1996 Honda Prelude Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1996 Honda Prelude, and owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 1996 Honda Prelude
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Suspension: lower ball joint
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints.
4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Honda Prelude have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 88,888 miles. Complaints peaked in 2001 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“While consumer was traveling at 20 MPH ball joints went out, and consumer lost control of vehicle. There is a recall on vehicle for same problem, but this vehicle was not included due to VIN. *ak ther”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 24, 2001 · Suspension
“The main bearings in my motor spun and are scored, this resulted in loss of oil pressure to the crankshaft and bearing journals. Due to this loss of pressure the engine block,crankshaft,journals, and”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 26, 2001 · Engine and engine cooling
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Honda Prelude. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 21–23 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19–21 / 24–26 |
| Fuel | Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2.2/2.3 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 1996 Honda Prelude
How do I know if my 1996 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 1996 Honda Prelude; your car may already have been repaired under it.
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 99V069000).
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.