Total Complaints
26 filings
HONDA PRELUDE · model year
1992 HONDA PRELUDE
26 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1992HONDAPRELUDE carries 26 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, 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 1992 PRELUDE is air bags:frontal with 6 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition (3) and air bags (2). 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 1992 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.
26
Complaints
7
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
7 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 |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 3 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 2 |
| TIRES | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100806TIRES
I HAVE A RECENTLY ACQUIRED 1992 HONDA PRELUDE WITH TOYO TIRES ON IT. THE CAR IS NOT BEING DRIVEN AND EXCEPT FOR TWO TRIPS TO MVD TO GET IT REGISTERED IT REMAINS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. THREE WEEKS AGO THE RIGHT REAR TIRE APPARENTLY EXPLODE AND THE TREADS WERE SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CASING. TWO DAYS AGO I HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND FOUND THAT THE TIRE HAD EXPLODED AND WAS COMPLETELY FLAT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER HEARD OF A TIRE FAILING WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF QUITE AN ACCIDENT AT 65 MPH ON A CROWDED EXPRESSWAY. IS ANYONE INTERESTED OR SHALL I WAIT FOR THE OTHER THREE TO EXPLODE? I HAVE NO INTENTION OF DRIVING THE CAR WITH THESE TIRES. *TR
Mileage: 211,000
20100623CrashTIRES
1992 HONDA PRELUDE, LEFT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT AND STRIKING THE CENTER DIVIDER WALL AND COMING TO REST ON THE INSIDE BERM. *BF (OHIO TRAAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0284-90). *JB
20081202AIR BAGS
AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT. *TR
Mileage: 150,000
20080607POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING 65MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD POPPING NOISE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, THERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED A FAILED TRANSMISSION. *TR
Mileage: 109,000
20061220ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY IGNITION SWITCH JUST STARTED NOT TO LONG AGO TO FAIL ON ME. STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE A WEEK AGO NOTICING MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKERING. I CHECKED MY FUSES AND THEY WERE ALL OK. TWO DAYS LATER MY CAR TURNED ON AND TURNED OFF WHEN I WENT TO START IT. TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND KEPT RUNNING. FOR FIVE DAYS EVERYTHING WAS OKAY BUT JUST NOTICED THAT MY LIGHTS WERE STILL KIND OF FLICKERING (DASH). TWO DAYS AGO IT DIDN'T WANT TO STAY ON. IN THE SECOND POSITION OF MY IGNITION, MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS THAT WILL NORMALLY COME ON DIDN'T AND WHEN I STARTED THE CAR IT WOULD START FINE BUT WOULDN'T STAY ONE IN THE SECOND POSITION OF THE IGNITION. *JB
Mileage: 196,750
20020822AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 2 MPH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CAUSE UNKNONWN. *AK CONSUMER SUFFERED INURIES.*YH
20020731ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTISIDE OF CONSUMER'S HOME, AND HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
20010221CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THIS CAR IS COMPLETELY TOTALED! IT IS SMASHED ALL IN THE FRONT, THE BACK IS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND DOWN TO THE GROUND...AND THE DRIVER SIDE IS CAVED IN ALSO, AND THIS AIRBAG COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE HEAD INJURY, AND BRUISING DOWN BY THE STEERING WHEEL. BUT THE AIRBAG FAILED !!!!*AK
20010123ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE DISTRIBUTOR BEARING LOCKED UP CAUSING THE ROTOR TO MELT. *MJS
20001127CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK VEHICLE LOWER PORTION OF VEHICLE HIT THE CURB GENTLY, CAUSING DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING TO AIRBAG'S DEPLOYTION. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. *AK
20001025TIRES:TREAD/BELT
BRIDGESTONE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC
20001024TIRES:TREAD/BELT
BRIDGESTONE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC
20000915ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH WHEN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. THEN, VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. SERVICE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT DISTRIBUTOR HAD FAILED & BEARINGS WERE MELTED. THIS IS WHAT CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP. *AK
20000915UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH WHEN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. THEN, VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. SERVICE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT DISTRIBUTOR HAD FAILED & BEARINGS WERE MELTED. THIS IS WHAT CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP. *AK
20000915POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH WHEN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. THEN, VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. SERVICE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT DISTRIBUTOR HAD FAILED & BEARINGS WERE MELTED. THIS IS WHAT CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP. *AK
20000822UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DEALERS STATED THAT IT IS A PROBLEM PECULIAR TO HONDA PRELUDES/ACCORDS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
20000407POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
WHEN SHIFTING CAR INTO PARK GEAR SHIFT WILL GET STUCK. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE CAR HAS TO STAY IN NEUTRAL BECAUSE IT WON'T GO INTO PARK. CONSUMER HAS KIDS THAT PLAY, AND ONE TIME THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL ON ITS OWN. *AK *ML
19991027ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THIS CAR HAS BEEN PAMPERED YET CONTINUES TO BREAK AND BE QUITE COSTLY TO MAINTAIN. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THEY WERE DEPENDABLE AND CHEAP TO MAINTAIN. THIS IS THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED AND WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ANY HONDA PRODUCT TO ANYONE. IT HAS PUT ME IN MAJOR DEBT. I AM VERY DISAPOINTED WITH THE DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER.
19991027EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THIS CAR HAS BEEN PAMPERED YET CONTINUES TO BREAK AND BE QUITE COSTLY TO MAINTAIN. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THEY WERE DEPENDABLE AND CHEAP TO MAINTAIN. THIS IS THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED AND WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ANY HONDA PRODUCT TO ANYONE. IT HAS PUT ME IN MAJOR DEBT. I AM VERY DISAPOINTED WITH THE DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER.
19980820AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH, HIT A POTHOLE IN THE STREET, AND BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Compare 1992HONDAPRELUDE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1992 HONDA PRELUDE have?▼
The 1992 HONDA PRELUDE has 26 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 HONDA PRELUDE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1992 HONDA PRELUDE is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION and AIR BAGS.
Is the 1992 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.