1997 HONDA PRELUDE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
88
Owner Complaints
5
Recalls
21
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1997 HONDA PRELUDE
The 1997 HONDA PRELUDE has received a total of 88 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH. 21 technical service bulletins have been issued by Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Power Trainautomatic Transmission (35 complaints), Electrical Systemignitionswitch (5 complaints), and Equipmentapplianceair Conditioner (3 complaints).
Recalls for the 1997 HONDA PRELUDE
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 1997 HONDA PRELUDE, potentially affecting up to 1,761,223 vehicles.
Recall 06E060000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 87,745 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH
Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
View full details →Recall 06E026000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 61,944 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
View full details →Recall 05V025000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
| 486,659 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
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.
View full details →Recall 02V120000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
| 1,000,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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...
View full details →Recall 99V069000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
| 124,875 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1997 HONDA PRELUDE
88 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 HONDA PRELUDE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND HAVE HAD GOOD LUCK WITH HONDA'S IN THE PAST BUT ABOUT 300 MILES OF ME OWNING THIS VEHICLE I WAS ENTERING A FREEWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST ALL POWER WITH CARS GOING HIGHWAY SPEED BEHIND ME I HAD TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER LUCKILY THERE WAS ONE THERE THE FIRST TIME IT GAVE OUT BUT LATER ON THAT DRIVE GOING HOME I WAS DRIVING OVER A BRIDGE WITH TRAFFIC WHEN IT DID IT AGAIN I WAS SO SCARED BECAUSE I'M STUCK IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC ON A BRIDGE AND THE CAR WANTS TO ROLL BACK AND IT DIDN'T WANT TO TURN ON UNTIL IT COOLED DOWN WHICH WAS 30 MINUTES OF UGLY LOOKS OF CARS DRIVING BY ME WHEN I FINALLY GOT HOME I HAD NEVER FELT SO RELIEVED SO THAT'S WHEN I TOLD MY FATHER ABOUT IT WE LOOKED AT IT DRIVE IT AND HE HOPED IT WAS JUST A BAD IGNITION COIL SO WE CHANGED THAT BUT AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I SAW THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH CARS TRANSMISSION SO I DIG A LITTLE BIT MORE AND FOUND OUT THAT HONDA KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT ONLY IS HONORING THE 2000 YEAR MODELS AND UP UNDER WARRANTY WHICH IS REALLY UNFAIR BECAUSE ONE THEY KNEW THERE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE WEAK AND IT COULD OF COST ME MY LIFE TWICE! SO I'M TAKING THE TIME TO STAND UP FOR ALL OF US BECAUSE NO ONE DESERVES TO BE HURT OR FATALLY WOUNDED BY A POORLY MADE TRANSMISSION
ITS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IT ONLY HAS 136000 MILES ON IT AND I NEED A NEW ONE THAT'S REALLY LOW MILES FOR A 97 NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS EVER WITH ANY OF MY CARS. I HEARD ITS WITH ALL THE HONDAS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA PRELUDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000. *TR
WELL BASICALLY I BOUGHT MY 97AUTOMATIC PRELUDE, AND NOT MORE THAN A MONTH LATER OF HAVING THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. BASICALLY IT WOULD SOUND LIKE A SCREW DRIVER WAS BEING FORCED INTO THE GEARS OR SOMETHING. ON TOP OF THAT IT WAS REVVING RIDICULOUSLY HIGH AND NOT MOVING ANYWHERE. MY FOURTH GEAR WAS GONE THEY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. NOT TO MENTION WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED TO THE DEALER THEY SAID BRING IT IN AND THEY WILL ERASE THE CODE "GOOD AS NEW" TO BE EXACT. BUT HONESTLY AS A CONSUMER A LOYAL ONE, I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED BY HAVING MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED OR FULLY REBUILT. CAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS AS WELL AS HONDA MECHANICS WHO HAVE FILLED ME IN WITH THE SS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS BEING THE CAUSE OF BAD BEARINGS AND BAD INTERNALS AND BAD TORQUE CONVERTERS. SEEING AS ME BEING THE CONSUMER AND BEING CONSTANTLY PUT IN A SITUATION BEEN AM I GONNA BREAK DOWN ON THE FREEWAY ON THE WAY TO WORK OR YET EVEN WORSE AT NIGHT PAST MIDNIGHT WHEN I'M OFF. NOW LET ME REMIND U IT'S STILL A LEASE AND THERE ARE SOME FACTS I KNOW AD RESEARCHED ON LIKE "THE MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY ACT (15 U.S.C. 2302)" WHICH STATES: THIS FEDERAL LAW REGULATES WARRANTIES FOR THE PROTECTION OF CONSUMERS. THE ESSENCE OF THE LAW CONCERNING AFTERMARKET AUTO PARTS IS THAT A VEHICLE MANUFACTURER MAY NOT CONDITION A WRITTEN OR IMPLIED WARRANTY ON THE CONSUMERS USING PARTS OR SERVICES WHICH ARE IDENTIFIED BY BRAND, TRADE, OR CORPORATE NAME (SUCH AS THE VEHICLE MAKER'S BRAND) UNLESS THE PARTS OR SERVICE ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE. THE LAW MEANS THAT THE USE OF AN AFTERMARKET PART ALONE IS NOT CAUSE FOR DENYING THE WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE LAW'S PROTECTION DOES NOT EXTEND TO AFTERMARKET PARTS IN SITUATIONS WHERE SUCH PARTS ACTUALLY CAUSED THE DAMAGE BEING CLAIMED UNDER THE WARRANTY. FURTHER, CONSUMERS ARE ADVISED TO BE AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC TERMS OR CONDITIONS STATED IN THE WARRANTY WHICH MAY RESULT IN ITS BEING VOIDED. THE LAW STATES IN RELEVANT PART: ??NO WARRANTOR OF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA PRELUDE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. SHE STATED SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AT LEAST SIX TIMES, INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE DEALER DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH). THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,565 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,765.
Safety Rating for the 1997 HONDA PRELUDE
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1997 HONDA PRELUDE in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1997 HONDA PRELUDE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) has issued 21 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1997 HONDA PRELUDE. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
05012004 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TYPE 1 IMMOBI BRAKE CODES AVAILABLE ON THE INTERACTIVE NETWORK (HONDA). *NM
020103 — AIR BAGS
SRS INDICATOR ON WITH NO SRS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) SET. *TT *JB
00039 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM (TYPE 1). *TT
010201 — POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING CLUTCH PRESSURE SWITCHES WHEN EXPERIENCING HARSH OR LATE UPSHIFTS AND DOWNSHIFTS. *TT
051000 — STEERING:COLUMN
BRIEF INFORMATION REGARDING COMPLAINTS OF STEERING WHEEL TILT. *TT
031600 — STEERING:COLUMN
INFORMATION REGARDING COMPLAINTS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WILL NOT HOLD AT SET POSITION. **MR
010999 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE MANUAL REVISIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE EXHUAST AND INTAKE SHAFT ROCKER ORIFICES. *TT
99014 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
SUBJECT ON A/C NOT COOLING PROPERLY. *TT
98002 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
SUBJECT REGARDING ATTS SETS DTC 79 OR DTCS 79 AND 41. *YC
98066 — VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
INFORMATION CONCERNING WARPED/ DEFORMED UPPER WINDSHIELD MOLDING. *AK
Showing 10 of 21 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1997 HONDA PRELUDE
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the HONDA PRELUDE
- 1992 HONDA PRELUDE — 26 complaints
- 1993 HONDA PRELUDE — 14 complaints
- 1994 HONDA PRELUDE — 12 complaints
- 1995 HONDA PRELUDE — 9 complaints
- 1996 HONDA PRELUDE — 4 complaints
- 1997 HONDA PRELUDE (current)
- 1998 HONDA PRELUDE — 86 complaints
- 1999 HONDA PRELUDE — 40 complaints
- 2000 HONDA PRELUDE — 14 complaints
- 2001 HONDA PRELUDE — 25 complaints
- 2002 HONDA PRELUDE — 0 complaints
Other HONDA Models
- HONDA ACCORD — 30,831 total complaints
- HONDA CR-V — 20,109 total complaints
- HONDA CIVIC — 19,776 total complaints
- HONDA ODYSSEY — 15,588 total complaints
- HONDA PILOT — 12,071 total complaints
- HONDA FIT — 2,686 total complaints
- HONDA RIDGELINE — 2,527 total complaints
- HONDA HR-V — 2,201 total complaints