1987 Honda Prelude Problems
- Complaints
- 14filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 133,133miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 2campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 25 mpgcombined, 1.8L 4-cyl FWD · 22 city / 29 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1987 Honda Prelude (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 1987 Honda Prelude. The part named most often is fuel system, with 5 complaints (36% of the total), followed by seat belts (3) and exterior lighting (2). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 133,133 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Fuel system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign filed under the same part. Seat belts complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the buckle assembly filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Fuel system5 36%
- Seat belts3 21%
- Exterior lighting2 14%
- Tires2 14%
- Brakes1 7.1%
- Electrical system1 7.1%
- Engine cooling1 7.1%
- Steering1 7.1%
- Vehicle speed control1 7.1%
Example complaints
Fuel system: “From day one- idle fluctuation with tons of documentation and denial to problem by dealer & representative-first day car was purchased there was a code 12. All 4 fuel injectors replaced & EGR tubes cleaned. Lived with unresolved problem all these years, but now I have sudden acceleration and am frigthened to death to drive the car. I almost killed someone.”
NHTSA complaint #707245, filed 1999-06Seat belts: “Rear restaint belt is permanently retracted and locked, I am a mother of twin toddlers and require the use use of both rear seatbelts in order to secure their saftey seats properly. Meanwhile I've tried to secure it with the middle lap belt but it has failed at providing any kind of resraint when I take a sharp turn it tips over and my daugters have been injured a few times over this defect. I am afraid if I am to get in a serious accident this might fail to save their lives. …”
NHTSA complaint #756140, filed 2001-12Tires: “I recently purchased a used car in january of 2010. It had installed on it, a set of four douglas 185/70r/13 tires with the manufacture date of 0408 on the sidewalls, and the previous owner stated they were only about 2 months old (bought at wal mart). They are modeled xtra trac aw. Well about 3 months ago, I had one completely blow out due to sidewall failure. This blow out damaged pretty much the entire front driver's side of my car. I had to replace my wheel bearing, cv joint, and a bunch of other things I'm not sure about on the inside of the tire area. …”
NHTSA complaint #10340539, filed 2010-06Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 133,133 and 133,133 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1987 Honda Prelude version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prelude FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 22 | 29 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Prelude FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 21 | 27 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Prelude FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 22 | 29 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Prelude FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 21 | 27 | 23 | $2,900 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 95V103001May 24, 1995Seat belts › Front › Buckle assemblyCovers: Honda Prelude 1986–1991, Accord 1986–1991, Civic 1986–1991 +3 more
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.
- 92V028001Apr 15, 1993Fuel system, gasolineCovers: Honda Prelude 1983–1987, Accord 1986–1987
If the plastic coating of the fuel filler and/or breather pipe is damaged, salt water may accumulate between the plastic coating and the steel pipes, and the accumulation could cause corrosion which would eventually rust through the affected pipes, allowing…
Recall details for the 1987 Honda Prelude → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1987 Honda Prelude.
Other model years of the Honda Prelude
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 21 | 85,480 | 1 | — | 22 | — | Stable |
| 2000 | 13 | 73,571 | 1 | — | 22 | — | Not enough data |
| 1999 | 31 | 67,064 | 2 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 69 | 93,790 | 3 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1997 | 66 | 93,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 6 | 87,500 | 0 | — | 21 | — | Not enough data |
| 1994 | 9 | 128,000 | 0 | — | 21 | — | Not enough data |
| 1993 | 11 | 124,000 | 0 | — | 21 | — | Not enough data |
| 1992 | 22 | 173,375 | 0 | — | 22 | — | Stable |
| 1991 | 15 | 129,000 | 1 | — | 21 | — | Stable |
| 1989 | 21 | — | 1 | — | 21 | — | Stable |
| 1988 | 35 | 192,638 | 6 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 14 | 133,133 | 2 | — | 25 | — | Not enough data |
| 1986 | 12 | — | 2 | — | 24 | — | Not enough data |
| 1985 | 7 | — | 1 | — | 23 | — | Not enough data |
| 1984 | 5 | — | 1 | — | 24 | — | Not enough data |
All Honda Prelude model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1987 Honda Prelude have?
NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 1987 Honda Prelude as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1987 Honda Prelude is reported most often?
Fuel system is named most often, in 5 complaints (36% of the total), followed by seat belts with 3.
Has the 1987 Honda Prelude been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1987 Honda Prelude get?
The EPA rates the 1987 Honda Prelude (Prelude, 1.8L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 22 city and 29 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1987 Honda Prelude reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 133,133 miles and the middle half falls between 133,133 and 133,133 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.