Used Acura Integra DC2 Buying Guide: Recalls and Title Checks

A used Acura Integra DC2 (roughly 1994-2001) is a fair buy only after you confirm the chassis and trim, clear open NHTSA campaigns, and read a title history you control. When I queried the NHTSA recalls API on Nov. 5, 2026 for Acura Integra, OEM results included 94V063000 for a transmission shift-cable retaining clip that can disconnect (1994) and 02V196000 for passenger air bag modules that were not properly welded on some 2001 cars. Aftermarket lighting campaigns also attach to these years; focus on Acura/Honda-issued work first.

Which Acura Integra DC2 are you looking at?

DC2 usually means the third-generation Integra sold here as coupe and sedan, including GS-R and the rare Type R. Chassis plates and Type R badges get swapped, so decode the VIN before you pay Type R money. Our Acura VIN decoder walks through the digits, and our used Acura Integra buying guide covers the broader line if the ad skips the generation.

NHTSA recalls by campaign

From the NHTSA recalls API on Nov. 5, 2026 for Acura Integra DC2:

• 94V063000: a retaining clip that connects the transmission shift cable to the shift lever actuating rod can come loose or fall off (1994, American Honda / Acura).
• 02V196000: some passenger air bag modules were not properly welded and may not inflate as designed (2001, American Honda).

Aftermarket lamp campaigns appear under Integra for many of these years; those are replacement parts, not factory Acura campaigns. Run the exact VIN at NHTSA and keep a screenshot. Our Acura recall check by VIN page shows the steps, and NHTSA versus CARFAX explains why a history report will not always list open campaigns.

Mechanical checks that matter

Start underneath. Rear arches, rockers and rear trailing areas rust on salt-belt cars. On GS-R and Type R cars, listen for rod knock and verify VTEC engagement on a test drive. On automatics from 1994, confirm the shift indicator matches the gear after the clip campaign. Look for cut rings, missing catalytic converters and welded cages that fail inspection. A lift inspection is cheaper than a surprise shell; see our pre-purchase inspection cost guide.

Reading the history report

DC2 Integras moved through enthusiasts, racers and auctions. On the report, look for salvage or rebuilt brands, odometer readings that go backward, and long gaps between states. If the mileage story feels thin, read our odometer rollback guide, and check the state sequence for title washing. Honestly, we have seen sellers send a cropped PDF that skips the one auction line that matters, so pull your own report on the VIN stamped on the car.

When to walk away

• The VIN on the dash, door jamb and title do not agree.
• Type R pricing on a car the VIN decodes as a GS-R or LS.
• A 1994 automatic with an open shift-cable clip campaign and no invoice.
• Rot through the rear arches that the seller calls "surface rust."

Questions to ask the seller

• How long have you owned it, and which states has it been titled in?
• Has campaign 94V063000 or 02V196000 been completed on this VIN?
• Any salvage, flood or rebuilt brand on any past title?
• Can I take it to an independent shop before any money changes hands?

How to price a used Acura Integra DC2

Price the trim first, then the condition. A documented Type R with closed campaigns and solid floors sits in a different bracket from a base LS with a tired automatic. Subtract real quotes for rust repair, bushings and missing trim. If the ask only works when you ignore the floors or the VIN, keep walking.

What the report costs

As of early November 2026 a CARFAX bought direct usually costs around $44.99, and AutoCheck sits a little lower. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Our guest price has been about $5.50 a report, about $4.50 for members, and about $6.75 for a CARFAX and AutoCheck bundle. Confirm the price at checkout, since it can change.

So budget parts time along with money. Call two suppliers about glass and interior pieces for your VIN year before you bid. Confirm report contents and total at checkout when you buy your own history file, and keep the PDF with the bill of sale.

Look, DC2 values still punish fake Type R cars. If the seller leans on badges, wheels and a "trust me" story instead of a VIN decode and build records, walk before you argue. The market already priced the real ones.

Sources

• NHTSA recall lookup by VIN
• NHTSA vPIC VIN decoder
• NMVTIS title history (U.S. DOJ)
• Acura Integra DC2 model history