Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 1997. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2001.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 Prelude | 21 | 1 |
| 2000 Prelude | 13 | 1 |
| 1999 Prelude | 31 | 2 |
| 1998 PreludeMost complaints | 69 | 3 |
| 1997 PreludeMost complaints | 66 | 3 |
| 1996 | 4 | 1 |
| 1995 | 6 | 0 |
| 1994 | 9 | 0 |
| 1993 Prelude | 11 | 0 |
| 1992 Prelude | 22 | 0 |
| 1991 Prelude | 15 | 1 |
| 1990 | 4 | 1 |
| 1989 | 21 | 1 |
| 1988 | 35 | 6 |
| 1987 Prelude | 14 | 2 |
| 1986 Prelude | 12 | 2 |
| 1985 | 7 | 1 |
| 1984 | 5 | 1 |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 |
| 1981 | 2 | 1 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Power train104
- Electrical system47
- Engine and engine cooling46
- Seat belts34
- Steering32
- Fuel system, gasoline25
- Air bags25
- Suspension23
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 30 Prelude vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 22 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000 | 4 | 2 |
| 1999 | 4 | 3 |
| 1998 | 3 | 3 |
| 1997 | 5 | 6 |
| 1996 | 2 | 1 |
| 1995 | 2 | 1 |
| 1993 | 2 | 2 |
| 1992 | 1 | 1 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 1 |
| 1985 | 1 | 1 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 2 model-year variants; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 2027 HONDA PRELUDE 3 HB HEV FWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2026 | 2026 HONDA PRELUDE 3 HB HEV FWD | — | 0.0 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 8 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 5.4–11.1 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Prelude · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 5.0 | 5.7 | 5.4 |
| 2001 | Prelude · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 12.0 | 9.6 | 10.9 |
| 2000 | Prelude · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 12.0 | 9.6 | 10.9 |
| 1999 | Prelude · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 12.1 | 9.8 | 11.1 |
| 1998 | Prelude · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 12.3 | 9.4 | 11.0 |
| 1997 | Prelude · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 12.1 | 9.7 | 11.0 |
| 1996 | Prelude · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 11.3 | 9.0 | 10.3 |
| 1995 | Prelude SR · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 11.9 | 9.7 | 10.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
916 Prelude cars are on the New Zealand register; 60% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 53 | 53 | 0 |
| 2002 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2001 | 12 | 11 | 0 |
| 2000 | 22 | 17 | 3 |
| 1999 | 24 | 10 | 13 |
| 1998 | 54 | 23 | 29 |
| 1997 | 191 | 73 | 102 |
| 1996 | 61 | 4 | 49 |
| 1995 | 23 | 8 | 14 |
| 1994 | 43 | 15 | 28 |
| 1993 | 51 | 4 | 45 |
| 1992 | 71 | 11 | 56 |
| 1991 | 58 | 7 | 50 |
| 1990 | 35 | 15 | 18 |
| 1989 | 68 | 31 | 35 |
| 1988 | 42 | 6 | 33 |
| 1987 | 29 | 4 | 24 |
| 1986 | 24 | 6 | 18 |
| 1985 | 19 | 2 | 16 |
| 1984 | 11 | 1 | 10 |
| 1983 | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| 1982 | 10 | 8 | 1 |
| 1981 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
673 Prelude cars are on Dutch roads; 29% arrived later as imports. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 41 | €56,744 |
| 1999 | 46 | — |
| 1998 | 50 | — |
| 1997 | 142 | — |
| 1995 | 27 | — |
| 1994 | 40 | — |
| 1993 | 53 | — |
| 1992 | 87 | — |
| 1988 | 23 | — |
| 1987 | 21 | — |
| 1986 | 27 | — |
| 1985 | 24 | — |
| 1984 | 36 | — |
| 1983 | 31 | — |
| 1982 | 25 | — |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
138 Prelude cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 100% petrol, 0% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 8 | 245,000 km |
| 1998 | 39 | 248,000 km |
| 1997 | 27 | 261,000 km |
| 1995 | 5 | 286,000 km |
| 1994 | 10 | 230,000 km |
| 1993 | 13 | 268,000 km |
| 1992 | 13 | 267,000 km |
| 1989 | 8 | 219,000 km |
| 1986 | 6 | 222,000 km |
| 1985 | 9 | 185,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
In the United Kingdom
699 Prelude cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2 | — |
| 2012 | 1 | — |
| 2008 | 1 | — |
| 2007 | 1 | — |
| 2003 | 1 | — |
| 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| 2000 | 109 | 149 |
| 1999 | 115 | 166 |
| 1998 | 114 | 214 |
| 1997 | 111 | 238 |
| 1996 | 15 | 57 |
| 1995 | 24 | 122 |
| 1994 | 17 | 111 |
| 1993 | 28 | 165 |
| 1992 | 32 | 132 |
| 1991 | 30 | 137 |
| 1990 | 29 | 102 |
| 1989 | 23 | 89 |
| 1988 | 8 | 35 |
| 1987 | 4 | 18 |
| 1986 | 5 | 23 |
| 1985 | 1 | 18 |
| 1984 | 6 | 9 |
| 1983 | 8 | 8 |
| 1982 | 6 | 9 |
| 1981 | 5 | 6 |
| 1980 | 1 | 5 |
| 1979 | 2 | 1 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
731 Prelude cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 62% passed first time, against 63% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 185 | 61% |
| 1999 | 197 | 62% |
| 1998 | 190 | 61% |
| 1997 | 159 | 65% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | Prelude | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 15.5% | 16.6% |
| Brakes | 13.0% | 12.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 12.3% | 7.3% |
| Suspension | 12.0% | 13.0% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 7.8% | 9.5% |
| Visibility | 7.0% | 6.9% |
| Steering | 4.7% | 3.6% |
| Tyres | 4.1% | 4.2% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
New registrations in Europe
1 new Honda Prelude cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2014 and 2014, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2014 the largest markets were Netherlands (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Recalls
11 campaigns cover the Prelude.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE INTERLOCK OPERATION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE "OFF" POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO PARK.
ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
IF THE PLASTIC COATING OF THE FUEL FILLER AND/OR BREATHER PIPE IS DAMAGED, SALT WATER MAY ACCUMULATE BETWEEN THE PLASTIC COATING AND THE STEEL PIPES, AND THE ACCUMULATION COULD CAUSE CORROSION WHICH WOULD EVENTUALLY RUST THROUGH THE AFFECTED PIPES, ALLOWING GASOLINE FUMES AND FUEL TO LEAK.
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STOPPER MAY BE BENT WHEN EXCESSIVE DOWNWARD FORCE IS APPLIED AFTER PEDAL HAS CONTACTED THE STOPPER.
THE REAR INBOARD SEAT ANCHORAGE BRACKET FOR THE FRONT SEATS MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE FORCE REQUIRED BY FMVSS 207.
VIBRATION AND HIGH UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURES COULD CAUSE POWER STEERING SUPPLY HOSE AT THE CONNECTOR CLAMP SEAL TO DEVELOP A FLUID LEAK.
OWNERS MANUAL INFORMATION REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210, SECTIONS 6A AND 6B WAS OMITTED FROM THE MANUAL.
A SMALL AMOUNT OF COOLANT SEEPAGE MAY OCCUR, AND EVENTUALLY RESIDUE MAY ACCUMULATE ON THE THROTTLE VALVE.
THE SPRINGS ARE HELD UP BY A METAL SUPPORT AROUND EACH SHOCK ABSORBER. VEHICLES DRIVEN REGULARLY IN AREAS WHERE ROADS ARE SALTED DURING WINTERTIME ARE SUBJECT TO RUSTING OF THESE SUPPORTS. RUSTING MAY EVENTUALLY ALLOW THE SPRING TO BREAK THROUGH THE SUPPORT.
NHTSA recalls