RoadVitals

1989 Acura Legend

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
34
Latest Feb 3, 2004
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest May 24, 1995
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
7
5 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 34 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Acura Legend, most frequently naming the brakes, airbags and electrical categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 5 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes1022.7%
  • Airbags818.2%
  • Electrical511.4%
  • Seat belts49.1%
  • Driver assistance36.8%
  • Interior & seats36.8%
  • Steering36.8%
  • Visibility24.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
95V103001

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

May 24, 1995
3,700,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
The risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES. CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. CHECK THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUG ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, THEN PRESS THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS ANY SIGN OF BREAKAGE OR CRACKING, OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, PROMPTLY CONTACT YOUR AUTHORIZED HONDA/ACURA DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.View on NHTSA.gov
90E043003

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Oct 29, 1990
36 units potentially affected
The defect: THREADED INFLATOR COMPONENTS MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY WHICH MAY ALLOW COMPONENTS TO SEPARATE WHEN INFLATOR RECEIVES A SIGNAL TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG.
The risk: INFLATOR COMPONENT SEPARATION ALLOWS HOT COMBUSTION GASES TO ESCAPE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
The remedy: REPLACE AIR BAG MODULES CONTAINING POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE INFLATORS.
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 34
Seat belts
Filed Feb 3, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

MY MOTHER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN MY 1989 ACURA LEGEND, WHICH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RELEASED UPON THE IMPACT OF THE INCIDENT. SHE WAS THEN CITATED FOR NOT WEARING A SAFETY BELT. I HAVE RECENTLY FOUND THAT THEY WERE RECALLED IN MAY OF 1995. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON A YEAR AGO.*AK

NHTSA ID
10056468
Incident
Dec 28, 2003
Mileage
159,000 mi
AirbagsEngineVisibility
Filed Jan 15, 2004

OVERHEATING PROBLEMS, IGNITION PROBLEMS, AIRBAG DOES NOT WORK, DOOR OPEN LIGHT STAYS ON, LEAK IN SUNROOF WHEN IT RAINS,

NHTSA ID
10068859
Incident
Jul 15, 2003
Mileage
175,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 23, 2002

WHILE MAKING A TURN AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING AND TOOK OFF GOING UP HILL. CONSUMER PUMPED BRAKES AND PULLED HAND BRAKE AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL CONSUMER THEN TURNED ENGINE OFF TO STOP. *AK JLG

NHTSA ID
8017104
Incident
Aug 20, 2002
Airbags
Filed Apr 22, 2002

WHILE PULLING INTO A SERVICE STATION, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8008277
Incident
May 8, 2000
Electrical
Filed Aug 17, 2001

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE TRAVELING AT HWY SPEED OF 60 MPH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND INFORMED THAT IGNITION SWITCH HAD FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STARTED RIGHT UP AND STALLED TWICE MORE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
894667
Incident
Mar 15, 2001
ElectricalFuel systemSteering
Filed May 22, 2001

SINCE L998 MY CAR HAS FAILED TO START AND AFTER REPEATED EFFORTS, WHEN THE ENGINE HAS COOLED OFF, IT WILL START UNEXPECTEDLY. I HAVE EVEN CALLED THE AAA AND BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVE, THE CAR WILL START ON ITS OWN. I HAVE REPLACED (AT MY EXPENSE) ONE STARTER; AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED (AT THEIR COST) ANOTHER). IN ADDITION, AS THEIR SUGGESTION, I DISENGAGED BY SECURITY SYSTEM, AS IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT A SHORT WAS CAUSING A MALFUNCTION, AND "FREEZING THE ENGINE." THE STARTING PROBLEM PERSISTS ON AN ON AGAIN/OFF AGAIN BASIS. MY CAR HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED, AT APPROPRIATE TIMES, BY THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I PURCHASED IT. THEY INSIST THAT "NOTHING APPEARS TO BE WRONG WITH THE CAR" BUT IT CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO START, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES, OR WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. THIS IS A SEVERE HAZARD TO ME AS I AM A SINGLE PERSON AND CAN FIND MYSELF IN A DISTANT LOCATION WITH A NON-FUNCTIONING CAR. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY ANOTHER ACURA LEGEND OWNER (ALSO 1989) THAT HE HAS HAD THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM, AND HAS RECEIVED THE SAME RESPONSE FROM OUR DEALERSHIP. WHEN QUESTIONED, THEY INSIST THAT THIS IS A UNIQUE PROBLEM, BUT I AM DOUBTFUL OF THIS IN LIGHT OF MY FRIEND'S EXPERIENCE.*AK

NHTSA ID
745662
Incident
Jan 1, 1998
Brakes
Filed Apr 11, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

MY FRIEND AND I WERE TRAVELING ON A FOUR LANE ROAD IN THE RAIN GOING 5 MILES UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT. TWO CARS IN FRONT OF US SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES AND I PROCEEDED TO DO THE SAME THING. FIRST, MY BRAKES LOCKED UP ON ME, HAVING ABS I SHOULD HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM, SECOND AS WE HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF USE TWO THINGS HAPPENDED, ONE MY PASSANGER'S SEATBELT DID NOT TAKE HOLD AND HE ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH MINOR INJURIES. SECOND MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING BE TO STRIKE THE STEERING WHEEL WITH NO INJURIES.*AK

NHTSA ID
743856
Incident
Apr 10, 2001
ElectricalSteering
Filed Mar 30, 2001

REPEATED DIFFICULTY IN STARTING THE CAR. STARTER HAS BEEN REPLACES TWICE/ SECURITY SYSTEM HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED. PROBLEM PERSISTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
743324
Incident
Jan 10, 1999

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SB-0708

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

ACURA: THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR VARIOUS SITUATIONS AND PROCEDURES INCLUDING: TIRE PRESSURE VALVE STEM INSTALLATION, TRAILER STABILITY MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON, ENGINE OIL APPLICATION GUIDE, NEW SOFTWARE, NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID, NOTCHY STEERING FEELING. *RM

1002

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

INTERMITTENT SRA DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 1-1 TO 1-5, DRIVER'S AIRBAG INFLATOR CIRCUIT. OCTOBER TECH LINE INFORMATION. *TT

ACU950406

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

CAMPAIGN RESPOSNSIBILITY REPORT FOR THE 1989-90 LEGEND IGNITER PRODUCT UPDATE CAMPAIGN. *TW

92009

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

CLICKING NOISE WHILE CLICKING. *TW

B930040

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

SPECIAL RETURN: IGNITER. *TW

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Acura Legend by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1995155050.6
1994214056.7
1993254160.2
1992756263.3
19911177057.3
1990362055.9
1989Viewing342055.0
1988332368.0
1987916—
1986171550.2

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.