1999 Honda Prelude Problems and Recalls (25 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 1999 Honda Prelude is Transmission / driveline (32% of 25 owner reports). There are 4 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 25 complaints · 4 recalls

What problems show up on the 1999 Honda Prelude?

8 of 25 filings named Transmission / driveline (32% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Electrical (4 reports).

There are 4 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Electrical. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 1998 has 68 reports on file; this year has 25. 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 1999 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 4 campaigns on file below.
  2. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  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 Transmission / driveline. 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: Transmission / driveline 8 complaints · 32.0% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 1
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 0
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 1998 →
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 Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) appears in 8 of 25 owner complaints (32.0%) in this vehicle snapshot. Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 8 complaints, 32.0% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 8 · 32.0% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 4 complaints, 16.0% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 4 · 16.0% Engine (ENGINE): 4 complaints, 16.0% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 4 · 16.0% Steering (STEERING): 2 complaints, 8.0% of reports Steering (STEERING) 2 · 8.0% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 1 complaints, 4.0% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 crash reports 1 · 4.0% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 1 complaints, 4.0% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1 · 4.0% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 1 complaints, 4.0% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 · 4.0% Tires (TIRES): 1 complaints, 4.0% of reports Tires (TIRES) 1 · 4.0% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 1 complaints, 4.0% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 · 4.0% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 16 complaints, 64.0% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 1 crash reports 16 · 64.0% 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)
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 8 32.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 4 16.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 4 16.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 2 8.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 4.0% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1 4.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 4.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Tires (TIRES) 1 4.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 4.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 16 64.0% 1 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 Apr 1999; the first recall shown was reported in May 2002. 1999-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2000-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2001-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2003-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2005-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2005-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Apr 1999 Oct 2022 Recall campaign 02V120000 ◆ Recall campaign 02V120000 Recall campaign 05V025000 ◆ Recall campaign 05V025000 Recall campaign 06E026000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E026000 Recall campaign 06E060000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E060000 Investigation PE05002 ● Investigation PE05002
  • Campaign 02V120000 was reported 521 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 05V025000 was reported 1,509 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1999-Q2 Owner reports 1
2000-Q1 Owner reports 2
2000-Q4 Owner reports 3
2001-Q2 Owner reports 1
2001-Q3 Owner reports 1
2002-Q1 Owner reports 1
2002-Q3 Owner reports 2
2003-Q1 Owner reports 1
2003-Q3 Owner reports 1
2004-Q2 Owner reports 1
2004-Q4 Owner reports 2
2005-Q1 Owner reports 2
2005-Q2 Owner reports 1
2006-Q2 Owner reports 1
2008-Q3 Owner reports 1
2011-Q2 Owner reports 1
2011-Q4 Owner reports 1
2017-Q3 Owner reports 1
2022-Q4 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 02V120000
Recall campaign 1 05V025000
Recall campaign 1 06E026000
Recall campaign 1 06E060000
Defect investigation 1 PE05002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (4)

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

In short, these campaigns were filed about Electrical.

  1. Recall campaign 02V120000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    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 HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 05V025000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    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 authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. 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 →

  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 →
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 7 of 25 complaints · page 1 of 1
2022-12-19Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11498032
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 1999 Honda Prelude. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact became aware that the failure was due to the ignition switch. The contact replaced the part himself. The contact also noticed that while the vehicle was turned off, the gear shifter independently shifted into gear. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
2017-07-19Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11006352
CrashFireInjuryDeath
STARTING IN JUNE 2017, MY 1999 HONDA PRELUDE SH HAS BEEN STALLING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS MOSTLY ON HOT DAYS. THE CAR CAN NOT BE RE-STARTED FOR 5-10 MINUTES AFTERWARD. THE ENGINE IS NOT OVERHEATING. MY MECHANIC RAN TESTS FOR TWO DAYS AND SAYS THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MUST BE FAULTY.
2011-11-11Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 10435250
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE SPORTSHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION M6HA IN MY 1999 HONDA PRELUDE STARTED TO SLIP AND WHILE GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY THE CAR LOST ALL POWER TO THE WHEELS AND WOULD JUST REV UP THE ENGINE WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL DOWN AND WOULD NOT MOVE THE CAR WHILE IN ALL DRIVE GEARS. IT COST ME $2,396.75 TO GET MY HONDA PRELUDE'S SPORTSHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION M6HA REPLACED AT A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHILE I WAS OUT ON A FAMILY VACATION TRIP TO ARIZONA. *TR
2011-06-08Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10405090
CrashFireInjuryDeath
1999 HONDA PRELUDE. CONSUMER STATES ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE CONSUMER REFERENCED THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL AND IS REQUESTING $2,350.19 FOR REPAIRS. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A SMALL REFUND FROM HONDA. UPDATED 09/29/11*JB
2008-08-04Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 10236897
CrashFireInjuryDeath
RICHARD C. YUEN POWAY, CA 92064 MAY 5, 2008 AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC. HONDA AUTOMOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE 1919 TORRANCE BOULEVARD MAIL STOP: 500 - 2N - 7D TORRANCE, CA 90501-2746 RE: 1999 HONDA PRELUDE VIN #J013 DEAR SIR: WE ARE VERY PLEASED WITH HONDA AUTOMOBILES PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY. WE ARE ALWAYS GOING OUT OUR WAY TO RECOMMEND HONDA CARS TO OUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. HOWEVER, LAST WEDNESDAY EVENING (4/30/08) WHILE DRIVING HOME IN MY HONDA PRELUDE, I HAD A VERY BAD EXPERIENCE WITH THE CAR. I WAS TRAVELING EAST BOUND ON FWY 56 AT AROUND 65 MILES; SUDDENLY I HEARD A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE HOOD AND GRINDING NOISES. ALL DASH BOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND I WAS HAVING DIFFICULTIES IN MANEUVERING THE CAR. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY AND STOPPED THE CAR AT THE END OF THE OFF RAMP (CAMINO DEL SUR). THE CAR WAS TOWED TO OUR MECHANICS DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO. SUN INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR HAS TAKEN CARE OF OUR HONDA CARS FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS. HE FOUND THE FRONT PULLEY CAME OFF AND FRONT PULLEY STRUT WAS BROKEN IN HALF. HE TOLD US IN ALL HIS YEARS OF SERVICING HONDA CAR, THIS IS THE FIRS TIME FOR HIM. SEE ATTACHED PHOTO. FROM THE PICTURE, YOU CAN SEE THE STRUT IS DEFECTIVE, BROKEN CLEANLY IN HALF. YOU CAN ALSO NOTICE SIGNS OF RUSTING CLOSE TO THE BREAKING POINT. WE HAVE KEPT OUR PRELUDE IN OUR GARAGE AWAY FROM THE WEATHER ELEMENTS. THE CAR HAS NEVER GOT INTO ANY WATER; IN FACT, I HAVE ALWAYS HAND WASHED IT MYSELF. THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCES ARE FOLLOWED RELIGIOUSLY BY ME. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 54,000 MILES ON IT AFTER NINE YEARS. I AM REQUESTING HONDA TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT THE STRUT IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD REIMBURSE US THE EXPENSES TO REPLACE THE STRUT AND THE FRONT PULLEY (SLIGHTLY BENT NEEDS REPLACEMENT). SEE ATTACHED REPAIR BILL. ADDITIONALLY, HONDA SHOULD NOTICE ALL 1999 PRELUDE OWNERS OF THIS INCIDENCE. SINCERELY, 1999 HONDA PRELUDE FRONT PULLEY STRUT BROKEN STRUTBENT KEY. *TR
2006-06-06Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 10159115
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING OIL EVERY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS, WHEN IT SHOULD NORMALLY LAST FOR ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER EXPRESSED THAT THIS WOULD NORMALLY OCCUR IF THE VEHICLE HAD A FRONT-END COLLISION. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN A COLLISION; SUBSEQUENTLY, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
2005-06-01Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10123724
CrashFireInjuryDeath
MY SON WAS DRIVING THE 1999 HONDA PRELUDE ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNING. HE WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH OUT ANY CRASH OR INJURIES. HE WAS LUCKEY THAT THERE WERE FEW CARS ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME. HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE IDLE BOLT FOR THE TIMMING BELT BROKE AT THE ENGINE AND HAD TO BE DRILLED OUT TO BE REPLACED. OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 1999 Honda Prelude?

Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 8 of 25 reports (32%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 1999 Honda Prelude?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Electrical. 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 1999 Honda Prelude?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. 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