What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

1998 Honda Prelude

Typical pattern

6.8% of complaints about the 1998 Honda Prelude came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 1998 vehicle — around the middle of the 180 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is power train (27 complaints), typically at 6.3 yr or about 86,000 miles.

Complaints
74
Median age at failure
6.3 yr
Median mileage
118,000 n=36
Crash / fire / tow
13.5% of reports
Safety recalls
5

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
27 reports · 86,000 mi
6.3 yr
7.4%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

06E060000 2006-06-29
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH

06E026000 2006-03-23
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

05V025000 2005-01-28
Electrical system:ignition:switch

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.

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.

02V120000 2002-05-16
Electrical system:ignition:switch

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.

WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

99V069000 1999-05-10
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint

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.

THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.

In owners’ own words

Power train mileage not reported 1.3 yr in service
THE ATTS (TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM) CONTINUALLY FAILS, CAUSING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH IT MAY COME ON AT ANY TIME, CAUSING THE CAR TO TORQUE TO SWITCH IMMEDIATELY TOWARD THE INSIDE OF THE TURN. THE FAIL LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AS HONDA CONTINUES TO RESET IT, HAVING HAD TO BRING IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES.
Power train mileage not reported 2.3 yr in service
HONDA HAS IDENTIFIED THAT THE 1998 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS A MANUFACTURER'S DURABILITY DEFECT. THEY HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY REFUSED TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM, COSTING CONSUMERS $2700.00 EACH TIME THE TRANSMISSION FAILS. MORE OVER, THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO KEEP IT QUIET. I HAVE SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION OF THE ISSUE, AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEND IT TO YOU! *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/50/16 )
Power train mileage not reported 2.3 yr in service crash / fire / tow
THE PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID.. THE DEALER REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION NEVER DID THIS. OSHA AND THE EPA INDICATE THAT LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO TRANSMISSION FLUID FUMES ARE HAZAROUS. I REQUIRE YOUR HELP IN ORDER TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED, AS IT IS UNDER WARANTY AND HONDA REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. DRIVING THE CAR IS UNSAFE.*AK

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