1988 Honda Prelude Recalls, Complaints & Specs
6 safety recalls list the 1988 Honda Prelude, and owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
6 safety recalls for the 1988 Honda Prelude
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Buckle assembly (seat belts)
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.
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…
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Accelerator pedal (vehicle speed control)
The accelerator pedal stopper may be bent when excessive downward force is applied after pedal has contacted the stopper.
Remedy: Install a support to prevent stopper from bending.
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Seats
The rear inboard seat anchorage bracket for the front seats may not withstand the force required by FMVSS 207.
Remedy: Install a reinforcing plate to rear inboard seat anchorage bracket for each front seat.
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Hose, piping, and connections (steering)
Vibration and high underhood temperatures could cause power steering supply hose at the connector clamp seal to develop a fluid leak.
Remedy: Install an improved power steering supply hose assembly.
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Owners/service/other manual (equipment)
Owners manual information required by FMVSS 210, sections 6a and 6b was omitted from the manual.
Remedy: Upgrade existing manuals by inserting adhesive backed correction pages.
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Vehicle speed control
A small amount of coolant seepage may occur, and eventually residue may accumulate on the throttle valve.
Remedy: Replace throttle body assembly.
35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1988 Honda Prelude have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 4 describe a fire. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 189,356 miles. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 13 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I have a 1988 honda prelude. The power steering pressure line has a leak at the connection right above the exhaust manifold. I contacted american honda to see if the recall had been taken care off, an”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 9, 2007 · Steering
“I [xxx] and [xxx], own a 1988 honda prelude si 4ws. Vehicle VIN: [xxx]. At the ending week of december while driving it started to smoke from under hood area and lack of control on power steering occu”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 5, 2007 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1988 Honda Prelude. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 20–22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18–20 / 24–25 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Honda Prelude model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Honda Prelude model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 Honda Prelude | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 Honda Prelude | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 Honda Prelude | 1 | 2 |
| 1983 Honda Prelude | 1 | 1 |
| 1984 Honda Prelude | 1 | 5 |
| 1985 Honda Prelude | 1 | 7 |
| 1986 Honda Prelude | 2 | 12 |
| 1987 Honda Prelude | 2 | 14 |
| 1988 Honda Prelude | 6 | 35 |
| 1989 Honda Prelude | 1 | 21 |
| 1990 Honda Prelude | 1 | 4 |
| 1991 Honda Prelude | 1 | 15 |
| 1992 Honda Prelude | 0 | 22 |
| 1993 Honda Prelude | 0 | 11 |
| 1994 Honda Prelude | 0 | 9 |
| 1995 Honda Prelude | 0 | 6 |
| 1996 Honda Prelude | 1 | 4 |
| 1997 Honda Prelude | 3 | 66 |
| 1998 Honda Prelude | 3 | 69 |
| 1999 Honda Prelude | 2 | 31 |
| 2000 Honda Prelude | 1 | 13 |
| 2001 Honda Prelude | 1 | 21 |
Checking a specific 1988 Honda Prelude
How do I know if my 1988 Honda Prelude has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 1988 Honda Prelude; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Honda dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 87V122000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Honda models
- Accord24,554 complaints
- Civic16,209 complaints
- CR-V15,994 complaints
- Odyssey12,749 complaints
- Pilot9,325 complaints
- Fit2,196 complaints
- Ridgeline2,186 complaints
- HR-V1,853 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.