1989 Honda Prelude
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Honda › Prelude › 1989
These records cover every 1989 Honda Prelude. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 1989 Honda Prelude. Newest first.
The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." if a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.
Risk and remedy
Risk
The safety belts would not provide adequate protection to an occupant in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Owners should promptly check the condition and operation of both front safety belt buckles. Carefully inspect the red release button for any breaks or cracks. Check that both buckles are operating properly by inserting each latch plate into its buckle, tug on the belt to make sure the latch IS securely locked, then press the release button. The latch plate should pop out of the buckle when the button IS pressed. If either release button shows any sign of breakage or cracking, or if either buckle fails to operate properly, promptly contact your authorized honda/acura dealer to schedule an appointment to have the buckle replaced or repaired, free of charge. The manufacturer IS developing a remedy designed to prevent the failure of the buttons that are not currently broken.
Owner complaints
21 complaints1 involved a fire
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
The engine timing belt broke while the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed (@55mph) on the us 20 bypass, a local 2-lane expressway. the vehicle experienced a complete loss of acceleration and power due to the breaking of the timing belt. luckily no other vehicles were near me at the…
The engine timing belt broke while the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed (@55mph) on the us 20 bypass, a local 2-lane expressway. the vehicle experienced a complete loss of acceleration and power due to the breaking of the timing belt. luckily no other vehicles were near me at the time this occurred. vehicles on this expressway routinely approach 65 mph. this being so I was able to pull over to the right side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop and found to have 3 of the 4 engine valves destroyed beyond repair; a rod or piston in the lower engine has also been affected, thus effectively making the car undrivable and uneconomical to repair. the vehicle owners manual fails to inform owners that the timing belt needs to be maintained. there IS no indication at all in the maintenance schedule on pages 72-77 that the timing belt needs to be maintained. The warranty booklet for the 1989 honda prelude states on page 4, " you must maintain your 1989 honda automobile according to the maintenance schedule in the owner's manual". the owners manual also fails to inform/warn vehicle owners of what consequences a broken timing belt can have on the engine and does not warn/inform owners of the possible consequences attempting to restart an engine with a broken timing belt can have on the engine. Scenarios can be envisioned in which accidents could occur due to the failure of the engine timing belt. Attempting to pass a vehicle and experiencing a loss of acceleration could result in a head-on collision with an on-coming car on a two lane road, or with an adjacent one in busy, fast moving traffic on an expressway. I contacted american honda on 06/20/02, my case # IS 9n012002-06-2000-969. I bought the car from a private party, not the listed dealer--that IS where the car was bought when new.*ak
- Electrical system › Wiring
Soon after parking vehicle caught on fire. fire department said it was due to faulty wires. Consumer contacted american honda, and they sent consumer to a dealer ship. But dealership said that problem was too serious, and that they could not do anything for her. Consumer called back american honda, and they said they will call her back. Consumer IS still waiting for the phone call. *ak
- Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
Power steering hose failed. There was a recall of the same hose on 1988, which are identical to the 1989 model. *Et
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Front seat belt buckles engage and appear to hold; but buckles release unexpectedly when pressure IS applied to belts. *ak
- Steering › Hydraulic power assist system
Same problem as 1988 model year recall. No safety defect (s) found in summary. *ak
- Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
Power steering supply hose on my honda prelude developed a leak at the connector clamp seal, and dripped fluid onto the hot exhaust manifold, causing smoke. honda had recalled the power steering supply hose which they installed in my car, but they told me that my car was not covered by the recall…
Power steering supply hose on my honda prelude developed a leak at the connector clamp seal, and dripped fluid onto the hot exhaust manifold, causing smoke. honda had recalled the power steering supply hose which they installed in my car, but they told me that my car was not covered by the recall because it was manufactured four months after the "ending date of manufacture". my honda prelude IS a 1989 model, but it was manufactured in august of 1988. please petition honda to extend their recall so that i, and other honda prelude owners, can be protected from this potential hazard. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
The car stops by itself when being driven. It sputters and then all the electrical lights come on and the car stops and will not start. I have towed it to the dealer 5 times, and they cannot figure the problem out, and they are able to start the car. The dealer says everything IS all right but we are still facing the same problem of car stopping by itself and not starting again.
- Steering › Hydraulic power assist system
This hose failure IS the same type of failure that was described in the 1988 recall, but the dealer would not cover it.
- Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
This IS a compressor that was replaced under warranty on 2/11/91. I am now on the 3RD compressor.
- Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
Power steering fluid leaking at connector clamp seal. Noticed the 1988 vehicles are under recall concerning same problem; nhtsa # 89v059 000. Dealer notified and informed consumer vehicle not under recall. *ak
- Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
Power steering high pressure hose leaks.
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Front belt buckle replaced accordance with a recall campaign 95v103001, the replaced buckle refused to latch afterward being replaced. about 75% of the time the buckle would appear to be snap, but after yanking on the belt it would release from at the buckle.
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components · Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections · Suspension › Front · Tires · Vehicle speed control · Visibility › Windshield
Brakes squeal. Also, power steering hose leak/ radiator hose melts due to close proximity to manifold/ transmission failure/ windows fog up and cruise control disengages, causing loss of control. vehicle swerves/uneven back tire wear. *Ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
The release buttons on the belts are craked and broken. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Timing belt broke, bending the valves, causing vehicle to stall. *Dh
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system · Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly · Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline · Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys · Power train › Clutch assembly · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder · Structure › Body › Door · Suspension › Front
Water pump replaced. *Sd
- Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
Power steering line IS broken and drips fluid on manifold. tt
- Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
The power steering IS leaking consumer IS having the same problem that was recall on the 1988 # 88v05900 . tt
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
The driver seat belt buckle broke. tt
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Passenger side with seat belt has difficult time to unlatch buckle. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Seat belt; the driver side seat belt buckle came loose from the latch. tt
Every Honda Prelude model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.