2016 Acura ILX Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2016 Acura ILX most often describe recall repairs held up by unavailable parts, especially the brake master cylinder and Takata airbag inflator recalls. Other common reports include a battery that drains quickly with electrical warning lights, clunks or lost power from the driveline, and stalls linked to a low fuel pressure code. Mileage is missing from most of these complaints, and the reports of the car accelerating when braking appear at lower mileage.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Recall repair parts unavailable, sometimes for long periods

   • 14 complaints (27%)
   • median 88,000 mi at 10.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe being told the part needed for a recall repair was unavailable, and some say the parts were on national back order. Most of these complaints concern the brake master cylinder recall, and the rest concern the Takata airbag inflator recall. Some say the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair, and some describe no date being given by the dealer or the manufacturer. Mileage is listed in only some of these complaints, ranging from about 88,000 to 160,000 miles.

   Recall 25V859000Recall 16V0610002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check each recall against the VIN on the recall lookup and ask the dealer for the part's expected arrival date in writing. Ask whether a loaner or rental is offered while the repair waits, since some complaints describe waits of more than a month.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2016 Acura ILX and recently discovered multiple federally mandated safety recalls affecting my vehicle, including a brake master cylinder recall, fuel pump recall, driveshaft separation recall, and Takata airbag recall. I have owned this vehicle for over seven years and was never notified by mail or otherwise at my correct address that these safety recalls existed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11716661, filed 2026-02

   “Takata recall. The contact owns a 2016 Acura ILX. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags). The part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.”

   NHTSA complaint #10893460, filed 2016-08
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Battery drains quickly with electrical warning lights

   • 11 complaints (21%)
   • median 81,500 mi at 2.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe the battery draining soon after purchase, with the battery replaced under warranty in some cases and the car failing to start in others. Some complaints also describe electric power steering trouble and ABS and airbag warning lights. Some say the dealer told them the car was new and to drive it more, and that a recall had been repaired even though the airbag light stayed on. Mileage in the sample ranges from about 50,000 to 100,000 miles, while some complaints describe the drain starting in the second month of ownership.

   What to check: Ask the dealer to test the battery and charging system and to check for a parasitic draw with the car off, and ask for the results in writing. Ask whether the airbag light was checked after any recall work, since some complaints say the dealer stated a recall was already done while the light stayed on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 12-28-16 as I was leaving for work. My engine would not start. Pedal to push down and start button was not working. All icons on my car popped up and says malfunction on all level. It also made weird sounds in front and inside the car. I called cerritos Acura for assistance and spoke with service adviser-don,who indicated he has been aware of new car with battery issue. He asked that I replaced my battery first and bring it to them. I called aaa,who verified my battery is bad with pacific tow. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10938481, filed 2016-12

   “From second month of buying car, battery drained, Acura towing came and towed car to a nearby dealership and replace battery under warranty. Took car down to dealership that I purchased from about nose in front driver wheel hole and problems with the electrical components of the car. They stated car is new drive it more the electrical power stirring, the battery drains quickly(problem with fuse), the brakes system sets off sensors, ABS light on, airbag light on (all though dealership stated they repaired that recall). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11277325, filed 2019-10, 100,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Clunks, lost power, or shift to neutral in driveline

   • 5 complaints (10%)
   • median 11,777 mi at 0.6 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2016–2022

   Owners describe a clunk when the accelerator is pressed after slowing, and a metal-on-metal clunk under the hood with shifts in drive. Some describe a leaking driveshaft intermediate bearing seal that could lead to lost power to the wheels, and some say they were told the sound is the same on other cars of the model or is as designed. Other complaints describe sudden power loss on the freeway, the car shifting into neutral, or a limp mode with hesitation or jerking. Mileage in the sample ranges from 1,500 to 86,599 miles, and the clunking complaints are mostly at lower mileage.

   Recall 19V4240001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the bulletin on hard or bumpy 8-speed transmission shifts at low speed has been checked for the car, and ask a technician to inspect the driveshaft and bearing seals for leaks. Ask whether the driveshaft recall has been completed for the VIN, and test drive the car for clunks when slowing and accelerating.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There eis a clunking noise coming from under the hood. There is a metal to metal clunking wherever there is shift in drive train torque. Technician suspected bad engine/transmission mount clunking against the subframe or body. I've brought it to service over 4 times and been without my car for over a month and they're saying it's as designed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10853657, filed 2016-04, 1,500 miles

   “My 2016 Acura ILX transmission makes a clunking sound when 1) the accelerator is depressed after slowing down; whilst slowing down to a stop. Seems as though the 8 speed auto transmission is remaining at too high a gear at slower speeds. The sound is quite disconcerting. I have escalated the issue to Acura corporate office, and their response is that other vehicles of the same model make the same sound. Really??? Is Acura just waiting for complaints of transmissions or torque converters blowing up before they take appropriate action?”

   NHTSA complaint #10884284, filed 2016-07, 20,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Low fuel pressure code P0087 with stalls or power loss

   Mentioned in 4 of 47 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the engine stalling or losing power, sometimes at highway speed or in busy intersections, with a P0087 low fuel pressure code noted in some complaints. Some complaints mention a fuel pump being replaced or recommended, and some say the vehicle was not repaired or that the fuel pump recall did not include their VIN. Mileage is not listed in these complaints, which describe the symptoms happening at highway speed or in busy intersections.

   Recall 23V858000

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel pump recall 23V858000 has been completed on the VIN, and check the VIN on the recall lookup since some complaints say the VIN was not included. Ask a technician to read stored codes, including P0087, and to test fuel rail pressure before any repair.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car does not start, before that the car start to misfire and loss power at 60 mph on the highway ,and then take it to fix it, put a new high pressure fuel pump because i had a p0087 dtc, it say low pressure on the fuel rail, after the change the car does the same and see a recall for that problem online”

   NHTSA complaint #11613363, filed 2024-09

   “I was driving on an busy intersection about 45mph and my 2016 Acura ilx all of a sudden drop speed to 20mph. It was dangerous and I had my kids in the back seat. Took my car to a local shop and told me is Low pressure fuel pump. Code P0087.”

   NHTSA complaint #11598755, filed 2024-07
5. 5
   Brakes

   Car accelerates or surges when brake is applied

   Mentioned in 4 of 47 sampled complaints

   Owners describe pressing the brake pedal and the car accelerating or surging forward instead, sometimes while parking or approaching a stop. A complaint says the owner had to release and reapply the brake before the car slowed, and some describe the episodes happening near other cars, people in crosswalks, or stop signs. Another complaint reports that the dealer could not diagnose the failure after repeated visits, and that the manufacturer asked the owner to bring the vehicle back to the dealer. Mileage in the sample ranges from 6,000 to 32,000 miles, and the episodes are described while parking, approaching a stop, or slowing down.

   What to check: On a test drive in an empty parking area, brake gently from low speed, including near a stop sign or a parking space, to check whether the car surges or hesitates. Ask the dealer for any stored codes and whether a brake or throttle related bulletin has been checked for the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle accelerated by itself as I parked in a parking space. I steped on the brake but the vehicle just surged forward. Never happened before, but just that day morning as I parked in front of my working place, some malfunctions either in computer or overall vehicle system occurred that day.”

   NHTSA complaint #11191474, filed 2019-03, 25,000 miles

   “1st incident - on oct 17th 2017, on my way back from gym and this is a street drive. I was approaching a stop sign which is on a sort of a hill. I pressed the brakes and the car accelerated insteat and I could not stop at the stop sign. I did press it again harder and the car stopped but I had already crossed the stop sign by then. I was confused and scared but assumed that it was my fault and continued home driving carefully. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11039768, filed 2017-10, 6,000 miles

Buying note. When considering this model year, check the VIN for open brake master cylinder and airbag inflator recalls, and ask whether the battery and charging system have been tested. Also ask for records of any fuel pump, driveline, or P0087 diagnostic work before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 47 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.