IllustrationWHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 65MPH TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO LOWER GEAR LOSS SPEED, CAUSING TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD. DEALER PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION, FIVE MONTHS LATER CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *TS
1998 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
00–25K
425–50K
450–75K
1075–100K
6100–150K
8150K+
32 reports with mileage · 37 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 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports0 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
69 reportsWHEN I TURN THE KEY, MY CAR WON'T START. NOT EVERY TIME, BUT ENOUGH TIMES THAT IT MAKES ME VERY NERVOUS THAT EVENTUALLY IT WILL NEVER START. AFTER TURNING THE KEY 2 TO 4 TIMES, IT EVENTUALLY STARTS. DT
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL(002-V12) ON DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER $75 FOR DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING THE ALARM SYSTEM WHILE DOING THE RECALL JOB. *YH
CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A BEARING INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION, AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETED, CONSUMER BEGAN EXPERIENCING MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING SMOOTHLY, AFTER BEING REFERRRED TO ANOTHER MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ADDIT…
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CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A BEARING INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION, AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETED, CONSUMER BEGAN EXPERIENCING MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING SMOOTHLY, AFTER BEING REFERRRED TO ANOTHER MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS DEEPER INTO THE TRANSMISSION HAD NOT BEEN ORIGINALLY FOUND BY THE FIRST MECHANIC AND THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER, BECAUSE HE LEARNED OF AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON TRANSMISSION THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS OFFERING, HOWEVER IT ONLY APPLIES TO 2000-2001 MODELS.*JB
IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, I BEGAN EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 HONDA PRELUDE. THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISES WHICH SEEMED BE COMING FROM WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 49,000 MILES ON IT.
CONSUMER STATES THEY MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE VEHCILE SERVICED FOR RECALL. MR
WHILE BEING DRIVEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL DROP TO A LOWER GEAR. OWNER HAS TO MANUALLY SHIFT LEVER IN ORDER TO GET TRANSMISSION BACK IN HIGHER GEAR. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.AK
CONSUMER IS BEING CHARGED TO HAVE ALARM REMOVED FROM VEHICLE TO INSTALL IGNITION SWITCH. ALARM WAS PUT IN BY DEALER.*AK
FOUR-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFTED ON ITS OWN CAUSING THE CAR TO RAPIDLY BRAKE THEN ACCELERATE WITH NO DRIVER CONTROL. AT THE TIME, I WAS TOLD BY HONDA THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING, THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THERE WERE NO REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS AVAILABLE FOR SALE, AND I WOULD HAVE TO GO…
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FOUR-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFTED ON ITS OWN CAUSING THE CAR TO RAPIDLY BRAKE THEN ACCELERATE WITH NO DRIVER CONTROL. AT THE TIME, I WAS TOLD BY HONDA THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING, THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THERE WERE NO REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS AVAILABLE FOR SALE, AND I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP TO HAVE IT REBUILT. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP SHOWED ME THE FRICTION SURFACE ON THE CLUTCHES DISINTEGRATED, CLOGGING THE PUMP AND FILTER WHICH CAUSED THE ERATIC SELF-SHIFTING. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS FAULTY MATERIAL USED IN THE TRANSMISSION. I NOW SEE IN THE LOS ANGELES TIMES THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH HONDA AND ACURA AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS THAT THE COMPANY HAS BEEN TRYING TO KEEP QUIET.*AK
HONDA STATED THAT THIS REALLY WASN'T A SAFETY ISSUE IT WAS A BOLT FAILURE! NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.
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.