1989 HONDA PRELUDE

1 recalls — 34 complaints

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

Defect Description

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.

Consequence

THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES. CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. CHECK THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUG ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECUR... Read more

3,700,000 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

Complaint Statistics

34 total complaints 1 fires

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS	7
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY	6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY	2
SUSPENSION:FRONT	2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE	2
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM	2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	2
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY	1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS	1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM	1

Incident date: Jun 18, 2002

THE ENGINE TIMING BELT BROKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED (@55MPH) ON THE US 20 BYPASS, A LOCAL 2-LANE EXPRESSWAY. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND POWER DUE TO THE BREAKING OF THE TIMING BELT. LUCKILY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE NEAR ME AT THE TIME... Read more

Incident date: Dec 1, 2000

SOON AFTER PARKING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS DUE TO FAULTY WIRES. CONSUMER CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA, AND THEY SENT CONSUMER TO A DEALER SHIP. BUT DEALERSHIP SAID THAT PROBLEM WAS TOO SERIOUS, AND THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR HER. CONSUMER CALLED BACK AMERICAN H... Read more

Fire

Incident date: Dec 1, 1999

POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED. THERE WAS A RECALL OF THE SAME HOSE ON 1988, WHICH ARE IDENTICAL TO THE 1989 MODEL. *ET

FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES ENGAGE AND APPEAR TO HOLD; BUT BUCKLES RELEASE UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO BELTS. *AK

Incident date: Dec 21, 1999

SAME PROBLEM AS 1988 MODEL YEAR RECALL. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) FOUND IN SUMMARY. *AK

Incident date: Nov 2, 1999

POWER STEERING SUPPLY HOSE ON MY HONDA PRELUDE DEVELOPED A LEAK AT THE CONNECTOR CLAMP SEAL, AND DRIPPED FLUID ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD, CAUSING SMOKE. HONDA HAD RECALLED THE POWER STEERING SUPPLY HOSE WHICH THEY INSTALLED IN MY CAR, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL B... Read more

THE CAR STOPS BY ITSELF WHEN BEING DRIVEN. IT SPUTTERS AND THEN ALL THE ELECTRICAL LIGHTS COME ON AND THE CAR STOPS AND WILL NOT START. I HAVE TOWED IT TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES, AND THEY CANNOT FIGURE THE PROBLEM OUT, AND THEY ARE ABLE TO START THE CAR. THE DEALER SAYS EVERYTHING IS ALL RIGHT BUT WE AR... Read more

Incident date: Oct 1, 1999

THIS HOSE FAILURE IS THE SAME TYPE OF FAILURE THAT WAS DESCRIBED IN THE 1988 RECALL, BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER IT.

Incident date: Mar 5, 1998

THIS IS A COMPRESSOR THAT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ON 2/11/91. I AM NOW ON THE 3RD COMPRESSOR.

Incident date: Oct 22, 1998

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING AT CONNECTOR CLAMP SEAL. NOTICED THE 1988 VEHICLES ARE UNDER RECALL CONCERNING SAME PROBLEM; NHTSA # 89V059 000. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE NOT UNDER RECALL. *AK

Incident date: Dec 1, 1997

POWER STEERING HIGH PRESSURE HOSE LEAKS.

FRONT BELT BUCKLE REPLACED ACCORDANCE WITH A RECALL CAMPAIGN 95V103001, THE REPLACED BUCKLE REFUSED TO LATCH AFTERWARD BEING REPLACED. ABOUT 75% OF THE TIME THE BUCKLE WOULD APPEAR TO BE SNAP, BUT AFTER YANKING ON THE BELT IT WOULD RELEASE FROM AT THE BUCKLE.

Incident date: Oct 1, 1996

BRAKES SQUEAL. ALSO, POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK/ RADIATOR HOSE MELTS DUE TO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MANIFOLD/ TRANSMISSION FAILURE/ WINDOWS FOG UP AND CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. VEHICLE SWERVES/UNEVEN BACK TIRE WEAR. *AK

Incident date: Oct 1, 1996

THE RELEASE BUTTONS ON THE BELTS ARE CRAKED AND BROKEN. *AK

Incident date: Nov 3, 1995

TIMING BELT BROKE, BENDING THE VALVES, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *DH

Incident date: Nov 28, 1995

DRIVE BELT SQUEALS. *SD

Incident date: Nov 28, 1995

RADIATOR REPLACED. *SD

Incident date: Nov 28, 1995

CLUTCH REPAIRED. *SD

Incident date: Nov 28, 1995

FRONT END SHIMMIES.*SD

Incident date: Nov 22, 1995

INTERMITTENT STALLING.*SD

Incident date: Nov 22, 1995

WATER PUMP REPLACED. *SD

Incident date: Nov 28, 1995

DOOR MISALIGNED. *SD

Incident date: Dec 6, 1995

MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED DUE TO MUSHY BRAKE PEDAL.*SD

POWER STEERING LINE IS BROKEN AND DRIPS FLUID ON MANIFOLD. TT

THE POWER STEERING IS LEAKING CONSUMER IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS RECALL ON THE 1988 # 88V05900 . TT

Incident date: Apr 1, 1995

THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE. TT

Incident date: Jun 1, 1989

PASSENGER SIDE WITH SEAT BELT HAS DIFFICULT TIME TO UNLATCH BUCKLE. *AK

Incident date: Jan 1, 1994

SEAT BELT; THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE CAME LOOSE FROM THE LATCH. TT

EPA Fuel Economy — 1989 HONDA PRELUDE

Trim / Engine	City MPG	Highway MPG	Combined MPG	Fuel Type	Annual Fuel Cost
2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	18.0	24.0	20.0	Regular	$3,400
2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	20.0	26.0	22.0	Regular	$3,050
2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	18.0	24.0	20.0	Regular	$3,400
2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	20.0	24.0	21.0	Regular	$3,200

CO2 Emissions: -1.0 g/mile (Subcompact Cars)

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Actual fuel economy may vary based on driving conditions.

NHTSA Safety Investigations — HONDA PRELUDE

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

PE — Closed — Model Year: 1992

4WHL STEERING SENSOR FAILS

There is no summary currently available

HONDA PRELUDE — All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the HONDA PRELUDE across all model years (1979–2006).

70 Total Recalls

464 Total Complaints

1 Investigations

52 Reported Crashes

15 Reported Fires

2 Reported Deaths

HONDA PRELUDE — Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2006	1	0	View
2005	1	0	View
2004	1	0	View
2003	1	0	View
2002	1	0	View
2001	3	25	View
2000	3	14	View
1999	4	40	View
1998	5	86	View
1997	5	88	View
1996	6	4	View
1995	5	9	View
1994	5	12	View
1993	5	14	View
1992	5	26	View
1991	1	18	View
1990	1	4	View
1989 (current)	1	34
1988	6	40	View
1987	2	17	View
1986	2	12	View
1985	1	11	View
1984	1	5	View
1983	1	1	View
1981	1	3	View
1980	1	0	View
1979	1	0	View

Other HONDA Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
ACCORD	1,544	31,106	View
ODYSSEY	1,083	15,814	View
PILOT	1,019	12,296	View
ACCORD HYBRID	883	1,156	View
CR-V	820	20,314	View
CIVIC	752	19,886	View
INSIGHT	709	669	View
PASSPORT	510	2,127	View

Vehicle Safety

Consumer Safety

Infrastructure

Public Health

1989 HONDA PRELUDE

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

EPA Fuel Economy — 1989 HONDA PRELUDE

NHTSA Safety Investigations — HONDA PRELUDE

HONDA PRELUDE — All Years Overview

HONDA PRELUDE — Year by Year

Other HONDA Models