Model year record

1997 Honda Prelude

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 88 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V025000

Electrical system: ignition: switch

Component
Electrical system: ignition: switch
Manufacturer
HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)
Vehicles affected
486,659
Reported to NHTSA
2005-01-28
Owners notified
2005-03-07

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT SHIFT TO PARK BEFORE REMOVING THE KEY AND FAILS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL PERFORM AN INSPECTION PROCEDURE THAT CONFIRMS INTERLOCK FUNCTION. VEHICLES WILL BE UPDATED WITH A REDESIGNED INTERLOCK LEVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 7, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V120000

Electrical system: ignition: switch

Component
Electrical system: ignition: switch
Manufacturer
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.
Vehicles affected
1,000,000
Reported to NHTSA
2002-05-16
Owners notified
2002-06-14

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V069000

Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint

Component
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
Manufacturer
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.
Vehicles affected
124,875
Reported to NHTSA
1999-05-10
Owners notified
1999-05-17

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.

Owner complaints

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

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Power train: automatic transmission3590,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch5138,701 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner3138,701 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.3
Power train: manual transmission3130,500 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint3
Air bags: frontal278,000 mi
Electrical system2120,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine280,034 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline210,000 mi
Power train2115,000 mi
Seats2
Steering: hydraulic power assist system2
Suspension: front2
Suspension: front: control arm2
Tires: sidewall228,500 mi
Tires: tread/belt2
Engine and engine cooling1
Exterior lighting: headlights197,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch1
Parking brake: indicator light197,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter1
Power train: clutch assembly1130,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic1
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components1
Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint1
Tires1
Unknown or other1
Visibility: windshield1
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer1

The 1996 model has 22 times as many complaints as this one. The 1998 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.