1986 Honda Prelude Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Honda Prelude, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Fuel system650.0%
- Seat belts325.0%
- Engine216.7%
- Interior & seats18.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS DEFECT IS COVERED BY NHTSA CAMAIGN ID 92V028001 AND IS A FIRE HAZARD. THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN AND AS SUCH DEALERS WILL NOT REPAIR AT NO CHARGE. THE WARRANTY STATES "EXCEPT AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW, THIS VEHICLE HAS NO WARRANTY IN THE 50 UNITED STATES, D.C., PUERTO RICO OR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS." MY QUESTION: IS THIS RECALL REQUIRED BY U.S. LAW AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE? IF SO HOW DO I PROCEED?*AK
HONDA RECALLED THIS CAR IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK FILLER PIPE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION, HOWEVER, THE SURROUNDING MOUNTS AND THE FILL PIPE BOWL ON THE FILLER DOOR ARE ALSO EXCESSIVELY CORRODED, AND ARE FAILING TO HOLD THE FILLER PIPE IN PLACE, AND ALLOW EXCESSIVE FUMES TO BUILD UP WITHIN THE CAR. THE STAMPED METAL BOWL SURROUNDING THE FILLER PIPE AT THE GAS DOOR HAS FAILED, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE FILLER PIPE THAT WAS RECALLED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE NOT LONG ENOUGH TO FASTEN WHEN SEATS ARE IN FORWARD POSITION. *SKD
THE REAR DRIVE SIDE RETRACTOR IS LOCK UP PURCHASE CAR USED. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE DOES NOT IDLE VERY WELL WHEN WARM OR VERY COLD. CAR SEEMS TO LOSS POWER ON THE FREEWAY. CAR TENDS TO OVEHEAT AFTER LONG DRIVING STINTS. FAN DOES NOT GO ON WHEN ENGINE IS OVER HEATING.
VEHICLE STOP RUNNING/LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
RECLINING MECHANISM FAILED ON DRIVERS SEAT. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .