Problems · NHTSA complaints

1998 Honda Prelude problems

Owners filed 69 complaints about the 1998 Honda Prelude with NHTSA between Jun 1998 and Jun 2023. The most-cited component is power train (31).

Complaints
69
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train31
  2. Electrical system12
  3. Suspension8
  4. Air bags4
  5. Visibility4
  6. Engine and engine cooling4
  7. Steering3
  8. Vehicle speed control3
  9. Latches/locks/linkages2
  10. Service brakes, hydraulic2
  11. Wheels2
  12. Engine1
  13. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  14. Exterior lighting1

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 Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19984
19996
20003
20016
20029
20038
20045
20055
20062
20071
20083
20097
20102
20111
20120
20131
20140
20150
20160
20172
20181
20192
20200
20210
20220
20231

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

31 reports1 crash
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2023Power train, Electrical systemODI 11528431

Electrical system

12 reports2 related recalls
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 2, 2019Steering, Electrical system, EngineODI 11217414

Suspension

8 reports1 related recall
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 14, 2017Steering, Suspension, Electrical systemODI 11005225

Air bags

4 reports4 crashes
“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. *TR UPDATED 2/13/13 *CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 2, 2013Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10496206

Visibility

4 reports
“THE AUTOMATIC WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP, IT IS STUCK INSIDE THE DOOR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 17, 2009VisibilityODI 10284261

Engine and engine cooling

4 reports
“I HAVE BEEN HAVING MORE PROBLEMS WITH MY ENGINE STALLING SUDDENLY. THE PAST FEW TIMES, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IN BUSY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE HEATER, RADIO, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WOULD CONTINUE TO WORK BUT THE TACHOMETER WOULD JUST DROP TO ZERO. TWICE, I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, TURN THE CAR BACK ON, AND PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE, ALL WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2005Engine and engine coolingODI 10128889
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.