity.
- Check for open airbag recalls and confirm the airbag has not deployed without a crash—look for any signs of prior deployment or dashboard warning lights.
- Test the brakes thoroughly and ask for proof that the master cylinder recall (if applicable) has been completed; parts shortages have left some owners waiting.
- Scan for stored engine and electrical fault codes, and test-drive at highway speeds to check for sudden power loss or warning lights.
- Verify that all recalls, especially for fuel pump and hybrid software, have been performed; ask for documentation.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they have been fixed.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to feel for hesitation, warning lights, or unusual noises.
- Have a mechanic inspect the brakes, airbags, and electrical system, focusing on the known problem areas for each model.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially any recall repairs, and check if the car has a salvage or lemon title.
- For the Accord, pay extra attention to the hybrid system if equipped, and for the ILX, check for aftermarket electrical modifications that could cause gremlins.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Acura ILX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 | 252 |
| 2021 | 11 | 234 |
| 2020 | 10 | 362 |
| 2019 | 36 | 691 |
| 2018 | 23 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 20 | 537 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Acura ILX or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura ILX vs Honda Accord
- Acura ILX total complaints
- 269
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Acura ILX total recalls
- 36
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Acura ILX avg complaints/year
- 26.9
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Acura ILX
- Acura ILX top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE