2001 Honda PRELUDE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
21 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
85,480 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Manual Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 21 complaints (19.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 42.9% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 23.8% |
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:Manual Transmission | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 |
Power Train:Manual Transmission: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Electrical System: 2; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1
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 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 9 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 4; 2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 3; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Manual Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 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 10007887 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED FROM 4TH (4 SPEED AUTOMATIC SEQUENTIAL SPORT SHIFT) TO 2ND. CAR LURCHED SUDDENLY FORWARD WITH NO INDICATION TO TRAFFIC BEHIND ME THAT I WAS SLOWING DOWN. IF THE PERSON BEHIND ME HAD BEEN ANY CLOSER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN REARENDED -- IN THIS CASE IT WAS A LARGE TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK.
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007887 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020679 · 2003-05-29 (May 29, 2003)
SPRING CAGES ON STOCK CLUTCH FAILED, CAUSING CLUTCH TO FAIL TO DISENGAGE RELIABLY. THIS PREVENTED SHIFTING OUT OF, AND INTO GEAR. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION OF ONCOMING FAILURE. THE OTHER 3 OF 4 SPRING PERCHES AROUND THE CLUTCH HUB SHOWED SIGNS OF EMINENENT FAILURE AS WELL.
Owner-reported narrative. 44,527 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020679 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039631 · 2003-09-27 (September 27, 2003)
MY HONDA PRELUDE 2001 VIBRATES SEVERELY AFTER DRIVING 2 HOURS AT A STEADY SPEED. HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES; NO PROBLEMS FOUND. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FAULT; I AM PLANNING TO SELL IT BUT DON'T WANT TO ENDANGER SOMEONE ELSE.CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY NO OTHER PRELUDE OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR MALFUNCTIONS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039631 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045226 · 2003-10-31 (October 31, 2003)
CAR DID NOT GO INTO ANY OF THE GEARS FREELY. THE CULPRIT WAS A POORLY DESIGNED CLUTCH DISC. THE SPRINGS ON THE DISC POPPED OUT OF THE DISC RESULTING IN CLUTCH FAILURE. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 35,035 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072935 · 2004-05-21 (May 21, 2004)
TRANSMISSION BROKE. SOMETHING FLEW OUT OF TRANSMISSION, AND SHOT OUT BELOW CAUSE: CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL CAME APART. THIS WAS ALL STOCK, IF IT HAD SHOT UP I MIGHT HAVE BEEN INJURED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10072935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10106158 · 2005-01-11 (January 11, 2005)
MY 5-SPEED TRANMISSION, IS ALWAYS GRINDING, AND THIS LEADS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE LOST THE REVERSE GEAR 2 TIMES NOW, AND THE TRANSMISSION ALWAYS GRINDS ON UPSHIFT INTO 5TH GEAR. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER HONDA WILL NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. MANY HONDA TECHNICIANS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS NEED TO BE RECALLED AS THIS IS SUCH A BIG PROBLEM. THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION HAS COST ME SUBSTANTIAL DOWNTIME, AND MONEY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139190 · 2005-10-10 (October 10, 2005)
TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILING, BELT FLAPPING BETWEEN 1800 AND 3000 RPMS UPON ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10139190 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164049 · 2006-07-31 (July 31, 2006)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY LAST YEAR, I HEARD A SCREECHING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD OF MY 2001 HONDA PRELUDE. ABOUT APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS LATER I HEARD SOMETHING FALL ONTO THE STREET AND VERY HOT AIR BEGAN BLOWING OUT MY AIR CONDITIONER (WHICH UP UNTIL THAT POINT WAS BLOWING VERY COLD AIR). IT TURNS OUT THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER CLUTCH PULLEY FELL OFF MY CAR AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT BY HONDA. THEY SEEM NOT TO CARE AND THUS REFUSE TO FIX IT. I RESIDE IN ARIZONA WHERE TEMPERATURES REACH 110 PLUS IN THE SUMMER. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10164049 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗