Model year record

1988 Honda Prelude

6 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 40 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 95V103001

Seat belts: front: buckle assembly

Component
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly
Manufacturer
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.
Vehicles affected
3,700,000
Reported to NHTSA
1995-05-24
Owners notified
1995-05-19

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES. CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. CHECK THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUG ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, THEN PRESS THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS ANY SIGN OF BREAKAGE OR CRACKING, OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, PROMPTLY CONTACT YOUR AUTHORIZED HONDA/ACURA DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.

Recall campaignNHTSA 89V097000

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

Component
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
Manufacturer
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.
Vehicles affected
76,973
Reported to NHTSA
1989-06-13
Owners notified
1989-06-15

Defect description

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STOPPER MAY BE BENT WHEN EXCESSIVE DOWNWARD FORCE IS APPLIED AFTER PEDAL HAS CONTACTED THE STOPPER.

Safety risk

THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL SHOULDPEDAL BE CAUGHT AND HELD DOWN BY BENT STOPPER, WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL A SUPPORT TO PREVENT STOPPER FROM BENDING.

Recall campaignNHTSA 89V093000

Seats

Component
Seats
Manufacturer
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.
Vehicles affected
25,252
Reported to NHTSA
1989-06-08
Owners notified
1989-06-14

Defect description

THE REAR INBOARD SEAT ANCHORAGE BRACKET FOR THE FRONT SEATS MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE FORCE REQUIRED BY FMVSS 207.

Safety risk

BRACKET FAILURE COULD RESULT IN SEAT BECOMING LOOSE;VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 207.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL A REINFORCING PLATE TO REAR INBOARD SEAT ANCHORAGE BRACKET FOR EACH FRONT SEAT.

Recall campaignNHTSA 88V059000

Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections

Component
Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections
Manufacturer
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.
Vehicles affected
66,239
Reported to NHTSA
1988-04-06
Owners notified
1988-04-07

Defect description

VIBRATION AND HIGH UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURES COULD CAUSE POWER STEERING SUPPLY HOSE AT THE CONNECTOR CLAMP SEAL TO DEVELOP A FLUID LEAK.

Safety risk

IF THE FLUID CONTACTS THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD, IT MAYCAUSE SMOKE AND POSSIBLY AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL AN IMPROVED POWER STEERING SUPPLY HOSE ASSEMBLY.

Recall campaignNHTSA 87V171000

Equipment: other: owners/service/other manual

Component
Equipment: other: owners/service/other manual
Manufacturer
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.
Vehicles affected
99,088
Reported to NHTSA
1987-10-29
Owners notified
1987-11-19

Defect description

OWNERS MANUAL INFORMATION REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210, SECTIONS 6A AND 6B WAS OMITTED FROM THE MANUAL.

Safety risk

VEHICLES MANUAL INFORMATION DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS210.

Manufacturer remedy

UPGRADE EXISTING MANUALS BY INSERTING ADHESIVE BACKED CORRECTION PAGES.

Recall campaignNHTSA 87V122000

Vehicle speed control

Component
Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.
Vehicles affected
7,893
Reported to NHTSA
1987-08-04
Owners notified
1987-08-12

Defect description

A SMALL AMOUNT OF COOLANT SEEPAGE MAY OCCUR, AND EVENTUALLY RESIDUE MAY ACCUMULATE ON THE THROTTLE VALVE.

Safety risk

RESIDUE MAY CAUSE THROTTLE VALVE RETURN-TO-IDLE SPEED TOBE SLOWER THAN NORMAL WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections9192,638 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap7180,000 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly5
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline3
Seat belts: front: retractor3
Steering: hydraulic power assist: power steering fluid2
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood1
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.1
Exterior lighting1
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch1
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery1
Seat belts1
Steering1
Steering: hydraulic power assist system1
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump1
Suspension: front: control arm: upper arm1
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal1

The 1987 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. The 1989 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.