1999 Honda Prelude Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Prelude years
- More complaints than other years 3rd of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Honda Prelude. That ranks 3rd out of 7 Prelude model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (8 complaints, 26%), typically at around 90,883 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 injury. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

- 31owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1999 Honda Prelude problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 8 | 26% | 90,883 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 7 | 23% | 82,553 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 7 | 23% | 67,061 | — | — |
| Tires | 5 | 16% | 33,800 | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 10% | 80,346 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 6% | 54,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 3% | 67,061 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 3% | 67,061 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1999 Honda Prelude recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the driver does not shift to park before removing the key and fails to engage the parking brake, the vehicle could roll and a crash could occur.
Fix: 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.
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: 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.
Risk: Worn contacts could cause the engine to stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Ignition-park interlock (PE05002) — opened Jan 13, 2005, closed Feb 2, 2005, led to recall 05V025000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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…
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
Richard c. Yuen poway, ca 92064 may 5, 2008 american honda motor co., inc. Honda automobile customer service 1919 torrance boulevard mail stop: 500 - 2n - 7d torrance, ca 90501-2746 re: 1999 honda prelude vin #j013 dear sir: we are very pleased with honda automobiles performance and reliability. We…
Other Honda Prelude years
← 1998 Prelude · 2000 Prelude →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 Prelude | 21 | 1 |
| 2000 Prelude | 13 | 1 |
| 1999 | 31 | 2 |
| 1998 Prelude | 69 | 3 |
| 1997 Prelude | 66 | 3 |
| 1996 Prelude | 4 | 1 |
| 1995 Prelude | 6 | 0 |
See all Honda Prelude problems by year, every Honda model, or the Honda VIN decoder.
Similar Honda models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Honda Prelude?
Owners most often report power train, electrical system, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 8 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Honda Prelude?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1999 Honda Prelude a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Prelude model years, the 1999 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.