Used Acura ILX Buying Guide (2013-2022)

The used Acura ILX to buy is a 2016-2022 car with the 201-hp 2.4-liter and eight-speed dual-clutch, ideally a 2019 or later, and only after the dealer confirms the brake master cylinder recall that Honda opened in late 2025 is done. A 2013-2015 ILX is cheaper, but you are buying a slower car with older air bag campaigns to verify, and the manual cars carry a driveshaft recall that still read as interim when I checked on October 16, 2026.

Be honest with yourself about what the ILX is. Car and Driver's own reviews call it a Civic in a nicer suit, and that is mostly a compliment for a used buyer, because Honda parts and mechanics are everywhere. Just do not pay a luxury premium for it.

2013-2015: three powertrains, one dated cabin

The early cars came with a 2.0-liter automatic, a 2.4-liter with a six-speed manual, or a hybrid. C/D's 2016 first drive notes the old 2.4 manual made the same 201 hp as the later engine but 10 fewer lb-ft, and fewer than five percent of buyers picked it. The 2.0 automatic is the one to be careful with; C/D estimated the 2016 car would reach 60 mph more than two seconds sooner. If you want an early car, the manual is the more interesting one, but read the recall section first, because it has its own driveshaft campaign.

2016-2022: the version most people should buy

For 2016 Acura dropped the 2.0, the manual and the hybrid and fitted a direct-injected 2.4-liter with 201 hp and 180 lb-ft plus an eight-speed dual-clutch. C/D's 2016 ILX A-Spec test praised that gearbox, which uses a torque converter to stay smooth from a stop, and measured 6.6 seconds to 60 mph. The same test found unusually high brake fade across six 70-mph panic stops and called the car "largely forgettable." The A-Spec package was a $1,990 mostly cosmetic add-on, so do not let a seller charge much extra for it. The Tech Plus trim added AcuraWatch, with adaptive cruise and lane keeping, which is worth looking for.

By the end, the ILX had aged badly. The C/D review of the 2022 ILX says the base car lacked a touchscreen, the infotainment was outdated, road and wind noise were worse than in rivals, and the back seat was cramped. On the plus side, the 2022 hit its 34-mpg highway rating in C/D's 75-mph test, and the trunk is large for the class. An Acura spokesperson told Motor1 in February 2022 that 2022 was the final model year, ahead of the new Integra.

That replacement is the obvious cross-shop. Our used Acura Integra buying guide covers the hatchback that took over, and if you need more room, the used Acura TLX buying guide is a size up. The ILX's real rival may be its cousin, though; read our used Honda Civic buying guide before you pay Acura money for Civic bones.

ILX recalls from NHTSA, checked October 16, 2026

I queried NHTSA's recall API year by year under "ILX" and "ILX HYBRID." The 2021 and 2022 model years returned no campaigns at all. Earlier cars are a different story:

• 25V859, 2016-2020: contaminated brake fluid can deform a seal in the master cylinder and cause an internal leak that reduces braking. The NHTSA record says dealers replace the master cylinder and owner letters went out May 4, 2026. This is the one I would insist on seeing a repair order for.
• 23V858, 2016-2020: the fuel pump inside the tank may fail. Dealers replace the pump module.
• 19V424, 2016-2019: excess grease can stop the half shaft set-ring from engaging, so the driveshaft can separate.
• 19V052, 2014-2019: a deformed fuel tank can make the gas gauge read wrong. Dealers inspect and replace the tank as needed.
• 16V061, 19V182, 19V500, 2013-2016 and the 2013-2014 hybrid: driver air bag inflator campaigns, including one where moisture can make the inflator rupture over time. Confirm every one is closed.
• 20V770, 2013-2015 manual cars and the 2013 hybrid: applies to cars sold or ever registered in a list of salt-belt states including Vermont, West Virginia and Ohio; the driveshaft coating may be bad. The record still describes an interim letter and a second letter once the remedy is available, so call a dealer for the current status.

Our Acura recall check by VIN guide shows how to confirm each campaign against the exact car.

Before you hand over money

Run the VIN through our Acura VIN decoder walkthrough to confirm year, trim and transmission, since a 2015 2.0 and a 2016 2.4 look nearly identical from the curb. On the drive, feel for a soft or sinking brake pedal on the 2016-2020 cars, and do a couple of hard stops on a safe road. Then have a mechanic check for fluid at the master cylinder and look over the half shafts.

History, title and cost

Search title brands on NMVTIS and read a full report for accident, owner and mileage entries; a cheap ILX with a thin service history and a recent auction sale is the one I would walk away from. CarVins sells CARFAX and AutoCheck reports as a licensed reseller and has no affiliation with CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian or Acura. Around mid October 2026, expect roughly $5.50 per report as a guest, $4.50 as a member, or about $6.75 for both, against $39.99 to $44.99 buying direct. Checkout has the final say on price.

Sources

• Car and Driver: 2016 ILX first drive
• Car and Driver: 2016 ILX A-Spec test
• Car and Driver: 2022 ILX review
• Motor1: ILX ends after 2022
• NHTSA: recall 25V859
• NMVTIS