1993 Honda Prelude Problems and Recalls (10 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 1993 Honda Prelude is Airbags (20% of 10 owner reports). There are 5 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Airbags — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 10 complaints · 5 recalls

What problems show up on the 1993 Honda Prelude?

2 of 10 filings named Airbags (20% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Electrical (2 reports).

There are 5 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Lights. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 1992 has 20 reports on file; this year has 10. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 1993 Honda Prelude

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 5 campaigns on file below.
  2. Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
  3. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  4. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Airbags. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Airbags 2 complaints · 20.0% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 1
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 1
  • Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Airbags (AIR BAGS) appears in 2 of 10 owner complaints (20.0%) in this vehicle snapshot. Airbags (AIR BAGS): 2 complaints, 20.0% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 crash reports 2 · 20.0% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 2 complaints, 20.0% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 · 20.0% Engine (ENGINE): 2 complaints, 20.0% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 2 · 20.0% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 2 complaints, 20.0% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 2 · 20.0% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 1 complaints, 10.0% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 · 10.0% Tires (TIRES): 1 complaints, 10.0% of reports Tires (TIRES) 1 · 10.0% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 7 complaints, 70.0% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 7 · 70.0% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 2 20.0% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 20.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 2 20.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 2 20.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 10.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Tires (TIRES) 1 10.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 7 70.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 1995; the first recall shown was reported in Mar 2006. 1995-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 1995-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2000-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2000-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 1995 Aug 2008 Recall campaign 06E025000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E025000 Recall campaign 06E026000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E026000 Recall campaign 06E049000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E049000 Recall campaign 06E060000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E060000 Recall campaign 08E050000 ◆ Recall campaign 08E050000 Investigation EA95024 ● Investigation EA95024
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1995-Q1 Owner reports 1
1995-Q2 Owner reports 1
1998-Q4 Owner reports 2
2000-Q3 Owner reports 2
2000-Q4 Owner reports 1
2002-Q4 Owner reports 1
2003-Q2 Owner reports 1
2004-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 06E025000
Recall campaign 1 06E026000
Recall campaign 1 06E049000
Recall campaign 1 06E060000
Recall campaign 1 08E050000
Defect investigation 1 EA95024
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (5)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Lights.

  1. Recall campaign 06E025000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    POLI-AUTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE HEADLAMPS AT ITS ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT POLI-AUTO AT 305-477-1356.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  2. Recall campaign 06E026000

    Safety recall 06E026000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    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 authoritative NHTSA record →
  3. Recall campaign 06E049000

    Safety recall 06E049000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  4. Recall campaign 06E060000

    Safety recall 06E060000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    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 authoritative NHTSA record →
  5. Recall campaign 08E050000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 10 complaints · page 1 of 1
2004-01-21Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10054621
CrashFireInjuryDeath
ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO THE CLEAR COAT ON MY 1993 HONDA PRELUDE STARTED PEELING OFF THE TRUNK AND ROOF OF MY CAR. THE HOOD DID NOT PEEL BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED AND REPLACED ABOUT 1 YEAR PRIOR. *AK
2003-06-01Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10020826
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE METAL SPRING HOLDER ON THE OEM CLUTCH SNAPPED OFF WHILE DRIVING, WHICH MADE SHIFTING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AND CAUSED UNNECESSARY AND EXTREMELY DAMAGING WEAR ON THE TRANSMISSION. *TT
2002-11-13Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 8022628
CrashFireInjuryDeath
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE BALANCE SHAFT BLEW CAUSING OIL TO LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR
2000-12-16Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 737884
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THEY NEED TO BE RECALLS ALL DISTRIBUTOR FOR HONDA. *AK
2000-07-14Airbags (AIR BAGS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 725436
CrashFireInjuryDeath
MY SON PULLED INTO A DRIVEWAY AND AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A COLLISION. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT INJURED HIS LEFT HAND. AFTER CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER, HE HAD IT INSPECTED BY A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO ACCUSED HIM OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT. APPOXIMATELY JUNE OF 1999, WHILE CHANGING A TIRE THE CAR SLIPPED OFF THE JACK CAUSING SLIGHT DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FENDER AND UNDERCARRIAGE. WHY WOULD THE AIRBAG DEPLOY A YEAR LATER?
2000-07-12Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 865298
CrashFireInjuryDeath
BOUGHT VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED, AND WAS TOLD THAT OIL DRAIN PLUG ON THE ENGINE OIL PAN WILL BE STRIPPED. DESIGN DEFECT, OIL PANS ARE MADE OUT OF A SOFT METAL WHICH CAUSES THE THREADS TO STRIP OUT PREMATURELY. *AK
1998-12-10Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 701276
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE IGNITION FAILED I WAS DRIVING 65MPH AND THE CAR DIED WITHOUT WARNING.
1998-11-05Engine (ENGINE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 700351
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR ME TO DO, I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE MOUNTS NEED TO BE REPLACED.
1995-04-06Tires (TIRES)
NHTSA ODI 963243
CrashFireInjuryDeath
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING HIT A POT HOLE BLOW THE TIRE AND AIR BAG DEPLOYED. TT
1995-01-20Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 480735
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE DURING ABOVE ACCIDENT.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 1993 Honda Prelude?

Owners named Airbags most often — 2 of 10 reports (20%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 1993 Honda Prelude?

NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Lights. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 1993 Honda Prelude?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources