1997 Honda Prelude Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1997 Honda Prelude most often describe automatic transmission problems, including jerky or slipping gear changes and transmissions that fail and are rebuilt or replaced. Ignition switch stalls tied to a recall are reported less often, and some owners describe front ball joint problems and suspension noises. Where mileage is given, most transmission reports fall between about 65,000 and 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Jerky, harsh, or slipping gear changes

   • 21 complaints (32%)
   • median 94,000 mi at 9.2 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,700 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 1998–2019

   Owners describe automatic gear changes that are abrupt, jerky, or delayed, sometimes with the engine revving before the car lurches into gear. Many say the transmission slips out of gear or fails to engage, and some complaints say the problem is worse when the car is cold. According to complaints, dealers could not identify the problem in some cases, and some owners said the symptoms returned after a rebuild or replacement. Where mileage is given, most reports fall between about 65,000 and 100,000 miles, with some below 55,000 and some above 165,000.

   What to check: Ask whether any transmission rebuild or repair is recorded for the vehicle, and focus a test drive on jerky or slipping shifts from a stop, both when cold and once warm. Ask the dealer to check for stored transmission codes, since some complaints say codes were cleared without a clear repair.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 1997 Prelude that has had 1 transmission failure in nov. Of 2005 & it was rebuilt. It current is failing the same way the first transmission failed. It is making noise & starting to slip when it is cold. $1700 to fix the 1st transmission by a trans shop. I am joining a class action law suit if it is not taken care of from Honda. This car only has 65,000 miles on it!”

   NHTSA complaint #10222472, filed 2008-03, 50,300 miles

   “My car suddenly started shifting oddly and got more violent as time passed. This was dangerous because after reversing out of my driveway, the car would jerk and basically have a big clang. The car also died out when I was driving. After I replaced the transmission at 80000 miles, it is now starting to shift hard again.”

   NHTSA complaint #10008406, filed 2003-03, 80,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission failure, rebuilds, and replacements

   • 29 complaints (44%)
   • median 95,000 mi at 7.6 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $2,650 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 1998–2014

   Owners report transmissions that failed, sometimes suddenly on the road, and were then rebuilt or replaced, with some failing again within a short time. Some describe a bearing or internal damage found during diagnosis, and others were quoted significant repair costs. Some owners were asked to pay for labor on a replacement offered as a goodwill gesture, and a service bulletin was said to acknowledge the problem without any financial help being offered. Where mileage is given, reports range from about 45,000 to about 170,000 miles, with many between 50,000 and 100,000.

   What to check: Ask for records of any transmission rebuild or replacement, including whether it was done under warranty or as a goodwill repair, since owners describe repeat failures. Have a technician check stored codes and the transmission fluid condition before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 1997 Prelude ss had a transmission issue and it decided to go on me, in the middle of the road, while traffic was behind me. So, I decided to contact Honda and make them see the issue, instead I received a no answer, which was a pretty lame excuse to not replace a transmission failure in all 97-99 Honda Prelude cars, so, the service manager decided to retry the Honda USA number, and they got me through and replaced the transmission under a non-transmission warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10047008, filed 2003-11, 52,540 miles

   “I have a 1997 Honda Prelude sport-shift automatic. Like most owners of this type of vehicle, the transmission went out. The gears begin to slip and will not engage. The dealer wanted $4000 to get a rebuilt transmission. I had it replaced, but then about 20,000 miles later, it went out again. This time the first gear did not engage. I am basically afraid to drive my car around anymore. I do not want to get it rebuilt again because of the fact that it may as well break again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10011042, filed 2003-03, 99,500 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Ignition switch stalls and recall repair problems

   • 6 complaints (9%)
   • median 138,701 mi at 12.8 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2013

   Owners describe the engine stalling while driving, sometimes at highway speed and sometimes at low speed in a parking area, and sometimes without warning. Some say the ignition switch was replaced under a recall but failed again later, and others report damaged key tumblers that made the key hard to turn. Some owners say recall parts were unavailable for a period, that the manufacturer said the vehicle was not included in the recall, or that other problems appeared right after recall work. Reported at mileages from roughly 73,000 to over 180,000 miles, where mileage is given.

   Recall 02V120000Recall 05V025000

   What to check: Ask the dealer to confirm whether recalls 02V120000 and 05V025000 for the ignition switch and shift interlock are open for this vehicle, and whether a repair was recorded. Check that the key turns smoothly and that the key can be removed only with the shifter in park.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “April 2007 I had the shift interlock update as well as the ignition switch recall done at my local dealer. The shift interlock update included a whole new lock assembly including new tumblers and a new key because I was able to remove my old key while not in park. July 2009 I started having problems turning the key in the ignition using many different keys. So I took it to the dealer. They informed me that the problem was that the tumblers were damaged and that the whole lock assembly would need to be replaced again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10276984, filed 2009-07, 120,000 miles

   “The car stalled without warning on highway due to ignition switch. The ignition switched was replaced in oct 2003 as part of a recall yet failed less than 3 years later. Make : Honda model : Prelude year : 1997 manufacturer : american Honda motor co. Nhtsa campaign id number : 02v120000 recall date : may 13, 2002 component: electrical system:ignition:switch”

   NHTSA complaint #10155902, filed 2006-04, 72,900 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Front ball joint problems and suspension noises

   • 7 complaints (11%)
   • typically at 2.3 yrs old
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2003

   Owners describe a front ball joint that wore out or separated, and in some cases the car swayed or spun at speed. Other complaints describe loud cracks or bumps from the front suspension, especially in cold weather, which the manufacturer or dealer reportedly described as a normal characteristic of the vehicle. After a ball joint recall repair, a complaint says a bracket bolt was left loose and a component came off. Mileage is not stated in these reports, and the noise complaints are described as worse in cold weather.

   Recall 99V0690001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the lower ball joint recall 99V069000 was completed on this vehicle and whether the bracket bolts were checked after that repair. Have a technician inspect the front ball joints and listen for knocks or cracks on a test drive, including when the car is cold.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Problems with ball joints, brakes, air conditioner, radio, windshield and seats. In addition, the engine burned oil, the vehicle had a hard time going backwards. Consumer had numerous incidents with the vehicle going out control. The vehicle was repaired multiple times, but the problems continued to exist.”

   NHTSA complaint #10034521, filed 2003-08

   “Getting a bump noise when front suspension is loaded espescially in cold weather. After several trips to dealer and one attempted repair the dealer claims that this may be a characteristic of the car and will not attempt another repair under warrantee.”

   NHTSA complaint #719548, filed 2000-03

Buying note. Used-car buyers can ask for transmission rebuild and replacement records, and confirm whether the ignition switch and ball joint recalls were completed on the specific vehicle. A test drive from a stop, including a cold start, may help check for the shifting symptoms owners describe.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 55 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.