Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 82 complaints with NHTSA about the 1994 Acura Integra, and it carries 6 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 | 21 | 26% |
| Service brakes | 9 | 11% |
| Visibility | 8 | 10% |
| Power train | 7 | 9% |
| Tires | 6 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 7% |
| Equipment | 5 | 6% |
| Seat belts | 4 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 2% |
| Seats | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
A REP AT THE IIHS SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE THIS UP WITH YOU. I HAVE FOUND IT REALLY DIFFICULT TO COPE WITH THE LED HEADLIGHTS IN ONCOMING CARS. I REALLY CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEIR USE WAS APPROVED. SURELY THE NEED TO SEE OB
NHTSA complaint: Visibility/wiper
IN AUGUST MY 1994 ACURA INTEGRA LS STOPPED RUNNING. THE MOTOR FIRED BUT WOULD NOT RUN. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, IT RE STARTED. A WEEK LATER WHILE DRIVING THE MOTOR SUDDENLY QUIT. IT HAPPENED A THIRD TIME AND NEVER STARTE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 ACURA INTEGRA. THE VEHICLE HAS KELLY SPRINGFIELD TIRES, SIZE 195-60R14H (NA). THE CONTACT PURCHASED A SET OF FOUR TIRES ON DECEMBER 29, 2006. HE STATED THAT BOTH PASSENGER SIDE TIRES AND THE
NHTSA complaint: Tires
JUNE 2005-THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE (COOPER COBRA GT-P195/60R14) LOST AIR PRESSURE AND WENT FLAT WHILE DRIVING ON A SMOOTH BLACKTOP SURFACE-THE SIDEWALL WAS CRACKED AND BUBBLED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE B
NHTSA complaint: Tires
REAR HATCHBACK WINDOW EXPLODED. *MR WHEN THE CONSUMER USED THE SUPPORT STRAP TO CLOSE THE HATCHBACK THE GLASS EXPLODED WHICH SENT GLASS FLYING EVERYWHERE. THE CONSUMER LATER DETERMINED THAT THE METAL BRACKET ON THE TI
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
WHEN VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING IT WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT INTO GEAR. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING FROM A DEAD STOP. MANUFACTURER ISSUED A RECALL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Power train
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL LEAVES FIBER GLASS SHAVINGS INSIDE THE CONSUMER'S HAND WHEN STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
NHTSA complaint: Steering
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER ENTERED AN INTERSECTION. WHILE CROSSING THE INTERSECTION, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO COLLIDE WITH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE OTHER
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 1994 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.
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.
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 D
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.
| Reliability raw | 87 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 84 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 86 | excellent |
| Performance | 43 | below average |
| Efficiency | 42 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 82 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 21 of them (26%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (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 1994 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.