1992 Acura Legend Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe two things: the Bose speaker amplifier recall (01V053000) and the long wait for parts and dealer service that followed, and brakes, particularly ABS and master-cylinder problems, some of which appear together with airbag non-deployment in crashes. Reports are spread over many years and mostly come from vehicles with well past 150,000 miles, so many entries read as aging-vehicle wear rather than early failures; the airbag and amplifier items are the ones tied to known recall campaigns.

1. 1
   Equipment

   Bose amplifier recall: overheating, popping, no parts

   • 27 complaints (36%)
   • median 208,200 mi at 12.1 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2003

   Owners describe popping and clicking from the speakers, static that made the audio system unusable, and in some cases smoke or fire from the amplifier mounted behind the rear seat. Many complaints are about the recall itself: owners received notice of campaign 01V053000, contacted the dealer, and were told the replacement part was not available and no arrival date was known. One owner reported the amplifier had already been replaced several times and the noise returned; another said a dealer declined the recall repair because the car had a salvage title. Reported across the 1999-2004 period, mostly on high-mileage cars, with several complaints filed within months of the 2001 recall notice.

   Recall 01V053000

   What to check: Ask whether the amplifier recall 01V053000 was completed and get it in writing; if the audio system pops, clicks or hums, treat it as unresolved and confirm parts availability with a dealer before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1992 Acura Legend. Factory installed stereo amplifier caught fire. Back seat and rear of the car partially destroyed. Fire department had to put out the flames. Acura still refusing to make it right, due to liability issues.”

   NHTSA complaint #10045676, filed 2003-11, 208,200 miles

   “Prior to recall notification, consumer experienced popping and clicking sounds from the speakers, therefore the audio system has been unusable since january 2001, consumer contacted the dealership and was informed that this region would not receive replacement parts until the end of the year, and she would be contacted when the parts are available.”

   NHTSA complaint #561723, filed 2001-06
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying in a crash

   • 13 complaints (17%)
   • typically at 5.0 yrs old
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–1999

   Several complaints describe frontal impacts where neither airbag deployed, including a 30-35 mph collision and a case where the brakes failed before the crash; in one of these the driver's seat belt also came loose. Others describe the opposite: deployment without a collision, such as hitting a pothole or driving over a manhole at low speed. Complaints also note that a passenger-side airbag assembly was built without igniter material under recall 92V109000. Reported throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s; mileage is not given in most of these complaints.

   Recall 92V109000

   What to check: Check whether recall 92V109000 (passenger airbag without igniter material) was performed for this car, and ask for any record of airbag system diagnosis or warning-light repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle was being car jacked, accelerated at 15mph, hit a telephone pole at frontal impact, neither air bag deployed. Driver was injured in incident. Dealer contacted, and stated air bags should have deployed.vehicle was totalled. Provide further information.”

   NHTSA complaint #834591, filed 1999-02

   “Vehicle was involved in an accident at a impact of 30-35 MPH by hitting a tow truck. Upon impact, both air bags failed to deploy, and driver's side seat belt came unlatched. No injuries reported.manufacturer was not contacted.”

   NHTSA complaint #852917, filed 1999-11
3. 3
   Brakes

   ABS and hydraulic brake problems

   • 8 complaints (11%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 5.3 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2006

   Owners report the ABS light staying on constantly, meaning the anti-lock function is not working, and one describes the car continuing forward during a hard stop from about 50 mph. Other complaints mention a leaking master cylinder, a failed front caliper, and an ABS high-pressure hose that had to be replaced. In one case the brake problem was reported alongside airbags that did not deploy in the resulting collision. Reported from the mid-1990s through the early 2000s; one brake complaint came in at roughly 60,000 miles, while others give no mileage.

   What to check: With the ignition on, confirm the ABS lamp goes out after start-up; check for fluid seepage around the master cylinder and ABS high-pressure hose, and ask when the brake fluid was last changed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Abs braking system does not work. Abs light stays on all the time. Also, the A/C unit failed, transmission failed, master cylinder and front caliper failed, master window switch failed, and radiator failed.”

   NHTSA complaint #835942, filed 1999-03

   “Brakes failed resulting in vehicle collision, no deployment of both driver and passenger air bags during collision, injury to driver's foot from trying to press brake pedal for force. Mjs”

   NHTSA complaint #545917, filed 1999-06
4. 4
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Power windows slow or failing to return

   • 8 complaints (11%)
   • typically at 9.1 yrs old
   • filed 1998–2001

   Complaints describe power windows that will not go back up without manual help, and a rear driver-side window that sometimes does not respond from the driver's switch. One owner also reported a failed master window switch along with several other electrical faults. In one case the owner said the dealership was slow to resolve the problem. Reported in the late 1990s and early 2000s; mileage is not stated in these complaints.

   What to check: Operate every window from both the driver's master switch and its own door switch, and listen for slow or straining movement that suggests the regulator or motor is on its way out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer purchased vehicle on december 03, 1998. On december6, 1998, consumer pushed the power windows down and the windows did not return to the up position with out manual help. Consumer will provide VIN.# once received. Consumer is having problems with dealership in resolving defect.”

   NHTSA complaint #832046, filed 1998-12

   “The consumer hears loud pops and static from the radio speakers, the antenna was replaced but the noise was still present, the consumer request reimbursement. Nlm”

   NHTSA complaint #560775, filed 2001-04

Buying note. These cars are now very old and most complaints come from high-mileage examples, so condition and service records matter more than the model itself. Before buying, confirm the two open recalls were completed (the amplifier campaign in particular, since parts were scarce for years) and have the brakes and ABS checked, including the master cylinder and high-pressure hose.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 43 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.