1998 Honda Prelude Problems

What owners report

Most complaints for this model year describe automatic transmission trouble — slipping, harsh or erratic shifting, and loss of drive — often appearing well before 100,000 miles, sometimes shortly after a rebuild or replacement. A second cluster involves sudden engine stalls and no-starts traced by owners to the ignition switch, several of them after a recall replacement. Front lower ball joint wear and general suspension noises appear in a smaller share of complaints, with more recent reports filed at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission slipping and shifting erratically

   • 28 complaints (41%)
   • median 85,170 mi at 6.5 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,400 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2000–2023

   Complaints describe the automatic transmission slipping or over-revving, failing to hold fourth gear, and dropping into a lower gear on its own; some owners note a jerk or loss of power when it happens. Several report hard, jolting shifts through all gears or reverse that engages late. According to the complaints, dealers often first said nothing was wrong, then recommended a rebuild or replacement; some owners describe repeat failures after the transmission was replaced, and one noted a repair shop found disintegrated clutch friction material. Reports in the sample range from about 35,000 to 135,000 miles, with many under 100,000 and a few below 50,000.

   What to check: Drive the car through all gears, including steady highway speed and a manual-mode shift, and watch for slipping, flaring revs or harsh engagement. Ask for transmission service records and whether the unit has been rebuilt or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 1998 Honda Prelude with a automatic with the sport shift transmission. The one that comes with the base model Prelude. I was driving my car and I felt the transmission not pulling no more then the engine rev high and then I let my foot of the gas and the transmission slapped back into gear. I had the transmission rebuilt and it is starting to do it again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10080872, filed 2004-07, 96,580 miles

   “1998 Honda Prelude transmission problem. I just recently bought a 98 Honda Prelude. This is beautiful. I know the previous owner, and she was a good driver that never even utilized the vtec, meaning the RPM never went above 5000. Now I have it, and it has 63000 miles on it. This is my second car so I treat it with much care. But now suddenly, the gears don't shift right. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10049094, filed 2003-12, 64,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls or will not start (ignition switch)

   • 16 complaints (23%)
   • median 120,160 mi at 11.9 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2019

   Owners report the engine cutting out without warning while driving or at a stop, sometimes restarting immediately and sometimes needing repeated key turns to start. Several describe the key coming out or the ignition turning off while the shifter was not in park. Complaints say the switch contacts were found worn or the plastic body melted, and that the part had already been replaced under the earlier ignition switch recall on some cars. Reported across a wide mileage span in the sample, from roughly 50,000 to 200,000 miles, often years after the recall repair.

   Recall 05V025000Recall 02V120000

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch was replaced under either recall and keep the paperwork; check that the key cannot be removed with the shifter out of park, and note any hesitation or stalling on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 1998 v-tec Honda Prelude recently hit 157000 miles and shortly after has been experiencing loss of power, stalling, and loss of steering. Within 5 weeks I have experienced it stall and instantly restart while going through an intersection, lose all power and steering while turning through an intersection, and lose power and steering while going 55 MPH down the highway. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11005225, filed 2017-07, 157,000 miles

   “I own a Honda Prelude and recently the combination switch broke and my car simply shut off while I was driving. I was able to pull off the road without injury or further damage to my car. I had the part replaced by my auto mechanic. Today I learned that part was recalled and that it is possible to be reimbursed for the part. I still have the part and the receipt for the repairs. The costs of the repairs came to $240.00 and I also had to rent a vehicle to continue working which costs $ 85.00.”

   NHTSA complaint #10254443, filed 2009-01, 125,000 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Front lower ball joint wear and clunking

   • 6 complaints (9%)
   • median 109,000 mi at 11.6 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2009

   Complaints describe front lower ball joints found with noticeable play during inspection, and a clunking from the rear over bumps that a dealer attributed to parts needing lubrication. Some owners report the joint failed or separated; several mention the front suspension recall and say the dealer told them their vehicle was not covered or the repair had already been done. Sample reports cluster from about 85,000 to 125,000 miles; the rear-clunk noise was reported at unspecified mileage.

   Recall 99V0690001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have a shop check the front lower ball joints for play and confirm whether recall 99V069000 was completed for that vehicle; listen for clunks over bumps during the test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle: 1998 Honda Prelude sh (98000 miles) -vehicle was inspected by professional mechanic -mechanic found that components: suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joints had estimated 1/4 inch of play (movement) when there should be no movement -NHTSA campaign id number: 99v069000 is a recall for this component for 1998 Honda preludes -Honda motor co. States that my vehicle does not apply -the worse case, the ball joint would separate causing the front suspension to collapse. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10283166, filed 2009-09, 98,000 miles

   “'recall campaign' 1998 Honda Prelude sh lower ball joint replacement. The consumer recently became aware of a lower ball joint recall 99v-069000. The consumer contacted the dealer who informed the consumer that the service was already done. The manufacturer refused to replace the ball joint again free of charge.”

   NHTSA complaint #10113586, filed 2005-02
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying, or deploying unexpectedly

   Mentioned in 4 of 56 sampled complaints

   Complaints include frontal airbags that did not deploy in a collision, one in which the vehicle rolled over, and one case where both front airbags deployed without warning while driving at low speed, with the owner noting they were replacement units installed after an earlier accident. Another complaint reports a deployment in a crash in which the occupant was seriously injured. Reported at mileages from roughly 150,000 to 167,000 in the sample; several complaints did not state mileage.

   What to check: Check that the airbag warning light comes on and goes out at startup, and ask whether the car has been in a prior collision with airbag replacement work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driver traveling on a two lane road, two vehicles where in front, there was an abrupt stop, and the driver crashed into the vehicle in front and the seat belt did not lock, nor did the airbags deploy, the failure forced the driver into the windshield and cracked it. Driver sustained injuries.”

   NHTSA complaint #781367, filed 1998-10

   “While traveling 15-20 MPH on a neighborhood street with windows up consumer and passenger began to smell something like gas. A few moments later, driver's side and passenger's side airbags deployed without prior warning from airbag light. Consumer depressed brake pedal, causing a frontal collision with a parked car. Driver received burns, and sprained wrist and neck. Passenger sustained burns. Consumer stated that airbags were replacememt equipment from a previous accident. Dealer did not reinstall airbags. Oliver's auto body of holyoke did. …”

   NHTSA complaint #891928, filed 2001-07
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls and cooling or timing-related faults

   • 5 complaints (7%)
   • median 79,000 mi at 6.7 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2005

   Owners describe the engine stopping with no warning while running, and in one case a failed timing belt auto-tensioner that let the belt jump time and damage valves. Another complaint mentions a check engine light that comes and goes since around 70,000 miles. A service bulletin in the input addresses a diagnostic trouble code software error for this system. Reported from roughly 64,000 to 80,000 miles in the sample.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for timing belt service records and the mileage of the last replacement, and have a shop pull stored trouble codes rather than relying on a warning light that comes and goes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have been having more problems with my engine stalling suddenly. The past few times, I was on the highway in busy rush hour traffic. The heater, radio, and other electrical components would continue to work but the tachometer would just drop to zero. Twice, I had to put the car in neutral, turn the car back on, and put it back in drive, all while on the highway.”

   NHTSA complaint #10128889, filed 2005-07, 80,000 miles

   “Technical service bulletins summary make: Honda model: Prelude year: 1998 service bulletin number: 010400 NHTSA item number: 618985 summary description: subject regarding a leaking torque converter. Technical service bulletins summary make: Honda model: Prelude year: 1998 service bulletin number: 00090 NHTSA item number: 615735 summary description: subject regarding rear suspension clunks. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10058999, filed 2004-02, 54,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, the automatic transmission deserves the most attention: drive it thoroughly and get service history, since complaints describe repeat failures after rebuilds. Also confirm the ignition switch and front ball joint recalls were completed, and check for stalling and front-end play before agreeing on a price.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 56 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.