1997 Honda PRELUDE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
57 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
93,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 32 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 57 complaints (57.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 32 | 56.1% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 12.3% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 5.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 5.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 33 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 5 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 3 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 2 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 33; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 5; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 3; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 3; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 5
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 25 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 7; 2001: 7; 2002: 7; 2003: 14; 2004: 4; 2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2008: 5; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 32 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001447 · 2002-12-24 (December 24, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. TS THE TRANSMISSION STALLED, DIDN'T SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY, AND WOULD JERK, ALL WHILE IN MOTION AND/OR SPEEDING UP. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008406 · 2003-03-05 (March 5, 2003)
MY CAR SUDDENLY STARTED SHIFTING ODDLY AND GOT MORE VIOLENT AS TIME PASSED. THIS WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE AFTER REVERSING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, THE CAR WOULD JERK AND BASICALLY HAVE A BIG CLANG. THE CAR ALSO DIED OUT WHEN I WAS DRIVING. AFTER I REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT 80000 MILES, IT IS NOW STARTING TO SHIFT HARD AGAIN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008406 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025638 · 2003-07-08 (July 8, 2003)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING EXTREMELY HARSHLY. AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY.THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL WHILE SHIFTING FROM GEAR TO GEAR. WHILE UNDER ANY KIND OF ACCELERATION, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE WILL CLIMB RPMS BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES, CAUSING IT TO SLAM INTO GEAR. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO STALL AT A STOP, CAUSING THE CAR TO SHUTTER AND DIE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025638 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034521 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH BALL JOINTS, BRAKES, AIR CONDITIONER, RADIO, WINDSHIELD AND SEATS.*MR IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE BURNED OIL, THE VEHICLE HAD A HARD TIME GOING BACKWARDS. CONSUMER HAD NUMEROUS INCIDENTS WITH THE VEHICLE GOING OUT CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED TO EXIST. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034521 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047570 · 2003-11-25 (November 25, 2003)
TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY... CAR SLOWS DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY DURING GEAR SHIFT IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVERS FOLLOWING THE VEHICLE TO BRAKE UNEXPECTEDLY. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155902 · 2006-04-23 (April 23, 2006)
THE CAR STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON HIGHWAY DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH. THE IGNITION SWITCHED WAS REPLACED IN OCT 2003 AS PART OF A RECALL YET FAILED LESS THAN 3 YEARS LATER. "MAKE : HONDA MODEL : PRELUDE YEAR : 1997 MANUFACTURER : AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V120000 RECALL DATE : MAY 13, 2002 COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH" *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 72,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155902 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10350076 · 2010-08-17 (August 17, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA PRELUDE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. SHE STATED SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AT LEAST SIX TIMES, INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE DEALER DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH). THE CONTACT D…
Owner-reported narrative. 146,565 miles reported. Look up ODI 10350076 at NHTSA ↗