The 1990 Honda Prelude has 1 safety recall and 4 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (2 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints4filed by owners
Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
NHTSA recall 95V103001 · May 24, 1995 · 3,700,000 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES. CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. CHECK THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUG ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, THEN PRESS THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS ANY SIGN OF BREAKAGE OR CRACKING, OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, PROMPTLY CONTACT YOUR AUTHORIZED HONDA/ACURA DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
1990 Honda Prelude 2-DR.
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Prelude
22mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
Prelude
22mpg combined
City / highway
20 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
Prelude
21mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
Prelude
21mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.1 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
Prelude
20mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
Prelude
20mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.1 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Seat belts Front › Buckle assembly; Front › Anchorage
2
0
0
1
—
Equipment Other › Owners/service/other manual
1
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Oct 26, 2000 · 1 injurySeat belts › Front › Anchorage DURING COLLISION THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR SIDE AND THE CAR DOOR CAME OPEN AND THE DRIVER WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT BELT WAS ATTACHED TO THE DOOR BUT WAS STILL INTACT IN THE SEAT LATCH, CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES. *MJS
Nov 3, 1997Engine and engine cooling › Engine ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD FAILED.
Jun 1, 1995Equipment › Other › Owners/service/other manual OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATES FOR CSS INSTALLATION IT REQUIRES SPECIAL LAP BELT ATTACHMENT TO SECURE CSS TO VEHICLE. TT
Feb 22, 1995Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION, HARD TO LATCH SAFETY BELTS. TT
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.