Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 Acura Integra, and it carries 11 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 15 | 38% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 15% |
| Power train | 4 | 10% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 8% |
| Visibility | 3 | 8% |
| Tires | 1 | 3% |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% |
| Power train | 1 | 3% |
| Structure | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
WHEN I OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTS FORWARD WHICH IS CORRECT. BUT WHEN I CLOSE THE DOOR, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT SHOULD RETRACT BACK TO ME BUT IT DOESN'T. THE SEAT BELT IS STUCK IN THE FO
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
THE ELECTRIC SEATBELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE NO LONGER RETRACTS. ITS STUCK IN THE DOWNWARD POSITION. TOOK IT TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP IN PEORIA, AZ AND I WAS TOLD ITS NOT THEIR PROBLEM TO FIX.. YET I HAVE READ ALL OVER THE I
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED TO OPERATE BEGINNING AT 6:30 AM TUESDAY, 3/22/2011, AFTER PUTTING MY CAR KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND TURNING THE CAR ON (MILEAGE = 239,146) TO GO TO WORK. THE RETRACTOR DID NOT
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
1991 ACURA INTEGRA, RIGHT SIDE TIRE BLEWOUT. * BF THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE TIRE BLEW OUT AND SLID OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND LANDED ON ITS RIGHT SIDE IN A DITCH. OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT #
NHTSA complaint: Tires
BOUGHT DOUGLAS TIRES AT WALMART, 195/60/14. TIRES WOBBLED FROM TIME I BOUGHT THEM AND WORE OUT FAST. 2 TIRES WERE BOUGHT ON FRONT OF CAR. WALMART DOUBLE WEIGHT BALANCE BUT TIRES STILL BAD. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
PROBLEMS WITH INTERIOR LIGHTS, CASSETTE PLAYER AND DOOR LOCKS.*MR THERE WERE LEAKS FROM ONE OF THE WINDOWS, THERE WAS RUST ON THE OUTSIDE DOOR (BY THE KEY HOLE) AND ON THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR. OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE VEH
NHTSA complaint: Power train
PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RANDOMLY OVER-RETRACTS AS PASSENGER DOOR IS CLOSED AND SEAT IS OCCUPIED. BELT ONLY LOOSENS IF DOOR IS RE-OPENED. *NLM
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
IGNITION SWITCH KEEPS BURNING OUT AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE ADD FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 1991 Acura Integra. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 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
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIA
Risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH
Fix: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
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
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.
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.
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.
| Reliability raw | 86 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 84 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 86 | excellent |
| Performance | 43 | below average |
| Efficiency | 43 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 15 of them (38%). There are 11 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 84/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1991 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 78/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.