1997 Honda Prelude Owner Complaints

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

MY TRANSMISSION ON MY 97 HONDA PRELUDE WENT OUT ON ME IT STARTED TO SLIP EVERY DAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10240557

Incident

Aug 6, 2008

Mileage

115,000 mi

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 1997 HONDA PRELUDE AUTOMATIC SS CRAPPED OUT ON ME AFTER KICKING AND SLIPPING FOR A FEW MONTHS SO I HAD IT REBUILT...AND NOW A FEW MONTHS LATER IT'S ALREADY SLIPPING AND KICKING AGAIN. IT COST 1500 TO HAVE IT REBUILT THE FIRST TIME, HONDA ALREADY ADDRESSED THE 00-01 PRELUDE AUTO TRANSMISSIONS IN A RECALL, WHY HAVEN'T THE ADDRESSED THE ISSUES IN THE PRIOR YEARS? IT'S THE SAME CAR AS THE 00-01, NO CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE BODY, ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, AND YET THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS THIS WIDESPREAD ISSUE AMONG PRELUDE OWNERS. I FOR ONE AM TIRED OF IT, HONDA OWES IT TO THEIR LOYAL CONSUMERS THAT THEY CONFRONT THIS ISSUE HEAD ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237312

Incident

May 5, 2008

Mileage

91,000 mi

I HAVE A 1997 PRELUDE THAT HAS HAD 1 TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN NOV. OF 2005 & IT WAS REBUILT. IT CURRENT IS FAILING THE SAME WAY THE FIRST TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT IS MAKING NOISE & STARTING TO SLIP WHEN IT IS COLD. $1700 TO FIX THE 1ST TRANSMISSION BY A TRANS SHOP. I AM JOINING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT IF IT IS NOT TAKEN CARE OF FROM HONDA. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT! *TR

NHTSA ID

10222472

Incident

Nov 20, 2005

Mileage

50,300 mi

MY 1997 HONDA PRELUDE SPORTS SHIFT AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NOW IT NEEDS TO BE TOWED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218189

Incident

Feb 16, 2008

Mileage

180,000 mi

I RECENTLY BOUGHT MY HONDA PRELUDE BACK IN NOVEMBER 18, 2007 FROM A USED DEALERSHIP. THE CAR CAME WITH 167K MILES AND NOW I'M AT 169K. THE MAIN REASON WHY I AM FILING A COMPLAINT, IS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT. I TAKE MY CAR TO WORK, SCHOOL, DRIVE MY MOM TO WORK, AND EVEN MY YOUNGER BROTHER TO SCHOOL. THIS IS THE ONLY CAR WE HAVE. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JERKS AT LOW RPMS FROM 1K-3K IN 1ST-2ND GEAR. I'VE DONE RESEARCH ON 97-01 HONDA PRELUDES AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS THE MOST FAILS. IF MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GOES OUT I WOULDN'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO REPLACE IT WHILE I'M STILL PAYING FOR INSURANCE AND MONTHLY PAYMENTS. I BELIEVE THAT HONDA SHOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT COST EVEN WITH CARS WITHOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. ALSO I HEAR THAT THE 99-01 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE STRONGER THAN THE 97-98 YEARS AND WERE ALSO GIVEN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE 99-01 YEARS WITH UNDER 100K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216545

Incident

Jan 30, 2008

Mileage

169,841 mi

THE CAR STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON HIGHWAY DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH. THE IGNITION SWITCHED WAS REPLACED IN OCT 2003 AS PART OF A RECALL YET FAILED LESS THAN 3 YEARS LATER. "MAKE : HONDA MODEL : PRELUDE YEAR : 1997 MANUFACTURER : AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V120000 RECALL DATE : MAY 13, 2002 COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH" *NM

NHTSA ID

10155902

Incident

Apr 19, 2006

Mileage

72,900 mi

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS IN 1997 HONDA PRELUDES ARE WEAK AND FAIL EASY. THE REASON IS CHEAP PARTS AND METALS IN THE TRANSMISSIONS THEMSELVES. THE 97 PRELUDES WERE RECALLED IN TURKEY, AND REPLACED WITH A NEW M6HA UNIT. MINE IS CONSTANTLY SLIPPING AND TEARING UP. I'M LOOKING AT A CONSTANT PROBLEM THAT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR ITS QUALITY AND PRESTIGE IN THE HONDA WORLD, BUT DUE TO THE LACK OF QUALITY AND WORKMANSHIP IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, MY OPINION OF PRELUDES HAS DRASTICALLY DROPPED. I WOULD NOT CARE IF I HAD AN AUTOMATIC OR A MANUAL, I JUST WANT A CAR THAT WORKS LIKE THE HONDA COMPANY LACKED TO MAKE IT. THANK YOU. *NM

NHTSA ID

10149356

Incident

Dec 1, 2005

Mileage

97,000 mi

CONSUMER HAS HAD RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH OIL LEAKING EACH TIME THEY HAVE REPAIRED DIFFERENT PARTS ON THE VEHICLE AND IT STILL PERSIST. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOUR TIMES FROM MAY 2003- OCTOBER 2003 FOR OIL LEAKAGE. THEY CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER AND ON THE LAST DATE CLAIMED THAT THE SEALS WERE PROBABLY LEAKING. AFTER EACH OCCASION THE CONSUMER WAS ASSURED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. ON DECEMBER 20, 2004 THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD CRACKING SOUND WHILE DRIVING. SHE PULLED INTO A SERVICE STATION WHO POPPED THE HOOD AND NOTICED OIL LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO LACK OF OIL. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10139911

Incident

Dec 20, 2004

Mileage

80,034 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER HAD RECALL 05V018000 REPAIR WORK COMPLETED ON FRIDAY. THE RECALL INVOLVED THE IGNITION SWITCH.. ON SUNDAY SHE NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THE BLOWER WAS OUT ON THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WOULD BE $489.00. THE CONSUMER FELT THIS PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL REPAIR WORK THAT HAD BEEN COMPLETED ON FRIDAY. SHE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FROM 8AM TO 12:15 PM BEFORE THE DEALER FINISHED INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10137845

Incident

Sep 25, 2005

Mileage

138,701 mi

1997 HONDA PRELUDE WITH ONLY 67,000 MILES. STARTED TO MAKE A MINOR BUZZING NOISE WHEN IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. TOOK IT TO MY INDEPENDENT HONDA MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT I HAD A BEARING GOING IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT WOULD REQUIRE A REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION. COST $3,900. HE SUGGESTED THAT I SELL THE CAR QUICKLY AS IT WASN'T WORTH THE COST OF REPAIRS. THAT'S WHAT I DID. SOLD IT TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP. HONDA NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. NO MORE HONDAS FOR ME.

NHTSA ID

10122164

Incident

May 5, 2004

Mileage

67,000 mi

AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR A HONDA RECALL 11108, RECALL REPAIRS FAILED, IT WAS LEAKING OIL. DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER, SORRY WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10089120

Incident

Aug 18, 2004

1997 HONDA PRELUDE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. HONDA REFUSES TO ASSIST CONSUMERS WITH FAULTY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS INHERENT IN THE VEHICLES. TRANS WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR, OR NOT ENGAGE WHEN ENTERING FREEWAY, CAUSING A DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING CONDITION. WHEN SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS, AMERICAN HONDA WILL THEN BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE HORRIBLE CARS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10082682

Incident

Sep 25, 2003

97 HONDA PRELUDE

NHTSA ID

10066111

Incident

Apr 14, 2004

Mileage

73,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10065585

Incident

Mar 7, 2004

Mileage

99,793 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY... CAR SLOWS DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY DURING GEAR SHIFT IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVERS FOLLOWING THE VEHICLE TO BRAKE UNEXPECTEDLY. *LA

NHTSA ID

10047570

Incident

Nov 21, 2003

Mileage

45,000 mi

MY 1997 PRELUDE SS HAD A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND IT DECIDED TO GO ON ME, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, WHILE TRAFFIC WAS BEHIND ME. SO, I DECIDED TO CONTACT HONDA AND MAKE THEM SEE THE ISSUE, INSTEAD I RECEIVED A NO ANSWER, WHICH WAS A PRETTY LAME EXCUSE TO NOT REPLACE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN ALL 97-99 HONDA PRELUDE CARS, SO, THE SERVICE MANAGER DECIDED TO RETRY THE HONDA USA NUMBER, AND THEY GOT ME THROUGH AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION UNDER A NON-TRANSMISSION WARRANTY. SO, MY POINT IS THAT HONDA MUST COMPLY WITH A TRANSMISSION WARRANTY ON ALL THESE CARS, AND NOT JUST THE NEWER MODELS, BECAUSE IT IS UNFAIR TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL, AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. SO, WITH ALL THIS SAID, I WANT TO MAKE SURE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THANKS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10047008

Incident

Oct 3, 2003

Mileage

52,540 mi

1997 HONDA PRELUDE THE CLUTCH SPRING RETAINER BROKE RENDERING THE CLUTCH INOPERABLE PLACING STRESS ON THE TRANSMISSION AND DAMAGING THE INTERNALS FROM THE SPRING BEING LOOSE IN THE SYSTEM

NHTSA ID

10039616

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

130,500 mi