Honda Prelude Complaints (1998)

69 consumer complaints on file.

#10180843January 26, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING ON ME THEN IT STARTED SHIFTING DOWN TO SECOND THEN BACK TO FOURTH THEN BACK TO SECOND. I PULLED OVER AND NOW IT SEEMS TO BE STUCK IN SECOND GEAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE COOLED DOWN THEN IT WAS FINE FOR A SHORT WHILE THEN IT STARTED SHIFTING SPORADICALLY. IT SLIPS IN REVERSE ALSO. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156971May 8, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE DRIVER MADE A SHARP TURN AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED CAUSING A CRASH. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED AWAY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES EVEN THOUGH SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 5/23/2006 - *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10152652March 14, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE AUTOMATIC SPORT SHIFT TRANSMISSION FAILED IN AUGUST OF 05, AND IT WAS REPLACED WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS STARTING TO FAIL AGAIN, I DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION AGAIN IF IT FAILS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND NEVER RED-LINED, ALWAYS OIL CHANGED AT 3000 MILES, ETC. I FEEL THIS TRANSMISSION IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THAT HONDA SHOULD REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION WITH ONE THAT IS SAFE AND RELIABLE, NOT THE CURRENT ONE, WHICH I FEEL IS A DANGER TO ALL PRELUDE OWNERS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132688August 13, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
IT HAS BEEN KNOWN THAT HONDA PRELUDE 1997-1999 TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAULTY. MINE FAILED YESTERDAY DURING A NORMAL TRIP ON A FREE WAY. GEARS SLIPPED AND A STRONG SMELL WAS NOTICEABLE INSIDE THE CAR. TO AVOID ANY EMERGENCY SITUATION I HAD TO PARK MY CAR ON THE SHOULDER IMMEDIATELY AND WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128889July 15, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE BEEN HAVING MORE PROBLEMS WITH MY ENGINE STALLING SUDDENLY. THE PAST FEW TIMES, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IN BUSY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE HEATER, RADIO, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WOULD CONTINUE TO WORK BUT THE TACHOMETER WOULD JUST DROP TO ZERO. TWICE, I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, TURN THE CAR BACK ON, AND PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE, ALL WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128304July 11, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
DT: CONSUMER WAS IN VEHICLE WITH VEHICLE RUNNING. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING. CONSUMER LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE TIMING BELT AUTO TENSIONER FAILED. CONSUMER HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT RECOGNIZES THIS PROBLEM. SERVICE BULLETIN #01-010. CONSUMER FOUND THAT WHEN HIS TENSIONER FAILED AND LET VEHICLE JUMP TIME IT ALSO ALLOWED VALVES IN HEAD TO BECOME DAMAGED BY THE PISTON. CONSUMER SAYS THAT THIS HAPPENED WHEN VEHICLE HAD 79,000 MILES. CONSUMER SAYS THAT OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS THAT TIMING BELT SHOULD BE CHECKED AT 105,000 MILES. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT TIMING BELT WAS NOT BADLY WORN WHEN TENSIONER FAILED. CONSUMER HAD PROBLEM REPAIRED AT AUTO REPAIR SHOP OTHER THAN THE DEALER, COST WAS $2300. VEHICLE FAILED IN CONSUMERS DRIVEWAY. TOLEDO, OHIO. CONSUMER SAYS THAT THE TENSIONER IS AN AUTO TENSIONER AND IF IT IS IMPROPERLY TIGHTENTED THEN IT IS NOT THE CONSUMERS FAULT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113586February 24, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
'RECALL CAMPAIGN' 1998 HONDA PRELUDE SH LOWER BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT. *BF THE CONSUMER RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF A LOWER BALL JOINT RECALL 99V-069000. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE SERVICE WAS ALREADY DONE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINT AGAIN FREE OF CHARGE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105781January 5, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR IS 1998, WITH ONLY 35,255 MILES. ACCORDING TO MECHANIC, TRANSMISSION IS BAD. NEED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. CALLED HONDA OF AMERICA TO SEE IF GOODWILL WILL BE MADE DUE TO LOW MILEAGE WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. READ IN FORUMS, SEEMS LIKE PRELUDES HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE MODELS OF 1997 - 2002 YEARS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098901November 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER (LUCAS HONDA) FOR 90000 MILES SERVICE, NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. AFTER MANUAL TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE PULLED AWAY FROM THE DEALER AND THE FIRST TIME THE CAR WAS PUT INTO 5TH GEAR THE TRANSMISSION MADE A LOUD GRIND. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND GOT CAR TAKEN BACK TO DEALER WHERE THEY DENIED LIABILITY. RESEARCH LATER FOUND THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS HAVE A RECALL FOR THE SHIFT FORK WHICH THEY BLAME FOR MY PROBLEM, HOWEVER I PAID 900 DOLLARS TO HAVE THE 5TH GEAR,AND SHIFT FORK REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080872July 12, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 1998 HONDA PRELUDE WITH A AUTOMATIC WITH THE SPORT SHIFT TRANSMISSION. THE ONE THAT COMES WITH THE BASE MODEL PRELUDE. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND I FELT THE TRANSMISSION NOT PULLING NO MORE THEN THE ENGINE REV HIGH AND THEN I LET MY FOOT OF THE GAS AND THE TRANSMISSION SLAPPED BACK INTO GEAR. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND IT IS STARTING TO DO IT AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO HONDA AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING FOR THEM TO DO BUT PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR AND IT WOULD BE VERY COSTLY AND I HAVE TALK TO PEOPLE WITH THE CAR AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS . SO I WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS A VERY HAZARDOUS TO THE DRIVER. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063793March 24, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
I HAVE OWNED THREE HONDAS. A 1988 ACCORD, 93 ACCORD, AND NOW CURRENTLY THE 98 PRELUDE. OF ALL THREE THE PRELUDE HAS GIVEN ME THE MOST PROBLEMS. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1500 IN REPAIRS SO FAR IN HAVING THE CAR 8 MONTHS. NOW MY TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ON DOING RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT HONDA IS HAVING SOME SORT OF MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BETWEEN THE YEARS 98-01 YET THEY ONLY ISSUED EXTENDED WARRANTIES ON THE 00-01 MODELS. WHY? THE 97-01 PRELUDES ARE ALL EXACTLY THE SAME WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSIONS AND ALL. SO WHY WERE THEY NOT ALL INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY. I FIRMLY STAND BEHIND HONDA'S QUALITY AND REPUTATION TO THIS DAY, BUT IF THEY HAVE A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM THEY DO NEED TO MAKE SURE AND INCLUDE ALL MODEL YEARS AFFECTED TO KEEP THEIR REPUTATION GOOD. IT SEEMS THE OLDER MODEL YEAR HONDA'S WERE BUILT BETTER THAN THE NEWER ONES FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND. I DO NOT QUITE UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE MOST CAR COMPANIES STRIVE TO MAKE THEIR CARS BETTER AND MORE RELIABLE EACH YEAR. I JUST WISH HONDA WOULD HAVE MADE SURE TO COVER ALL THE AFFECTED CARS UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AS TO KEEP CUSTOMERS SATISFIED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058999February 25, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS SUMMARY MAKE: HONDA MODEL: PRELUDE YEAR: 1998 SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 010400 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 618985 SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: SUBJECT REGARDING A LEAKING TORQUE CONVERTER. *TT TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS SUMMARY MAKE: HONDA MODEL: PRELUDE YEAR: 1998 SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 00090 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 615735 SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: SUBJECT REGARDING REAR SUSPENSION CLUNKS. *TT MAKE: MODEL: YEAR: SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT PROBLEMS - SLIPPAGE, FLARE, HARD UPSHIFT. *TT SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: SUBJECT REGARDING MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP COMES ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0133. *JG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057587February 5, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE KEY CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK. THE DRIVER TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE TO VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049094December 3, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1998 HONDA PRELUDE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I JUST RECENTLY BOUGHT A 98 HONDA PRELUDE. THIS IS BEAUTIFUL. I KNOW THE PREVIOUS OWNER, AND SHE WAS A GOOD DRIVER THAT NEVER EVEN UTILIZED THE VTEC, MEANING THE RPM NEVER WENT ABOVE 5000. NOW I HAVE IT, AND IT HAS 63000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS MY SECOND CAR SO I TREAT IT WITH MUCH CARE. BUT NOW SUDDENLY, THE GEARS DON'T SHIFT RIGHT. ITS AN AUTOMATIC AND WHEN THE GEARS ARE SHIFTING OVER IT FEELS LIKE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH A WORN OUT CLUTCH, THE ENGINE REVS UP A BIT AND MISSES THE NEXT GEAR AND SETS IN A LATE. IF THE CAR IS FLOORED, WHEN THE RPM HITS 7000 THE GEAR DOESN'T CHANGE! YOU HAVE TO LET GO OF THE ACCELERATOR AND LET IT SLIDE IN TO THE NEXT. THIS IS TERRIBLE ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE 99-00 PRELUDES AND I'M TRYING TO GET SOMETHING DONE ABOUT MY 98. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030800August 5, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR WILL OVER REV, AND JERK INTO GEAR. IF I LET OFF OF THE GAS IT WILL SLIP INTO GEAR LESS HARSHLY. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO HONDA OF COVINGTON IN COVINGTON, LA, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING DUE TO THE INSTALLATION OF AFTERMARKET PARTS, SUCH AS A COLD-AIR INTAKE, HEADER, AND EXHAUST MUFFLER. MY LOCAL MECHANIC SAIS THIS IS LUDICROUS, AND THAT A SIMPLE ADDITON OF 10-15 HP WOULD NOT CAUSE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE NOT MODIFIED OR ALTERED IN ANY WAY THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE CAR. EACH MODIFICATION WAS A SIMPLE BOLT-ON AND AT THE TIME OF PURCAHSE WAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH HONDA. I CALLED HONDA TECHINICAL SERVICE MANY TIMES AND ASKED IF I PUT A CERTAIN AFTERMARKET PART ON MY CAR WOULD IT VOID MY WARRANTY. EACH TIME HONDA TOLD ME THAT ASD LONG AS THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF MY CAR REMAINED INTACT, I WOULD NOT BE IN TROUBLE. THEY ALOS INFORMED ME OF BUYING AN AXLE-BACK EXHAUST INSTEAD OF A FULL CAT-BACK, TO BETTER INSURE THE SAFETY OF MY WARRANTY. NOW I AM INFORMED THAT MY TRANNY WOULD NED TO BE REPLCED OR OVERHUALED AT A COST OF MORE THAN $5000, AND NOW HONDA HAS GONE BACK ON THEIR WORD, AND DECIDED TO NULL MY WARRANTY BASED ON THE ADDITION OF AFTERMARKET COMPONENTS. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED A LAWYER AND PLAN TO SUE HONDA.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10014371April 14, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR
LOUD SQUEAK COMING FROM BACK OF CAR POSSIBLY UNDER TRUNK OR RIGHT WHEEL WELL INCREASES WITH COLD WEATHER. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10014372April 14, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF SINCE 70,000 MILES. DESPITE PASSING E-CHECK I SEE THAT THIS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH OTHER HONDA MODELS. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009148February 24, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007975February 22, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR IN REGULAR DRIVE IT SUDDENLY DIDN'T PULL NO MORE AND THE ENGINE JUST REVVED. I LET MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND THEN IT WENT BACK INTO GEAR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO DO THIS AND THEN IT STARTED TO UPSHIFT THEN SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFT TO THE LOWER GEAR CAUSING A VERY SUDDEN JERK AND CHANGE IN SPEED. I TOOK MY CAR TO HONDA OF CLEVELAND IN CLEVELAND, TN. I TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY SUGGESTED TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST RUN. I AGREED AND THE RESULTS WERE CODES P700 AND P730 INTERNAL FAILURE AND INCORRECT GEAR NEEDS TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL OR REPLACEMENT. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THIS. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED. I ASKED HIM IF IT COULD BE A DEFECTIVE PART. HE ANSWERED NO. I ASKED IF IT COULD BE COMPUTER RELATED AND HE SAID NO THAT IT WAS A FAILURE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. I ASKED HIM WHAT FAILED. HE COULDN'T TELL ME. HE JUST TOLD ME WHAT THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST CAME UP WITH. THE SERVICE QUOTE FOR A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION INSTALLED WAS FOR $5365.26 WHEN I HEARD THIS QUOTE I SAID "IS THIS MADE OUT OF GOLD". I TOLD HIM THE REASON I BOUGHT A HONDA WAS TO AVOID PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. I ALSO HAD ASKED THE SERVICE PERSON IF HE HAD HEARD OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND HE SAID HE HADN'T. AFTER SEEING THIS SITE AND OTHERS I REALIZED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. I HOPE THIS COMPLAINT HELPS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007649February 17, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
IN JANUARY OF 2000 AFTER 3 TRIPS TO THE HONDA TELLING THEM THAT I HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM (AND BEING TOLD THEIR WAS NOTHING WRONG), MY TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE SYMPTOM WAS THAT IT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY HARD SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR FROM 3RD WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND LOOSE POWER. THE UNIT HAD THESE SYMPTOMS FOR APPROXIMATELY 24000 MILES, BUT WAS FIRST BROUGHT TO HONDA WITH 9000 MILES ON. HONDA REFUSED TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME THEIR WAS NOTHING WRONG. AT THE TIME, I INDICATED THAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY WITH MERGING INTO AND OUT OF TRAFFIC, BUT MY CONCERNS FELL ON DEATH EARS. AFTER THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FINALLY FAILED (2 DAYS AFTER THE LAST TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND COMPLAINED OF THE PROBLEM), A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS FINALLY INSTALLED A MONTH LATER. THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEGUN TO EXHIBIT EXACTLY THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION. BEING CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING THE RUN AROUND, I DECIDED NOT TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER (MADISON HONDA, MADISON, NJ) BUT TO PARAMUS HONDA, PARAMUS, NJ. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND THE SPECIFIC SYMPTOM (THAT CAN BE RECREATED EVERY TIME), THEY DIAGNOSED THE UNIT AND TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. ADDITIONALLY, HE UNIT HAS BEGUN TO INTERMITTENTLY JITTER WHILE DRIVING IN 4TH GEAR, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER. HONDA SEEMS CONTENT TO IGNORE THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERS APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN TOLD BY HONDA OF AMERICA NOT TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS UNTIL THEY COMPLETELY FAIL. THIS POLICY IS PUTTING HONDA'S CUSTOMERS AS SEVERE RISK. DRIVING IN NORTHERN NJ REQUIRES BEING ABLE TO MERGE INTO THE TRAFFIC AND SO ON. FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION TO PRODUCE POWER HAS ALMOST GOTTEN ME KILLED ONCE. HONDA DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE. ONCE AGAIN I'M GETTING THE RUN AROUND EVEN THOUGH IT COULD LEAD TO MY DEATH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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