EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1997 Honda Prelude
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 66 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Honda Prelude, most frequently naming the transmission, electrical and suspension categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 86 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 1 |
| Jan 1998 | 1 | 2 |
| Aug 1998 | 1 | 3 |
| Sep 1998 | 1 | 4 |
| Jan 1999 | 1 | 5 |
| Jun 1999 | 1 | 6 |
| Jul 1999 | 2 | 8 |
| Aug 1999 | 1 | 9 |
| Feb 2000 | 1 | 10 |
| Mar 2000 | 2 | 12 |
| May 2000 | 1 | 13 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 14 |
| Oct 2000 | 1 | 15 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 16 |
| May 2001 | 1 | 17 |
| Jun 2001 | 2 | 19 |
| Jul 2001 | 2 | 21 |
| Sep 2001 | 1 | 22 |
| Oct 2001 | 1 | 23 |
| Jan 2002 | 1 | 24 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 25 |
| Oct 2002 | 2 | 27 |
| Nov 2002 | 1 | 28 |
| Dec 2002 | 2 | 30 |
| Jan 2003 | 1 | 31 |
| Mar 2003 | 2 | 33 |
| Apr 2003 | 2 | 35 |
| May 2003 | 1 | 36 |
| Jul 2003 | 2 | 38 |
| Aug 2003 | 2 | 40 |
| Sep 2003 | 2 | 42 |
| Nov 2003 | 2 | 44 |
| Apr 2004 | 2 | 46 |
| Jul 2004 | 1 | 47 |
| Aug 2004 | 1 | 48 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 49 |
| Sep 2005 | 1 | 50 |
| Oct 2005 | 1 | 51 |
| Feb 2006 | 1 | 52 |
| Apr 2006 | 1 | 53 |
| Jan 2008 | 1 | 54 |
| Feb 2008 | 1 | 55 |
| Mar 2008 | 1 | 56 |
| Aug 2008 | 1 | 57 |
| Sep 2008 | 1 | 58 |
| Jul 2009 | 1 | 59 |
| Mar 2010 | 1 | 60 |
| May 2010 | 1 | 61 |
| Aug 2010 | 1 | 62 |
| Jun 2011 | 1 | 63 |
| Aug 2013 | 1 | 64 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 65 |
| Sep 2019 | 1 | 66 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Transmission3845.8%
- Electrical910.8%
- Suspension78.4%
- Tires & wheels56.0%
- Engine56.0%
- Brakes44.8%
- Interior & seats33.6%
- Heating & air conditioning33.6%
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
5 campaigns 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.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK
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 CONTAINING INTERLOCK SYSTEMS MADE BY ITS JAPANESE LOCK MANUFACTURING FACILITY MAY CONTAIN DEFECTIVE INTERNAL COMPONENTS.IN COMBINATION WITH CERTAIN WEAR AND USAGE FACTORS, THIS MAY LEAD TO A CONDITION THAT PREVENTS THE SYSTEM FROM BLOCKING REMOVAL OF THE IGNITION KEY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK.IF THE DRIVER LEAVES THE TRANSMISSION IN A NON-PARK POSITION AND FAILS TO SET THE HAND BRAKE WHEN PARKING, THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL AWAY AND CRASH.INTERLOCK SYSTEMS MANUFACTURED BY HONDA?S U.S. LOCK MANUFACTURER DO NOT APPEAR TO CONTAIN THIS DEFECT AND ARE THEREFORE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ACTION. IN A LETTER DATED JANUARY 27, 2005, HONDA ADVISED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO EITHER UPGRADE (FOR OPERATIVE SYSTEMS) OR REPAIR (FOR INOPERATIVE SYSTEMS) SUBJECT INTERLOCK SYSTEMS WITH NEW DESIGN LEVEL COMPONENTS THAT DO NOT CONTAIN THE DEFECT.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND HAVE HAD GOOD LUCK WITH HONDA'S IN THE PAST BUT ABOUT 300 MILES OF ME OWNING THIS VEHICLE I WAS ENTERING A FREEWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST ALL POWER WITH CARS GOING HIGHWAY SPEED BEHIND ME I HAD TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER LUCKILY THERE WAS ONE THERE THE FIRST TIME IT GAVE OUT BUT LATER ON THAT DRIVE GOING HOME I WAS DRIVING OVER A BRIDGE WITH TRAFFIC WHEN IT DID IT AGAIN I WAS SO SCARED BECAUSE I'M STUCK IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC ON A BRIDGE AND THE CAR WANTS TO ROLL BACK AND IT DIDN'T WANT TO TURN ON UNTIL IT COOLED DOWN WHICH WAS 30 MINUTES OF UGLY LOOKS OF CARS DRIVING BY ME WHEN I FINALLY GOT HOME I HAD NEVER FELT SO RELIEVED SO THAT'S WHEN I TOLD MY FATHER ABOUT IT WE LOOKED AT IT DRIVE IT AND HE HOPED IT WAS JUST A BAD IGNITION COIL SO WE CHANGED THAT BUT AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I SAW THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH CARS TRANSMISSION SO I DIG A LITTLE BIT MORE AND FOUND OUT THAT HONDA KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT ONLY IS HONORING THE 2000 YEAR MODELS AND UP UNDER WARRANTY WHICH IS REALLY UNFAIR BECAUSE ONE THEY KNEW THERE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE WEAK AND IT COULD OF COST ME MY LIFE TWICE! SO I'M TAKING THE TIME TO STAND UP FOR ALL OF US BECAUSE NO ONE DESERVES TO BE HURT OR FATALLY WOUNDED BY A POORLY MADE TRANSMISSION
- NHTSA ID
- 11254317
- Incident
- Jun 28, 2019
- Mileage
- 171,000 mi
ITS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IT ONLY HAS 136000 MILES ON IT AND I NEED A NEW ONE THAT'S REALLY LOW MILES FOR A 97 NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS EVER WITH ANY OF MY CARS. I HEARD ITS WITH ALL THE HONDAS. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10578137
- Incident
- Apr 6, 2014
- Mileage
- 136,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA PRELUDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10534140
- Incident
- Jun 7, 2013
- Mileage
- 186,000 mi
WELL BASICALLY I BOUGHT MY 97AUTOMATIC PRELUDE, AND NOT MORE THAN A MONTH LATER OF HAVING THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. BASICALLY IT WOULD SOUND LIKE A SCREW DRIVER WAS BEING FORCED INTO THE GEARS OR SOMETHING. ON TOP OF THAT IT WAS REVVING RIDICULOUSLY HIGH AND NOT MOVING ANYWHERE. MY FOURTH GEAR WAS GONE THEY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. NOT TO MENTION WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED TO THE DEALER THEY SAID BRING IT IN AND THEY WILL ERASE THE CODE "GOOD AS NEW" TO BE EXACT. BUT HONESTLY AS A CONSUMER A LOYAL ONE, I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED BY HAVING MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED OR FULLY REBUILT. CAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS AS WELL AS HONDA MECHANICS WHO HAVE FILLED ME IN WITH THE SS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS BEING THE CAUSE OF BAD BEARINGS AND BAD INTERNALS AND BAD TORQUE CONVERTERS. SEEING AS ME BEING THE CONSUMER AND BEING CONSTANTLY PUT IN A SITUATION BEEN AM I GONNA BREAK DOWN ON THE FREEWAY ON THE WAY TO WORK OR YET EVEN WORSE AT NIGHT PAST MIDNIGHT WHEN I'M OFF. NOW LET ME REMIND U IT'S STILL A LEASE AND THERE ARE SOME FACTS I KNOW AD RESEARCHED ON LIKE "THE MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY ACT (15 U.S.C. 2302)" WHICH STATES: THIS FEDERAL LAW REGULATES WARRANTIES FOR THE PROTECTION OF CONSUMERS. THE ESSENCE OF THE LAW CONCERNING AFTERMARKET AUTO PARTS IS THAT A VEHICLE MANUFACTURER MAY NOT CONDITION A WRITTEN OR IMPLIED WARRANTY ON THE CONSUMERS USING PARTS OR SERVICES WHICH ARE IDENTIFIED BY BRAND, TRADE, OR CORPORATE NAME (SUCH AS THE VEHICLE MAKER'S BRAND) UNLESS THE PARTS OR SERVICE ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE. THE LAW MEANS THAT THE USE OF AN AFTERMARKET PART ALONE IS NOT CAUSE FOR DENYING THE WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE LAW'S PROTECTION DOES NOT EXTEND TO AFTERMARKET PARTS IN SITUATIONS WHERE SUCH PARTS ACTUALLY CAUSED THE DAMAGE BEING CLAIMED UNDER THE WARRANTY. FURTHER, CONSUMERS ARE ADVISED TO BE AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC TERMS OR CONDITIONS STATED IN THE WARRANTY WHICH MAY RESULT IN ITS BEING VOIDED. THE LAW STATES IN RELEVANT PART: ??NO WARRANTOR OF. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10405540
- Incident
- Aug 11, 2010
- Mileage
- 95,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA PRELUDE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. SHE STATED SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AT LEAST SIX TIMES, INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE DEALER DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH). THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,565 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,765.
- NHTSA ID
- 10350076
- Incident
- Jun 17, 2010
- Mileage
- 146,565 mi
MY 1997 HONDA PRELUDE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DIED OUT. WHEN I LOOKED ON THE FORUMS, HONDA IS VERY WELL AWARE OF THE FAILURE BY DESIGN OF THEIR HONDA PRELUDES. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10329477
- Incident
- Apr 18, 2010
- Mileage
- 150,000 mi
I'VE DRIVING MY PRELUDE FOR 4 YEARS. VERY SOON AFTER I GOT IT I NOTICD THE SHIFTING WAS JERKY. SOON AFTER IT BECAME JUMPY AND NOW WHEN I DRIVIE MY CAR FROM COLD ITS BOLTING INTO GEAR WITH A TREMENDOUS JERK. I FEEL ITS ON ITS WAY OUT.
- NHTSA ID
- 10323067
- Incident
- Mar 31, 2010
- Mileage
- 90,000 mi
APRIL 2007 I HAD THE SHIFT INTERLOCK UPDATE AS WELL AS THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL DONE AT MY LOCAL DEALER. THE SHIFT INTERLOCK UPDATE INCLUDED A WHOLE NEW LOCK ASSEMBLY INCLUDING NEW TUMBLERS AND A NEW KEY BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE MY OLD KEY WHILE NOT IN PARK. JULY 2009 I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION USING MANY DIFFERENT KEYS. SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE TUMBLERS WERE DAMAGED AND THAT THE WHOLE LOCK ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I WAS HAVING NO PROBLEMS WITH THE LOCK PRIOR TO THE RECALL WORK. THE NEW LOCK INSTALLED DURING THE RECALL LASTED JUST OVER 2 YEARS AND HONDA WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE WORK BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN OVER 12 MONTHS 12000 MILES. I ASKED THEM TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY MY ORIGINAL LOCK LASTED 10 YEARS AND WAS HAVING NO ISSUES WHEN RECALLED, AND THE REPLACEMENT ONLY 2 YEARS. THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T EXPLAIN IT BUT THE CHARGE TO REPLACE WAS $887. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE NEW LOCK ASSEMBLY INSTALLED BECAUSE OF THE RECALL WAS DEFECTIVE, AND IT WAS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE FOR ME TO REPLACE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10276984
- Incident
- Jul 11, 2009
- Mileage
- 120,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
SUSPENSION
This SKU is a Front Upper Ball Joint. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for the outer diameter of the ball joint housing being too small. The outer diameter being too small would prevent the part from being installed, and would therefore have no impact on the end user besides time to complete installation.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONCERNS WITH ENGINE HESITATION OR STUMBLE CAN BE FELT UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION BETWEEN 1,500 AND 2,000 RPM. *YC UPDATED 10/09/07. *NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DTC (DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE) P1279, PGM TESTER SOFTWARE ERROR. *SC
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
A CONDITION EXIST WHERE THE UPPER WINDSHIELD MOLDING IS WARPED OR DEFORMED. *TT THIS BULLETIN 00-064 REPLACED BULLETIN 98-066 DATED MARCH 28, 2000. *TT
TYPE 1 IMMOBI BRAKE CODES AVAILABLE ON THE INTERACTIVE NETWORK (HONDA). *NM
AIR BAGS
SRS INDICATOR ON AFTER BODY SHOP REPAIR. CHECK FOR SRS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES. HONDA SERVICENEWS. APRIL 2004. *TT
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 56.1 |
| 2000 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 51.1 |
| 1999 | 31 | 4 | 1 | 51.1 |
| 1998 | 69 | 5 | 1 | 57.9 |
| 1997Viewing | 66 | 5 | 1 | 52.3 |
| 1996 | 4 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 6 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 9 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 56.7 |
| 1992 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 67.5 |
| 1991 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 49.9 |
| 1990 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 38.2 |
| 1988 | 35 | 6 | 0 | 57.6 |
| 1987 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 58.0 |
| 1986 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 46.0 |
| 1985 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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.