Half of all complaints arrive by 8 years of age, so 85.4% land after the 4-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Equipment, with 85 complaints, typically at 9.4 years.
Acura Legend years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 14 | 13 | yes | |
| 1994 | 16 | 14 | yes | |
| 1993 | 15 | 11 | yes | |
| 1992 | 56 | 35 | yes | |
| 1991 | 90 | 52 | yes | |
| 1990 | 29 | 22 | yes | |
| 1989 | 24 | 19 | yes | |
| 1988 | 20 | 17 | yes | |
| 1987 | 9 | 9 | yes | |
| 1986 | 15 | 10 | yes |
Among the 5 Acura Legend years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 1991, 1992, 1990; the three worth hunting are 1988, 1989, 1990.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 2.1% | covered | |
| 1 year | 4.2% | covered | |
| 2 years | 8.3% | covered | |
| 3 years | 14.6% | covered | |
| 4 years | 22.2% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 28.5% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 36.8% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 44.4% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 51.4% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 66% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 88.9% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 92.4% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 95.1% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 97.2% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 4 years / 50,000 miles. Only 14.6% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 85.4% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (6 years / 70,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 13% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Acura Legend, the early trouble is Seat Belts — reported at around 3.8 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Equipment at 9.4 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | 9.4 yrs | 1 | 4 | |
| Air Bags | 6 yrs | 23 | — | |
| Service Brakes | 6.6 yrs | 9 | 1 | |
| Hydraulic | 6.6 yrs | 9 | 1 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5.9 yrs | 12 | — | |
| Power Train | 6.4 yrs | 2 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5.9 yrs | — | — | |
| Seat Belts | 3.8 yrs | 3 | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the Legend's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Corolla draws 5.16, the Lexus IS 1.31 and the BMW M3 1.49, against 1.46 for the Legend.
| Same class as the Legend | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla | 219 | 1981–2026 | |
| Lexus IS | 118 | 2001–2026 | |
| BMW M3 | 78 | 1988–2026 | |
| Acura TLX | 41 | 2015–2026 | |
| Ford Focus | 138 | 2000–2026 | |
| Subaru WRX | 17 | 2015–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Acura Legend reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.46 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.
Which Legend years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 1991, 1992, 1990. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 1988, 1989, 1990. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do Legend problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 8 years of age. The most reported system is Equipment, typically at 9.4 years, followed by Air Bags.
Will the warranty cover Legend problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 4 years / 50,000 miles, and only 14.6% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 13% of the complaints here.
Is the Legend more reliable than the Toyota Corolla?
Yes: 1.46 complaints per production run for the Legend against 5.16 for the Toyota Corolla.
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