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U.S. public vehicle records

Honda PRELUDE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

293 owner complaints analyzed

12 distinct recall campaigns

95,790 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1979 to 2001 model years. Data snapshot: . 114 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 68 of 293 complaints (23.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting8328.3%
Engine operation206.8%
Steering behavior186.1%
Braking behavior165.5%
Electrical and battery issues93.1%
Fuel system concerns20.7%

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.

Power Train:Automatic Transmission
68
Electrical System
18
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
15
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
15
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
13
Power Train:Manual Transmission
10
Air Bags:Frontal
9
Power Train
9
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train:Automatic Transmission68
Electrical System18
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch15
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine15
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly13
Power Train:Manual Transmission10
Air Bags:Frontal9
Power Train9

Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 68; Electrical System: 18; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 15; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 15; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 13; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 10; Air Bags:Frontal: 9; Power Train: 9

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
3
25,000 to 49,999
13
50,000 to 74,999
20
75,000 to 99,999
26
100,000 to 149,999
31
150,000 and above
21
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,99913
50,000 to 74,99920
75,000 to 99,99926
100,000 to 149,99931
150,000 and above21

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 26; 100,000 to 149,999: 31; 150,000 and above: 21

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (31). 179 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.

1995
33
1996
13
2000
42
2001
28
2002
35
2003
32
2004
18
2005
16
2006
10
2007
6
2008
12
2009
10
2010
12
2011
6
2012
1
2013
3
2014
2
2015
1
2016
1
2017
4
2018
1
2019
5
2022
1
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199533
199613
200042
200128
200235
200332
200418
200516
200610
20076
200812
200910
201012
20116
20121
20133
20142
20151
20161
20174
20181
20195
20221
20231

1995: 33; 1996: 13; 2000: 42; 2001: 28; 2002: 35; 2003: 32; 2004: 18; 2005: 16; 2006: 10; 2007: 6; 2008: 12; 2009: 10; 2010: 12; 2011: 6; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2019: 5; 2022: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 83 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 20 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 18 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 10230198 · 2008-06-07 (June 7, 2008)

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD POPPING NOISE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, THERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED A FAILED TRANSMISSION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230198 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 859869 · 2000-04-07 (April 7, 2000)

WHEN SHIFTING CAR INTO PARK GEAR SHIFT WILL GET STUCK. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE CAR HAS TO STAY IN NEUTRAL BECAUSE IT WON'T GO INTO PARK. CONSUMER HAS KIDS THAT PLAY, AND ONE TIME THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL ON ITS OWN. *AK *ML

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 859869 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 503243 · 1996-03-15 (March 15, 1996)

TIMING BELT BROKE, BENDING THE VALVES, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *DH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503243 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10175919 · 2006-12-12 (December 12, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IT WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

Owner-reported narrative. 129,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175919 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 759429 · 2002-03-16 (March 16, 2002)

ORIG. POWER STEERING RACK CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES. REPLACEMENT RESEALED AFTER 1 MONTH, CRACKED AND REPLACED AFTER APPROX. 3 YEARS. CONTACTED HONDA, THEY DID NOT RESPOND. SECOND REPLACEMENT NOW HAS PROBLEMS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 759429 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10177829 · 2007-01-05 (January 5, 2007)

I [XXX] AND [XXX], OWN A 1988 HONDA PRELUDE SI 4WS. VEHICLE VIN: [XXX]. AT THE ENDING WEEK OF DECEMBER WHILE DRIVING IT STARTED TO SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD AREA AND LACK OF CONTROL ON POWER STEERING OCCURRED. WENT TO LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP CASON HONDA LOCATED AT 1445 E.223RD ST.CARSON, CA 90745 [phone removed] ON 12/22/06, LISA RODRIGUEZ ASSIST ME WITH MY VEHICLE CONCERNS. SHE PERFORMED A VIN STATUS INQUIRY IT STATED THE RECALL 88-014 C WAS COMPLETED ALREADY. SO I CONTACT AMERICAN HONDA WARRANTY ASSISTANCE HELP LINE AT [phone removed]. SPOKE WI…

Owner-reported narrative. 192,638 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177829 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 862837 · 2000-05-31 (May 31, 2000)

CONSUMER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN GOOD FAITH. WHILE DRIVING SHE NOTICED A FUEL SMELL. CONSUMER DIDN'T KNOW FROM WHERE SMELL WAS COMING AT THAT TIME. BRAKES WERE 75% FRONT AND REAR. TIRES WERE 50% THREAD AND MIXMATCHED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAS A DAMAGE FROM PREVIOUS MAJOR ACCIDENT AND FUEL TAND WAS REPLACED INCORRECTLY. *YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 862837 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 502766 · 1996-02-07 (February 7, 1996)

MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED DUE TO MUSHY BRAKE PEDAL.*SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502766 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10135083 · 2005-09-01 (September 1, 2005)

ELECTRICAL FIRE IN VEHICLE TRUNK. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 88,888 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135083 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 747176 · 2001-06-20 (June 20, 2001)

HONDA RECALLED THIS CAR IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK FILLER PIPE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION, HOWEVER, THE SURROUNDING MOUNTS AND THE FILL PIPE BOWL ON THE FILLER DOOR ARE ALSO EXCESSIVELY CORRODED, AND ARE FAILING TO HOLD THE FILLER PIPE IN PLACE, AND ALLOW EXCESSIVE FUMES TO BUILD UP WITHIN THE CAR. THE STAMPED METAL BOWL SURROUNDING THE FILLER PIPE AT THE GAS DOOR HAS FAILED, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE FILLER PIPE THAT WAS RECALLED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 747176 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 967972 · 1995-06-29 (June 29, 1995)

VEHICLES FUEL TANK PIPE HAS A LEAK DUE TO RUST. THE COATING HAS PEELED AWAY, IF TANK IS FULL IT LEAKS/OR WHEN PUMPING. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967972 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1985
1
1986
2
1987
2
1988
6
1989
1
1990
1
1991
1
1992
0
1993
0
1994
0
1995
0
1996
1
1997
3
1998
3
1999
2
2000
1
2001
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19851
19862
19872
19886
19891
19901
19911
19920
19930
19940
19950
19961
19973
19983
19992
20001
20011

1985: 1; 1986: 2; 1987: 2; 1988: 6; 1989: 1; 1990: 1; 1991: 1; 1992: 0; 1993: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 1; 1997: 3; 1998: 3; 1999: 2; 2000: 1; 2001: 1

Year-by-year records

Honda PRELUDE model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
197901Not available
1980010
1981110
198311Not available
1984210
1985210
198662+1
19871120
1988226+4
1989121-5
1990310
19911110
1992170-1
1993900
1994700
1995600
199631+1
1997573+2
19985930
1999302-1
2000131-1
20012110