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2013 Acura ILX airbags problems
severe
Owners of the 2013 Acura ILX have filed 24 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.See airbags across all vehicles →
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.
Fix: 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.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented
repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall
(it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service BulletinB18-020Feb 2026
Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag Inflator for 2013-14 ILX Hybrid and Other Listed Years and Models.
Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passengers airbag inflator only.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2013 Acura ILX is subject to NHTSA Campaign 16V061000 for Takata driver airbag inflator replacement. Owners received initial recall notices in February–March 2016, but replacement parts did not reach dealers until fall 2016. During the months-long wait, dealerships could not schedule repairs or provide timeframes, forcing owners to keep driving vehicles known to be unsafe. Many owners reported waiting 3+ months with zero communication updates after filing formal cases. Several dealers placed owners on indefinite waiting lists or told them parts were "on back order" with no resolution date. Some owners coordinated loaner vehicles only to receive non-comparable rentals, and one reported being pressured to store the recalled vehicle at home because the dealership had no space.
More serious: owners reported airbags failing to deploy in actual collisions. One incident involved a rear-end crash where airbags did not deploy and the occupant struck the steering wheel, causing head injury; police said the bags should have deployed. Another case reported two separate accidents (April 2018 and January 2019) where airbags never deployed, with the 2019 incident causing major injuries including dislocated discs, inability to walk for months, and ongoing chronic pain requiring years of treatment.
One owner reported their airbag warning light recurring in the same vehicle even after the recall replacement was completed in January 2019.
Same Acura ILX airbags reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Takata Airbag Recall — Parts Shortage and Service Delays
The 2013 Acura ILX is subject to NHTSA Campaign 16V061000 for defective Takata airbag inflators. Owners received recall notices starting in February–March 2016, but replacement parts were not available until fall 2016 at the earliest. Dealerships could not provide repair appointments or timeframes, leaving owners unable to address the safety issue for months. Multiple owners reported waiting 3+ months with no updates, being placed on indefinite waiting lists, or never receiving follow-up communications after initial notification.
When: Recall notice issued Feb–Mar 2016; parts expected fall 2016, second letter mailing mid-Nov 2016–Jan 2017
Symptoms owners cite: No immediate vehicle malfunction; defect is latent in inflator assembly; Airbag warning light intermittently illuminating (reported in some cases); Owner concerns about safety while driving recalled vehicle
Codes mentioned:NHTSA Campaign 16V061000
Repairs/costs cited: Driver airbag inflator replacement; parts on back order for extended periods. Some dealers reportedly instructed to prioritize fleet/commercial vehicles over personally owned vehicles. No repair costs cited by owners, likely covered under recall.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V061000 (Takata driver airbag inflator recall). Acura issued initial notification letter in Feb–Mar 2016. Second letter promised for mid-Nov 2016–Jan 2017 when parts available. Honda Campaign JY2 specifies remedy parts availability beginning fall 2016. Many owners reported zero follow-up communication after initial letter.
Airbag Non-Deployment in Crashes
Owners reported at least two separate incidents where airbags failed to deploy during collisions. In one case (April 2018), brakes did not respond properly and the vehicle struck another car; airbags did not deploy and owner incurred high medical bills. In another case (January 2019), the owner's husband was rear-ended by an Audi, the car became a total loss, airbags did not deploy, and he sustained major injuries including dislocated discs, inability to walk for two months, ongoing chronic pain, and multiple surgeries. A third incident (July 2019) involved a severe collision that totaled the vehicle; airbags did not deploy and the owner struck the steering wheel, causing head injury. Police indicated the airbags should have deployed based on impact severity.
When: April 2018, January 2019, July 2019; one case at 91,000 miles (April 2018 incident)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy in rear-end collisions; Airbags do not deploy in frontal/side-impact crashes; Occupants strike steering wheel and interior surfaces due to lack of restraint
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs performed in non-deployment cases. Vehicles were either totaled by insurance or left undiagnosed by dealers. One case resulted in vehicle being deemed total loss and towed to independent lot.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: In the 91,000-mile case, manufacturer was contacted but provided no further assistance. In other cases, either the vehicle was not brought to dealer or the manufacturer response was not documented.
Intermittent Airbag Warning Light
Owners reported airbag warning indicators illuminating while driving at various speeds. In one case, the vehicle was taken to a dealer and diagnosed with no actual failure detected, yet the warning light recurred intermittently. Another owner reported the warning light came on automatically at startup for three consecutive years despite no accidents, preventing vehicle inspection certification.
When: Various; one recurring issue over three inspection cycles (years not specified)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning indicator illuminates during operation; Warning light recurs intermittently despite dealer diagnostic indicating no failure; Warning light activates at startup, preventing inspection pass
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnostic revealed no failure in one case. No repairs documented. Owner unable to pass vehicle inspections due to persistent warning light.
Post-Recall Airbag Replacement Malfunction
One owner reported having the driver airbag fixed in January 2019 under recall, but within weeks the airbag warning light illuminated again. Owner requested that their VIN be investigated to determine if it should have been included in the recall, as it was not appearing in the recall database despite having the identical model and year.
When: January 2019 (repair date); recurrence within weeks
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates after recall repair; Requires second repair for same component
Repairs/costs cited: Driver airbag replaced January 2019 under recall; failed again shortly after.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner's VIN reportedly not showing in recall database despite owning 2013 Acura ILX.
Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
7 most recent
airbags
· filed 12/07/2021
The contact owned a 2013 Acura ILX . The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle in front of her suddenly stopped. The driver depressed the brake pedal however, was unable to stop in time and crashed into the rear of an unknown Audi. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the chest, neck, and head. The driver believes the impact knocked her…
airbags
· filed 10/22/2024
The contact owns a 2013 Acura ILX. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
airbags
· filed 10/13/2016
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Acura ilx. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms…
airbags
· filed 09/21/2016
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Acura ilx. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags) however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced any failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. VIN tool confirms remedy not…
airbags
· filed 09/05/2016
Takata recall: status as 09/05/16 "remedy not yet available ". This is an unacceptable length of time for issue resolution. Provide remedy by 09/30/16.
airbags
· filed 08/30/2016
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Acura ilx. The contact received notification in march of 2016 regarding NHTSA campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags). The part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
airbags
· filed 08/27/2019
I believe my VIN # should be included in the recall for drivers air bag. I have had the drivers air bag fixed jan 2019 and now will have to have it fixed in a couple weeks as the air bag lights are going on again for the drivers air bags. I see there are recalls for 2013 Acura ilx but for some reason my VIN # is not coming up. Please investigate further.
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 Acura ILX?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2013 Acura ILX?
It's a meaningful issue. 24 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
Yes — 3 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Acura/ILX.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.