IllustrationSRS 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
1997 Honda Prelude
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Prelude years →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
10–25K
225–50K
650–75K
1175–100K
7100–150K
5150K+
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
What owners actually said
66 reportsTHE 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 CON…
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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 "EXPENSIVE" PRODUCT. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT A LOCAL HONDA DEALER AND THEY ARE QUOTING COSTS OF FROM $1,000.00 TO $3,000.00 TO REPAIR. THE DEALER HAS ALSO STATED THAT THEY ARE SEEING NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF FAILURE WITH LATE MODEL HONDA AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. I CANNOT AFFORD A HIGH CAR PAYMENT, AND CONTINUE TO PAY HIGH REPAIR BILLS FOR A LATE MODEL CAR. HONDA MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, OR POSSIBLY FACE A CLASS ACTION SUIT IF INHERENT FAILURES BEGIN TO CAUSE SEVERE ACCIDENTS. TOYOTA HAS BEEN ASKED/REQUIRED TO FIX THE OIL PROBLEMS WITH THERE 4 CYLINDER CAMRYS, SO WHY SHOULDN'T HONDA FACE UP TO AND ADMIT THEIR INHERENT PROBLEMS WITH THEIR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. *NLM
FAULTY TRANSMISSION IN 1997 HONDA PRELUDE SS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *JB
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…
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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 TRANSMISSION GET AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I FIND IT VERY UNFAIR THAT THE SAME EXACT CAR WITH THE SAME EXACT TRANSMISSION GETS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT THE 1997-99 PRELUDES DO NOT. IF HONDA KNOWS OF THE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS, WHY NOT REPLACE ALL OF THE TRANSMISSIONS INSTEAD OF THE LATER YEAR ONES? I USED TO LOVE HONDA VEHICLES, UNTIL I LEARNED OF MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *JB
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
MULTIPLE LARGE CRACKS IN BRIDGESTON POTENZA RE92 205/50-16 TIRES ON MY HONDA PRELUDE. CRACKS WERE NOTICED WHILE REFUELING.
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
POWER DOOR LOCKS WILL UNLOCK FOR NO APPARENT REASON FROM IDLE OR IN MOTION MPH VARIES. DT
PARTS FOR IGNITION SWITCH RECALL HAS NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR A MONTH AND DEALERSHIP DOES NOT KNOW WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN CHANGING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR VEHICLE WILL SKIP,AND MOTOR WILL REVV UP TO HIGH RPM. WHEN IT FINALLY SHIFT VEHICLE WILL JERK FORWARD, JERK IS SO SEVERE THAT IT MAY CAUSE LOST OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE.DEALER CONTACTED, CANNOT FIX PROBLEM. MR
Official recalls
305V025000 · 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
1PE05002 · 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.