YearToAvoid

2021 Acura ILX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

56/100

#5 most-complained of 10 ILX years

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

The 2021 Acura ILX has 11 NHTSA complaints, no recalls, and a complaint index of 56, ranking 5th worst of 10 model years. Its verdict is Caution, with electrical system issues (36% of complaints) the top problem area.

Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28
24 city / 34 hwy

Top 2021 Acura ILX problems

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

  1. Electrical System4 (36%)
  2. Lane Departure3 (27%)
  3. Other3 (27%)
  4. Airbags2 (18%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (9%)
  6. Seat Belts1 (9%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (9%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers1 (9%)

What owners report

  • Airbags deployed without any impact while parking, leading to a crash and knee/head injuries at 2,000 miles.
  • Electrical system failures left the vehicle needing constant jump starts, with warning lamps that did not illuminate.
  • Headlights reported leaking water after rain, raising concern about a possible short circuit.
  • Driver's seat belt became stuck and would not uncoil after entering the vehicle.
  • Windshield reported delaminating, causing road lines to appear curved or distorted through the glass at 9,600 miles.
2021 Acura ILX complaints: complaints filed per month4Sep 2021Dec 2022Jan 2024Jul 2024Mar 2026
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2021 to Mar 2026; peak Mar 2026 (4).

2021 Acura ILX recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2021 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.

2021 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
2019Avoid7836528
2020Best1110228
2021Caution5611028
2022No verdict03028

All Acura ILX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Acura ILX reliable?
NHTSA lists 11 complaints for the 2021 ILX with a complaint index of 56, giving it a Caution verdict. It ranks 5th worst among the 10 ILX model years with complaint data.
What is the top problem area for the 2021 Acura ILX?
Electrical System complaints make up 36% of all reported issues, including airbag deployment without impact and headlight water leaks.
Does the 2021 Acura ILX have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2021 Acura ILX.
How does the 2021 ILX compare to other years?
The 2021 ILX has a complaint index of 56, worse than 2020 (11) and 2015 (22), but better than 2013 (100) and 2016 (89), which carry Avoid verdicts.

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.