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Honda Prelude

Model years 1979–2001 · 12 recall campaigns · 363 complaints · 4 investigations · filed by AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

Across 22 model years (1979–2001), the Honda Prelude has 12 NHTSA recall campaigns and 363 complaints on file.

The component named most often in complaints is power train (226.9 per 1,000 component mentions), followed by engine and engine cooling (114.5).

The 1998 model year has the most complaints (67). Recall campaigns peaked in 1993 with 1; complaints were received in the largest number in 2000 (42). Within Honda, this line ranks 12 of 67 by total complaints.

Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.

Model years

Model yearRecallsComplaintsvs line averageUnits in campaigns
1979 Honda Prelude NHTSA record100%936,774
1980 Honda Prelude NHTSA record100%95,951
1981 Honda Prelude NHTSA record1212%95,951
1983 Honda Prelude NHTSA record116%920,583
1984 Honda Prelude NHTSA record1530%920,583
1985 Honda Prelude NHTSA record1742%920,583
1986 Honda Prelude21273%4,620,583
1987 Honda Prelude21485%4,620,583
1988 Honda Prelude635212%3,975,445
1989 Honda Prelude NHTSA record121127%3,700,000
1990 Honda Prelude NHTSA record1424%3,700,000
1991 Honda Prelude NHTSA record11591%3,700,000
1992 Honda Prelude NHTSA record022133%—
1993 Honda Prelude NHTSA record01167%—
1994 Honda Prelude NHTSA record0955%—
1995 Honda Prelude NHTSA record0530%—
1996 Honda Prelude NHTSA record1424%124,875
1997 Honda Prelude365394%1,611,534
1998 Honda Prelude367406%1,611,534
1999 Honda Prelude230182%1,486,659
2000 Honda Prelude NHTSA record11379%486,659
2001 Honda Prelude NHTSA record121127%486,659

"vs line average" is the model year's complaints as a share of the line's average per model year (100% = average). A campaign covering several model years counts once per year. Model years with one campaign and fewer than 25 complaints are listed but have no page of their own; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record.

Components most reported

Power Train226.9
Engine and Engine Cooling114.5
Electrical System101.3
Seat Belts77.1
Steering70.5
Air Bags57.3
Suspension55.1
Fuel System, Gasoline55.1
Tires46.3
Equipment39.6

Per 1,000 component mentions across all Honda Prelude complaints (454 mentions).

Campaigns by year reported

90
94
98
02
06
10
14
18
22
26
Distinct NHTSA campaigns naming the Honda Prelude, by the year the Part 573 report was received.

Complaints by year received

95
99
03
07
11
15
19
23
Complaints about any Honda Prelude model year, by year received.

Other Honda model lines

All 67 Honda model lines

Questions and answers

Which Honda Prelude model years have the most recalls?

1988 (6), 1997 (3), 1998 (3). Across model years 1979–2001 there are 12 distinct campaigns.

Which Honda Prelude model year has the most complaints?

1998, with 67 of the line's 363 complaints. Newer model years have had less time to accumulate reports.

What do owners of the Honda Prelude complain about?

power train (226.9 per 1,000 mentions), engine and engine cooling (114.5 per 1,000 mentions), electrical system (101.3 per 1,000 mentions). Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint flat files, public domain, dated 29 Sep 2026 and 15 May 2019.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, dated 29 Sep 2026 and 15 May 2019. Model names are as NHTSA records them; variants such as "Accord" and "Accord Hybrid" are separate lines. See the methodology.