EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1998 Honda Prelude
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 69 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 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 74 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 1998 | 1 | 1 |
| Aug 1998 | 1 | 2 |
| Oct 1998 | 1 | 3 |
| Dec 1998 | 1 | 4 |
| Feb 1999 | 2 | 6 |
| Mar 1999 | 3 | 9 |
| Aug 1999 | 1 | 10 |
| Jan 2000 | 1 | 11 |
| Feb 2000 | 1 | 12 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 13 |
| Feb 2001 | 2 | 15 |
| Mar 2001 | 2 | 17 |
| Jul 2001 | 2 | 19 |
| Aug 2002 | 1 | 20 |
| Sep 2002 | 3 | 23 |
| Oct 2002 | 3 | 26 |
| Nov 2002 | 2 | 28 |
| Jan 2003 | 1 | 29 |
| Feb 2003 | 3 | 32 |
| Apr 2003 | 2 | 34 |
| Aug 2003 | 1 | 35 |
| Dec 2003 | 1 | 36 |
| Feb 2004 | 2 | 38 |
| Mar 2004 | 1 | 39 |
| Jul 2004 | 1 | 40 |
| Nov 2004 | 1 | 41 |
| Jan 2005 | 1 | 42 |
| Feb 2005 | 1 | 43 |
| Jul 2005 | 2 | 45 |
| Aug 2005 | 1 | 46 |
| Mar 2006 | 1 | 47 |
| May 2006 | 1 | 48 |
| Jan 2007 | 1 | 49 |
| Feb 2008 | 1 | 50 |
| Apr 2008 | 1 | 51 |
| Aug 2008 | 1 | 52 |
| Jan 2009 | 1 | 53 |
| Feb 2009 | 1 | 54 |
| Mar 2009 | 1 | 55 |
| Apr 2009 | 2 | 57 |
| Sep 2009 | 2 | 59 |
| Mar 2010 | 1 | 60 |
| Sep 2010 | 1 | 61 |
| Feb 2011 | 1 | 62 |
| Feb 2013 | 1 | 63 |
| Jul 2017 | 1 | 64 |
| Dec 2017 | 1 | 65 |
| Dec 2018 | 1 | 66 |
| Apr 2019 | 1 | 67 |
| Jun 2019 | 1 | 68 |
| Jun 2023 | 1 | 69 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Transmission2935.4%
- Electrical1214.6%
- Suspension911.0%
- Engine56.1%
- Airbags44.9%
- Driver assistance44.9%
- Visibility44.9%
- Steering33.7%
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
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 11528431
- Incident
- May 10, 2023
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 11217414
- Incident
- Jun 2, 2019
- Mileage
- 150,000 mi
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 11193829
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2017
- Mileage
- 200,000 mi
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 11155415
- Incident
- Dec 2, 2018
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 EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND HUNDREDS OFF PEOPLE SUFFER FROM THESE SAME PROBLEMS THAT HONDA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IS FAULTY/DEFECTIVE/HAS POOR WORKMANSHIP ON THE 1997-1998 MODELS. THERE OWN NEGLIGENCE HAS ALLOWED MANY AFFECTED YEAR MODEL PARTS TO BE INSTALLED, THEY ARE REFUSING TO HONOR STATED WARRANTY PRINTED IN ALL OWNERS MANUALS. A INVESTIGATION FOR THESE MODEL YEARS ARE NEEDED AS IT IS COSTING PEOPLE THOUSANDS OF OUT OF POCKET DOLLARS TO THIS VERY DAY INCLUDING MYSELF ALONG LOST WAGES. VEHICLE BREAK DOWNS NOT ALLOWING TO MAKE IT TO WORK. I ALSO EXPECT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL COSTS OUT OF POCKET FROM SAID FAULTS WHICH I BET HONDA SHALL NOT EVEN THOUGH ITS STATED THEY WILL IN THERE WARRANTY AND OWNERS MANUALS FOR 1997-1998 HONDA PRELUDE. I HAVE INCLUDED ATTACHMENTS OF MULTIPLE CASES FURTHER REITERATING THIS IS INDEED A DEFECT AND OR POOR WORKMANSHIP OF THESE VEHICLES AND SAID PARTS. AS A NOTE MY 1998 HONDA PRELUDE HAS LESS THAN 190,000 MILES ON ALL THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT THAT IS FAILING SO MILEAGE CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF THE EQUATION AS MOST VEHICLES NEVER EXPERIENCE THIS AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS AND MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THIS MAGNITUDE IN THAT WINDOW. I'M CALLING IN THE LEMON LAW IF APPLICABLE.
- NHTSA ID
- 11056532
- Incident
- Apr 12, 2016
- Mileage
- 160,000 mi
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 99V069000, 02V12000). MOST OF THESE ISSUES WOULD NOT EVEN PRESENT THEMSELVES UNTIL THE CAR REACHED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WEAR AND TEAR AND THE FACT THAT SOME VEHICLES WERE EXCLUDED WHEN THEY PRESENT THE SAME ISSUES IS DEPLORABLE AND HAS PUT MANY LIVES AT RISK AS THESE ARE BOTH CONSIDERED LIFE THREATENING ISSUES.
- NHTSA ID
- 11005225
- Incident
- Jun 11, 2017
- Mileage
- 157,000 mi
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
- NHTSA ID
- 10496206
- Incident
- Oct 27, 2012
- Mileage
- 167,263 mi
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
- NHTSA ID
- 10383264
- Incident
- Jan 7, 2011
- 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
CONCERNS WITH WARPED OR DEFORMED WINDSHIELD MOLDING. *TT UPDATE. *TT
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
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 |
| 1998Viewing | 69 | 5 | 1 | 57.9 |
| 1997 | 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.