1998 Honda Prelude Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1998 Honda Prelude, and owners have filed 69 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1998 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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Switch (electrical system)
On certain passenger vehicles, the interlock operation of the ignition switch may not function properly, making it possible to turn the ignition key to the "off" position and remove the key without shifting the transmission to park.
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…
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Switch (electrical system)
On certain sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, and sport utility vehicles, electrical contacts in the ignition switch can degrade due to the high electrical current passing through the switch when the vehicle is started.
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…
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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.
69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1998 Honda Prelude have filed 69 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash. Reports cite 8 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 103,007 miles. Complaints peaked in 2002 with 9 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“This is the first time I had to replace the transmission at 65867 miles on it, Well I was driving down to the street one day and then it's started to Slip In. and out of a gear And the next day I trie”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 22, 2023 · Power train
“While driving or at stop light, car stalls without warning. Must have a jump to restart and can only drive 5-10 miles before car stalls saying battery not charging. Battery and alternator both test as”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 2, 2019 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1998 Honda Prelude. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 21–22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19–20 / 24–25 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2.2 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 1998 Honda Prelude
How do I know if my 1998 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. 3 campaigns currently list the 1998 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 02V120000).
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.