NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
40 reportsClear category filter97,000 miles · Feb 3, 2006
Exterior LightingParking BrakePower Train
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS IN 1997 HONDA PRELUDES ARE WEAK AND FAIL EASY. THE REASON IS CHEAP PARTS AND METALS IN THE TRANSMISSIONS THEMSELVES. THE 97 PRELUDES WERE RECALLED IN TURKEY, AND REPLACED WITH A NEW M6HA UNIT. MINE IS CONSTANTLY SLIPPING AND TEARING UP. I'M LOOKING AT A CONSTANT PROBLEM THAT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY. …
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THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS IN 1997 HONDA PRELUDES ARE WEAK AND FAIL EASY. THE REASON IS CHEAP PARTS AND METALS IN THE TRANSMISSIONS THEMSELVES. THE 97 PRELUDES WERE RECALLED IN TURKEY, AND REPLACED WITH A NEW M6HA UNIT. MINE IS CONSTANTLY SLIPPING AND TEARING UP. I'M LOOKING AT A CONSTANT PROBLEM THAT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR ITS QUALITY AND PRESTIGE IN THE HONDA WORLD, BUT DUE TO THE LACK OF QUALITY AND WORKMANSHIP IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, MY OPINION OF PRELUDES HAS DRASTICALLY DROPPED. I WOULD NOT CARE IF I HAD AN AUTOMATIC OR A MANUAL, I JUST WANT A CAR THAT WORKS LIKE THE HONDA COMPANY LACKED TO MAKE IT. THANK YOU. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10149356
67,000 miles · May 25, 2005
Power Train
1997 HONDA PRELUDE WITH ONLY 67,000 MILES. STARTED TO MAKE A MINOR BUZZING NOISE WHEN IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. TOOK IT TO MY INDEPENDENT HONDA MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT I HAD A BEARING GOING IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT WOULD REQUIRE A REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION. COST $3,900. HE SUGGESTED THAT I SELL THE CAR QUICKLY AS IT WASN'T WOR…
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1997 HONDA PRELUDE WITH ONLY 67,000 MILES. STARTED TO MAKE A MINOR BUZZING NOISE WHEN IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. TOOK IT TO MY INDEPENDENT HONDA MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT I HAD A BEARING GOING IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT WOULD REQUIRE A REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION. COST $3,900. HE SUGGESTED THAT I SELL THE CAR QUICKLY AS IT WASN'T WORTH THE COST OF REPAIRS. THAT'S WHAT I DID. SOLD IT TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP. HONDA NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. NO MORE HONDAS FOR ME.
NHTSA ODI #10122164
Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2004
Power Train
1997 HONDA PRELUDE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. HONDA REFUSES TO ASSIST CONSUMERS WITH FAULTY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS INHERENT IN THE VEHICLES. TRANS WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR, OR NOT ENGAGE WHEN ENTERING FREEWAY, CAUSING A DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING CONDITION. WHEN SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS, AMERICAN HONDA WILL …
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1997 HONDA PRELUDE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. HONDA REFUSES TO ASSIST CONSUMERS WITH FAULTY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS INHERENT IN THE VEHICLES. TRANS WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR, OR NOT ENGAGE WHEN ENTERING FREEWAY, CAUSING A DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING CONDITION. WHEN SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS, AMERICAN HONDA WILL THEN BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE HORRIBLE CARS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10082682
73,000 miles · Apr 13, 2004
Power Train
97 HONDA PRELUDE
NHTSA ODI #10066111
99,793 miles · Apr 5, 2004
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND, THE CAR WILL REV UP LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL THEN SUDDENLY JERK INTO 2ND. THE SAME THING HAPPENS FOR 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH GEARS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR WOULD SHUDDER VIOLENTLY THEN THE ENGINE WOULD CUT OUT. THIS HAPPEN S…
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
NHTSA ODI #10065585
45,000 miles · Nov 25, 2003
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY... CAR SLOWS DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY DURING GEAR SHIFT IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVERS FOLLOWING THE VEHICLE TO BRAKE UNEXPECTEDLY. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10047570
52,540 miles · Nov 16, 2003
Power Train
MY 1997 PRELUDE SS HAD A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND IT DECIDED TO GO ON ME, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, WHILE TRAFFIC WAS BEHIND ME. SO, I DECIDED TO CONTACT HONDA AND MAKE THEM SEE THE ISSUE, INSTEAD I RECEIVED A NO ANSWER, WHICH WAS A PRETTY LAME EXCUSE TO NOT REPLACE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN ALL 97-99 HONDA PRELUDE CARS, SO, THE…
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MY 1997 PRELUDE SS HAD A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND IT DECIDED TO GO ON ME, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, WHILE TRAFFIC WAS BEHIND ME. SO, I DECIDED TO CONTACT HONDA AND MAKE THEM SEE THE ISSUE, INSTEAD I RECEIVED A NO ANSWER, WHICH WAS A PRETTY LAME EXCUSE TO NOT REPLACE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN ALL 97-99 HONDA PRELUDE CARS, SO, THE SERVICE MANAGER DECIDED TO RETRY THE HONDA USA NUMBER, AND THEY GOT ME THROUGH AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION UNDER A NON-TRANSMISSION WARRANTY. SO, MY POINT IS THAT HONDA MUST COMPLY WITH A TRANSMISSION WARRANTY ON ALL THESE CARS, AND NOT JUST THE NEWER MODELS, BECAUSE IT IS UNFAIR TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL, AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. SO, WITH ALL THIS SAID, I WANT TO MAKE SURE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THANKS. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10047008
130,500 miles · Sep 26, 2003
Power Train
1997 HONDA PRELUDE THE CLUTCH SPRING RETAINER BROKE RENDERING THE CLUTCH INOPERABLE PLACING STRESS ON THE TRANSMISSION AND DAMAGING THE INTERNALS FROM THE SPRING BEING LOOSE IN THE SYSTEM
NHTSA ODI #10039616
84,000 miles · Sep 8, 2003
Power Train
MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY HONDA PRELUDE IS BEGINNING TO FAIL AFTER ONLY 80000 MILES. IT WILL OCCASSION JOLT AND CAUSE ERRADIC ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION WHILE TRAVERSING THE FREEWAYS. I BELEIVE THIS TO BE A CONSIDERABLE HAZARD TO ME AND HAVE SINCE STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10037480
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower TrainCrash
PROBLEMS WITH BALL JOINTS, BRAKES, AIR CONDITIONER, RADIO, WINDSHIELD AND SEATS.*MR IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE BURNED OIL, THE VEHICLE HAD A HARD TIME GOING BACKWARDS. CONSUMER HAD NUMEROUS INCIDENTS WITH THE VEHICLE GOING OUT CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED TO EXIST. *PH *JB
NHTSA ODI #10034521
Official recalls
3Jan 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 & remedy
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.
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 & remedy
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.
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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