Total Complaints
42 filings
ACURA LEGEND · model year
1988 ACURA LEGEND
42 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988ACURALEGEND carries 42 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 11 crashes, 0 fires, 13 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1988 LEGEND is vehicle speed control with 12 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (4) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1988 LEGEND, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
42
Complaints
11
Crashes
0
Fires
13
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
11 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 12 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| TIRES | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 1 |
| PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20230830TIRES
gingerbread factory national fedration newspaper employee. projectory math musuem
20120215POWER TRAIN
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.
Mileage: 210,000
20040422CrashFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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?
Mileage: 180,000
20040422CrashEQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
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?
Mileage: 180,000
20030523CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
20030227CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
20000225SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
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
19991202CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AND PUTTING IT IN REVERSE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, THE CAR TOOK OFF AT HIGH SPEED AND WOULD NOT STOP WITH APPLICATION OF BRAKES. DRIVER HAD TO TURN CAR OFF IN ORDER TO STOP. VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. MECHANIC CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. *AK *ML
19991124VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
19991124SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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
19990518CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE UP AND PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN HIGH SPEED. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP. IT WENT INTO A BURNING SLOPE AND HIT A TREE AND SLOWED DOWN. CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN PARK, AND IT WENT FORWARD AND KEPT GOING AT HIGH SPEED. VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A COUPLE OF PARKING STRIPS AND ONTO TWO SIDEWALKS. THEN CONSUMER TURNED OFF IGNITION AND VEHICLE STOPPED. *AK
19990422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
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
19990422POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
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
19990422FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
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
19990422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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
19990317VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FROM BANK ATM LINE. MOTOR IDLING. TOOK OFF AT HIGH SPEED WHEN SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. COULDN'T CONTROL. CRASHED INTO TREE OPPOSITE SIDE OF PARKING LOT.
19990303VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED RANDOM SUDDEN ACCELERATION.
19990217STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
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
19990122CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
19980805POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION.
Compare 1988ACURALEGEND to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 ACURA LEGEND have?▼
The 1988 ACURA LEGEND has 42 NHTSA complaints, 11 crashes, 0 fires, 13 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 ACURA LEGEND?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 ACURA LEGEND is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 12 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1988 ACURA LEGEND safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.