Total Complaints
17 filings
HONDA PRELUDE · model year
1987 HONDA PRELUDE
17 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987HONDAPRELUDE carries 17 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1987 PRELUDE is seat belts:front:retractor with 2 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system (2) and fuel system, gasoline (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1987 PRELUDE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
17
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100628TIRES
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED CAR IN JANUARY OF 2010. IT HAD INSTALLED ON IT, A SET OF FOUR DOUGLAS 185/70R/13 TIRES WITH THE MANUFACTURE DATE OF 0408 ON THE SIDEWALLS, AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER STATED THEY WERE ONLY ABOUT 2 MONTHS OLD (BOUGHT AT WAL MART). THEY ARE MODELED XTRA TRAC AW. WELL ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, I HAD ONE COMPLETELY BLOW OUT DUE TO SIDEWALL FAILURE. THIS BLOW OUT DAMAGED PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY CAR. I HAD TO REPLACE MY WHEEL BEARING, CV JOINT, AND A BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS I'M NOT SURE ABOUT ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE AREA. NOW THE OTHER THREE TIRES ARE BULGING ON THE SIDEWALLS, AND THE TIRES ONLY HAVE ABOUT 10,000 MILES ON THEM. WAL MART WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME, SINCE I DO NOT HAVE A RECEIPT. HOWEVER IF YOU GOOGLE THESE TIRES, THERE ARE PAGES UPON PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT SIDEWALL FAILURE ON THESE TIRES. SOMETIMES EVEN JUST WITHIN A MONTH OF USE. I WAS ONLY CURIOUS IF THERE HAPPENS TO BE A RECALL ON THE PRESENT SET OF DOUGLAS TIRE
20060501ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH - THE VEHICLE WILL START BUT WHEN THE KEY IS RELEASED FROM START THE ENGINE DIES. THIS PROBLEM MAY BE REPEATED OR WILL AGAIN START WORKING CORRECTLY. *JB
Mileage: 133,133
20020719ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE'S OIL PAN PLUG STRIPPED WHENEVER THE OIL WAS CHANGED. *TT *NM
20020109SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
REAR RESTAINT BELT IS PERMANENTLY RETRACTED AND LOCKED, I AM A MOTHER OF TWIN TODDLERS AND REQUIRE THE USE USE OF BOTH REAR SEATBELTS IN ORDER TO SECURE THEIR SAFTEY SEATS PROPERLY. MEANWHILE I'VE TRIED TO SECURE IT WITH THE MIDDLE LAP BELT BUT IT HAS FAILED AT PROVIDING ANY KIND OF RESRAINT WHEN I TAKE A SHARP TURN IT TIPS OVER AND MY DAUGTERS HAVE BEEN INJURED A FEW TIMES OVER THIS DEFECT. I AM AFRAID IF I AM TO GET IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT THIS MIGHT FAIL TO SAVE THEIR LIVES. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THE WHEATHER CONDITIONS ARE DANGEROUS FOR DRIVING AT THIS TIME AND I AM VERY WORRIED. *AK
20000531FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN GOOD FAITH. WHILE DRIVING SHE NOTICED A FUEL SMELL. CONSUMER DIDN'T KNOW FROM WHERE SMELL WAS COMING AT THAT TIME. BRAKES WERE 75% FRONT AND REAR. TIRES WERE 50% THREAD AND MIXMATCHED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAS A DAMAGE FROM PREVIOUS MAJOR ACCIDENT AND FUEL TAND WAS REPLACED INCORRECTLY. *YH
20000531SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN GOOD FAITH. WHILE DRIVING SHE NOTICED A FUEL SMELL. CONSUMER DIDN'T KNOW FROM WHERE SMELL WAS COMING AT THAT TIME. BRAKES WERE 75% FRONT AND REAR. TIRES WERE 50% THREAD AND MIXMATCHED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAS A DAMAGE FROM PREVIOUS MAJOR ACCIDENT AND FUEL TAND WAS REPLACED INCORRECTLY. *YH
20000531TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN GOOD FAITH. WHILE DRIVING SHE NOTICED A FUEL SMELL. CONSUMER DIDN'T KNOW FROM WHERE SMELL WAS COMING AT THAT TIME. BRAKES WERE 75% FRONT AND REAR. TIRES WERE 50% THREAD AND MIXMATCHED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAS A DAMAGE FROM PREVIOUS MAJOR ACCIDENT AND FUEL TAND WAS REPLACED INCORRECTLY. *YH
20000302FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
SMELLS LIKE GAS FUMES. *AK
19990605CrashFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
FROM DAY ONE- IDLE FLUCTUATION WITH TONS OF DOCUMENTATION AND DENIAL TO PROBLEM BY DEALER & REPRESENTATIVE-FIRST DAY CAR WAS PURCHASED THERE WAS A CODE 12. ALL 4 FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED & EGR TUBES CLEANED. LIVED WITH UNRESOLVED PROBLEM ALL THESE YEARS, BUT NOW I HAVE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND AM FRIGTHENED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THE CAR. I ALMOST KILLED SOMEONE. *AK
19990605CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
FROM DAY ONE- IDLE FLUCTUATION WITH TONS OF DOCUMENTATION AND DENIAL TO PROBLEM BY DEALER & REPRESENTATIVE-FIRST DAY CAR WAS PURCHASED THERE WAS A CODE 12. ALL 4 FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED & EGR TUBES CLEANED. LIVED WITH UNRESOLVED PROBLEM ALL THESE YEARS, BUT NOW I HAVE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND AM FRIGTHENED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THE CAR. I ALMOST KILLED SOMEONE. *AK
19980323SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELTS DO NOT FIT PROPERLY.
19961114STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TIE ROD ON FRONT STEERING MECHANISM STRIPPED OFF, LEAVING DRIVER WITHOUT STEERING CAPABILITIES.
19960930FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
RUST IN FUEL SYSTEM DUE TO RUSTED FUEL FILLER PIPE PRIOR TO RECALL.
19960122SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE SIDE SEAT RETRACTOR IS NOT WORKING . TT
19960102EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS
PURCHASE CAR NEW THE HAZARD LIGHTS AREN'T WORKING RIGHT . TT
19950809EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH DESIGN IS AT UNSAFE POSITION WHEN MAKING A TURN USE THE SIGNAL LIGHT YOU MAKE A MISTAKE AND TURN LIGHT OFF WHEN USING THE SIGNAL LIGHT .
19950301FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
HAD VEHICLE SERVICE FOR RECALL ON THE FUEL SYSTEM ON 8/11/94 RECALL WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. TT
Compare 1987HONDAPRELUDE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 HONDA PRELUDE have?▼
The 1987 HONDA PRELUDE has 17 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 HONDA PRELUDE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 HONDA PRELUDE is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
Is the 1987 HONDA PRELUDE safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.