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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 1.8
Limited data — provisional
Safety
Low
0 inj.
✓No open federal investigations
17
Recalls
278
Complaints
—
Best Yr
28
Injuries
Top issue: EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
9
Years Analyzed
17
Total Recalls
278
Total Complaints
28
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 October 25, 2026.

Acura Legend — Year-by-Year Comparison

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

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
199524——
57
39
51
Excellent
19942172—
57
39
51
Good
19932171—
57
39
51
Good
19924634—
57
39
51
Avoid
19914929—
57
39
51
Avoid
19901271—
57
39
51
Good
19890312—
57
39
51
Good
19882239—
57
39
51
Caution
198704——
57
39
51
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.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
46
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
28
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
22
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
15
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
13
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
8
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
7
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
6

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 · 511988 · 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: EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC., AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. 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 →