Complaints
88
Crashes
18
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1997 Honda Prelude Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#135 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:96,189 mi
Crash-related:2
#25 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Avg mileage:119,389 mi
#33 complaints
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Honda Prelude.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic Transmission | 35 | 2 | — | 96,189 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 5 | — | — | 119,389 mi | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 3 | 3 | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tires:Sidewall | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Parking Brake:Indicator Light | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Automatic Transmission
35
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
96,189
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
119,389
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
3
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Control Arm
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Sidewall
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Parking Brake:Indicator Light
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Honda Prelude. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Honda Prelude Years
1997 Honda Prelude — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1997 Honda Prelude reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 1997 Honda Prelude has 88 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Automatic Transmission with 35 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Honda Prelude?
Top reported problems: Automatic Transmission (35 complaints, avg 96,189 mi); Electrical System:Ignition:Switch (5 complaints, avg 119,389 mi); Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner (3 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1997 Honda Prelude?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 99,089 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1997 Honda Prelude?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Honda Prelude include 18 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1997 Honda Prelude have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1997 Honda Prelude as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1997 Honda Prelude?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 1997 Honda Prelude shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Honda Prelude reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1997 Honda Prelude
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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