1988 Acura Legend Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Acura Legend, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Driver assistance1230.8%
- Transmission615.4%
- Brakes615.4%
- Fuel system37.7%
- Engine25.1%
- Electrical25.1%
- Tires & wheels25.1%
- Powertrain (other)25.1%
- Exterior lighting12.6%
- Body & structure12.6%
- Other / unspecified12.6%
- Seat belts12.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A WALL. *JB
ON FEB 3, 2003, I WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND PUT CAR IN REVERSE, I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR NO MATTER HOW MUCH PRESSURE I PUT ON THE BRAKES. THE CAR BACK UP ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, INTO MY NEIGHBORS FENCE, WHICH CAUSED FENCE TO BREAK IN SEVERAL PLACES. *JB
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE ENGINE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION OIL WAS LEAKING/FUEL INJECTORS WERE LEAKING GASOLINE, AND ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL. *AK
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR INTO REVERSE AT VERY HIGH SPEED, HIT SOMEONE AND STUCK TWO HOUSES BEFORE STOPPING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT A HIGH SPEED WHEN IT WAS PUT INTO DRIVE. THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP VEHICLE. SO THE DRIVER HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. *AK
WITH 45,684 MILES THE ABS MODULATOR BEGAN TO LOSE FLUID AND FAIL. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE LEAK, BUT FLUID LEVAL WOULD DECREASE AND RENDERER THE SYSTEM INOPERABLE. THE MODULATOR WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND THUS REPLACED. AFTER ANOTHER 45,000 MILES THE MODULATOR IS LOSING FLUID AGAIN. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN PROBLEM AND A RECALL MAY BE NEEDED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN VIOLENT FULL ACCELERATION WITH A 1988 ACURA LEGEND, WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH INTO A BUILDING, AND A VERY BADLY BROKEN LEG FOR ME. I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 1986-1988 ACURA LEGEND, AND AM SURE THERE MUST BE THOUSANDS MORE STILL ON THE ROAD. ARE THERE ANY GROUP LAWSUITS CURRENTLY BEING PUT FORTH, OR CAN YOU PROVIDE ME WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR RECEIVING JUSTICE IN THIS MATTER?
COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE ENGINE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION OIL WAS LEAKING/FUEL INJECTORS WERE LEAKING GASOLINE, AND ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE ENGINE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION OIL WAS LEAKING/FUEL INJECTORS WERE LEAKING GASOLINE, AND ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL. *AK
THE CAR HAS A SHIFTING PROBLEM AND SOMETIMES LURCHES FORWARD. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN VIOLENT FULL ACCELERATION WITH A 1988 ACURA LEGEND, WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH INTO A BUILDING, AND A VERY BADLY BROKEN LEG FOR ME. I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 1986-1988 ACURA LEGEND, AND AM SURE THERE MUST BE THOUSANDS MORE STILL ON THE ROAD. ARE THERE ANY GROUP LAWSUITS CURRENTLY BEING PUT FORTH, OR CAN YOU PROVIDE ME WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR RECEIVING JUSTICE IN THIS MATTER?
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. HAD VEHICLE TOWED AND THE IGNITOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
gingerbread factory national fedration newspaper employee. projectory math musuem
REPLACED SHOE/DRUM SYSTEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 ACURA LEGEND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ABLE TO BE ENGAGED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 210,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
C.V. JOINT FAILURE. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH THAT CONTROLS DIRECTIONAL BLINKER AND HEALDIGHTS FAILED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
HAVING BATTERY RECHARGED WITH THE HOOD UP, A FEW MINUTES LATER, HOOD FELL ON BATTERY CABLES. MECHANIC CHECKED & FOUND THE GAS CYLINDERS WERE DEFECTIVE & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PART #74145-SG0-A00. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE JACK THAT COMES WITH THE VEHICLE HAS COLLAPSED ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
BELT WEBBING FAILED. SAFETY BELT FAILURE WAS INVESTIGATED BY OFFICER ELROD. POINT OF CONTACT: CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL, CENTRAL DIVISION MULTIDISCIPLINARY ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION TEAM, ATTENTION: OFFICER MIKE SEDAM, (559)277-7250 EXT. 234 CASE #CL-008-00. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .