Complaints
86
Crashes
7
Fires
0
Injuries
11
Fatalities
1
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Honda Prelude Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#123 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:85,789 mi
Crash-related:1
#28 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:136,589 mi
#34 complaints
Suspension:Rear
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Honda Prelude.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic Transmission | 23 | 1 | — | 85,789 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 8 | — | — | 136,589 mi | |
| Suspension:Rear | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Automatic Transmission
23
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
85,789
Electrical Faults
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
136,589
Suspension:Rear
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Side/Window
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches / Locks
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Honda Prelude. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Honda Prelude Years
1998 Honda Prelude — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Honda Prelude reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 1998 Honda Prelude has 86 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Automatic Transmission with 23 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Honda Prelude?
Top reported problems: Automatic Transmission (23 complaints, avg 85,789 mi); Electrical Faults (8 complaints, avg 136,589 mi); Suspension:Rear (4 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 1998 Honda Prelude?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 98,899 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Honda Prelude?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Honda Prelude include 7 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 11 injuries, and 1 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 1998 Honda Prelude have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 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 1998 Honda Prelude?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 1998 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 1998 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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