YearToAvoid

2019 Acura ILX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

78/100

#3 most-complained of 10 ILX years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2019 Acura ILX ranks 3rd worst out of 10 model years, with a complaint index of 78, 36 NHTSA complaints, and 5 recalls. Fuel system problems (44% of complaints) and brakes (36%) dominate, making this year a relative Avoid within the ILX lineup.

Complaints
36
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28
24 city / 34 hwy

Top 2019 Acura ILX problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Fuel System16 (44%)
  2. Brakes13 (36%)
  3. Engine3 (8%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (8%)
  5. Other3 (8%)
  6. Electrical System2 (6%)
  7. Lane Departure2 (6%)
  8. Airbags1 (3%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the brake pedal sinking to the floor while driving forward or in reverse at both slow and highway speeds, with no warning light on.
  • Some describe pumping the brake pedal repeatedly to regain stopping power after the pedal went to the floorboard.
  • Owners report the forward collision warning triggering hard automatic braking on clear highways with no vehicles nearby.
  • One owner reported the vehicle's backup collision avoidance system activating with no obstacle present, then the car shifting into drive and accelerating on its own.
  • Fuel system recall repairs were reported as delayed due to parts unavailability, with some vehicles intermittently failing to start.
  • A tire blowout during a turn was reported, causing the vehicle to skid off the road.
2019 Acura ILX complaints: complaints filed per month4Oct 2020Aug 2022May 2024Oct 2024May 2025Mar 2026Aug 2026
44 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2020 to Aug 2026; peak Dec 2024 (4).

2019 Acura ILX recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V859000Dec 11, 2025Brakes70,658 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder

    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.

    Risk: Reduced brake function can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: 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 (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 17, 2025. The information in your report suggests that Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) may have been aware of this issue more than five business days before filing a report with NHTSA. Please be reminded that under Federal law, this agency is to be notified of all safety defect and/or noncompliance decisions within five business days. 49 CFR 573.6 Significant civil penalties can be assessed for this violation.

  2. NHTSA 23V858000Dec 18, 2023Fuel System2,490,460 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    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, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: 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 expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

  3. NHTSA 21V215000Mar 25, 2021Fuel System624,552 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-314.

See all 5 recalls for the 2019 Acura ILX →

2019 Acura ILX fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24 MPG
Highway
34 MPG
Combined
28 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,850
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2019 compared with other ILX years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017Good3320429
2018Good4423429
2019Avoid7836528
2020Best1110228
2021Caution5611028

All Acura ILX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Acura ILX reliable?
Compared to other ILX model years, 2019 ranks 3rd worst out of 10 years tracked, with a complaint index of 78 and 36 NHTSA complaints, so it is considered an Avoid year relative to the rest of the lineup.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Acura ILX?
NHTSA complaints show the top problem areas are the Fuel System (44% of complaints, median mileage 35,500) and Brakes (36% of complaints, median mileage 17,575.5), followed by smaller shares involving the Engine and Collision Avoidance systems.
Does the 2019 Acura ILX have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2019 ILX, covering brakes, fuel system issues (three separate campaigns), and a driveshaft/half shaft defect.
Which ILX model years are worse than 2019?
Only the 2013 ILX (complaint index 100, Avoid) and 2016 ILX (complaint index 89, Avoid) rank worse than the 2019 model, which has a complaint index of 78.
What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Acura ILX?
The EPA rates the 2019 ILX at 28 mpg combined (24 city / 34 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,850.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.