Total Complaints
47 filings
ACURA LEGEND · model year
1989 ACURA LEGEND
47 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989ACURALEGEND carries 47 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 1 fire, 5 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 1989 LEGEND is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 8 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (7) and vehicle speed control (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 1989 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.
47
Complaints
6
Crashes
1
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
6 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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 8 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 7 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20040422VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
OVERHEATING PROBLEMS, IGNITION PROBLEMS, AIRBAG DOES NOT WORK, DOOR OPEN LIGHT STAYS ON, LEAK IN SUNROOF WHEN IT RAINS,
Mileage: 175,000
20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OVERHEATING PROBLEMS, IGNITION PROBLEMS, AIRBAG DOES NOT WORK, DOOR OPEN LIGHT STAYS ON, LEAK IN SUNROOF WHEN IT RAINS,
Mileage: 175,000
20040422AIR BAGS
OVERHEATING PROBLEMS, IGNITION PROBLEMS, AIRBAG DOES NOT WORK, DOOR OPEN LIGHT STAYS ON, LEAK IN SUNROOF WHEN IT RAINS,
Mileage: 175,000
20040203CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
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
Mileage: 159,000
20020823VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
20020422AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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
20010817ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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
20010524FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
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
20010524ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
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
20010524STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
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
20010419CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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
20010409ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
REPEATED DIFFICULTY IN STARTING THE CAR. STARTER HAS BEEN REPLACES TWICE/ SECURITY SYSTEM HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED. PROBLEM PERSISTS.*AK
20010409STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
REPEATED DIFFICULTY IN STARTING THE CAR. STARTER HAS BEEN REPLACES TWICE/ SECURITY SYSTEM HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED. PROBLEM PERSISTS.*AK
20010125INTERIOR LIGHTING
RADIO GOES ON AND OFF, BELLS RING, DASH LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. VEHICLE STOPS. LOOKS LIKE A DEAD BATTERY, BUT IS NOT. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER THREE MONTHS THIS TIME. NEITHER THE HONDA DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT DEALER CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM IS ONGOING OCCURRING ABOUT EVERY THREE MONTHS. HONDA DEALER TOLD US CAR WAS REPAIRED. WE WENT TO PICK IT UP, AND IT WOULDN'T START. HAD IT TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE ABOUT THREE MONTHS AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 1998.
20010125ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
RADIO GOES ON AND OFF, BELLS RING, DASH LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. VEHICLE STOPS. LOOKS LIKE A DEAD BATTERY, BUT IS NOT. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER THREE MONTHS THIS TIME. NEITHER THE HONDA DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT DEALER CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM IS ONGOING OCCURRING ABOUT EVERY THREE MONTHS. HONDA DEALER TOLD US CAR WAS REPAIRED. WE WENT TO PICK IT UP, AND IT WOULDN'T START. HAD IT TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE ABOUT THREE MONTHS AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 1998.
20010125EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
RADIO GOES ON AND OFF, BELLS RING, DASH LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. VEHICLE STOPS. LOOKS LIKE A DEAD BATTERY, BUT IS NOT. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER THREE MONTHS THIS TIME. NEITHER THE HONDA DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT DEALER CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM IS ONGOING OCCURRING ABOUT EVERY THREE MONTHS. HONDA DEALER TOLD US CAR WAS REPAIRED. WE WENT TO PICK IT UP, AND IT WOULDN'T START. HAD IT TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE ABOUT THREE MONTHS AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 1998.
20000607FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN DRIVING/APPLYING BRAKES/ ACCELERATING, OR EVEN MAKING TURNS COULD SMELL FUEL FUMES. CONTACTED DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP. *AK
20000426STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
BOTH DOORS AND ONE WINDOW ARE INOPERATIVE DUE TO POOR DESIGN. NLM
20000426VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
BOTH DOORS AND ONE WINDOW ARE INOPERATIVE DUE TO POOR DESIGN. NLM
20000426EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
THE RADIO ANTENNAE WOULD NOT RETRACT IN OR EXTEND COMPLETELY DUE TO POOR DESIGN. NLM
Compare 1989ACURALEGEND to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 ACURA LEGEND have?▼
The 1989 ACURA LEGEND has 47 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 1 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 ACURA LEGEND?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 ACURA LEGEND is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1989 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.