Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2020 Acura ILX with NHTSA between 2021 and 2025.
The largest single group is the windows, mirrors & wipers.
Across this model's run it ranks 9 of 9 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 13
Against the median year of the Acura ILX. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 52
10% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2020 Acura ILX
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
330.0%
Seat Belts
110.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 2,353 mi
Fuel & Propulsion
110.0%
Median failure at 127 miles
Suspension
110.0%
Body & Structure
110.0%
Brakes
110.0%
Steering
110.0%
Electrical System
110.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Apr 2021peak 2Nov 2025
NHTSA investigations into the 2020 Acura ILX
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE25015Opened 23 Oct 2025Closed 21 May 2026SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
Loss of braking force
On October 23, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25015 after receiving complaints concerning a loss of brake assist in 2019-2020 MY Acura ILX vehicles. These complainants alleged master cylinder failures resulting in soft pedal feel or the brake pedal intermittently going to the floor. These failures could result in extended braking distance increasing the risk of a crash. Honda found that residual plasticizer in the brake reservoir hose could contaminate the brake fluid. This contaminated brake fluid was then absorbed by the secondary cup seal, ca...
Recalls on the 2020 Acura ILX
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 202568510,572 units in Canada
Brakes
Issue: On certain vehicles, a seal in the brake master cylinder could become damaged. As a result, brake fluid could leak into the reservoir and there could be reduced braking. Safety Risk: Reduced braking can cause extended stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Acura will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the brake master cylinder.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 2,353 milesPeoria, ILCrash
SEAT BELTS
The contact owns a 2020 Acura ILX. The contact stated that while stopped and preparing to make a left turn, a 2002 Subaru ran a red light and crashed into the driver's side panel. The driver's side seat belt snapped on impact. There were no warning lights illuminated. The air bag was deployed. There were no reported injuries. There was no fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who referred her to a collision center. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to a collision center but was unable to obtain and replace the seat belts. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 2,353.
NHTSA complaint #11548689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Villa Park, IL
SERVICE BRAKES
I am experiencing an issue with my brakes. When I am at a red light and I brake, I find my brakes start to descend. So it's brake, then the brake moves a bit down towards the floor. Then it moves down a bit more. I am still able to brake but I find that the brake pedal moves down a few times while I am sitting at a red light. I am greatly concerned.
NHTSA complaint #11701081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lehigh Acres, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY
[XXX] [XXX] Email: [XXX] Subject: CarMax auto and CarMax auto finance RE: CarMax auto finance [XXX] Phone: 18009253612 Website: carmax auto finance Transaction Date: 10/23/2023 Amount Paid: 29976 Payment Method: Credit Card I bought a car with Carmax Finance and from the beginning of the car was lemon so I request change. It was denied then I’ll be sending a letter from then I’ll be have issues mechanic paint depreciation I’ll be sending the letters to every single complain organization looking for help and nothing CarMax finance INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11686669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marinette, WI
VISIBILITY/WIPER
I live in a colder climate, we’re were experiencing temperatures in the 20’s with ice storms. While driving the rear window completely shattered, the rear defroster was on during the time of the incident. I contacted the manufacturer for a remedy, they informed me there is no remedy for my particular vehicle. They suggested I pay out of pocket at a certified Acura dealership to get a dignostic and to get the window fixed. I decided to have the window replaced by Safelite. There is a very big and well known problem with the 2020 Acura RDX for this same scenario happening. There was warning light or indication something was going on with the window. Acura needs to address the problem with the rear defroster as this poses a huge public safety risk when this happens while the vehicle is being driven.
NHTSA complaint #11654004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alexander, AR
VISIBILITY/WIPER
the back glass burst for no reason; no impact.
NHTSA complaint #11647721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Katy, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Smart Unit failure caused constant triggering of the alarm at all hours, headlights would not turn off, dashboard controls shorting out.
NHTSA complaint #11636647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Upper Saddle River, NJ
STEERING
My Acura ILX 2020 has less than 40.000 miles and has a mechanical problem that can not be fixed and it is dangerous for my self and others. In my opinion this is related to the stearing of the car and it is very dagerous knowing that you take your car to be repair and the dealer does not know how to fix it. It makes clicking noise when turning. It is a rattling type noise coming from what sounds like the front, right side of the car. I usually hear it over little bumps but as the day goes on the noise gets louder and the bumps do not have to be that big. I'm not a car technical person, but any type of noise coming from my car is concerning. Other people feedback "I've been to the dealership on three occasions to try to fix the problem. On two of the occasions I was put in an ILX loaner with the exact same noise. " It does matter of what parts is gets change the car keeps making a rattling type noise coming from what sounds like the front. Please refer to this web site for more testimonies of the on going problem with the steering system of the Acura ILX cars, specially my Acura the ILX 2020 model. https://acurazine.com/forums/ilx-382/ilx-suspension-noise-869859/
NHTSA complaint #11629226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Upper Saddle River, NJ
SUSPENSION
My Acura ILX 2020 has less than 40.000 miles and has a mechanical problem that can not be fixed and it is dangerous for my self and others. In my opinion this is related to the stearing of the car and it is very dagerous knowing that you take your car to be repair and the dealer does not know how to fix it. It makes clicking noise when turning. It is a rattling type noise coming from what sounds like the front, right side of the car. I usually hear it over little bumps but as the day goes on the noise gets louder and the bumps do not have to be that big. I'm not a car technical person, but any type of noise coming from my car is concerning. Other people feedback "I've been to the dealership on three occasions to try to fix the problem. On two of the occasions I was put in an ILX loaner with the exact same noise. " It does matter of what parts is gets change the car keeps making a rattling type noise coming from what sounds like the front. Please refer to this web site for more testimonies of the on going problem with the steering system of the Acura ILX cars, specially my Acura the ILX 2020 model. https://acurazine.com/forums/ilx-382/ilx-suspension-noise-869859/
NHTSA complaint #11629226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,353 milesPeoria, ILCrash
SEAT BELTS
The contact owns a 2020 Acura ILX. The contact stated that while stopped and preparing to make a left turn, a 2002 Subaru ran a red light and crashed into the driver's side panel. The driver's side seat belt snapped on impact. There were no warning lights illuminated. The air bag was deployed. There were no reported injuries. There was no fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who referred her to a collision center. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to a collision center but was unable to obtain and replace the seat belts. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 2,353.
NHTSA complaint #11548689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
El Paso, TX
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The factory original windshield wipers caused micro scratches in the glass. Dirt cannot be thoroughly cleaned from the scratches and collects more dirt during driving. When facing the sun, dirt particles in the scratches reflect in the scratches obstructing clear vision. Changing windshield wipers after just two years of use from new did not correct the problem. This particular vehicle is garaged.
NHTSA complaint #11492908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 127 milesGuayama, PR
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CON 127 MILLAS DE USO Y MIENTRAS EL VEHCULO ESTABA EN MOVIMIENTO EN EL ESTACIONAMIENTO DE UN CENTRO COMERCIAL SE APAG EL VEHICULO Y NO PRENDI. EL VEHCULO SE COMPR EL 08/01/2020 TENA UNA SEMANA DE COMPRADO.
NHTSA complaint #11406050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.