What are the most common Honda Prelude problems?
According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 1998 Honda Prelude has 12 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Ignition Switch Electrical Failure, ATTS (Active Torque Transfer System) Failure (SH Models), 5th Generation Automatic Transmission Failure. Of these, 5 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
Is the Honda Prelude reliable?
The 1998 Honda Prelude has 12 known issues compiled from NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports. 5 issues are rated critical: Ignition Switch Electrical Failure and ATTS (Active Torque Transfer System) Failure (SH Models) and 5th Generation Automatic Transmission Failure and 5th-gen (SS/BAYA) automatic transmission premature failure and Front lower ball joint premature wear (NHTSA recall 99V069000) plus ignition-switch recalls. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
How much does it cost to fix common Honda Prelude problems?
Repair costs for known Honda Prelude issues range from $30 to $4,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Ignition Switch Electrical Failure, typically costs $50-$250 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
What is the 1997-2001 Honda Prelude Ignition Switch Electrical Failure?
The 5th-generation Prelude shares the same faulty ignition switch design that affected many late-1990s Hondas. The electrical portion of the ignition switch (separate from the lock cylinder) develops melted or burned contacts due to high current draw, causing intermittent startin… Repairs typically run $50-$250. Severity: high.
What is the 1997-2001 Honda Prelude ATTS (Active Torque Transfer System) Failure (SH Models)?
The 5th generation Prelude SH (1997-2001) features the ATTS (Active Torque Transfer System), a mechanical torque-vectoring system that transfers power between the front wheels for improved cornering. The ATTS unit is complex, uses dedicated fluid separate from the transmission, a… Repairs typically run $1,500-$4,000. Severity: high.
What is the 1997-2001 Honda Prelude 5th Generation Automatic Transmission Failure?
The 4-speed automatic transmission (MAXA/M6HA) in the 1997-2001 Prelude is prone to premature failure, a problem shared with many late-1990s Honda automatic transmissions. The 3rd and 4th gear clutch packs wear prematurely, and the torque converter can develop shudder. High-milea… Repairs typically run $1,500-$3,500. Severity: high.
What is the 1997-2001 Honda Prelude 5th-gen (SS/BAYA) automatic transmission premature failure?
The 1997-2001 (5th gen) Prelude automatic is notorious for a high premature-failure rate, well above typical Honda reliability. Failures cluster into an early death (often under ~30,000 miles) or a later slip/harsh-shift failure. Honda quietly extended the automatic-transmission… Repairs typically run $1,800-$3,500. Severity: high.
What is the 1996-2001 Honda Prelude Front lower ball joint premature wear (NHTSA recall 99V069000) plus ignition-switch recalls?
The Prelude carries genuine NHTSA safety recalls. Recall 99V069000 covers certain 1997-1998 cars whose front lower suspension ball joints can wear out prematurely and, in the worst case, separate - collapsing the front suspension and causing loss of control. Separately, ignition-… Repairs typically run $250-$700. Severity: high.
What is the 1992-2001 Honda Prelude Power Steering Rack Seal Leak and Whine?
Preludes across both 4th and 5th generations develop power steering rack seal leaks, causing fluid to drip from the rack boots and a whining noise from the power steering pump due to low fluid. The rack end seals deteriorate with age, and continued driving with low fluid damages… Repairs typically run $300-$900. Severity: medium.
What is the 1997-2001 Honda Prelude Rear Main Seal Oil Leak (H22/H23)?
The H22A and H23A engines in 5th-generation Preludes are known to develop rear main seal leaks, causing oil to drip from the bell housing area between the engine and transmission. The leak worsens over time and can contaminate the clutch disc on manual transmission cars, causing… Repairs typically run $400-$1,000. Severity: medium.
What is the 1993-2001 Honda Prelude VTEC Solenoid Gasket Oil Leak?
The VTEC solenoid on H22A and H23A engines in 1993-2001 Preludes develops oil leaks from the solenoid gasket and filter screen. Oil weeps from the solenoid housing onto the back of the engine, creating a mess and potentially dripping onto the exhaust manifold (fire risk in extrem… Repairs typically run $30-$300. Severity: medium.
What is the 1997-2001 Honda Prelude A/C Compressor Clutch and Relay Failure?
The A/C compressor clutch on 5th-generation Preludes is prone to failure, often due to the clutch relay overheating and failing, or the clutch coil itself burning out. When the relay fails intermittently, the A/C may work sometimes but not others. A seized compressor can also sna… Repairs typically run $50-$800. Severity: medium.
What is the 1993-2001 Honda Prelude H22/H23 distributor failure (TDC/cylinder-position sensor and internal bearing)?
The single most common driveability failure on the VTEC Prelude is the internal distributor. Two failure modes dominate: the internal sensors (TDC / cylinder position, or CYP) degrade, and the distributor shaft bearing wears out and 'spins,' contaminating the housing (owners desc… Repairs typically run $200-$600. Severity: medium.
What is the 1992-2001 Honda Prelude PGM-FI main relay hot-weather no-start (cracked solder joints)?
A classic Honda-era failure that hits 1990s Preludes hard: the PGM-FI main relay, mounted where it gets heat-soaked, has solder joints on its small circuit board that crack from years of thermal cycling. When hot, the cracks open and the relay fails to power the fuel pump and ECU… Repairs typically run $30-$250. Severity: medium.
What is the 1993-2001 Honda Prelude H22 oil consumption via worn valve stem seals and rings?
The H22 VTEC burns oil, and as these engines age the consumption grows. Owners commonly see roughly 1 quart per ~3,000 miles even on healthy engines; worse cases are traced to hardened valve stem seals (blue smoke on startup/deceleration) or worn piston rings (smoke under load, o… Repairs typically run $500-$1,600. Severity: medium.
