Total Complaints
26 filings
ACURA LEGEND · model year
26 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994ACURALEGEND carries 26 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 4 fires, 2 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 1994 LEGEND is air bags:frontal with 5 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (2) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (2). 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 1994 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.
Total Complaints
26 filings
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 ACURA LEGEND. AFTER TURNING OFF AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, A FIRE ORIGINATED ON THE BOTTOM PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEAR THE ELECTRONIC SEAT CONTROL BUTTONS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS TO CHECK WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE IF A DEALER WOULD DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,578.
Mileage: 147,578
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 ACURA LEGEND. AFTER TURNING OFF AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, A FIRE ORIGINATED ON THE BOTTOM PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEAR THE ELECTRONIC SEAT CONTROL BUTTONS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS TO CHECK WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE IF A DEALER WOULD DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,578.
Mileage: 147,578
THE D-4 GREEN LIGHT BLINKS, & THE SPEEDOMETER "WAVERS" FROM "0" TO 60 MPH. AFTER ABOUT 2.5 MILES (ARRIVE AT DESTINATION), TURN OFF ENGINE. DO SHOPPING, ETC. AFTERWARD, WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED, EVERYTHING WORKS GREAT. NO BLINKING D-4 LIGHT. DRIVING HOME IS NORMAL. IT HAPPENS AGAIN THE NEXT DAY, & DAYS AFTER.
Mileage: 65,000
THE D-4 GREEN LIGHT BLINKS, & THE SPEEDOMETER "WAVERS" FROM "0" TO 60 MPH. AFTER ABOUT 2.5 MILES (ARRIVE AT DESTINATION), TURN OFF ENGINE. DO SHOPPING, ETC. AFTERWARD, WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED, EVERYTHING WORKS GREAT. NO BLINKING D-4 LIGHT. DRIVING HOME IS NORMAL. IT HAPPENS AGAIN THE NEXT DAY, & DAYS AFTER.
Mileage: 65,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 ACURA LEGEND. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; UNEXPECTEDLY, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND GAUGES STOPPED WORKING AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND DRIVE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THERE WAS A BURNING SENSATION UNDER THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVERS RIGHT FOOT AND A DRIED SUBSTANCE BURNING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SHOE WHICH PENETRATED TO THE FOOT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESUME OPERATION WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED BY THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
FOR MORE THAN 8 MONTHS MY ACURA LEGEND (1994) FOUR DOOR SEDAN HAS BEEN INAUDIBLE OR NOT WORKING. THE SRS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS I'VE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE COIL REEL IS OUT AND THAT IT IS NOW IN A CONDITION THAT WILL PREVENT THE HORN FROM SOUNDING WHEN NEEDED OR AT ALL. I'VE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT THE DRIVERS AIRBAG AND POSSIBLY THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT EMPLOY SHOULD AN ACCIDENT OCCUR. THIS IS NOT SAFE AND I'M VERY SURPRISED THAT THE COST OF A COIL REEL COSTS $687 FROM THE HONDA DEALER IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA. MY ATTEMPTS TO FIX THIS ON MY OWN WERE HINDERED BY COST AND LABOR TO REPAIR THIS ITEM. FOR NOW IT IS PARKED AND NOT BEING USED BY THIS OWNER BECAUSE THE SAFETY FEATURES THAT PROMPTED THIS PURCHASE ARE NO LONGER EFFECTIVE. THIS ITEM SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL. *NM
A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET ALLOWS AIR INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM. TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLUCTUATES, AND THE COOLING RESERVOIR OVERFLOWS. WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *AK
Mileage: 99,000
ON 01-28-04 OFFICERS FROM THIS AGENCY RESPONDED TO A FIRE INVOLVING A 1994 ACURA LEGEND. VIN#[XXX]. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN OPERATED FOR FOUR DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE DRIVER SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NLM
J WISH TO COMPLAIN ABOUT SUV HEADLIGHTS BEING TOO HIGH THAT THEY TEND TO BLIND ON COMING TRAFFIC. WHY CAN'T THEIR HEIGHT BE REDUCED TO LEVEL THAT DOESN'T MAKE THEM A DRIVING HAZARD?*AK
WHILE WAITNG IN A LINE AND EASING OFF THE BRAKE JUST A LITTLE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY TOOK OFF AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATED AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
WHILE WAITNG IN A LINE AND EASING OFF THE BRAKE JUST A LITTLE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY TOOK OFF AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATED AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
I WAS CHARGED 139.44 FOR T STOPPER ON 4-14-98. I SAW A TSB ON THAT ITEM TODAY. THIS WAS NEVER MENTIONED TO ME WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR 60,000 MILE SERVICE. AM I ENTITLED TO A REFUND FOR THIS CHARGE?
BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT ENGANGE IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL. ON JAN 28, 1999, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH TRAVELING ABOUT 32 MPH, AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER AT THIS TIME, CAUSING MAJOR INJURIES TO DRIVERS FACE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL. ON JAN 28, 1999, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH TRAVELING ABOUT 32 MPH, AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER AT THIS TIME, CAUSING MAJOR INJURIES TO DRIVERS FACE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS OPERATED TO THE LOCKED POSITION ON THEIR OWN. NO DELIBERATE OR INADVERTENT LOCK SELECTION BY DRIVER. FIRST OCCASION: AT FUEL PUMP, IGNITION OFF,CAR IN PARK,CLOSED DRIVERS DOOR TO KEEP OUT FUEL FUMES AND A STRONG,COLD WIND. ALL FOUR DOORS LOCKED WHEN DRIVERS DOOR CLOSED. SECOND OCCASION: STOPPED ON RURAL ESTATE DRIVEWAY TO DETACH A CLASS II TRAILER (EMPTY-ESTIMATE TONGUE WGT, AT 10-15LB.) CAR WAS IN PARK, EMERG. BRAKE ON DRIVERS DOOR OPEN. WHEN THE WEIGHT CAME OFF THE HITCH BALL AND A GUST OF WIND HIT, DRIVERS DOOR CLOSED, ALL FOUR DOORS LOCKED. ON THIS OCCASION, ANOTHER 1994 ACURA LEGEND OWNER WAS PRESENT AND STATED HE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIRD OCCASION: STOPPED AT RURAL MAIL BOX, CAR IN PARK, EMERG. BRAKE SET. THREE YEAR OLD IN STRAPPED IN CAR SEAT, (REAR SEAT) BENT OVER TO PICK UP DROPPED LETTER, DRIVERS DOOR CLOSED, ALL FOUR DOORS LOCKED UPON DOOR CLOSURE. # YR. OLD WAS ABLE TO UNSTRAP AND WAS COACHED TO OPEN DOOR. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ITEM. TH
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE HIT A ROCK AT AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT. VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED NOW. *AK
HEADLIGHTS FAILED.
ENGINE SURGES OCCASIONALLY. *DH
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.