AcuraLegend1990Overview/acura/legend/1990/base/

1990 Acura Legend

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1990 Legend.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1990 Acura Legend paired a 4-speed automatic transmission with EPA ratings of 16 city, 20 highway, and 18 combined mpg, while its engine called for 4.2 quarts of 5W-30 API SG oil — modest figures that reflected the era's premium sedan formula of smooth delivery over outright efficiency. Across the 1990–1995 model run, owner complaints peaked at 130 in 1991 and tapered to just 16 by 1995, placing the 1990's 37 total complaints and 2 recalls in the quieter early portion of that curve, with hydraulic service brakes as the leading complaint area. That relatively low complaint volume for the opening year of the covered range suggests the Legend entered the decade on solid mechanical footing before issues mounted the following year, making the 1990 a comparatively stable entry point for researchers tracking the model's reliability trajectory.

Model year199519941993199219911990198919881987

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 API SGOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/20/18 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length190.6 in
Overall width68.9 in
Overall height54.7 in
Wheelbase108.7 in
Curb weight3164 lb
Track (front / rear)59.1 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 20 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume95 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Legend of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.00 sec — 1990 LS Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1990LS Coupe 2.7L V69.00 sec17.00 sec161 hpFWD
1988LS Sedan 2.7L V67.91 sec16.27 sec161 hpFWD
1988LS Sedan 2.7L V68.10 sec16.40 sec161 hpFWD
1986Sedan 2.5L V68.10 sec16.20 sec151 hpFWD
1986Sedan 2.5L V68.11 sec16.41 sec151 hpFWD
1986Sedan 2.5L V69.60 sec17.50 sec151 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 5W-30 API SG engine oil, 80W-90 · API in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.4
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · API
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 miParking Brake System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (torque)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Antilock Brake System (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAir Injection System (inspect) · Brake Line (replace) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect)
Every 90,000 miTiming Belt (replace) · Water Pump (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1990 Acura Legend logged 37 federal complaints—focused on hydraulic service brakes (10), power train (4), structure (3), and electrical systems (3), alongside 8 crash and 1 fire complaint—and 2 recalls. In the context of the generation, 1990 sits at the low point of a steep complaint arc, immediately preceding a dramatic spike to 130 complaints and 7 recalls in 1991, and 96 complaints with 2 investigations in 1992. This trend suggests that while the 1990 model initially performed better than its immediate successors, the data does not specify the root causes of the 1991-1992 spikes, leaving it unknown whether the 1990 model shares those underlying vulnerabilities. Complaints and recalls then decline significantly from 1993 onward, indicating the later production years resolved many of the generation's earlier issues. Given its position at the beginning of the generation's steepest defect escalation, the 1990 model is a less favorable buy; a 1993 or later model offers a statistically stronger and more proven track record.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
5
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
37
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 37 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic10
Power Train4
Structure3
Electrical System3
Air Bags3
Seat Belts2
Tires2
Seats2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

95V103001Seat Belts:Front:Buckle AssemblyReported 24/05/1995

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY. Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES. CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. CHECK THAT BOTH…

90E043003Air Bags:FrontalReported 29/10/1990

THREADED INFLATOR COMPONENTS MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY WHICH MAY ALLOW COMPONENTS TO SEPARATE WHEN INFLATOR RECEIVES A SIGNAL TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG. Remedy: REPLACE AIR BAG MODULES CONTAINING POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE INFLATORS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 5 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SB-07082010-11-01TiresACURA: THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR VARIOUS SITUATIONS AND PROCEDURES INCLUDING: TIRE…
10022002-10-16Air BagsINTERMITTENT SRA DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 1-1 TO 1-5, DRIVER'S AIRBAG INFLATOR CIRCUIT…
ACU9504061995-04-01Electrical SystemCAMPAIGN RESPOSNSIBILITY REPORT FOR THE 1989-90 LEGEND IGNITER PRODUCT UPDATE CAMPAIGN…
920091995-02-01Power TrainCLICKING NOISE WHILE CLICKING. *TW
B9300401993-09-01Electrical SystemSPECIAL RETURN: IGNITER. *TW

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Legend. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1990 Legend take?

4.2 qt of 5W-30 API SG, per the factory manual.

Does the 1990 Legend have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Legend get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 20 highway / 18 combined mpg.