1999 Honda PRELUDE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
30 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
67,064 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 30 complaints (10.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 23.3% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 10.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 6.7% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 3.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 2 |
| Equipment | 2 |
Electrical System: 3; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Tires:Tread/Belt: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 2; Equipment: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 16 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 | 8 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2000: 8; 2001: 3; 2002: 3; 2003: 2; 2004: 4; 2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2008: 1; 2011: 2; 2017: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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 10010156 · 2003-03-08 (March 8, 2003)
1999 HONDA PRELUDE SPORT SHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 46,000 MILES AND AT A SPEED OF 36 MPH AS DOCUMENTED BY HONDA! I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WRONG AND NEITHER HAS ANY OTHER PRELUDE OWNER AND HONDA WANTS $6,000 DOLLARS OF MY HARD EARNED MONEY! YES THAT'S 1/4 THE TOTAL COST OF THE CAR BRAND NEW! PLEASE HELP. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010156 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067126 · 2004-04-14 (April 14, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. ENGINE IDLE WENT UP AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST IN RESOLVING THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110870 · 2004-12-23 (December 23, 2004)
THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A BROKEN CAM SEAL WHICH ALLOWED OIL TO LEAK FROM THE ENGINE. NM THE OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE EXIT AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE DEALER PERFORMED A SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE CHECK UP AND OIL CHANGE ON THE VEHICLE 10 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE LEAKING CAM SEAL WENT UNDISCOVERED OR UNMENTIONED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE THE CONSUMER DROVE A HALF OF A MILE WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ON. …
Owner-reported narrative. 67,067 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11006352 · 2017-07-19 (July 19, 2017)
STARTING IN JUNE 2017, MY 1999 HONDA PRELUDE SH HAS BEEN STALLING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS MOSTLY ON HOT DAYS. THE CAR CAN NOT BE RE-STARTED FOR 5-10 MINUTES AFTERWARD. THE ENGINE IS NOT OVERHEATING. MY MECHANIC RAN TESTS FOR TWO DAYS AND SAYS THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MUST BE FAULTY.
Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11006352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 551474 · 2000-03-21 (March 21, 2000)
DRIVER LOST POWER STEERING TWICE WHILE DRIVING. YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 551474 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 857942 · 2000-03-06 (March 6, 2000)
STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. PROBLEM REOCCURED AFTER THE STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 857942 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10148946 · 2006-01-29 (January 29, 2006)
TOOK 1999 HONDA PRELUDE IN TO THE CARSON HONDA TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS AND DO THE 90 MILE MAJOR SERVICE AS REQUIRED BY HONDA CARE COVERAGE. WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION, AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE MY IGNITION, FREE OF CHARGE. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR THEY TOLD ME MY BILL WAS 860.57. THERE WERE CHARGES ON THE INVOICE THAT WHERE NOT COVERED BY MY WARRANTY. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS CHANGED, BUT THEY SAY SAID THAT I HAD TO PURCHASE THE NEW KEY OF 39.00. I SAID NO THAT IT WORKED FINE BEFORE I BROUGHT IT IN . THEY SA…
Owner-reported narrative. 82,553 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10109458 · 2005-01-07 (January 7, 2005)
REPEATED (2 TIMES) SAFETY RELATED ENGINE MALFUNCTION CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND POWER OF THE VEHICLE. *BF IVOQ 10100766 PROVIDED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DURING A RAIN STORM, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN WHILE ON AN EXIT RAMP. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THIS OCCURRED DUE A BROKEN CAM SEAL AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE CAM SEAL. BACK IN OCTOBER THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,061 miles reported. Look up ODI 10109458 at NHTSA ↗