Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1987 Honda Prelude, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Seat belts3
- Tires2
- Exterior lighting2
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Electrical system1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Steering1
- Vehicle speed control1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
In the Netherlands
21 first registered in 1987 are on Dutch roads; 43% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld3
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm2
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af1
- Roestschade van 1,5 t/m 2,0E of meer dan 15% dikteafname1
- Bandenspanning op 1 as niet gelijk1
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen1
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm1
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
4 cars built in 1987 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 18 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 New Zealand
29 1987 cars are on the New Zealand register; 83% arrived as used imports, 14% 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 1987 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 1987 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