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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 83 | 28.3% |
| Engine operation | 20 | 6.8% |
| Steering behavior | 18 | 6.1% |
| Braking behavior | 16 | 5.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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 ↗
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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