Model reliability

Honda Prelude reliability

The Honda Prelude fails its MOT about as often as most cars over 10 years old: 34.7% of 1,120 tests failed in 2023, against 39.7% on average.

Over 10 years old

34.7% failed their MOT

About average

From 1,120 MOT tests of Honda Preludes this age.

Where it does worse than other cars this age

Fails 91% more oftenBrake performance11.1% vs 5.8%

Fails 86% more oftenExhaust emissions9.5% vs 5.1%Fix about £150

Fails 3× as oftenComponent mounting prescribed areas4.4% vs 1.4%

Fails 38% more oftenExhaust system2.9% vs 2.1%Fix about £150

Advised 2× as oftenFluid leaks22.1% vs 10.1%

Advised 2× as oftenAnti-roll bars12% vs 6%

Advised 74% more oftenExhaust system9.2% vs 5.3%Fix about £150

Advised 80% more oftenBrake performance8.3% vs 4.6%

Safety recalls

2 DVSA recalls for the Honda Prelude

Most cover a batch of cars built in a set period, and dealers fix them free. Sweep’s check shows the recalls for a car’s age and whether the DVSA has one outstanding.

R/2002/0716 Aug 2002Ignition switch may fail

Electrical contacts within the ignition switch wear prematurely. This can eventually cause the engine to stall without warning.

Fix: Fit a new ignition switch.

Recalled models: PRELUDE · 53,175 vehicles

R/1999/03820 Aug 1999Built 1996–1997Premature wear of steering lower ball joints

Certain vehicles were manufactured with front lower ball joints that may prematurely wear out and in the worst case separate from the front knuckle. If separation occurs then loss of steering control may happen.

Fix: Affected vehicles are being recalled to have both front lower ball joint assemblies replaced.

Recalled models: PRELUDE · 4,370 vehicles

DVSA vehicle safety recalls (Crown copyright, Open Government Licence).

Checking a Honda Prelude before you buy

Look at the parts above at the viewing, and read the car’s own MOT history: advisories for the same parts suggest the problem is already starting. Sweep’s free check shows every MOT, advisory and mileage reading for a registration.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2023 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Failure rates compare this model with all cars in the same age band. Fix prices are typical independent-garage estimates.

Honda Prelude reliability

2 DVSA recalls for the Honda Prelude

Checking a Honda Prelude before you buy

Run this check on every listing, automatically.