Most common 1998 Honda Prelude problems
Share of the 69 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Honda Prelude complaints by model year
Best Prelude years: 1995, 2000, 2001. Years to avoid: 1997, 1998, 1999. Compare all years →
1998 Honda Prelude recalls (3)
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
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.
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
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…
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Certain vehicles were manufactured with ball joints that can prematurely wear out and, in the worse case, the ball joint would separate causing the front suspension to collapse.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1998 Honda Prelude:
Ignition-park interlock
The above failure report counts are for model year (my) 1999 - 2001 Honda accord models that were not within the scope of a related Honda recall action (NHTSA 03V423); these vehicles were investigated by odi under defect petition (dp) 04-006.complaint information for other models and model years was not obtained by odi.the noted population indicates the number of vehicles (including the my 2002 accord plus the…
What 1998 Honda Prelude owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 31 →
This is the first time I had to replace the transmission at 65867 miles on it, Well I was driving down to the street one day and then it's started to Slip In. and out of a gear And the next day I tried to pull out Of. my driveway The transmission is bad and Honda knows this, the second time it is now 186573 miles on the second transmission.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Honda Prelude. The contact parked the vehicle in her driveway, removed the key from the ignition, and exited the vehicle. When she returned to enter the vehicle, it began to roll out of the driveway. The contact was dragged by the vehicle, but she was able to let go and roll on the pavement. The vehicle struck the mailbox and came to a stop when it struck a pole. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on January 30, 2006 for NHTSA campaign id number 05V025000 (electrical system:ignition:switch). The manufacturer wants the contact's insurance company to investigate the failure and notify their legal department with the results. The contact sustain injuries to her left and right side. A police report was filed. The powertrain and speed were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 115,320.
Electrical system
This is the first time I had to replace the transmission at 65867 miles on it, Well I was driving down to the street one day and then it's started to Slip In. and out of a gear And the next day I tried to pull out Of. my driveway The transmission is bad and Honda knows this, the second time it is now 186573 miles on the second transmission.
My 1998 v-tec Honda Prelude recently hit 157000 miles and shortly after has been experiencing loss of power, stalling, and loss of steering. Within 5 weeks I have experienced it stall and instantly restart while going through an intersection, lose all power and steering while turning through an intersection, and lose power and steering while going 55 MPH down the highway. Upon doing some research on this website, across the internet and speaking with some mechanics I believe these issues to be in line with two major recalls that were done on my year make and model of vehicle however I have come to find out that my vehicle among many others were excluded from these recalls (recall #'s 99V069000, 02v12000). …
Suspension
My 1998 v-tec Honda Prelude recently hit 157000 miles and shortly after has been experiencing loss of power, stalling, and loss of steering. Within 5 weeks I have experienced it stall and instantly restart while going through an intersection, lose all power and steering while turning through an intersection, and lose power and steering while going 55 MPH down the highway. Upon doing some research on this website, across the internet and speaking with some mechanics I believe these issues to be in line with two major recalls that were done on my year make and model of vehicle however I have come to find out that my vehicle among many others were excluded from these recalls (recall #'s 99V069000, 02v12000). …
Vehicle: 1998 Honda Prelude sh (98000 miles) -vehicle was inspected by professional mechanic -mechanic found that components: suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joints had estimated 1/4 inch of play (movement) when there should be no movement -NHTSA campaign id number: 99V069000 is a recall for this component for 1998 Honda preludes -Honda motor co. States that my vehicle does not apply -the worse case, the ball joint would separate causing the front suspension to collapse. Consequence: this condition would result in vehicle deceleration and a sudden loss of power. Also steering controllability would be reduced.
1998 Honda Prelude engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 24 / 22 |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Honda Prelude a good car?
Based on 69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Prelude rates avoid: 2.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Prelude at the same age. It is one of the Prelude years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Honda Prelude?
The transmission & drivetrain — 31 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the electrical system (12) and suspension (9).
How many recalls does the 1998 Honda Prelude have?
There are 3 recalls for the 1998 Honda Prelude, the most recent from January 28, 2005 (switch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Honda Prelude?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1995, 2000 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997, 1998 and 1999. See the full Honda Prelude years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Honda Prelude problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 97,000 miles; 13% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.