Head-to-head reliability
Acura ILX vs Toyota Camry
How the Acura ILX and Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry: The ILX has 269 complaints over 10 years (27/year) and 36 recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints (206/year) and 31 recalls. The ILX has fewer complaints but notable air bag and brake recall issues; the Camry has more power train and engine complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura ILX or Toyota Camry 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: 269 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 27 per year. The most common issues involve air bags, brakes, and electrical problems, with many complaints about recall repairs not being available. This suggests that while the ILX has fewer overall complaints, owners may face frustration with parts shortages for safety recalls.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume: 2,056 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 206 per year. The most frequent complaints involve the power train, engine, and brakes, with reports of hesitation, shuddering, and brake noise. This indicates that while the Camry is popular, owners may experience a range of mechanical and electronic issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura ILX | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 269 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 36 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 23 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 26.9 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 14 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
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 air bag problems, including a 2021 ILX where the airbag deployed without impact, causing a crash and injury. Another complaint mentions an unreleasable vehicle due to lack of parts for a safety recall. These issues are critical because air bags are a primary safety feature, and unexpected deployment or inability to repair can be dangerous.
Complaints about brake master cylinder recalls where parts are unavailable, leaving owners unable to get repairs. For example, a 2018 ILX owner was told the part for a recall wasn't available. This matters because brake failures can lead to accidents, and delayed repairs increase risk.
Owners report electrical glitches such as alarms going off randomly, dashboard lights flickering, and cars not starting. A 2017 ILX owner experienced this after buying the car. Electrical problems can be intermittent and hard to diagnose, leading to unreliable operation.
There are 27 complaints about fuel/propulsion issues, and recalls for fuel pump and fuel tank assembly. While specific complaint text isn't provided, fuel system failures can cause stalling or leaks, posing fire and safety risks.
“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.…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report issues like the ignition key getting stuck in Park, requiring battery disconnection to remove, and hesitation/shuddering while driving with check engine light. These problems can leave drivers stranded or cause unsafe driving conditions.
Complaints include delayed throttle response, where pressing the accelerator results in several seconds of delay before the car moves. This can be dangerous when merging or crossing intersections, as the car doesn't respond immediately.
Owners report the electronic parking brake not disengaging, requiring towing, and clicking/vibrating noises from the brake pedal area diagnosed as ABS system noise. Brake issues can affect stopping reliability and driver confidence.
Multiple system malfunctions are reported, including smart stop, stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping assistance failing simultaneously. Such widespread electrical failures can compromise safety features and drivability.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
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…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Acura ILX or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Acura ILX has far fewer complaints per year (about 27) compared to the Toyota Camry (about 206). In practice, this means an ILX owner is less likely to experience frequent problems, but when issues occur, they may involve safety recalls with parts shortages. The Camry's higher complaint rate suggests more frequent visits to the dealer for a variety of issues.
Key differences
- The Acura ILX averages about 27 complaints per year, while the Toyota Camry averages about 206, indicating the Camry has more reported issues.
- Air bag complaints on the ILX include unexpected deployment and recall part shortages, whereas Camry complaints focus more on power train and engine hesitation.
- The Camry has 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries, compared to 23 crash-related and 14 injuries for the ILX, though these numbers should be interpreted with sales volume in mind.
- Both vehicles have brake complaints, but the ILX often involves master cylinder recall parts unavailable, while the Camry involves electronic parking brake and ABS noise.
- Check for open recalls, especially the brake master cylinder and fuel pump recalls, and confirm if parts are available for repair.
- Test all electrical functions, including alarms, dashboard lights, and starting, as owners report random electrical glitches.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park and listen for hesitation or shuddering during a test drive, as these are common power train complaints.
- Check the electronic parking brake operation and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area, which may indicate ABS issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a mechanic inspect the air bag system, brakes, and electrical components, especially on the Acura ILX.
- For the Toyota Camry, test drive at various speeds to check for transmission hesitation or shuddering.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for brake and electrical repairs.
- Verify that any recall repairs have been completed and ask for documentation.
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 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 | 61 |
| 2021 | 11 | 157 |
| 2020 | 10 | 274 |
| 2019 | 36 | 395 |
| 2018 | 23 | 744 |
| 2017 | 20 | 148 |
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 Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura ILX vs Toyota Camry
- Acura ILX total complaints
- 269
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Acura ILX total recalls
- 36
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Acura ILX avg complaints/year
- 26.9
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Acura ILX
- Acura ILX top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN