Problems · by component

1998 Honda Prelude power train problems

31 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Honda Prelude cite power train, 45% of all 69 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
31
45% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 26, 2017Power train, Electrical systemODI 11056532
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 18, 2011Power trainODI 10383264
“THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO STOP WORKING IN D(DRIVE) MODE. I HAD TO USE THE MANUAL/ AUTOSTICK TO GET THE CAR TO DRIVE. THERE WAS NO IMPROVEMENT IN THE SHIFTING. I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE A 5 SPEED SWAP DONE AT A PERFORMANCE SHOP. THIS IS MY 3RD HONDA THAT HAS HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 15, 2009Power trainODI 10258703
“THE AUTOMATIC SPORT SHIFT TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO FAIL. THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING HARD (JOLTS) THROUGHOUT ALL THE GEARS. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. MY CAR ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS IS A PREMATURE MALFUNCTION OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR IS METICULOUSLY CARED FOR, REGULARLY MAINTAINED, OIL CHANGED REGULARLY; TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGED EVERY THIRD OIL CHANGE TO AVOID TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE CAR IS NEVER RACED OR REDLINED. I ALSO DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE REPLACING A TRANSMISSION THAT WILL FAIL ONCE AGAIN AS WITH MANY PRELUDE OWNERS. THE HONDA PRELUDE COSTS ABOUT $25,000 AND THUS A $4,000 TRANSMISSION JOB IS 20% OF THE CAR. JUST PLAIN UNREASONABLE!!! THIS HAS BECOME A FINANCIALLY BURDENSOME SITUATION. FURTHERMORE, HONDA HAS RECALLED ALL 1997 PRELUDES IN TURKEY AND HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSIONS WITH UPDATED MH6A UNITS. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE!!! PLEASE, YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER IS GREATLY NEEDED. THANKS *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2008Power trainODI 10239461
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA PRELUDE. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE IN HER DRIVEWAY, REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHE RETURNED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO ROLL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT WAS DRAGGED BY THE VEHICLE, BUT SHE WAS ABLE TO LET GO AND ROLL ON THE PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE MAILBOX AND CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT STRUCK A POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON JANUARY 30, 2006 FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V025000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE MANUFACTURER WANTS THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE AND NOTIFY THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT WITH THE RESULTS. THE CONTACT SUSTAIN INJURIES TO HER LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE POWERTRAIN AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,320.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 8, 2008Power trainCrash reportedODI 10223692

Showing 6 of 31 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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