Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag Inflator for 2016 ILX and 2016 RDX.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Acura ILX airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Acura ILX have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 ILX | 23 |
| 2014 ILX | 17 |
| 2015 ILX | 12 |
| 2016 ILX (this page) | 13 |
2crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 13 airbags complaints filed for the 2016 Acura ILX, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Airbags accounts for 25% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 5 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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 bulletin - The SRS indicator is on with OTC 80090-87 (no signal from the left front impact sensor). A wire diameter variance lets water enter the SRS front impact sensor connector and causes damage to the harness.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - Today, May 24, 2018, Acura is announcing a warranty extension for 2002-17 Acura vehicles. This warranty extension applies in cases where any of the replacement driver?s and/or front passenger?s airbag inflators have failed internally.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - There is a creaking, rattling, buzzing, clicking, or rubbing noise coming from the driver's airbag area of the steering wheel when turning or driving.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2016 ILX has a documented Takata airbag inflator recall (NHTSA 16V061000) that left owners stuck for months waiting for replacement parts. Multiple owners reported manufacturers could not provide estimated repair dates, and one owner waited over a year with no resolution from their dealership. The recall parts bottleneck dragged on well past reasonable timelines, forcing owners to either drive unsafe vehicles or pay out-of-pocket for rental car insurance while dealers sourced parts—which Acura would not cover.
More critically, two owners reported that driver-side airbags failed to deploy in severe collisions. One was T-boned exiting a highway and walked away with glass lacerations, a bulging disc in her back, and bruising. Another was struck by an 18-wheeler at 75 mph, dragged down the highway, and spun into the median—airbags never deployed. Both vehicles were totaled. When owners contacted Acura, neither the dealership nor manufacturer offered any assistance.
One owner's airbag warning light triggered a recall that was later retracted from the recall program entirely. The inconsistency raises questions about whether the original safety concern was truly resolved or just deprioritized.
Same Acura ILX airbags reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Takata airbag inflator recall (parts unavailable/delayed repair)
Owners received NHTSA recall notification 16V061000 for Takata airbag inflators but manufacturers could not provide replacement parts in a reasonable timeframe. Several owners reported waiting months or over a year for parts to become available, delaying recall repair work.
When: 2016 model year; recall notifications issued mid-2016
Symptoms owners cite: recall notification received; parts not available for scheduled repair; manufacturer unable to provide estimated repair date; extended delay in scheduling recall work (up to 2 months or longer)
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 16V061000
Repairs/costs cited: Takata airbag inflator replacement required; parts unavailable during recall implementation period
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA campaign 16V061000 issued for Takata inflators; interim notification letters sent without specific parts availability dates
Airbags failed to deploy in collision
Two owners reported that driver-side airbags did not deploy when their vehicles were struck in significant collisions. One owner was T-boned while exiting a highway; another was hit by an 18-wheeler and dragged down the highway at 75 mph. Both vehicles were totaled; occupants sustained injuries including glass lacerations, bulging disc, and bruising.
When: At time of collision; mileage unknown on one vehicle (suspected odometer fraud)
Symptoms owners cite: airbags did not deploy upon impact; vehicle totaled at scene; occupant injuries sustained (glass lodged in body, bulging disc in back, bruises to hip and shoulder)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles destroyed; no repair attempted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura dealership and manufacturer notified; neither offered assistance
Airbag warning light / driver airbag recalled then retracted
Owner reported airbag warning light illumination. Dealership indicated driver airbag needed replacement and was initially on recall, but the recall was subsequently retracted.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: airbag warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Driver airbag replacement needed per dealership; recall status changed (retracted)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Initial recall notification; recall later retracted
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
"takata recall" I was involved in a wreck with an 18 wheeler. I was in the right lane traveling south on hwy 59 right outside of garrison, tx and the 18 wheeler was in the left lane. The 18 wheeler came into my lane hitting my rear drivers side bumper. This knocked my vehicle out of the right lane and perpendicular to the left lane. Then the front of the 18 wheeler hit my entire drivers side and…
Tl* the contact owned a 2016 Acura ilx. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown rate of speed, the contact stated that she was t-boned by another vehicle while exiting the highway. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact also stated that the driver side window shattered into several pieces as a result of the impact. The contact did not received…
Takata recall. Taking a long time for resolution.
Tl* 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…
Had airbags trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Acura ILX?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 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?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 18,750 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
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/2016/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.