AcuraLegend1986Overview/acura/legend/1986/base/

1986 Acura Legend

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1986 Legend.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1986 Acura Legend carried a 4-speed automatic transmission and a 4.2-quart oil capacity specifying 20W-40, 20W-50, or 10W-40 API SG viscosity, alongside EPA ratings of 17 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined. Noteworthy specifications include the precise 4.2-quart fill volume and the required multi-grade viscosities. With only 17 owner complaints and a single recall on file, this model year predates the 19901995 complaint surge that peaked at 130 grievances in 1991, marking it as a comparatively stable outlier in the nameplate's reliability history.

Model year199519941993199219911990198919881986

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-40 API SGOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/22/19 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 22 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume90 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.

8.1–9.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.10 sec — 1986 Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
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
1988LS Sedan 2.7L V67.91 sec16.27 sec161 hpFWD
1988LS Sedan 2.7L V68.10 sec16.40 sec161 hpFWD
1990LS Coupe 2.7L V69.00 sec17.00 sec161 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 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-40 API SG engine oil, 80W-90 · API in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity2.7
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · API
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil20W-40 · API · 20W-50 · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30 · 5W-20
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Power Steering FluidHONDA TYPE V OR EQUIVALENT

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) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (torque)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAir Injection System (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (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 1986 Acura Legend predates the available 19901995 federal record arc, meaning it falls before the documented peak of the first generation's lifecycle. Across the recorded generation, complaints and recalls spike sharply in 1991 (130 complaints, 7 recalls) before steadily declining to just 16 complaints by 1995, while TSBs gradually increase from 5 to 14, suggesting ongoing manufacturer refinements. For the 1986 target year specifically, the federal record highlights 7 complaints in the Fuel System, Gasoline category, 3 for Seat Belts, 2 for Visibility, and 2 for Power Train, alongside 1 crash complaint and 0 fire complaints. The data does not specify the root causes for these issues. Because the 1986 model is an early production year that precedes the generation's documented 1991 complaint peak, its isolated complaint volume appears relatively contained. As long as a thorough pre-purchase inspection addresses the noted fuel system and seat belt areas, the 1986 Legend represents a reasonable used buy, though buyers should remain mindful of the platform's escalating federal concerns in the early 1990s.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
2
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
5
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
17
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 17 complaints on record, top 7 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline7
Seat Belts3
Visibility2
Power Train2
Tires1
Engine & Engine Cooling1
Vehicle Speed Control1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SB-07082010-11-01TiresACURA: THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR VARIOUS SITUATIONS AND PROCEDURES INCLUDING: TIRE…
920091995-02-01Power TrainCLICKING NOISE WHILE CLICKING. *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 1986 Legend take?

4.2 qt of ABOVE 14 degrees F 20W-40 API SG, 20W-50 API SG. ABOVE -4 degrees F 10W-40 API SG. -4 degrees F TO 90 degrees F 10W-30 API SG. BELOW 32 degrees F 5W-30 API SG. BELOW 14 degrees F 5W-20 API SG., per the factory manual.

Does the 1986 Legend have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Legend get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 22 highway / 19 combined mpg.