1991 Honda Prelude Problems
- Complaints
- 15filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 129,000miles, 3 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 21 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 19 city / 25 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1991 Honda Prelude (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 1991 Honda Prelude. The part named most often is seat belts, with 9 complaints (60% of the total), followed by engine cooling (5) and equipment (1). 3 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 129,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 4 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. 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.
- Seat belts9 60%
- Engine cooling5 33%
- Equipment1 6.7%
Example complaints
Seat belts: “While driving the front driver side seat belt buckle won't lock and will come apart whenever the consumer moves which mak's the buckle to operate improperly.”
NHTSA complaint #833333, filed 1999-01Engine cooling: “The contact stated while driving 45 MPH a loud noise was heard from the rear of the vehicle and the vehicle stalled. It was maneuvered off the road and towed to the dealer who determined the timing belt needed to be replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #10175919, filed 2006-12, 129,000 milesLatches, locks and linkages: “The hood had opened up while my son was using the car. This resulted in damage to the fron glass, roof, left side mirror, left side door and left side front fender, and hood.”
NHTSA complaint #761825, filed 2002-05Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 68,000 and 193,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1991 Honda Prelude. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prelude · coupe | not rated | 1 / 3 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1991 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 | 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 19 | 25 | 22 | $3,050 |
| Prelude FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 20 | 25 | 22 | $3,050 |
| Prelude FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 19 | 25 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Prelude FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 18 | 24 | 20 | $3,350 |
| Prelude FWD | 2.1L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 19 | 24 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Prelude FWD | 2.1L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 18 | 23 | 20 | $3,350 |
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.
Recall details for the 1991 Honda Prelude → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1991 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 1991 Honda Prelude have?
NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 1991 Honda Prelude as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1991 Honda Prelude is reported most often?
Seat belts is named most often, in 9 complaints (60% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 5.
Has the 1991 Honda Prelude been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1991 Honda Prelude get?
The EPA rates the 1991 Honda Prelude (Prelude, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 19 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1991 Honda Prelude reported?
Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 129,000 miles and the middle half falls between 68,000 and 193,000 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 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. 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.