Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 Acura Legend, and it carries 4 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 4 | 15% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 15% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 12% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 12% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 12% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 4% |
| Tires | 1 | 4% |
| Steering | 1 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
A case of SUA (sudden unintended acceleration). Approaching a car stopped at a red light. I stepped on the brake pedal to stop the car but instead, the car accelerates and rear ends the car at the red light. A couple ho
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
MY BUMPER FELL OVER AND THE LIGHTS WEREN'T WORKING PLEASE CONTACT ME [XXX] I'M [XXX]. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
ON 6/29/09, I WAS PARKED IN A STRIPMALL . WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, I SHIFTED TO D4,AND,BEFORE I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR ACCELERATED TO 3000 TO 4000 RPM AND MOVED FORWARD. I BRAKED THE CAR AND PUT IT IN NEUT
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
ABS SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON. UNIT MUST BE REPLACED BY DEALER. NO CAUSE. EXPECTED UNIT TO LAST LIFE OF CAR. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD REAR DRIVER'S TIRE BLEW OUT. NO RECALLS FOUND. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Tires
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO BECOME SORE, AND HER DAUGHTER TO WHEEZE DUE TO ASTHMA. SHE CALLED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT SOMEONE MUST HAVE TAM
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
IGNITION SWITCH EXIBITS SAME SYMPTOMS AS CURRENT RECALL. CAR WILL START AND THEN STALL OR START AND RUN BUT ANY BUMP TO THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO STALL YET THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER MY MODEL YEAR. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND "BUMPED" THE CURB. BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT SHELL CRACKED FRONT WINDSHIELD, AND GLASS SHATTERED THROUGHOUT VEHIC
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1993 Acura Legend. 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 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.
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 AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED 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 ASSOCIAT
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: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.
| Reliability raw | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 83 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 77 | good |
| Depreciation | 62 | average |
| Performance | 55 | average |
| Efficiency | 32 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 4 of them (15%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (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 83/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 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 71/100. 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.