1999 Honda Prelude: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 31 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (23% of complaints); the 2000 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jun 2006
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 1999 Honda Prelude. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact became aware that the failure was due to the ignition switch. The contact replaced the part himself. The contact also noticed that while the vehicle was turned off, the gear shifter independently shifted into gear. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Dec 2022
“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.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2017
“1999 honda prelude. Consumer states engine failure while driving *tgw the consumer referenced the ignition switch recall and is requesting $2,350.19 for repairs. *jb the consumer stated he received a small refund from honda. Updated 09/29/11*jb”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2011
Show 7 more owner reports
“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. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Sep 2009
“Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle was consuming oil every three to four months, when it should normally last for one year. The vehicle has been taken to a service dealer several times. The dealer expressed that this would normally occur if the vehicle had a front-end collision. This vehicle has never been in a collision; subsequently, the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · May 2006
“My son was driving the 1999 honda prelude on the expressway when the engine stopped runing. He was able to push the car over to the side of the road with out any crash or injuries. He was luckey that there were few cars on the road at the time. Had it towed to a repair shop. The idle bolt for the timming belt broke at the engine and had to be drilled out to be replaced. Old part is not available.”Owner report · Equipment · Apr 2005
“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. *ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Dec 2004
“1999 honda prelude sport shift automatic transmission failure at 46,000 miles and at a speed of 36 mph as documented by honda! I haven't done anything wrong and neither has any other prelude owner and honda wants $6,000 dollars of my hard earned money! Yes that's 1/4 the total cost of the car brand new! Please help. *nlm”Owner report · Power Train · Mar 2003
“The consumer's vehicle experienced engine failure which was caused by a broken cam seal which allowed oil to leak from the engine. Nm the oil pressure indicator light came on. The consumer pulled off the exit and the vehicle lost power. The dealer performed a scheduled maintenance check up and oil change on the vehicle 10 weeks prior to the incident. The consumer feels that the leaking cam seal went undiscovered or unmentioned. The dealer refused to replace the engine because the consumer drove a half of a mile with the engine light on. The timing belt broke on another occasion causing serious engine damage and loss of power. *tc the consumer stated the cd player shut off. *jb”Owner report · Equipment · Oct 2002
“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.”Owner report · Tires · Sep 2002
When filing, owners marked a crash in 2 of these complaints and injuries in 1 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE INTERLOCK OPERATION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE "OFF" POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO PARK.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERFORM AN INSPECTION PROCEDURE THAT CONFIRMS INTERLOCK FUNCTION. VEHICLES WILL BE UPDATED WITH A REDESIGNED INTERLOCK LEVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 7, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1999 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Prelude by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Honda Prelude reliable?
NHTSA has 31 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 1999 Honda Prelude. The most complained-about area is power train (23% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1999 Honda Prelude problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 67,064 miles or less.
Does the 1999 Honda Prelude have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning electrical system:ignition:switch. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.