1998 Honda Prelude Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 4%of 69 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 1998 Honda Prelude, 4% of the 69 complaints for this model year.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Four-speed automatic transmission abruptly downshifted on its own causing the car to rapidly brake then accelerate with no driver control. At the time, I was told by Honda that they have never heard of this happening, the car was out of warranty, there were no replacement transmissions available for sale, and I would have to go to an independent transmission shop to have it rebuilt. The transmission shop showed me the friction surface on the clutches disintegrated, clogging the pump and filter which caused the eratic self-shifting. I was told this was faulty material used in the transmission. …”
NHTSA complaint #767316, filed 2002-09“Auto transmission new technology, gears can be upshifted or downsifted manually. When the transmission shifts into 4th. It won't catch and would just rev. Transmission shifted hard (jolting) throughout the gears. Reverse won't catch until after the car starts to roll in reverse direction. Scraping metal noises could be heard when the car starts moving in idle. Transmission also produce whuffing, an rc noise while in park or in neutral- a sign of transmission being shot. …”
NHTSA complaint #749034, filed 2001-07Vehicle speed control: other model years
Other parts of the 1998 Honda Prelude
31 complaintsElectrical system
12 complaintsSuspension
9 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsBrakes
2 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsWheels
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 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