Acura Integra Problems: 6 Known Issues (Explained)

The Acura Integra is a Japanese-manufactured car that was first produced from 1985 to 2006 before production halted. However, its production has resumed since 2021 after a 15-year-long break.

It is noteworthy that the Acura brand is a luxury sub-brand of the Honda brand that has worldwide acclaim and the Integra has enjoyed modest success in the car industry since its inception.

However, we will be delving into some common problems bedeviling the Acura Integra in this article.

1. Sticky Steering Wheel Problem

The Acura Integra has been reported to have issues relating to its steering system. Some Integra owners have complained about the steering’s high tendency of getting stuck while driving.

Owners lamented that the steering problem always occurs when the car is at high speed.

When the car is on a long straight road and the driver makes subtle adjustments to maintain the lane, the steering wheel becomes hard or stuck.

Also, when the Integra is on a long curvy stretch, the steering wheel becomes rigid too, and when trying to force the steering back to the center position, the car swerves sharply in the wrong direction.

This poses a high risk of collision.

It is a severe issue because the steering wheel plays a very significant role in directing or controlling the car’s motion.

A malfunctioning steering is capable of causing untold danger to occupants of the vehicle and as such, it should be taken care of with all urgency.

Meanwhile, you should explore some differences between Acura and Honda cars.

2. Engine and Engine Cooling Problems

The engine of a vehicle is more or less like the brain of the vehicle. Without an adequate engine installed, the vehicle is just a useless frame.

This Acura has been reportedly plagued by engine-related issues. The problem is that the car inadvertently shuts down by itself.

Some owners complained that this willful shutdown always occurs when they take their foot off the gas to a complete stop.

When they step back on the gas, the vehicle just turns off by itself. When the car shuts down, it usually does not start immediately as one has to wait a couple of minutes before it starts again.

Some compared this problem with a hard reset.

Another issue of concern is that the electrical system of the car also shuts down. This is so because the vehicle does not show any sign or signal on the dashboard to notify the drivers.

Therefore, other electrical components and features of the car like locks, wipers, lights, and radio all become disengaged.

This problem is quite disturbing seeing that the complaints are for Integra’s with relatively low mileage on their odometer gauge.

3. Frontal Airbags Problems

Regarding common problems that cars are plagued with, airbag issues are the most consistent.

The importance of airbags cannot be overstretched seeing that it deals directly with occupants’ safety.

The Acura Integra has also suffered its own share of airbag problems.

Some owners have complained about the Integra’s front airbags’ inability to deploy when they were involved in a crash at different times.

The airbags (both driver and passenger) failure to deploy caused some distraught owners different degrees of injuries that required medical attention.

The Integra’s airbag issue is somewhat ironic because another group of owners lamented about the driver and passenger airbags’ spontaneous deployment.

They complained that the front airbags of their vehicles’ would just pop out. This problem caused some drivers to crash leading to injuries and some unbudgeted expenses.

All the Integra’s spontaneous airbags deployment occurred while the cars were moving smoothly without any hitch. The airbag warning light was also reported to illuminate without any cause for it to do so.

For this problem, owners were advised to replace the car’s SRS control module at the service center at an Acura dealership.

4. Electrical System Problems

The electrical system of a car is as significant as the mechanical components. This is so because the mechanical components of a car cannot function properly without the electrical system in order and vice versa.

The Acura Integra has been plagued with different electrical issues. There have been complaints about the Integra’s ignition switch problem. In this case, the car stalls without prior warning and immediately restarts itself.

This poses serious danger as the vehicle may stall and start in an inconvenient circumstance that could lead to a crash.

There was also an instance where the car was started and the owner noticed that it was overheating.

Hence, the ignition key was turned off but the vehicle continued to run, this owner had to call the fire department to stall the car.

The Integra has also had other electrical issues such as

  • Under-hood wiring
  • Battery dead
  • Horn assembly
  • Starter problems

5. Service Brake Problems

A car’s brake is solely responsible for the speed reduction while in motion. If the brake of a vehicle fails, there is a very high possibility that the vehicle would be involved in a crash.

The Integra has had its own share of braking issues where consumers decried the failing brakes. One owner grieved that his Integra lurched out of control and when the brake was applied, the vehicle did not stop.

The vehicle then crashed into a fence before it stopped and the car’s engine was still running.

There have been other complaints by owners about the Integra’s service brake components like

  • Faulty brake disc pads
  • Brake disc rotor issues
  • ABS failure

6. Stiff Suspension Problem

Suspensions are meant for the comfort of occupants in the vehicle. A vehicle’s suspension helps to lessen the impact of rough terrains on the vehicle and its occupants.

However, it has been reported that the Acura Integra’s suspension is relatively stiff. For this reason, when the car is driven on rough or rugged terrain, occupants feel the impact of the bumps with a high level of inconvenience.

This is mind-boggling because this problem was discovered in a recent Integra model year.

This is quite a problem as one would not want to buy a very modern car and experience the inconvenience caused by a bumpy ride.

General Pros and Cons of the Acura Integra

The Acura Integra just like other cars has its pros as well as cons. In this segment, we will be looking into the pros and cons of the Integra.

Pros

  • Versatile cargo space
  • Affordable price for its class
  • Impressive fuel economy
  • Lively handling
  • Composed ride quality
  • Sophisticated interior design

Cons

  • Sticky steering wheel
  • Engine and engine cooling problems
  • Airbags problems
  • Electrical system problems
  • Service brake problems
  • Stiff standard suspension
  • Not as luxurious as the competition

What Do the Reviews Say?

The new Acura Integra has enjoyed relatively good reviews from well-known and respected automobile platforms.

According to Edmunds, ‘’It’s understandable that the new 2023 Acura Integra has a lot of hype surrounding it.

A small four-door hatchback that’s based on the latest-generation Honda Civic, the new Integra is a level-entry model in the Acura lineup that promises a bit of driving fun, some mild luxury, and some nameplate cachet.’’

On the infotainment system of the new Integra, U.S. News had this to say, “The Integra’s infotainment system is intuitive, with touch and physical controls that are easy to see and use.

The base touchscreen is sizeable, but a larger display is available. Smartphone integration through Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is standard, and Amazon Alexa capability is available.”

From these reviews, it is safe to say that the new Integra has some high expectations from car enthusiasts. Therefore, it would be in the best interest of the Acura brand not to disappoint its teeming fans.

What’s the Resale Value of the Acura Integra?

Model Year          Approx. Mileage (Miles)          Price ($)

2023                      9,912                                           32,998

2023                    5,815                                              34,475

2023                    905                                                 36,996

The table above might startle you probably because the column for the Integra’s model years is all the same. This is so because of the discontinuance of the Integra model back in the year 2006.

To that end, the 2023 Integra is the only recommendable model year if you want to keep up with the era.

The irony is that the estimated price for a brand-new 2023 Integra was $32,000 a few months ago but as of the time of writing this article, the average cost of a used 2023 Integra is $35,151.

Final Thoughts

The Acura Integra was out of production for quite a long while.

Normally, one would ponder why the Integra model was abruptly stopped in the first place. If the reason was good enough that led to the stoppage, one only ponders more on why production was resumed after a long hiatus.

These unanswered questions can only be dealt with properly and adequately by the Acura brand.

Even as such, the Integra’s comeback was well-received and has sold modestly in the automobile industry.

Surprisingly, the new 2023 Integra has been mostly ranked among the top of its class, coming 1st in 2 different categories on the U.S. News platform.

With these results, the Acura Integra is definitely back and is ready to challenge for the top spot in its class.

We are expecting more from it as the years go by, and we are hopeful that the new Integra would not disappoint.

Check problems for all Acura models here.

Sources

2023 Acura Integra | U.S. News

Used Acura Integra for sale near me | Edmunds

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ⓘ  The information in this article is based on data from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall reports, consumer complaints submitted to the NHTSA, reliability ratings from J.D. Power, auto review and rating sites such as Edmunds, specialist forums, etc. We analyzed this data to provide insights into the best and worst years for these vehicle models.