The 2013 Acura ILX shares its bones with the 9th-gen Civic but added refinement and complexity. The 2.4L is generally solid, but the 2.0L hybrid suffers catastrophic engine failures, and both share transmission durability issues that can be expensive.
2.0L Hybrid Engine Failure (Piston Ring / Cylinder Scoring)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (quart every 500-1000 mi), Blue smoke on startup or acceleration, Misfires and rough idle, CEL with P0300-series codes, Metallic knocking from engine bay
Fix: Complete engine rebuild or short block replacement required. 16-20 hours labor for short block swap, includes pistons, rings, bearings, and machine work if rebuilding. Often uneconomical to repair.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500
5-Speed Automatic Transmission Judder and Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Shuddering during 2nd-3rd gear shifts under light throttle, Harsh engagement from stop, Transmission slipping or delayed shifts, Burnt ATF smell, Cooler line leaks
Fix: Transmission oil cooler failure contaminates fluid and damages clutches. Early catch requires cooler replacement (3-4 hours) and multiple fluid flushes. Advanced cases need rebuild or reman trans (12-16 hours).
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 for cooler; $3,500-5,000 for rebuild
Engine Mount Failure (Especially Front and Transmission Mounts)
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive, Vibration at idle in gear, Excessive engine movement visible when revving, Thuds over bumps from engine bay
Fix: Hydraulic mounts collapse internally. Front and transmission mounts fail most often. 2-3 hours labor for front, 3-4 hours for transmission mount due to access. Replace in pairs for best results.
Symptoms: Recall notice received, SRS light may illuminate in some cases, No symptoms until deployment event
Fix: Driver and passenger inflators can rupture and send shrapnel into cabin. Three separate recall campaigns issued. Replacement takes 1-2 hours per side. Check VIN for open recalls before purchase.
Estimated cost: $0 (warranty recall)
Door Lock Actuator Failure
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Single door won't lock/unlock with key fob, Clicking noise from door panel, Intermittent operation in cold weather, Door ajar light stays on
Fix: Plastic gears strip inside actuator. Recall issued for some but not all. 1.5-2 hours labor per door including panel removal. Front doors easier than rear.
Symptoms: Clicking noise during tight turns, Grease visible on inner wheel well, Vibration during acceleration, Recall issued for some production dates
Fix: Outer CV boots tear prematurely. If caught early, reboot and repack (1.5-2 hours). If joint damaged, axle replacement required (2-3 hours per side). Check recall status.
Estimated cost: $200-350 for boot; $400-600 for axle
Headlight Lens Delamination and Moisture Intrusion
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 70,000+ mi or 7+ years
Symptoms: Moisture/condensation inside headlight housing, Hazy or yellowed lens coating peeling, Reduced light output at night, Recall for some units with premature failure
Fix: Headlight assemblies use poor UV coating that degrades. Aftermarket restoration kits temporary. Full assembly replacement is 0.5-1 hour per side. Check for open recall first.
Estimated cost: $150-300 per side aftermarket; $400-600 OEM
Owner tips
If buying a 2.0L hybrid, perform compression and leak-down tests — walk away if below spec or burning oil
Change transmission fluid every 30k mi with Honda DW-1 ATF only to extend life; inspect cooler for leaks
Check all recall status by VIN before purchase — Takata airbags are safety-critical
Manual transmission models are more reliable long-term; avoid 5-speed auto if possible
Inspect engine mounts annually after 60k — cheap insurance against expensive damage from broken mounts
The 2.4L manual is a decent used buy under $10k if maintained; avoid the 2.0L hybrid entirely due to engine grenading, and be wary of the automatic transmission's known weakness.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Be the first to unlock repairs for the 2013 Acura ILX
Procedures haven't been generated for this vehicle yet. Become the founding sponsor and we'll generate expert-grade, step-by-step repair walkthroughs for every common job on it — free for every mechanic and DIYer who looks it up after, forever.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Acura ILX, 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid, and 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles with a manual transmission and 2009-2013 Honda Fit vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The drive shafts' protective coating may not have been applied properly during manufacturing, making it more susceptible to damage from road salt, or other contaminants, and potentially cause it to break.
Consequence: A broken drive shaft may cause a sudden loss of drive power. The vehicle could also roll away if the parking brake has not been applied before the vehicle has been exited. Either condition can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the drive shafts, replacing either the left or right drive shaft, if necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk with an interim letter mailed February 2, 2021. A second letter will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are P9M, PAV, BAY, TAX, CA0, and MAZ.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 19V500000
2019-06-27 · EA15001
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.
These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B and W59.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 19V182000
2019-03-06 · EA15001
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
Consequence: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 16V061000
2016-02-03 · EA15001
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JY0, JY1, and JY2.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS · 14V323000
2014-06-13
American Honda Motor Co., Inc (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2013 Acura ILX vehicles manufactured January 16, 2012 to March 1, 2013, ILX Hybrid vehicles manufactured January 12, 2012 to February 7, 2013, and certain model year 2014 ILX vehicles manufactured May 2, 2013, to May 31, 2014, and ILX Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 18, 2013 to February 19, 2014. Excessive heat temperatures around the headlight bulb and reflector unit may diminish the output of the headlight and cause smoke, melting, and fire. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: The diminished light output may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Additonally, the excessive heat coming from around the bulb and reflector could cause the headlights to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the headlights, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-862-2872. Honda's number for this recall is JE9.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · 12V338000
2012-07-19
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012 Honda CR-V and model year 2013 Acura ILX vehicles. If the manual or power door lock is activated while an interior front door handle is being operated by an occupant, the cable connecting the interior door handle to the door latch mechanism may become loose and move out of position. There is a possibility that the cable can move far enough out of position to prevent the door from properly latching.
Consequence: If the door is not fully latched, the door may open while driving or in a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the vehicle occupants.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front door latch assemblies in the affected vehicles, free of charge. Additionally, the interior front door handles in certain Honda CR-Vs will also be replaced, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on, or about, August 16, 2012. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Building an app?
Free API access to all this data — 50 requests/day, no card required.