1989 HONDA PRELUDE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
34
Owner Complaints
1
Recall
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1989 HONDA PRELUDE
The 1989 HONDA PRELUDE has received a total of 34 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There has been 1 recall campaign affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. The most commonly reported problems involve the Steeringhydraulic Power Assisthose Piping And Connections (7 complaints), Seat Beltsfrontbuckle Assembly (6 complaints), and Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systemradiator Assembly (2 complaints).
Recalls for the 1989 HONDA PRELUDE
NHTSA has recorded 1 recall for the 1989 HONDA PRELUDE, potentially affecting up to 3,700,000 vehicles.
Recall 95V103001 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
| 3,700,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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,...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1989 HONDA PRELUDE
34 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1989 HONDA PRELUDE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steeringhydraulic Power Assisthose Piping And Connections | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Beltsfrontbuckle Assembly | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systemradiator Assembly | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingengine | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steeringhydraulic Power Assist System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspensionfront | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemwiring | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasolinebelts And Associated Pulleys | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipmentapplianceair Conditioner | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainclutch Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Components | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsmaster Cylinder | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebodydoor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywindshield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
THE ENGINE TIMING BELT BROKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED (@55MPH) ON THE US 20 BYPASS, A LOCAL 2-LANE EXPRESSWAY. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND POWER DUE TO THE BREAKING OF THE TIMING BELT. LUCKILY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE NEAR ME AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED. VEHICLES ON THIS EXPRESSWAY ROUTINELY APPROACH 65 MPH. THIS BEING SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND TO HAVE 3 OF THE 4 ENGINE VALVES DESTROYED BEYOND REPAIR; A ROD OR PISTON IN THE LOWER ENGINE HAS ALSO BEEN AFFECTED, THUS EFFECTIVELY MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE AND UNECONOMICAL TO REPAIR. THE VEHICLE OWNERS MANUAL FAILS TO INFORM OWNERS THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED. THERE IS NO INDICATION AT ALL IN THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ON PAGES 72-77 THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED. THE WARRANTY BOOKLET FOR THE 1989 HONDA PRELUDE STATES ON PAGE 4, " YOU MUST MAINTAIN YOUR 1989 HONDA AUTOMOBILE ACCORDING TO THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL". THE OWNERS MANUAL ALSO FAILS TO INFORM/WARN VEHICLE OWNERS OF WHAT CONSEQUENCES A BROKEN TIMING BELT CAN HAVE ON THE ENGINE AND DOES NOT WARN/INFORM OWNERS OF THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES ATTEMPTING TO RESTART AN ENGINE WITH A BROKEN TIMING BELT CAN HAVE ON THE ENGINE. SCENARIOS CAN BE ENVISIONED IN WHICH ACCIDENTS COULD OCCUR DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE TIMING BELT. ATTEMPTING TO PASS A VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF ACCELERATION COULD RESULT IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH AN ON-COMING CAR ON A TWO LANE ROAD, OR WITH AN ADJACENT ONE IN BUSY, FAST MOVING TRAFFIC ON AN EXPRESSWAY. I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA ON 06/20/02, MY CASE # IS 9N012002-06-2000-969. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A PRIVATE PARTY, NOT THE LISTED DEALER--THAT IS WHERE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT WHEN NEW.*AK
SOON AFTER PARKING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS DUE TO FAULTY WIRES. CONSUMER CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA, AND THEY SENT CONSUMER TO A DEALER SHIP. BUT DEALERSHIP SAID THAT PROBLEM WAS TOO SERIOUS, AND THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR HER. CONSUMER CALLED BACK AMERICAN HONDA, AND THEY SAID THEY WILL CALL HER BACK. CONSUMER IS STILL WAITING FOR THE PHONE CALL. *AK
POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED. THERE WAS A RECALL OF THE SAME HOSE ON 1988, WHICH ARE IDENTICAL TO THE 1989 MODEL. *ET
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES ENGAGE AND APPEAR TO HOLD; BUT BUCKLES RELEASE UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO BELTS. *AK
SAME PROBLEM AS 1988 MODEL YEAR RECALL. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) FOUND IN SUMMARY. *AK
View all Steeringhydraulic Power Assisthose Piping And Connections complaints →
Safety Rating for the 1989 HONDA PRELUDE
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1989 HONDA PRELUDE in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1989 HONDA PRELUDE
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1989 HONDA PRELUDE
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the HONDA PRELUDE
- 1984 HONDA PRELUDE — 5 complaints
- 1985 HONDA PRELUDE — 11 complaints
- 1986 HONDA PRELUDE — 12 complaints
- 1987 HONDA PRELUDE — 17 complaints
- 1988 HONDA PRELUDE — 40 complaints
- 1989 HONDA PRELUDE (current)
- 1990 HONDA PRELUDE — 4 complaints
- 1991 HONDA PRELUDE — 18 complaints
- 1992 HONDA PRELUDE — 26 complaints
- 1993 HONDA PRELUDE — 14 complaints
- 1994 HONDA PRELUDE — 12 complaints
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- HONDA FIT — 2,686 total complaints
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