Acura VIN Decoder & VIN Check — Models, Recalls, Specs, MPG & Safety
“Precision Crafted Performance”
Acura is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Honda, headquartered in Torrance, California. Launched in the United States on March 27, 1986, Acura was the first Japanese luxury brand to enter the North American market — three years before Lexus and INFINITI. The original lineup of the Legend (sedan and coupe) and Integra defined the brand's precision-crafted-performance positioning.
Acura is sold only in North America, China and parts of the Middle East — Honda has never launched the brand in Europe or Japan, where the same vehicles are sold as Hondas. The NSX supercar (1990-2005, revived 2016-2022) developed input from Ayrton Senna during testing and pioneered all-aluminum monocoque construction. The current lineup centers on the MDX three-row SUV, the RDX compact SUV, the TLX sport sedan and the Integra rebranded compact car.
Acura's parent Honda trades on the New York Stock Exchange under HMC. Recall data for every Acura VIN is reported to NHTSA, and EPA fuel-economy ratings, IIHS scores and J.D. Power Initial Quality Studies provide independent benchmarks. ForCar.org decodes any Acura VIN to surface trim, factory options, open recalls and original MSRP.
Acura at a glance
- Founded
- 1986 (March 27 US launch)
- Parent
- Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC)
- Headquarters
- Torrance, California, USA
- First Japanese US luxury brand
- Yes (3 years before Lexus)
- Halo car
- NSX (1990-2005, 2016-2022)
- AWD signature
- Super Handling All-Wheel Drive
- Sales markets
- US, Canada, China, Middle East only
- Performance line
- Type S
- Basic warranty
- 4 years / 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty
- 6 years / 70,000 miles
Decode any Acura VIN
Enter a 17-character VIN below to retrieve the trim, factory options, original window-sticker MSRP and any open NHTSA recall affecting that specific vehicle. ForCar.org pulls the same dataset that Acura dealers use to notify owners of safety recalls.
VIN Decoder
Signature Acura technology
Acura heritage
Honda announced its Acura intentions in 1985 and opened 60 standalone US dealerships on March 27, 1986. The first models — the Legend (Honda Saber in Japan) and Integra (Honda Quint Integra) — established the brand's sport-luxury positioning. The 1990 NSX, co-developed with input from Ayrton Senna, set new benchmarks for everyday-usable mid-engine supercars and was Honda's first all-aluminum chassis. SH-AWD, introduced on the 2005 RL, became Acura's signature handling differentiator.
Market position
Acura competes in the US, Canadian and Chinese luxury segments against Lexus, INFINITI, BMW, Audi and Genesis. The brand's positioning emphasizes performance and value rather than ultra-luxury, with starting prices typically 10-20% below comparable German rivals. Acura's Type S sub-brand designates high-performance variants, while the 2024 ZDX represents Acura's first battery-electric SUV, built on GM's Ultium platform under a development partnership.
New-vehicle warranty
ACURA VIN Decoder — Free VIN Check Video Guide
Watch our quick ACURA VIN decoder walkthrough. Learn how to decode any ACURA VIN number to get full vehicle history, recall alerts, specifications, fuel economy (MPG), safety ratings, and known problems — completely free on ForCar.org.
All Acura models (17)
Frequently asked questions
When was Acura founded and by whom?
Acura was founded in 1986 by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and is headquartered in Torrance, USA.
Where is the VIN on a Acura vehicle?
The 17-character VIN appears in four standard locations: dashboard at the windshield base (driver side), driver-side door jamb sticker, the engine bay (firewall or engine block stamping), and the vehicle's title, registration and insurance documents.
How many Acura models can ForCar.org decode?
ForCar.org indexes 17 Acura nameplates. Any 17-character Acura VIN is decoded against the NHTSA dataset to return trim, factory options, open recalls and original window-sticker MSRP.
What is the Acura warranty?
Basic: 4 years / 50,000 miles. Powertrain: 6 years / 70,000 miles.
How to check Acura recalls by VIN?
Enter your VIN in the decoder above. ForCar.org queries NHTSA's open-recall dataset for that specific VIN and returns any safety recalls or Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) that affect your vehicle.
Disambiguation: This page covers Acura, Honda's luxury division — not the medical Acura (a sleep-medicine brand) or any unrelated trademarks.
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