1997 Honda Prelude: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 88 complaints
88
Total Complaints
97,000mi
Median Mileage
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Top Issue
18
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

76,750 25th Percentile
97,000 Median Mileage
131,875 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
35
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
5
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
3
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
3
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
3
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
3
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
2
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
2
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
2
SUSPENSION:FRONT
2

Severity Assessment

18
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH THE OWNER'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON A WET ROAD. WHEN SHE TRIED TO STOP SHE COULDN'T, LOSING CONTROL AND HAVING AN ACCIDENT, HITTING FRONT WHERE THE AIR BAGS (DRIVER AND PASSENGER) DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES TO BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER. THEY..."
"NO INFORMATION PROVIDED."
"WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. ALSO, WHILE CHANGING INTO 1 AND 2 GEARS IT WILL ABRUPTLY STOP WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED 5 TRANSMISSIONS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *ML"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28