Problems · NHTSA complaints
1996 Honda Prelude problems
Owners filed 4 complaints about the 1996 Honda Prelude with NHTSA between Mar 1998 and Sep 2005. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (2).
Complaints
4
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Electrical system1
- Suspension1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 14, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
0
0
2
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
2 reports
“THE MAIN BEARINGS IN MY MOTOR SPUN AND ARE SCORED, THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE TO THE CRANKSHAFT AND BEARING JOURNALS. DUE TO THIS LOSS OF PRESSURE THE ENGINE BLOCK,CRANKSHAFT,JOURNALS, AND MAIN BEARINGS ARE RUINED. THE TOP HALF OF MY MOTOR IS FINE INCLUDING THE DUAL OVERHEAD CAM,PISTONS,VALVES,LIFTERS,CONNECTING RODS,ETC. I HEARD OF A RECALL OF MID 1990 HONDA ENGINES RECENTLY FOR SOME SORT OF THROWOUT BEARING OR ROD BEARING FAILURE THAT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO LOSE OIL PRESSURE CAUSING SEVERE WEAR LIKE WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING. THE COSTS OF REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE ARE GREAT AND IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A REPLACEMENT MOTOR. I'M HOPING TO GET HELP FROM HONDA FOR REPAIRS AND AM LOOKING TO YOU TO FIND OUT IF I'M ELLIGABLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SEAN.”
Electrical system
1 report1 fire
“ELECTRICAL FIRE IN VEHICLE TRUNK. *NM”
Suspension
1 report1 related recall
“WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 20 MPH BALL JOINTS WENT OUT, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THERE IS A RECALL ON VEHICLE FOR SAME PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK THERE WAS A FAILURE OF FRONT LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT, WHICH RESULTED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT, WHILE TRAVELING ON FLAT PAVED STREET.*JB”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 14, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.