AI Damage1988 Acura Integra: common problems
Owners of the 1988 Acura Integra filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 9
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 33% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 22% of all complaints
- 3 Visibility 22% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 5 Engine and cooling 11% of all complaints
- 6 Exterior lighting 11% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 11% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (33% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (22% of all).
- Visibility: 2 complaints (22% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (11% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (11% 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 9 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 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.
Failure of the abs brake abs brakes locked up caused consumer to have an accident. Tt
Brake light switch failed due to poor design contacts get stuck or lodged due to narrow housing .
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.
Vehicle will stall without warning while driving when coming to a stop.
The windsheild wiper switch shorted out and caused a passenger compartment fire. Please describe.
The automatic transmission had gone out while driving, made a lot of noise and does not go in reverse. Tt
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 11,366 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 31% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Integra has 33 complaints (20 years in the data). This year has 9, below average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
- Integra 19865 sources
- Integra 198711 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 1988 Acura Integra?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, powertrain, visibility. Total complaints: 9. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: A/C or heater (11%), smoke, burning smell, fire (11%), stalls while driving (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1988 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 1988 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 1988 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.