Model year record

1991 Honda Prelude recalls & problems

The 1991 Honda Prelude has 1 safety recall and 15 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (9 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints15filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths4 · 1reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Seat beltsMay 24, 1995

Front › Buckle assembly

Recall 95V1030013,700,000 vehiclesopened 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

1991 Honda Prelude 2-DR

OverallNot 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 beltsFront › Buckle assembly; Front › Retractor	9	2	0	4	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	7	0	4	0	—
Latches/locks/linkagesHood › Latch	1	0	0	0	—
EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner	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

Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IT WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Dec 10, 2006 · 129,000 miles
Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM FAILURE: EIGHT (8) DEALER ATTEMPTED REPAIRS; FOUR (4) NEW COMPRESSORS AND COMPLETE SYSTEMS INSTALLED; THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SPENT (APPROX. $6,000.00); AND A/C REMAINS DEAD.*AK VEHICLE IS 1991 HONDA PRELUDE SI, VIN [XXX], PURCHASED NEW 7/22/91 FROM WOODLAND HILLS HONDA, 6111 TOPANGA CANYON BOULEVARD, WOODLAND HILLS, CA., 91365. A/C PROBLEM BEGAN MAY, 1996 AT 68,000 MILES, AND LAST ATTEMPTED REPAIR ENDED OCTOBER, 2001 AT 142,000 MILES. WE HAVE FOUR (4) HONDA ACCORDS (1991 AND 93 MODELS), ALL OVER 160,000 MILES, WITH NO A/C PROBLEMS. THE BAD A/C SEEMS LIMITED TO PRELUDE ONLY. IT IS VERY HOT IN SAN FERNANDO VALLEY OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA FOR 6 MONTHS OF THE YEAR. ON…
May 4, 1996 · 68,000 miles
Seat belts › Front
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT RELEASES ON ITS OWN AT ANY TIME. DEALER STATES THAT COIL CONNECTOR TERMINATOR NEEDS REPLACING. *AK
Aug 1, 2003 · 193,000 miles
Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
THE HOOD HAD OPENED UP WHILE MY SON WAS USING THE CAR. THIS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE FRON GLASS, ROOF, LEFT SIDE MIRROR, LEFT SIDE DOOR AND LEFT SIDE FRONT FENDER, AND HOOD.*AK
May 6, 2002
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
CONSUMER PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE WHICH WAS IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE, AFTER SOME TIME THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO HAVE A USED ENGINE INSTALLED AFTER INSTALLATION IT WAS NOTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BAD BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT RUN (HEAD GASKET, SHORT BLOCK, HEAD ASSEMBLY, TIMING BELT AND OIL PAN). NLM
Sep 25, 2000
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › GasolineFire
THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDA PRELUDES...EVERYONE I KNOW WITH A PRELUDE HAS ENGINE PROBLEMS
Aug 20, 1999
Engine and engine cooling › EngineFire
BOUGHT THE CAR AND THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE THE WAS NO REASON WHY THE ENGINE BLEW OUT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.... IT THREW A ROD. *AK
Apr 17, 2000
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WON'T LOCK AND WILL COME APART WHENEVER THE CONSUMER MOVES WHICH MAK'S THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY. *AK
Nov 12, 1998

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.