1998 Honda Prelude problems
Owners have filed 86 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Honda Prelude. Transmission is the most reported problem area, at 34% of complaints. Next are electrical system (15%) and suspension (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 86 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Transmission 34% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 7 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 11 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 107,000 miles 38 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 2 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 4 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 9 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 8 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 4 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 38 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 107,000 miles. For transmission specifically, the median reported mileage is about 83,000 miles (18 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 7 complaints mention a crash; 11 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 5 model years of the Honda Prelude with enough data (38 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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. Updated 2/13/13
While traveling 15-20 MPH on a neighborhood street with windows up consumer and passenger began to smell something like gas. A few moments later, driver's side and passenger's side airbags deployed without prior warning from airbag light. Consumer depressed brake pedal, causing a frontal collision with a parked car. Driver received burns, and sprained wrist and neck. Passenger sustained burns. Consumer stated that airbags were replacememt equipment from a previous accident. Dealer did not reinstall airbags.
Vehicle: 1998 honda prelude sh (98000 miles) -vehicle was inspected by professional mechanic -mechanic found that components: suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joints had estimated 1/4 inch of play (movement) when there should be no movement -NHTSA campaign id number: 99v069000 is a recall for this component for 1998 honda preludes -honda motor co. States that my vehicle does not apply -the worse case, the ball joint would separate causing the front suspension to collapse.