The Acura Legend has 11 NHTSA recall campaigns on record covering 1986–1995. On average a defect was admitted 11.13 years after the car was built, the slowest took 18 years. The most recalled system is Exterior Lighting (5 campaigns). Owners also filed 288 complaints on this model — see what breaks.
What was recalled on the Acura Legend
Grouped by system. Open any row for the campaigns themselves — what failed, what it risks and how the dealer fixes it, straight from the NHTSA filing.
Exterior Lighting 5 Read
What's wrong. Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment
Risk. Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning
Fix. Ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on july 1, 2006. Owners may contact ck motorsport at 1-909-610-7211
What's wrong. Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors
Risk. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash
Fix. Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on july 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798
What's wrong. Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment
Risk. Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning
Fix. Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on april 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988
Equipment 2 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: sedan and coupe model vehicles equipped with a bose audio system that had separate speaker amplifiers mounted behind the rear seat back. A transistor in the speaker amplifier could overheat
Risk. This overheating can result in smoke or the possibility of a fire
Fix. Dealers will replace the amplifier circuit boards. Owner notification began march 26, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact acura at 1-800-382-2238
What's wrong. Vehicle description: sedan and coupe model vehicles equipped with a bose audio system that had separate speaker amplifiers mounted behind the rear seat back. A transistor in the speaker amplifier could overheat
Risk. This overheating can result in smoke or the possibility of a fire
Fix. Dealers will replace the amplifier circuit boards. Owner notification began march 26, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact acura at 1-800-382-2238
What's wrong. Owners manual information required by fmvss 210, sections 6a and 6b was omitted from the manual
Risk. Vehicles manual information does not comply with fmvss210
Fix. Upgrade existing manuals by inserting adhesive backed correction pages
Air Bags 2 Read
What's wrong. The passenger side airbag assembly was produced without igniter material
Risk. The lack of igniter material can cause non-deployment orslow deployment of the passenger side airbag in case of a vehicle collision,reducing the occupant protection offered by the air bag and safety belt systems
Fix. Replace the passenger side airbag
What's wrong. 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
Risk. Inflator component separation allows hot combustion gases to escape into the passenger compartment which could result in injuries to vehicle occupants
Fix. Replace air bag modules containing potentially defective inflators
What's wrong. 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
Risk. Inflator component separation allows hot combustion gases to escape into the passenger compartment which could result in injuries to vehicle occupants
Fix. Replace air bag modules containing potentially defective inflators
Power Train 1 Read
What's wrong. Transmission shift cable bracket can be damaged by the engine rocking forward on engine mounts in a minor collision
Risk. When the shift cable bracket is damaged, the shift leverposition may not correctly indicate the transmission gear position. This couldresult in unanticipated movement of the car and an accident
Fix. Replace the transmission shift cable and attaching hardware with redesigned assemblies
Seat Belts 1 Read
What's wrong. 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
Risk. The safety belts would not provide adequate protection to an occupant in a vehicle crash
Fix. 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…
What's wrong. 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
Risk. The safety belts would not provide adequate protection to an occupant in a vehicle crash
Fix. 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…
What's wrong. 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
Risk. The safety belts would not provide adequate protection to an occupant in a vehicle crash
Fix. 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…
How long a defect stays unadmitted
Campaign numbers encode the year of the announcement, so each recall on this model can be dated against the car it applies to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average gap before admission | 11.13 years |
| Slowest campaign | 18 years |
| Admitted 5+ years later | 87.5% |
| Campaigns on record | 11 |
Which Legend years were recalled most
Campaigns per model year. A year with more campaigns is not automatically worse — it may simply have sold in far greater numbers.
| Model year | Campaigns | Most recalled system |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Exterior Lighting | |
| 1994 | Exterior Lighting | |
| 1993 | Exterior Lighting | |
| 1992 | Equipment | |
| 1991 | Equipment | |
| 1990 | Air Bags | |
| 1989 | Air Bags | |
| 1988 | Equipment | |
| 1987 | Seat Belts | |
| 1986 | Seat Belts |
Check your own car
A campaign applies to a range of production, not to every car of the model. The only way to know whether yours is affected — and whether the repair was already done — is by VIN.
| Step | What you get |
|---|---|
| Enter the VIN above | Open campaigns for that exact vehicle, straight from NHTSA |
| Check the repair status | Whether the free fix has already been carried out on this car |
| Book at any franchised dealer | Recall work is free regardless of age, mileage or owner |
Go deeper
A campaign covers a production range. Yours is one car.
- Check whether this exact VIN is affected — and whether the fix was done
- Alerts if a new campaign lands on a car in your garage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Acura Legend have?
11 NHTSA campaigns on record, covering 1986–1995. Not every campaign applies to every car — coverage is by production range, so check your VIN.
Is recall work free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer regardless of the car's age, mileage or how many owners it has had. That is a federal requirement, not a courtesy.
How do I know if my Legend still has an open recall?
Enter its VIN above. We show campaigns that apply to that exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been recorded as done.
Why did a defect take years to be recalled?
On this model the average gap between the car being built and the defect being admitted is 11.13 years, and the slowest campaign came 18 years later. Defects usually surface as they accumulate in the field: complaints pile up, an investigation opens, and only then is a campaign issued.