AI Damage1987 Acura Integra: common problems
Owners of the 1987 Acura Integra filed 11 complaints with NHTSA, most often about structure and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 11
What fails most often
- 1 Structure 27% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 9% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 9% of all complaints
- 4 Exterior lighting 9% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 9% of all complaints
- 6 Parking brake 9% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- Structure: 3 complaints (27% of all).
- Air bags: 1 complaints (9% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (9% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (9% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (9% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.6 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 11 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Parking brake | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The consumer's 1987 acura integra lx experienced steering wheel hub assembly failure* upon quick removal of the steering wheel center cover, a circular crack was discovered that encompassed about 95% of the circumference surrounding the steering wheel retained nut.
The clutch throw-out lever broke which caused the car to lurch forward when it should have remained at stop. Nlm
Clutch lever broke with car stopped and in gear. Car lurched forward into pedestrian crosswalk endangering the pedestians.
As a result, acura vehicles are not being properly maintained and are stalling on highways causing serious injuries and property damage.
Hatch back struts has not operated properly, causing consumer to be hit on the head continuously.
The pin that the emergency brake cable connects to at brake caliper becomes rusty/binding inside caliper, causing rear calipers to fail. Also, replaced both rear calipers.
When driving with headlights on they sometimes flicker and sometimes they will not come back on. Please describe details.
Sub-frames are completely rusting away from torsion bars; if they snap off, driver will loose conrol of vehicle.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 10,520 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 29% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Integra has 33 complaints (20 years in the data). This year has 11, below average.
What to check before buying
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
Other years of this model
- Integra 19865 sources
- Integra 19889 sources
- Integra 198916 sources
- Integra 199032 sources
- Integra 199136 sources
- Integra 199228 sources
- Integra 199321 sources
- Integra 199455 sources
- Integra 199552 sources
- Integra 199636 sources
- Integra 199722 sources
- Integra 199821 sources
- Integra 19998 sources
- Integra 200017 sources
- Integra 20016 sources
- Integra 2023260 sources
- Integra 2024122 sources
- Integra 202563 sources
- Integra 202619 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1987 Acura Integra?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: structure, air bags, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 11. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rust, corrosion (27%), jerking, harsh shifts (18%), headlights and tail lights (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1987 Acura Integra?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1987 Acura Integra from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1987 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.