Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1986 Honda Prelude, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, gasoline6
- Seat belts3
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Seats1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1986 Honda Prelude failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 1986 passenger car (0.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 83,830 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
27 first registered in 1986 are on Dutch roads; 56% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld8
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen5
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij4
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm3
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse3
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af3
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage3
- Onderdeel stuurinrichting niet geborgd2
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
5 cars built in 1986 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 23 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
6 of these cars first registered in 1986 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 222,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
24 1986 cars are on the New Zealand register; 75% arrived as used imports, 25% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1986 Honda Prelude.
| 1995086 24 May 1995 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, the platic front seatbelt release buttons may break allowing plastic pieces to fall into the buckle assembly. If this should happen, a no … |
| 1992025 6 Mar 1992 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, road salt may cause the fuel filler and/or breather pipe to rust through, resulting in fuel leakage. In the presence of an igntion source … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Honda told its dealers about the 1986 Honda Prelude: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 41091 | CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY REPORT FOR THE 1983-87 PRELUDE FUEL FILLER PIPE RECALL. *TW |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FUEL SYSTEM VENTING
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation