RoadVitals

1989 Honda Prelude

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest Jun 27, 2002
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest May 24, 1995
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 21 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Honda Prelude, most frequently naming the steering, seat belts and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Steering929.0%
  • Seat belts619.4%
  • Engine516.1%
  • Suspension26.5%
  • Brakes26.5%
  • Transmission13.2%
  • Body & structure13.2%
  • Visibility13.2%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
95V103001

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

May 24, 1995
3,700,000 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: 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.
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 21
Engine
Filed Jun 27, 2002

THE ENGINE TIMING BELT BROKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED (@55MPH) ON THE US 20 BYPASS, A LOCAL 2-LANE EXPRESSWAY. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND POWER DUE TO THE BREAKING OF THE TIMING BELT. LUCKILY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE NEAR ME AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED. VEHICLES ON THIS EXPRESSWAY ROUTINELY APPROACH 65 MPH. THIS BEING SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND TO HAVE 3 OF THE 4 ENGINE VALVES DESTROYED BEYOND REPAIR; A ROD OR PISTON IN THE LOWER ENGINE HAS ALSO BEEN AFFECTED, THUS EFFECTIVELY MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE AND UNECONOMICAL TO REPAIR. THE VEHICLE OWNERS MANUAL FAILS TO INFORM OWNERS THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED. THERE IS NO INDICATION AT ALL IN THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ON PAGES 72-77 THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED. THE WARRANTY BOOKLET FOR THE 1989 HONDA PRELUDE STATES ON PAGE 4, " YOU MUST MAINTAIN YOUR 1989 HONDA AUTOMOBILE ACCORDING TO THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL". THE OWNERS MANUAL ALSO FAILS TO INFORM/WARN VEHICLE OWNERS OF WHAT CONSEQUENCES A BROKEN TIMING BELT CAN HAVE ON THE ENGINE AND DOES NOT WARN/INFORM OWNERS OF THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES ATTEMPTING TO RESTART AN ENGINE WITH A BROKEN TIMING BELT CAN HAVE ON THE ENGINE. SCENARIOS CAN BE ENVISIONED IN WHICH ACCIDENTS COULD OCCUR DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE TIMING BELT. ATTEMPTING TO PASS A VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF ACCELERATION COULD RESULT IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH AN ON-COMING CAR ON A TWO LANE ROAD, OR WITH AN ADJACENT ONE IN BUSY, FAST MOVING TRAFFIC ON AN EXPRESSWAY. I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA ON 06/20/02, MY CASE # IS 9N012002-06-2000-969. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A PRIVATE PARTY, NOT THE LISTED DEALER--THAT IS WHERE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT WHEN NEW.*AK

NHTSA ID
763570
Incident
Jun 18, 2002
Electrical
Filed Dec 11, 2000
Fire reported

SOON AFTER PARKING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS DUE TO FAULTY WIRES. CONSUMER CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA, AND THEY SENT CONSUMER TO A DEALER SHIP. BUT DEALERSHIP SAID THAT PROBLEM WAS TOO SERIOUS, AND THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR HER. CONSUMER CALLED BACK AMERICAN HONDA, AND THEY SAID THEY WILL CALL HER BACK. CONSUMER IS STILL WAITING FOR THE PHONE CALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
876246
Incident
Dec 1, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Feb 26, 2000

FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES ENGAGE AND APPEAR TO HOLD; BUT BUCKLES RELEASE UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO BELTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
719292
Steering
Filed Jan 17, 2000

POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED. THERE WAS A RECALL OF THE SAME HOSE ON 1988, WHICH ARE IDENTICAL TO THE 1989 MODEL. *ET

NHTSA ID
784435
Incident
Dec 1, 1999
Steering
Filed Jan 17, 2000

SAME PROBLEM AS 1988 MODEL YEAR RECALL. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) FOUND IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
717442
Incident
Dec 21, 1999
Steering
Filed Nov 17, 1999

POWER STEERING SUPPLY HOSE ON MY HONDA PRELUDE DEVELOPED A LEAK AT THE CONNECTOR CLAMP SEAL, AND DRIPPED FLUID ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD, CAUSING SMOKE. HONDA HAD RECALLED THE POWER STEERING SUPPLY HOSE WHICH THEY INSTALLED IN MY CAR, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS MANUFACTURED FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE "ENDING DATE OF MANUFACTURE". MY HONDA PRELUDE IS A 1989 MODEL, BUT IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN AUGUST OF 1988. PLEASE PETITION HONDA TO EXTEND THEIR RECALL SO THAT I, AND OTHER HONDA PRELUDE OWNERS, CAN BE PROTECTED FROM THIS POTENTIAL HAZARD. *AK

NHTSA ID
714928
Incident
Nov 2, 1999
Engine
Filed Nov 11, 1999

THE CAR STOPS BY ITSELF WHEN BEING DRIVEN. IT SPUTTERS AND THEN ALL THE ELECTRICAL LIGHTS COME ON AND THE CAR STOPS AND WILL NOT START. I HAVE TOWED IT TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES, AND THEY CANNOT FIGURE THE PROBLEM OUT, AND THEY ARE ABLE TO START THE CAR. THE DEALER SAYS EVERYTHING IS ALL RIGHT BUT WE ARE STILL FACING THE SAME PROBLEM OF CAR STOPPING BY ITSELF AND NOT STARTING AGAIN.

NHTSA ID
714659
Steering
Filed Oct 8, 1999

THIS HOSE FAILURE IS THE SAME TYPE OF FAILURE THAT WAS DESCRIBED IN THE 1988 RECALL, BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER IT.

NHTSA ID
712984
Incident
Oct 1, 1999

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Honda Prelude by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000—
2006010—
2005010—
2004010—
2003010—
2002010—
2001213156.1
2000133151.1
1999314151.1
1998695157.9
1997665152.3
1996460—
1995650—
1994950—
1993115156.7
1992225267.5
1991151049.9
1990410—
1989Viewing211038.2
1988356057.6
1987142158.0
1986122146.0
1985710—
1984510—
1983110—
1981210—
1980010—
1979010—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.