2001 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 2001 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
- Transmission1040.0%
- Brakes416.0%
- Electrical416.0%
- Airbags14.0%
- Exterior lighting14.0%
- Powertrain (other)14.0%
- Steering14.0%
- Engine14.0%
- Body & structure14.0%
- Heating & air conditioning14.0%
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
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
JUST LIKE MANY OTHER 97-01 HONDA PRELUDES MY CAR HAS BEGIN TO HAVE PROBLEMS SHIFTING. IF I DO NOT ALLOW MY CAR TO WARM UP IT WILL REV REALLY HIGH AND JERK INTO GEAR. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND IT REVVED REALLY HIGH. HAD THE DRIVER BEHIND ME NOT SWERVED OVER THEY WOULD HAVE REAR ENDED ME. *TR
WHEN STARTING MY 2001 HONDA PRELUDE, PUTTING INTO D4 (AUTO TRANSMISSION) AND BEGINNING TO DRIVE, IT WOULD HIT 3 RPM AND NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT. AFTER HITTING 3 RPM, IT WOULD REV UP TO 5 RPM BEFORE JERKING INTO GEAR. THIS HAPPENS EACH TIME I FIRST DRIVE MY CAR AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING, UNLESS ALLOWING IT 10-15 MINUTES TO COMPLETELY WARM UP. IF 2ND GEAR DID HAPPEN TO ENGAGE, IT WOULD HAVE TO REV AND JERK INTO 3RD GEAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT A FEW TIMES TO THE AUTO SHOP ALTHOUGH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVELS REMAINED FINE AND NO OTHER INDICATION OF A BLOWN TRANSMISSION WAS FOUND. *TR
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKES ARE STICKING AND CAUSING THE CAR TO VIBRATE AND EMIT A LOW HUMMING NOISE. WHEN I PUT MY FOOT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PULLED IT UP THE NOISE WENT AWAY. HONDA DEALERSHIPS HAD'CUT THE ROTORS THREE TIMES, WHICH WAS NOT IN ANY WAY NORMAL! THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO REFUSED TO FIX IT, BUT DIDN'T THE NEED TO CUT THE ROTORS THREE TIMES INDICATE A SERIOUS PROBLEM?*AK
BRAKE SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING AND ENGAGING INVOLUNTARILY. FRONT END VIBRATES. ALSO, LEFT WHEEL GETS HOT AND LOCKS UP. VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND SHOULD ROLL BACK WHEN THE FOOT IS TAKEN OFF OF BRAKE PEDAL ON AN INCLINE. INSTEAD, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE TO THE POINT WHERE THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD, FOR A THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER AND HOSE HAVE BEEN REPLACED. CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW IF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED. *SCC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR JUST TURNS OFF THEN WONT START FOR AWHILE WHEN STARTS BACK UP SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WE KNOW THERE IS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH AND INTERIOR LIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE WE HAVE THREE KIDS THAT RIDE IN THIS CAR AND DON'T WANT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN WHILE WE ARE DRIVING THE CAR AND IT SHUTS OFF ND WONT START WHILE WE ARE IN TRAFFIC. PLEASE HELP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA PRELUDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WITH THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA PRELUDE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR JUST TURNS OFF THEN WONT START FOR AWHILE WHEN STARTS BACK UP SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WE KNOW THERE IS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH AND INTERIOR LIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE WE HAVE THREE KIDS THAT RIDE IN THIS CAR AND DON'T WANT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN WHILE WE ARE DRIVING THE CAR AND IT SHUTS OFF ND WONT START WHILE WE ARE IN TRAFFIC. PLEASE HELP. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TAKATA RECALL ANY TIME I PUT MY CAR IN D4 (AUTOMATIC) IT GETS TO ABOUT 2500 RPM TO 3000 RPM IN 1ST THEN I HAVE TO MESSAGE THE THROTTLE SO IT WILL SHIFT AND ONCE IT SHIFTS TO 2ND IT STARTS SHIFTING VERY QUICKLY NO MATTER THE RPMS TO 3RD THEN 4TH. ALSO WHEN IT'S SHIFTING IT JERKS PRETTY VIOLENTLY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY HONDA PRELUDE 2001 VIBRATES SEVERELY AFTER DRIVING 2 HOURS AT A STEADY SPEED. HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES; NO PROBLEMS FOUND. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FAULT; I AM PLANNING TO SELL IT BUT DON'T WANT TO ENDANGER SOMEONE ELSE.CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY NO OTHER PRELUDE OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR MALFUNCTIONS.
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
TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILING, BELT FLAPPING BETWEEN 1800 AND 3000 RPMS UPON ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY HONDA PRELUDE 2001 VIBRATES SEVERELY AFTER DRIVING 2 HOURS AT A STEADY SPEED. HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES; NO PROBLEMS FOUND. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FAULT; I AM PLANNING TO SELL IT BUT DON'T WANT TO ENDANGER SOMEONE ELSE.CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY NO OTHER PRELUDE OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR MALFUNCTIONS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY LAST YEAR, I HEARD A SCREECHING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD OF MY 2001 HONDA PRELUDE. ABOUT APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS LATER I HEARD SOMETHING FALL ONTO THE STREET AND VERY HOT AIR BEGAN BLOWING OUT MY AIR CONDITIONER (WHICH UP UNTIL THAT POINT WAS BLOWING VERY COLD AIR). IT TURNS OUT THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER CLUTCH PULLEY FELL OFF MY CAR AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT BY HONDA. THEY SEEM NOT TO CARE AND THUS REFUSE TO FIX IT. I RESIDE IN ARIZONA WHERE TEMPERATURES REACH 110 PLUS IN THE SUMMER. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO NORTH AMERICAN HONDA IN THE HOPES THAT SOME RESOLUTION COULD BE RESOLVED, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT. AIR CONDITION PULLEYS DO NOT JUST FALL OFF A VEHICLE! *NM
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 .