Model year record

1998 Honda Prelude recalls & problems

The 1998 Honda Prelude has 5 safety recalls and 69 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (31 complaints).

Recalls5safety recalls

Complaints69filed by owners

Crashes · fires5 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths8 · 1reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingJun 29, 2006

Exterior lighting

Recall 06E06000087,745 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: 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."
Risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH
Fix: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.

Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006

Exterior lighting

Recall 06E02600061,944 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: 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.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Electrical systemJan 28, 2005

Ignition › Switch

Recall 05V025000486,659 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.

Electrical systemMay 16, 2002

Ignition › Switch

Recall 02V1200001,000,000 vehicles

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

SuspensionMay 10, 1999

Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint

Recall 99V069000124,875 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.

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.

Fuel economy

Prelude

22mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,750/year to fuel

Prelude

21mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/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	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Torque converter	31	1	2	85,170 mi
Electrical systemIgnition › Switch; Ignition › Anti-theft › Control module	13	0	0	150,000 mi
SuspensionRear; Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint	10	0	1	109,000 mi
Air bagsFrontal; Side/window	4	4	4	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	4	0	0	—
VisibilityPower window devices and controls; Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core	4	0	0	—
SteeringHydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections	3	0	0	—
Vehicle speed control	3	0	0	—
Latches/locks/linkagesDoors › Latch	2	0	0	—
Wheels	2	0	1	—
Unknown or other	2	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	2	1	2	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Power train
This is the first time I had to replace the transmission at 65867 miles on it, Well I was driving down to the street one day and then it's started to Slip In. and out of a gear And the next day I tried to pull out Of. my driveway The transmission is bad and Honda knows this, the second time it is now 186573 miles on the second transmission.
May 10, 2023
Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING OR AT STOP LIGHT, CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. MUST HAVE A JUMP TO RESTART AND CAN ONLY DRIVE 5-10 MILES BEFORE CAR STALLS SAYING BATTERY NOT CHARGING. BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR BOTH TEST AS GOOD. CAR MAY START AND RUN NORMALLY FOR SEVERAL DAYS THEN PROBLEM REAPPEARS.
Jun 2, 2019 · 150,000 miles
Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA PRELUDE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NORM REEVES HONDA SUPERSTORE WEST COVINA (1840 E GARVEY AVE S, WEST COVINA, CA 91791, (626) 251-2995) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.
Jan 1, 2017 · 200,000 miles
Electronic stability control (esc)
WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH OR TUMBLER ANY KEY MOVEMENT WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO SHUT OFF MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP VARY DANGEROUS TO TRAVEL WITH CHILDREN.
Dec 2, 2018
Electrical system
HONDA RECALL HONDA PARTS DEFECTIVE OR POOR WORKMANSHIP. HONDA DEALERSHIP IN JASPER, ALABAMA IS NOT HONORING REPLACEMENT OF KNOWN DEFECTIVE PARTS ON MY 1998 HONDA PRELUDE. THE FOLLOWING INCLUDES KNOWN DEFECTIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, KNOWN DEFECTIVE IGNITION MODULE/SWITCH/IGNITION INTERLOCK SYSTEMS. ALL THREE HAVE FAILED COMPLETELY AND OR ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FAILING. MY VEHICLE IS UNSAFE IT CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD SOMETIMES NOT RESTARTING. THE KEY WILL SWITCH TO OFF POSITION AND COME OUT WHILE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IS NOT IN PARK WITH THE E-BRAKE NOT PULLED. MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING ALL THE FAULTS STATED IN NUMEROUS REPORTS ON THIS WEBSITE AND IN HONDAS OWN RECALLS. I HAVE DONE…
Apr 12, 2016 · 160,000 miles
Electrical system
MY 1998 V-TEC HONDA PRELUDE RECENTLY HIT 157000 MILES AND SHORTLY AFTER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING LOSS OF POWER, STALLING, AND LOSS OF STEERING. WITHIN 5 WEEKS I HAVE EXPERIENCED IT STALL AND INSTANTLY RESTART WHILE GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, LOSE ALL POWER AND STEERING WHILE TURNING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, AND LOSE POWER AND STEERING WHILE GOING 55 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THIS WEBSITE, ACROSS THE INTERNET AND SPEAKING WITH SOME MECHANICS I BELIEVE THESE ISSUES TO BE IN LINE WITH TWO MAJOR RECALLS THAT WERE DONE ON MY YEAR MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE HOWEVER I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT MY VEHICLE AMONG MANY OTHERS WERE EXCLUDED FROM THESE RECALLS (RECALL #'S…
Jun 11, 2017 · 157,000 miles
Air bagsCrash
ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 27, 2012, THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PER THE DETECTIVE THAT SPOKE WITH MY HUSBAND, THE AIRBAG BROKE OUR SON'S NECK AND THEY BELIEVE DEATH WAS INSTANT. (I HOPE SO). THIS WAS A USED VEHICLE THAT APPARENTLY HAD SEVERAL OWNERS. THE LAST OWNER PRIOR TO OUR SON WAS [XXX]. IT WAS PURCHASED FROM HIM THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING 2009. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 2/13/13 *CN
Oct 27, 2012 · 167,263 miles
Power train › Automatic transmission
ON MY THIRD TRANSMISSION FOR THIS CAR, I HAVE BECOME SCARED TO DRIVE IT. WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS MY TRANSMISSION WILL RANDOMLY CHOOSE WHEN TO ENGAGE IN THE CORRECT GEAR. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CLOSE ACCIDENTS IN THIS CAR AND I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO MAKE LEFT TURNS. THIS HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY AT TIMES AND I AM UNABLE TO PULL OVER AT A SAFE SPEED BECAUSE THIS MODELS TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY. THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND I FEEL CHEATED AND UN-SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. *LN
Jan 7, 2011 · 120,000 miles

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

NHTSA defect investigations

IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCKClosedLed to recall 05V025000
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…
PE05002 · opened Jan 13, 2005 · closed Feb 2, 2005