1997 Honda Prelude Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 40about this part
- Share
- 61%of 66 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 95,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 40 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1997 Honda Prelude, 61% of the 66 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 95,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“Its the automatic transmission it only has 136000 miles on it and I need a new one that's really low miles for a 97 never had a problem like this ever with any of my cars. I heard its with all the hondas.”
NHTSA complaint #10578137, filed 2014-04, 136,000 miles“I bought this car used and have had good luck with Honda's in the past but about 300 miles of me owning this vehicle I was entering a freeway when all of a sudden I lost all power with cars going highway speed behind me I had to pull off to the shoulder luckily there was one there the first time it gave out but later on that drive going home I was driving over a bridge with traffic when it did it again I was so scared because I'm stuck in a line of traffic on a bridge and the car wants to roll back and it didn't want to turn on until it cooled down which was 30 minutes of ugly looks of cars…”
NHTSA complaint #11254317, filed 2019-09, 171,000 miles“I've driving my Prelude for 4 years. Very soon after I got it I noticd the shifting was jerky. Soon after it became jumpy and now when I drivie my car from cold its bolting into gear with a tremendous jerk. I feel its on its way out.”
NHTSA complaint #10323067, filed 2010-03, 90,000 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 milesTransmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 11 | 52% |
| 2000 | 7 | 54% |
| 1999 | 8 | 26% |
| 1998 | 31 | 45% |
| 1997 | 40 | 61% |
| 1994 | 1 | 11% |
| 1993 | 2 | 18% |
| 1992 | 3 | 14% |
| 1989 | 1 | 5% |
Other parts of the 1997 Honda Prelude
7 complaintsSuspension
7 complaintsEngine cooling
5 complaintsTires
5 complaintsBrakes
4 complaintsEquipment
3 complaintsAir bags
2 complaintsSeats
2 complaintsSteering
2 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Honda Prelude
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology