1988 Acura Integra Problems and Recalls (9 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 1988 Acura Integra is Brakes (22% of 9 owner reports). There are 1 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Brakes — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 9 complaints · 1 recalls

What problems show up on the 1988 Acura Integra?

2 of 9 filings named Brakes (22% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Glass / wipers / cameras (2 reports).

There are 1 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Seat belts. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 1987 has 11 reports on file; this year has 9. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 1988 Acura Integra

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 1 campaigns on file below.
  2. Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
  3. Glass / wipers / cameras. Check windshield, wipers and any camera or sensor the listing claims is there.
  4. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Brakes. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Brakes 2 complaints · 22.2% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 1
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 4
  • Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) appears in 2 of 9 owner complaints (22.2%) in this vehicle snapshot. Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 2 complaints, 22.2% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1 crash reports 2 · 22.2% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 2 complaints, 22.2% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 1 fire reports 2 · 22.2% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 1 complaints, 11.1% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 · 11.1% Engine (ENGINE): 1 complaints, 11.1% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 · 11.1% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 1 complaints, 11.1% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 · 11.1% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 1 complaints, 11.1% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 · 11.1% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 1 complaints, 11.1% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 · 11.1% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 9 complaints, 100.0% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 1 crash reports 1 fire reports 9 · 100.0% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 2 22.2% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 2 22.2% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 11.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 1 11.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 11.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 11.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 11.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 9 100.0% 1 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jul 1995; the first recall shown was reported in May 1995. 1995-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1996-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 1996-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 1996-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 1994 Jul 2000 Recall campaign 95V103001 ◆ Recall campaign 95V103001 Investigation EA94035 ● Investigation EA94035
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1995-Q3 Owner reports 1
1996-Q1 Owner reports 3
1996-Q2 Owner reports 2
1996-Q4 Owner reports 1
2000-Q1 Owner reports 1
2000-Q3 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 95V103001
Defect investigation 1 EA94035
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (1)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Seat belts.

  1. Recall campaign 95V103001

    Seat belts

    Report date
    Component:
    Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)
    Consequence:
    THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    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 BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUG ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, THEN PRESS THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS ANY SIGN OF BREAKAGE OR CRACKING, OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, PROMPTLY CONTACT YOUR AUTHORIZED HONDA/ACURA DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 9 of 9 complaints · page 1 of 1
2000-08-02Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 866571
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH HEATER CORE BURSTED, CAUSING HOT WATER TO FLOW INTO THE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. DRIVER SUSTAINED 2ND DEGREE BURNS. ACURA HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
2000-01-17Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 784434
CrashFireInjuryDeath
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED DUE TO POOR DESIGN CONTACTS GET STUCK OR LODGED DUE TO NARROW HOUSING . *ET
1996-10-30Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 510686
CrashFireInjuryDeath
LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPERS LOCKED UP RANDOMLY. *AK
1996-05-08Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 984230
CrashFireInjuryDeath
VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *AK
1996-05-03Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 984037
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE WINDSHEILD WIPER SWITCH SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED A PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
1996-01-26Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 978303
CrashFireInjuryDeath
FAILURE OF THE ABS BRAKE ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSED CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. TT
1996-01-11Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 977528
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT WHILE DRIVING, MADE A LOT OF NOISE AND DOES NOT GO IN REVERSE. TT
1996-01-02Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 977241
CrashFireInjuryDeath
FUEL LINE LEAK, WHILE DRIVING. TT
1995-09-26Engine (ENGINE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 488191
CrashFireInjuryDeath
ENGINE FAILURE. *AW

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 1988 Acura Integra?

Owners named Brakes most often — 2 of 9 reports (22%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 1988 Acura Integra?

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Seat belts. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 1988 Acura Integra?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources