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Honda PreludeModel year report

1999 Honda Prelude Problems

Complaints
31filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
67,064miles, 14 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 2.2L 4-cyl FWD · 19 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1999 Honda Prelude (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 31 consumer complaints for the 1999 Honda Prelude. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 8 complaints (26% of the total), followed by electrical system (7) and engine cooling (7). 14 of the complaints include a mileage, and 21% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 67,064 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 4 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the switch and 1 NHTSA investigation filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

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.

Also reported: Vehicle speed control (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “The sportshift automatic transmission m6ha in my 1999 Honda Prelude started to slip and while going down the freeway the car lost all power to the wheels and would just rev up the engine when I pressed the gas pedal down and would not move the car while in all drive gears. It cost me $2,396.75 to get my Honda Prelude's sportshift automatic transmission m6ha replaced at a transmission shop while I was out on a family vacation trip to arizona.”

NHTSA complaint #10435250, filed 2011-11, 135,765 miles

Electrical system: “Starting in june 2017, my 1999 Honda Prelude sh has been stalling without warning while I am driving. This happens mostly on hot days. The car can not be re-started for 5-10 minutes afterward. The engine is not overheating. My mechanic ran tests for two days and says that the ignition switch must be faulty.”

NHTSA complaint #11006352, filed 2017-07, 135,000 miles

Engine cooling: “The timing belt and tensioner catastrophically failed while I was driving in traffic causing a sudden, dangerous lose of power. This car is a 1999 Honda Prelude with 65,000 miles on it. Honda claims that these parts are to be first replaced at 105,000. This car was always maintained by Honda and failed 3 days after their state inspection. These parts were replaced at great expense and inconvenience to me.”

NHTSA complaint #10105658, filed 2005-01, 65,141 miles

Tires: “I have 1999 Honda Prelude that came with bridgestone potenza p205/50 vr16 re92 tires. The left rear tire broke away from the side wall. The car (tires) has only 33,800 miles on it. All tires show cracks on the side walls. These tires are dangerious, the side wall should not fail apart.”

NHTSA complaint #10038692, filed 2003-09, 33,800 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

21% of the 14 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 54,000 and 103,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–2521%25–5036%50–7514%75–10021%100–1507%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (14 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 67,064 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2000820022004200620112022
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1999 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).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Prelude FWD2.2L 4-cyl4-speed automatic192421$3,900
Prelude FWD2.2L 4-cyl5-speed manual202421$3,900

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

Recall details for the 1999 Honda Prelude → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 4 on record; the latest 4 are shown.

Other model years of the Honda Prelude

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20012185,4801—22—Stable
20001373,5711—22—Not enough data
19993167,0642—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19986993,7903—22Not compared (before 2008)Rising
19976693,0003——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1995687,5000—21—Not enough data
19949128,0000—21—Not enough data
199311124,0000—21—Not enough data
199222173,3750—22—Stable
199115129,0001—21—Stable
198921—1—21—Stable
198835192,6386—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198714133,1332—25—Not enough data
198612—2—24—Not enough data
19857—1—23—Not enough data
19845—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 1999 Honda Prelude have?

NHTSA recorded 31 consumer complaints for the 1999 Honda Prelude as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1999 Honda Prelude is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 8 complaints (26% of the total), followed by electrical system with 7.

Has the 1999 Honda Prelude been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1999 Honda Prelude get?

The EPA rates the 1999 Honda Prelude (Prelude, 2.2L 4-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 19 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1999 Honda Prelude reported?

Among the 14 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 67,064 miles and the middle half falls between 54,000 and 103,000 miles; 21% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. 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.