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VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Acura Legend1987–1995

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

🚗 SEDAN
Acura Legend
1987–1995
B
Defect Risk
Recall intensity
0.0/yr · seg. median 0.0
Limited data — provisional
Safety
Low
0 inj.
✓No open federal investigations
18
Recalls
69
Complaints
—
Best Yr
8
Injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
9
Years Analyzed
18
Total Recalls
69
Total Complaints
8
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Federal Defect Investigations

NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 1 past investigation into the Legend became recall.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of September 11, 2026.

Acura Legend — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
199520——
57
39
51
Good
1994261—
57
39
51
Caution
199323——
57
39
51
Good
19924222—
57
39
51
Avoid
1991573—
57
39
51
Avoid
1990113——
57
39
51
Caution
19891102—
57
39
51
Caution
198818——
57
39
51
Good
198700——
82
39
67
Excellent

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Known Acura Legend Problems

Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
13
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
11
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
5
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
2

Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the Legend compares — best year within each era shown.

Pre-2013

Older Legend models are deeply depreciated but carry higher wear and repair risk. High mileage is common. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and verify full recall history.

Proceed with Caution
1987 · 671988 · 511989 · 511990 · 511991 · 511992 · 511993 · 511994 · 51

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year Legend to buy?+

See the Buyer Score table above for a full ranking of every Legend model year.

Which Legend years have the most problems?+

See the year-by-year problem table for a complete breakdown.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common Legend problems?+

The most frequently reported Acura Legend issues involve: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.

Deep-Dive Research

Common Problems

Full year-by-year breakdown of every documented defect for the Acura Legend.

Reliability Score

Reliability rating and score breakdown compared to similar sedan vehicles.

Years to Avoid

Every Legend year ranked by problem score — worst years listed with full reasoning.

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

Run a VIN Check →