1997 Honda PRELUDE: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10002619 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
MULTIPLE LARGE CRACKS IN BRIDGESTON POTENZA RE92 205/50-16 TIRES ON MY HONDA PRELUDE. CRACKS WERE NOTICED WHILE REFUELING.
Owner-reported narrative. 28,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002619 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 10011042 · 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)
I HAVE A 1997 HONDA PRELUDE SPORT-SHIFT AUTOMATIC. LIKE MOST OWNERS OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE GEARS BEGIN TO SLIP AND WILL NOT ENGAGE. THE DEALER WANTED $4000 TO GET A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. I HAD IT REPLACED, BUT THEN ABOUT 20,000 MILES LATER, IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME THE FIRST GEAR DID NOT ENGAGE. I AM BASICALLY AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR AROUND ANYMORE. I DO NOT WANT TO GET IT REBUILT AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IT MAY AS WELL BREAK AGAIN. HOWEVER, THE 2000-01 HONDA PRELUDES WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSMIS…
Owner-reported narrative. 99,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011042 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016364 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)
FAULTY TRANSMISSION IN 1997 HONDA PRELUDE SS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 117,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016364 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016528 · 2003-04-26 (April 26, 2003)
THE FOUR SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY 1997 HONDA PRELUDE IS DEFECTIVE. IT SHIFTS ABRUPTLY, SLIPS, AND HAS CAUSED INSTANCES WHERE MY SAFETY HAS BEEN JEOPARDIZED. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET HAS REVEALED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. A COMPANY SUCH AS HONDA SHOULD RECOGNIZE THIS AS AN INHERENT PROBLEM, AND OFFER CONSUMER ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS THEY ARE DOING WITH THE 2000 THROUGH 2003 MODELS ( 100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTIES). I AM A YOUNG CONSUMER, WHO ONCE TRUSTED HONDA, AND WILL NOT REGAIN THAT TRUST UNLESS THEY STAND BEHIND THEIR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016528 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017107 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)
SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AFTER LESS THAN SIX YEARS OF OWNERSHIP (OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATES AIRBAG MAINTENANCE AT TEN YEARS). DEALER SAYS THE SRS UNIT MUST BE REPLACED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017107 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 ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V120000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Reported: 2002-05-16 (May 16, 2002)
ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
Consequence: WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
NHTSA campaign record ↗05V025000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Reported: 2005-01-28 (January 28, 2005)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE INTERLOCK OPERATION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE "OFF" POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO PARK.
Consequence: IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT SHIFT TO PARK BEFORE REMOVING THE KEY AND FAILS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERFORM AN INSPECTION PROCEDURE THAT CONFIRMS INTERLOCK FUNCTION. VEHICLES WILL BE UPDATED WITH A REDESIGNED INTERLOCK LEVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 7, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V069000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 1999-05-10 (May 10, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗