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1997 Honda Prelude

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

32 reports with mileage · 34 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Power Train complaints

40 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2001
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING EXTREMELY HARSHLY. ON UPSHIFT THE CAR WILL SQUEAL THE TIRES CAUSING OBVIOUS CONTROL PROBLEMS. THIS POSES A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, OR ON WET PAVEMENT OR SLICK ROADS, AS CAR IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ON UPSHIFT. DEALER SAYS CAR NEEDS REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. I HAVE …

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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING EXTREMELY HARSHLY. ON UPSHIFT THE CAR WILL SQUEAL THE TIRES CAUSING OBVIOUS CONTROL PROBLEMS. THIS POSES A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, OR ON WET PAVEMENT OR SLICK ROADS, AS CAR IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ON UPSHIFT. DEALER SAYS CAR NEEDS REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THIS (TRANSMISSION FAILURES) TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH HONDA PRELUDES OF THIS GENERATION, AS WELL AS ACCURAS OF SIMILAR VINTAGE. I HAVE UNCOVERED INFORMATION THAT HONDA HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME AND DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT. I CONTACTED HONDA CONSUMER SERVICE AND THEY WOULD NOT DISCUSS WITH ME. I FEEL HONDA SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS FOR THIS POTENTAILLY DANGEROUS DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #751869

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2001
Power Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #748390

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2001
Power Train

AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. 8 OTHER REPORTS FILED TO NHTSA, MORE THAN 20 OTHERS HAVE SIMILIAR COMPLAINTS OF TRANSMISSIONS FAILING AT WWW.HONDAPRELUDE.COM. SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY HONDA RECOGNISES THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR THE DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #748371

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH ONLY 60,000. DEALERSHIP CANNOT GIVE REASON OTHER THAN "SOMETIMES THEY JUST FALL APART". DEALERSHIP ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PRELUDES ARE DESIGNED TO GO OVER 200,000 MILES. HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE AND RESULT WAS CONVERTER COLLASPED AND DESTROYED TRANSMISSION. "SOMETIMES THEY JUST …

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TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH ONLY 60,000. DEALERSHIP CANNOT GIVE REASON OTHER THAN "SOMETIMES THEY JUST FALL APART". DEALERSHIP ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PRELUDES ARE DESIGNED TO GO OVER 200,000 MILES. HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE AND RESULT WAS CONVERTER COLLASPED AND DESTROYED TRANSMISSION. "SOMETIMES THEY JUST FALL APART" IS A VERY EXPENSIVE ANSWER FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #747204

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2001
Power Train

WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD, 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,…

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WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD, 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. DEALER IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT REFUSING TO FIX IT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #747191

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2001
Power Train

WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, AND THEN FROM THIRD TO FOURTH, EXTREME HESITATION OCCURS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #888270

Mileage unknown · May 19, 2000
Power Train

GRINDING OCCURS SHIFTING INTO 2ND FROM 1ST GEAR, ESPECIALLY AT HIGH ENGINE RPMS. 3RD HAPPENS LESS OFTEN, BUT DOESN'T OCCUR EXCLUSIVELY AT HIGH RPMS. 2ND GEAR HAS ALWAYS FELT "NOTCHY" MANY OTHER PRELUDE OWNERS I CORRESPOND WITH THROUGH EMAIL ALSO REPORT SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722889

Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train

AS THE RESULT OF BROKEN BALL JOINT, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING DAMAGES TO WHEELS,FRAME,ALIGNMENT AND THE BODY. YH

NHTSA ODI #551367

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 1999
Power Train

CAN YOU PLEASE HELP US. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND NEITHER WILL TELL US WHATS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THEY DONT KNOW WHY. WE JUST GOT CAR BACK AND ITS STILL SHIFTING STRANGE. CAR HAS NO POWER FOR PASSING IN LOW GEAR. THIS IS GETTING DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT IT HAS NO…

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CAN YOU PLEASE HELP US. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND NEITHER WILL TELL US WHATS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THEY DONT KNOW WHY. WE JUST GOT CAR BACK AND ITS STILL SHIFTING STRANGE. CAR HAS NO POWER FOR PASSING IN LOW GEAR. THIS IS GETTING DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT IT HAS NO POWER AT ALL. NEVERMIND GETTING STUCK ON THE FREEWAY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL US IF ANY FURTHER INFO IS NEEDED. THANKS JEAN DELUCIA

NHTSA ODI #707658

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1998
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. ALSO, WHILE CHANGING INTO 1 AND 2 GEARS IT WILL ABRUPTLY STOP WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED 5 TRANSMISSIONS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #828376

Official recalls

3

05V025000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Jan 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.

02V120000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

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.

99V069000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE05002 · IGNITION-PARK Interlock

Opened Jan 13, 2005 · Closed Feb 2, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System; Electrical System:ignition; Electrical System:ignition:switch

THE ABOVE FAILURE REPORT COUNTS ARE FOR MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 - 2001 HONDA ACCORD MODELS THAT WERE NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF A RELATED HONDA RECALL ACTION (NHTSA 03V423); THESE VEHICLES WERE INVESTIGATED BY ODI UNDER DEFECT PETITION (DP) 04-006.COMPLAINT INFORMATION FOR OTHER MODELS AND MODEL YEARS WAS NOT OBTAINED BY ODI.THE NOTED POPULATION INDICATES THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES (INCLUDING THE MY 2002 ACCORD PLUS THE PRELUDE AND TL MODELS) THAT ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HONDA?S NEW RECALL (NHTSA 05V-025, HONDA P68, P69); 402,525 OF THESE WERE INVESTIGATED IN DP04-006.SEEPART 573 DOCUMENTS RELATED TO 05V-025 FOR FURTHER DETAIL ON OTHER MODELS AND MYS.ODI NOTES THAT, ACCORDING TO HONDA?S ANALYSIS, INTERLOCK SYSTEM WARRANTY RATES FOR THE TL AND PRELUDE MODELS INVOLVED IN 05V-025 ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE OF THE ACCORD MODELS.INFORMATION PROVIDED BY HONDA DURING DP04-006 INDICATES THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES CONTAINING INTERLOCK SYSTEMS MADE BY ITS JAPANESE LOCK MANUFACTURING FACILITY MAY CONTAIN DEFECTIVE INTERNAL COMPONENTS.IN COMBINATION WITH CERTAIN WEAR AND USAGE FACTORS, THIS MAY LEAD TO A CONDITION THAT PREVENTS THE SYSTEM FROM BLOCKING REMOVAL OF THE IGNITION KEY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK.IF THE DRIVER LEAVES THE TRANSMISSION IN A NON-PARK POSITION AND FAILS TO SET THE HAND BRAKE WHEN PARKING, THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL AWAY AND CRASH.INTERLOCK SYSTEMS MANUFACTURED BY HONDA?S U.S. LOCK MANUFACTURER DO NOT APPEAR TO CONTAIN THIS DEFECT AND ARE THEREFORE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ACTION. IN A LETTER DATED JANUARY 27, 2005, HONDA ADVISED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO EITHER UPGRADE (FOR OPERATIVE SYSTEMS) OR REPAIR (FOR INOPERATIVE SYSTEMS) SUBJECT INTERLOCK SYSTEMS WITH NEW DESIGN LEVEL COMPONENTS THAT DO NOT CONTAIN THE DEFECT.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Electrical System

THE ABOVE FAILURE REPORT COUNTS ARE FOR MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 - 2001 HONDA ACCORD MODELS THAT WERE NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF A RELATED HONDA RECALL ACTION (NHTSA 03V423); THESE VEHICLES WERE INVESTIGATED BY ODI UNDER DEFECT PETITION (DP) 04-006.COMPLAINT INFORMATION FOR OTHER MODELS AND MODEL YEARS WAS NOT OBTAINED BY ODI.THE NOTED POPULATION INDICATES THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES (INCLUDING THE MY 2002 ACCORD PLUS THE PRELUDE AND TL MODELS) THAT ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HONDA?S NEW RECALL (NHTSA 05V-025, HONDA P68, P69); 402,525 OF THESE WERE INVESTIGATED IN DP04-006.SEEPART 573 DOCUMENTS RELATED TO 05V-025 FOR FURTHER DETAIL ON OTHER MODELS AND MYS.ODI NOTES THAT, ACCORDING TO HONDA?S ANALYSIS, INTERLOCK SYSTEM WARRANTY RATES FOR THE TL AND PRELUDE MODELS INVOLVED IN 05V-025 ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE OF THE ACCORD MODELS.INFORMATION PROVIDED BY HONDA DURING DP04-006 INDICATES THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES CONTAINING INTERLOCK SYSTEMS MADE BY ITS JAPANESE LOCK MANUFACTURING FACILITY MAY CONTAIN DEFECTIVE INTERNAL COMPONENTS.IN COMBINATION WITH CERTAIN WEAR AND USAGE FACTORS, THIS MAY LEAD TO A CONDITION THAT PREVENTS THE SYSTEM FROM BLOCKING REMOVAL OF THE IGNITION KEY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK.IF THE DRIVER LEAVES THE TRANSMISSION IN A NON-PARK POSITION AND FAILS TO SET THE HAND BRAKE WHEN PARKING, THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL AWAY AND CRASH.INTERLOCK SYSTEMS MANUFACTURED BY HONDA?S U.S. LOCK MANUFACTURER DO NOT APPEAR TO CONTAIN THIS DEFECT AND ARE THEREFORE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ACTION. IN A LETTER DATED JANUARY 27, 2005, HONDA ADVISED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO EITHER UPGRADE (FOR OPERATIVE SYSTEMS) OR REPAIR (FOR INOPERATIVE SYSTEMS) SUBJECT INTERLOCK SYSTEMS WITH NEW DESIGN LEVEL COMPONENTS THAT DO NOT CONTAIN THE DEFECT.

Electrical System:ignition

THE ABOVE FAILURE REPORT COUNTS ARE FOR MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 - 2001 HONDA ACCORD MODELS THAT WERE NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF A RELATED HONDA RECALL ACTION (NHTSA 03V423); THESE VEHICLES WERE INVESTIGATED BY ODI UNDER DEFECT PETITION (DP) 04-006.COMPLAINT INFORMATION FOR OTHER MODELS AND MODEL YEARS WAS NOT OBTAINED BY ODI.THE NOTED POPULATION INDICATES THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES (INCLUDING THE MY 2002 ACCORD PLUS THE PRELUDE AND TL MODELS) THAT ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HONDA?S NEW RECALL (NHTSA 05V-025, HONDA P68, P69); 402,525 OF THESE WERE INVESTIGATED IN DP04-006.SEEPART 573 DOCUMENTS RELATED TO 05V-025 FOR FURTHER DETAIL ON OTHER MODELS AND MYS.ODI NOTES THAT, ACCORDING TO HONDA?S ANALYSIS, INTERLOCK SYSTEM WARRANTY RATES FOR THE TL AND PRELUDE MODELS INVOLVED IN 05V-025 ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE OF THE ACCORD MODELS.INFORMATION PROVIDED BY HONDA DURING DP04-006 INDICATES THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES CONTAINING INTERLOCK SYSTEMS MADE BY ITS JAPANESE LOCK MANUFACTURING FACILITY MAY CONTAIN DEFECTIVE INTERNAL COMPONENTS.IN COMBINATION WITH CERTAIN WEAR AND USAGE FACTORS, THIS MAY LEAD TO A CONDITION THAT PREVENTS THE SYSTEM FROM BLOCKING REMOVAL OF THE IGNITION KEY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK.IF THE DRIVER LEAVES THE TRANSMISSION IN A NON-PARK POSITION AND FAILS TO SET THE HAND BRAKE WHEN PARKING, THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL AWAY AND CRASH.INTERLOCK SYSTEMS MANUFACTURED BY HONDA?S U.S. LOCK MANUFACTURER DO NOT APPEAR TO CONTAIN THIS DEFECT AND ARE THEREFORE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ACTION. IN A LETTER DATED JANUARY 27, 2005, HONDA ADVISED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO EITHER UPGRADE (FOR OPERATIVE SYSTEMS) OR REPAIR (FOR INOPERATIVE SYSTEMS) SUBJECT INTERLOCK SYSTEMS WITH NEW DESIGN LEVEL COMPONENTS THAT DO NOT CONTAIN THE DEFECT.

Electrical System:ignition:switch

THE ABOVE FAILURE REPORT COUNTS ARE FOR MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 - 2001 HONDA ACCORD MODELS THAT WERE NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF A RELATED HONDA RECALL ACTION (NHTSA 03V423); THESE VEHICLES WERE INVESTIGATED BY ODI UNDER DEFECT PETITION (DP) 04-006.COMPLAINT INFORMATION FOR OTHER MODELS AND MODEL YEARS WAS NOT OBTAINED BY ODI.THE NOTED POPULATION INDICATES THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES (INCLUDING THE MY 2002 ACCORD PLUS THE PRELUDE AND TL MODELS) THAT ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HONDA?S NEW RECALL (NHTSA 05V-025, HONDA P68, P69); 402,525 OF THESE WERE INVESTIGATED IN DP04-006.SEEPART 573 DOCUMENTS RELATED TO 05V-025 FOR FURTHER DETAIL ON OTHER MODELS AND MYS.ODI NOTES THAT, ACCORDING TO HONDA?S ANALYSIS, INTERLOCK SYSTEM WARRANTY RATES FOR THE TL AND PRELUDE MODELS INVOLVED IN 05V-025 ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE OF THE ACCORD MODELS.INFORMATION PROVIDED BY HONDA DURING DP04-006 INDICATES THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES CONTAINING INTERLOCK SYSTEMS MADE BY ITS JAPANESE LOCK MANUFACTURING FACILITY MAY CONTAIN DEFECTIVE INTERNAL COMPONENTS.IN COMBINATION WITH CERTAIN WEAR AND USAGE FACTORS, THIS MAY LEAD TO A CONDITION THAT PREVENTS THE SYSTEM FROM BLOCKING REMOVAL OF THE IGNITION KEY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK.IF THE DRIVER LEAVES THE TRANSMISSION IN A NON-PARK POSITION AND FAILS TO SET THE HAND BRAKE WHEN PARKING, THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL AWAY AND CRASH.INTERLOCK SYSTEMS MANUFACTURED BY HONDA?S U.S. LOCK MANUFACTURER DO NOT APPEAR TO CONTAIN THIS DEFECT AND ARE THEREFORE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ACTION. IN A LETTER DATED JANUARY 27, 2005, HONDA ADVISED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO EITHER UPGRADE (FOR OPERATIVE SYSTEMS) OR REPAIR (FOR INOPERATIVE SYSTEMS) SUBJECT INTERLOCK SYSTEMS WITH NEW DESIGN LEVEL COMPONENTS THAT DO NOT CONTAIN THE DEFECT.