YearToAvoid

2020 Acura ILX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

11/100

#9 most-complained of 10 ILX years

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

The 2020 Acura ILX ranks as the Best year among 10 model years, with a Complaint Index of just 11 and only 10 complaints and 2 recalls. Top reported issue is Visibility & Wipers, at 30% of complaints.

Complaints
10
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28
24 city / 34 hwy

Top 2020 Acura ILX problems

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

  1. Visibility & Wipers3 (30%)
  2. Steering2 (20%)
  3. Brakes1 (10%)
  4. Electrical System1 (10%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (10%)
  6. Fuel System1 (10%)
  7. Lane Departure1 (10%)
  8. Seat Belts1 (10%)
  9. Structure & Body1 (10%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (10%)

What owners report

  • Windshield wipers reportedly cause micro scratches in the glass that trap dirt and reflect sunlight, obstructing vision.
  • Owners describe a rattling or clicking noise from the steering area when turning, which some say dealers could not diagnose.
  • One owner reported the rear window shattered while the rear defroster was running in cold, icy conditions.
  • A brake pedal was described as slowly descending toward the floor while stopped at a red light.
  • The multipurpose camera unit reportedly failed with code U3000-49, causing lane assist to sway and stop working, alongside warning lights for adaptive cruise control and automatic braking.
  • An Electrical System complaint described a Smart Unit failure that triggered constant alarms, kept headlights on, and caused dashboard controls to short out.
2020 Acura ILX complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2021Oct 2023Jan 2025Apr 2025Nov 2025
13 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Sep 2026 (3).

2020 Acura ILX recalls

2 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.

2020 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.

2020 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
2018Good3323429
2019Avoid7836528
2020Best1110228
2021Caution5611028
2022No verdict03028

All Acura ILX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Acura ILX reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 Acura ILX ranks as the Best year among 10 model years, with a Complaint Index of 11, the lowest of any ILX year, and only 10 complaints logged.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Acura ILX?
Visibility & Wipers issues make up 30% of complaints, followed by Steering at 20%. Brakes, Electrical System, Collision Avoidance & Cameras, Fuel System, Lane Departure, and Seat Belts each account for 10%.
Does the 2020 Acura ILX have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2020 ILX: one for contaminated brake fluid affecting the brake master cylinder, and one for a fuel pump module shared across multiple Honda and Acura models.
How does the 2020 ILX compare to other Acura ILX years?
The 2020 ILX has a Complaint Index of 11 and ranks 9th worst (meaning it's near the best) out of the years with data, compared to 2013's Complaint Index of 100 and 2016's 89, both rated Avoid.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Acura ILX?
EPA rates the 2020 Acura 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.