Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1997 Honda Prelude. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- 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.
HONDA/IGNITION SWITCH
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- 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.
HONDA/BALL JOINTS
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (66)
66 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The power train is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 66 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 40 | 60.6% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 10.6% |
| Suspension | 7 | 10.6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 7.6% |
| Tires | 5 | 7.6% |
| Equipment | 3 | 4.5% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 4.5% |
| Air bags | 2 | 3% |
| Seats | 2 | 3% |
| Steering | 2 | 3% |
How 1997 compares with other Prelude years
Best and worst Prelude years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 22 | 0 |
| 1993 | 11 | 0 |
| 1994 | 9 | 0 |
| 1995 | 6 | 0 |
| 1996 | 4 | 1 |
| 1997 | 66 | 3 |
| 1998 | 69 | 3 |
| 1999 | 31 | 2 |
| 2000 | 13 | 1 |
| 2001 | 21 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1997 Prelude for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1997 Honda Prelude FAQ
How many recalls does the 1997 Honda Prelude have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 05V025000 (electrical), 02V120000 (electrical), 99V069000 (suspension). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1997 Honda Prelude problems?
Owners filed 66 complaints with NHTSA. Power train (40), Electrical system (7), Suspension (7) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1997 Prelude compare with other years?
Among the 1992–2001 Honda Prelude model years at least five years old, the 1996 drew the fewest complaints (4) and the 1998 the most (69). The 1997 drew 66. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.